Event Summary

This workshop, titled "The Spanish Language Worldwide: Development and Application around the Globe," featured three speakers who explored the current status, challenges, and cultural impact of the Spanish language from the perspectives of Mainland China, Florida (USA), and global linguistic distribution.

Key Presentations

1. Young Spanish Professionals in Mainland China: Employment and Research Pressures

Speaker: Ruan Dandan (PhD Student, UAM; Spanish Teacher, Ningbo University College of Science and Technology) Highlights:

• Academic Thresholds: Discussed the pressures faced by young university teachers ("Qingjiao") in China, including research requirements (SCI/SSCI/CSSCI publications) and grant applications. A PhD has become a prerequisite for university positions.
• Job Market Trends: Explored career paths for Master's and Bachelor's graduates, including civil service, overseas assignments in Latin America, language training institutions, and emerging roles as "new media influencers."
• Interdisciplinary Talents: Emphasized the importance of the "Spanish +" model (e.g., Spanish + E-commerce, Tourism Management) for career competitiveness.

2. Spanish in Florida: From Cuisine to Cultural History

Speaker: Dr. Verónica Hsu (Researcher, Florida State University) Highlights:

• Cultural Fusion: Used the "Cuban Sandwich" as a starting point to introduce the unique Latin cultural blend in Florida.
• Historical Context: Reviewed the history of Spaniards landing in Florida in 1513 and establishing the first city in North America, and how Florida transitioned from Spanish territory to the 27th US state.
• Linguistic Status: Analyzed the distribution of the large Spanish-speaking population in Florida, where Spanish has become a de facto second language used in advertising, street names, and daily services.

3. Spanish Globally: Socioeconomics and Linguistic Distribution

Speaker: Prof. José Luis Caño Ortigosa (Assistant Professor of Economic History, University of Cádiz) Highlights:

• Global Landscape: Analyzed the distribution of nearly 600 million Spanish speakers worldwide and the factors influencing the language's status (population density, government policies, socioeconomic characteristics).
• Bilingualism Cases:
  • Spain: Explored the coexistence and support of regional languages (Galician, Catalan, Basque) alongside Spanish.
  • Latin America: Used Paraguay as an example of bilingual policy (Spanish and Guaraní) and discussed the relationship between indigenous languages and Spanish in Mexico and Guatemala.
• Cultural Influence: Reflected on strengthening global Spanish influence through media, music, film, and literature.

Event Information

• Time: April 7, 2023 (Fri) 20:00-21:30 (Taiwan Time)
• Location: Online
• Moderators: Prof. Lin Shu-chen, Prof. Luisa Shu-Ying Chang