Contemporary Society of Spain, Italy and France
Course code
GRR6807.HT
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Hispaania, Itaalia ja Prantsusmaa ühiskond tänapäeval
Course title in English
Contemporary Society of Spain, Italy and France
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2025/2026 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The student gains orientation in key issues and causes affecting contemporary societies of Spain, Italy and France. He discusses the scope and impact of these problems.
The student develops a socially active attitude by consistently keeping up with field-specific news in the target languages. He also enhances critical thinking skills when consuming specialized media in these languages.
The student develops a socially active attitude by consistently keeping up with field-specific news in the target languages. He also enhances critical thinking skills when consuming specialized media in these languages.
Brief description of the course
The course examines the status and role of Romance languages across different countries, regions, and professional fields, focusing on their use in both official and specialized contexts. Particular attention is given to Romance-language media sources, their ideological background, and the distinctive features of media discourse in various countries.
The coursework covers aspects such as the selection and representation of newsworthy topics in the media, the coverage of current events, and the characteristics of different journalistic genres and formats. Throughout the course, students will regularly analyze press reviews, map social issues as reflected in the media, and assess the reliability of media outlets while developing critical reading skills. Special emphasis is placed on distinguishing facts, opinions, and misinformation to enhance students’ critical media literacy.
Additionally, the course explores the overall communicative impact of media—how design, imagery, audiovisual elements, and text work together to construct meaning and influence public perceptions and attitudes. Comparative analysis plays a key role, enabling students to investigate how different media environments and journalistic traditions shape public debates.
The course is structured thematically around the following key topics:
• Immigration and citizenship policies
• Postcolonialism and historical memory; sites of memory
• National populism and European unity
• Freedom of speech and political correctness
• Other related issues
Course Format:
• Individual assignments
• Group work
• Collaborative projects
The coursework covers aspects such as the selection and representation of newsworthy topics in the media, the coverage of current events, and the characteristics of different journalistic genres and formats. Throughout the course, students will regularly analyze press reviews, map social issues as reflected in the media, and assess the reliability of media outlets while developing critical reading skills. Special emphasis is placed on distinguishing facts, opinions, and misinformation to enhance students’ critical media literacy.
Additionally, the course explores the overall communicative impact of media—how design, imagery, audiovisual elements, and text work together to construct meaning and influence public perceptions and attitudes. Comparative analysis plays a key role, enabling students to investigate how different media environments and journalistic traditions shape public debates.
The course is structured thematically around the following key topics:
• Immigration and citizenship policies
• Postcolonialism and historical memory; sites of memory
• National populism and European unity
• Freedom of speech and political correctness
• Other related issues
Course Format:
• Individual assignments
• Group work
• Collaborative projects
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- understands the status and role of the specialized language in different countries;
- is familiar with key specialized media sources in different countries and their ideological background;
- develops the habit of following news and staying informed about current events in Spain, Italy, and France;
- evaluates the reliability of media outlets and articles based on specific criteria.;
- investigates major current issues and is able to take a well-reasoned stance on them.
- understands the status and role of the specialized language in different countries;
- is familiar with key specialized media sources in different countries and their ideological background;
- develops the habit of following news and staying informed about current events in Spain, Italy, and France;
- evaluates the reliability of media outlets and articles based on specific criteria.;
- investigates major current issues and is able to take a well-reasoned stance on them.
Teacher
Ülo Siirak
Study programmes containing that course