Abigail Stephan Spanish and International Trade, Learning Sciences - Clemson University

Spanish Courses

Prior to attending Clemson University, I took AP Spanish Language at Northern Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. I always had a passion for language with a special affinity for Spanish, but I wasn't sure how I could incorporate it into my college major. It wasn't until the end of my first semester at Clemson University that my Science and Technology in Modern Society professor suggested that I look into changing my major to Language and International Trade.  After reading the description in the student catalog, I knew that it was the perfect fit for me. 

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During my six years of Spanish instruction, I've taken a diverse blend of courses, including Intermediate Grammar and Composition, Intermediate Conversation and Composition, Spanish for International Trade, Spanish and Spanish American Literature, Art and Culture of Spain, and Contemporary Spanish Topics. Some of my favorite Spanish courses were taken while I was abroad in Seville, Spain. See my Study Abroad page or the Course Details section below for more information on these courses. 

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Course Details:

SPAN 2020- Intermediate Spanish Language

• After taking a year off from Spanish after high school, SPAN 2020 helped me catch up and brush up on my Spanish speaking and writing skills through a number of compositions and presentations.

• Composition (in Spanish) about the environment.

SPAN 3020- Intermediate Spanish Grammar and Composition

• This course enhanced my ability to speak and write in Spanish through daily conversations and regular writing exercises. Additionally, my instructor was from Mexico, so I had the opportunity to experience a new dialect that I had not previously experienced.

• Report (in Spanish) about Bolivia.

SPAN 3050- Intermediate Spanish Conversation and Composition

• Taken in Seville, Spain as SEVI 350, this class involved extensive practice with speaking and writing. One required element of this course was weekly volunteering that alternated between a local nursing home and an Hermandad (Catholic brotherhood that is involved with the Holy Week processions) where my classmates and I were able to practice our Spanish while speaking with locals. Additionally, I was able to stay up to date on events occurring in Spanish-speaking countries through weekly "diarios," or write-ups on current events of our choosing. 

• Reflection (in Spanish) on the community service.

SPAN 3070- Hispanic World: Spain

• Taken in Seville, Spain as Spain Today (SEVI 322), this course outlined the cultural, economic, and political history of Spain from the regime of Franco to today. I was able to apply the concepts learned in this class to the real world in discussions with the residents at the nursing home in Seville as well as in conversations with my host family.

• Research Essay (in Spanish) about the education system in Spain.

SPAN 3130- Spanish and Spanish American Literature

• Taken in Seville, Spain as SEVI 260, I read a number of authentic pieces of Spanish and Spanish American narratives, poems, and plays, including classics such as Don Quixote and "The House of Bernarda Alba."

• Essay (in Spanish) detailing the life of famous Spanish poet Espronceda.

SPAN 3140- Hispanic Linguistics

• As indicated by the title above, this course focused on the subject of linguistics with an emphasis on the Spanish language. I learned about various parts of language, including the basic topics of phonemes, morphemes, syntax, and semantics. I found that I am very interested in this field of study.

SPAN 3160- Spanish for International Trade I

• This course focused on Spanish vocabulary used in a business context. Words, phrases, and required skills were discussed for a number of departments in an international company, including marketing, human resources, and management. With a degree in Language and International Trade, the concepts outlined in this course were especially relevant to my future career.

• Essay (in Spanish) discussing important professional skills to develop as an employee of an international corporation.

SPAN 4160- Spanish for International Trade II

• This course was taken in Seville, Spain as a class covering the European Union (SEVI 343). I learned about the history of the European Union, the treaties that led to its formation, the institutions in place to support its functioning, and the symbols that EU citizens identify with today. Additionally, having daily conversations about current events in member states helped to solidify my understanding of this economic body.

SPAN 4350- Contemporary Hispanic Culture

• Taken in Seville, Spain as Art and Culture of Spain (SEVI 341), I was exposed to the history of the country that we now know as Spain. Spanning from Muslim control to the reign of the Catholic King and Queen to the regime of Francisco Franco, I studied a wide range of art movements, architectural trends, and political systems.

• Essay (in Spanish) about daily life in ancient Roman civilization on the Iberian Peninsula.

• Essay (in Spanish) about the urbanization of Seville.

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Marketing Courses

During my time at Clemson, marketing tended to be my favorite business subject. I took courses that helped me to understand the basics of marketing, psychological and cultural influences in buying patterns, and the impact of materialism and consumption on economics, politics, and sustainability. Included were Principles of Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Macromarketing.

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Course Details:

MKT 3010- Principles of Marketing

• As implied by the title, this course outlined the basics of marketing, including the very important four "P" words- product, price, place, and promotion. I was able to get a general idea of the aspects of marketing that all business conduct. This class helped me to understand what was necessary for the successful start-up of my old business in the following year (see ENGL 3040 for more details).

MKT 3020- Consumer Behavior

• Consumer Behavior is an interesting branch of marketing because it combines the basic concepts of the discipline with psychology. I learned the importance of each consumer, as well as groups of consumers, in the marketing process. I enjoyed how the principles of marketing and basic psychological concepts were combined into one course.

MKT 4270- International Marketing

• This course focused on various aspects of marketing on a global level. The presentation of US companies in other nations through articles, videos, and real-life examples helped to solidify the importance of a globalized market in my mind.

MKT 4450- Macromarketing

• Macromarketing was not your traditional marketing class in that we never discussed advertising or pricing models, but focused (as the name of the course implies) on much larger issues. 

• Term Paper for the class in which I tie together significant concepts from this course with a twist of anthropological backing.

Economics Courses

A huge chunk of the courses that I took through the business school at Clemson were focused on economics. I completed all microeconomic and macroeconomic courses up to the intermediate level, in addition to International Economics. All of these classes increased my ability to analyze graphical data. I also learned how to connect numerical calculations to these analyses, and after lots of practice, was able to rely on my intuition for basic problem solving.  

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Course Details:

ECON 2110- Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 2120- Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 3100- International Economics

ECON 3140- Intermediate Microeconomics

ECON 3150- Intermediate Macroeconomics

Business Courses

As a Language and International Trade major, I was required to take a number of business courses, including Introductory Accounting, Introductory Management, and International Management. One class that challenged me on a new level was my Business Writing class. View the "Course Details" section below for more information on this course. 

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Course Details:

ACCT 2010- Introduction to Accounting

• By equipping me with an understanding of the basic concepts, such as balance sheets and the roles of assets and liabilities, this course gave me a general understanding of accounting.

• Project for the class in which my group did a thorough comparison of two hotel companies.

MGT 2010- Introduction to Management

• This online course introduced me to the principles of management, including effective strategies for managing and the role of managers in a business.

MGT 4230- International Management

• This course gave me a new perspective in the global business world. After analyzing the geographic location of over 100 countries that are integral to international business, I was better able to understand various concepts that international managers face on a daily basis.

• Sample of a summary based on article about solar panels in Africa.

ENGL 3040- Business Writing

• Instead of working on resumes and cover pages throughout the semester, I was required to create my own microbusiness based on something I am passionate about. My small business is Kipper Doodle Creations, and I focus on re-purposing sentimental items and personal memories into customized stuffed creations. Below I have included links to both the website and business plan.

• Kipper Doodle Creations Website.

• Kipper Doodle Creations business plan.

Anthropology Courses

I decided one week into my first anthropology class that I wanted to incorporate it more deeply into my studies at Clemson University, and it is now my minor. Anthropology has opened my mind immensely. The courses I have taken have taught me to think critically about my own values and to embrace cultural diversity worldwide. Not only have I learned amazing things about the world and the people that inhabit it, but I have had the opportunity to apply these concepts, as seen in greater detail below.

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Course Details:

ANTH 3010- Cultural Anthropology

• In Cultural Anthropology, I was required to write an ethnography after conducting "fieldwork" through a series of interviews with an international student attending Clemson University. My informant was from the Bahamas, and my final report took the shape of a narrative outlining a "day in the life." To view this report, click on the link below.

• Ethnographic Report.

ANTH 3150- Biological Anthropology

• This course combines the basics of biology, such as cell structure and genetics, within the field of anthropology. This course gave me an interesting glimpse into the evolution of primates and the great behaviors adopted by humans throughout time.

ANTH 3200- Native American Indian Cultures

• Native American Indian Cultures gave me an understanding of the history of the indigenous peoples of North and South America, as well as helped me to empathize with their past and current struggles.

• Essay describing and commenting on the "reburial controversy."

• Essay comparing and contrasting the creation myth of the Pueblo Acoma peoples and the Christian creation story outlined in the book of Genesis.

ANTH 4030- Qualitative Methods of Anthropology

• This course gave me a glimpse into the life of an anthropologist while studying ethnographic interviewing and participant observation as the primary methods used to conduct qualitative research and gather data. 

ANTH 4040- Anthropological Theories

• In Anthropological Theories, I was required to formally debate a fellow classmate on the following prompt: Anthropology should be an objective science and not an interpretive humanity. Taking the side of interpretive humanity, I used Clifford Geertz and various post-modern theorists to support my argument. 

• Final Report using various theories to answer a number of questions related to current issues and trends in the field of anthropology. 

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Creative Inquiry

Clemson University allows students to be involved in a faculty mentor-led research study. I was fortunate enough to work alongside Laurel Whisler during the development and first two implementations of Entangled Learning within a college course from Summer 2015-Spring 2016. During Spring 2016, I created a children's book written from the perspective of a dog that highlights some of the most important aspects of Entangled Learning. A pdf version of the book is included here. I continued with this Creative Inquiry into Summer 2016 building online modules that demonstrate the fundamentals of Entangled Learning. For this project, one of my peers and I mapped out plans for an interactive module with ten "chapters," explored various software to complete this task, recorded and illustrated the module, and posted it online for public use. Our video can be found here. 

Alongside Paul Treuer and Laurel Whisler, I continue to work with building and implementing the Entangled Learning framework. For more information on Entangled Learning, please see the "Entangled Learning" tab under the "Research" drop-down, explore entangledlearning.org, or visit my portfolio as an Entangled Learner.