Latin America and Caribbean Certificate

Intercultural competence

The certificate program is of interest to anyone who wants to explore the diversity of Latin America and the Caribbean, improve their language skills in French, Portuguese and/or Spanish and look beyond the boundaries of their studies. In addition to a large number of courses from the range of academic and practical language courses offered by the Institute of Romance Studies, language courses attended at the Language Center of the University of Kassel as well as lectures and seminars from other departments that deal with various aspects - be it politics, society, history or economics - of Latin America and the Caribbean can also be credited.

With the certificate, graduates not only prove to their future employers that they have region-specific specialist and language skills, which make them particularly interesting for jobs that shape international cooperation between Germany, Latin America and the Caribbean. Students also demonstrate a willingness to develop and pursue their own interests beyond the scope of their studies, as well as the ability to think and act in an interdisciplinary manner.

Course structure

To obtain the certificate, students must provide evidence of successful completion of freely selectable courses totaling at least 15 ECTS credits. Courses and excursions from all departments of the University of Kassel can be credited, provided they have a regional connection. The program is divided into the following three modules:

• Module 1 (at least 3 ECTS in total): Languages and Cultures - Spanish or French A1 / A2 / B1 / B2 / C1 / C1+ (according to CEFR) or Portuguese A1 / A2 (according to CEFR)

• Module 2 (at least 6 ECTS in total): Latin America and the Caribbean - Regions and Cultures

• Module 3 (optional module): Practical Perspectives

At least one course must be taken in Module 1 "Languages and Cultures". A maximum of three practical language courses can be credited. In Module 2, courses from at least two different departments at the University of Kassel must be taken.

It is essential to note that courses, other courses or internships already credited for the subject cannot be credited twice for the certificate.

The decision on whether courses can be credited is the responsibility of the two academic advisors.

Certificate for download

French and Spanish Language Practice

Ophélie Périquet

• Writing 1/Speaking 1
• Grammar
• Interpretation/Translation 2
• Economics 1 / Business French 1
• Economics 3

Jacopo Romei

• Writing 2
• Oral 2
• Mediation/Translation 1

Dolores León Muñoz

• Introductory Course
• Advanced II
• Reading and Writing II: Present Tenses
• Reading and Speaking: Ethics for the Skeptical
• Translation II
• Translation III: Politics and Economics / Latin America
• Final Exam Preparation

Dr. Juan-Manuel García Serrano

• Introductory Course II
• Advanced I
• Grammar for Advanced Learners
• Reading and Writing I
• Translation IV
• Language of Economics (Master’s)
• Intermediate-Level Exam Preparation

Specialized Subjects

Prof. Claudia Borzi (Visiting Professor)

• Argentine Spanish: Use, Perception, and Linguistic Culture

Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Komorowska

• Mother, Father, Child? Family and Gender Roles in Francophone Cinema

Prof. Dr. Jan-Henrik Witthaus

• Short Narratives from Latin America
• The “Chronicle” in Latin America—Between Journalism and Narrative Studies

Dr. Kirsten Behr

• Mad Conquests: Nicolas Durad de Villegagnon and His Reception

Dr. Lisa Brunke (Visiting Lecturer)

• Nuns in the “New World”: Care, Mobility, and Coloniality in Francophone Literature

Jacopo Romei

• Hors cadre: Queer Cinema in Francophone Worlds

Karolin Schäfer

• Women in Offices: Transnational Perspectives on Female Employees in Office Literature

Prof. Dr. Julian Germann (Acting Professor)

• Fractured Capitalism: Systemic Conflict and Regional Realignments
• Worldmaking: Domination and Resistance in Global North-South Relations
• Raw Materials and Key Technologies: Global Competition and Interdependencies
• Fundamentals of Geoeconomics: Economic Power in World Politics

Dr. Felix Buchwald

• Migration in Latin America
• Capitalism and the Climate Crisis in Latin America: Current Debates in Political Economy
• World Trade: Past and Present

Click here to visit the Centro de Estudios Latinoamericanos