Study of the course syllabuses for the training of teachers of Spanish for Specific Purposes in Spanish universities

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the syllabus of the modules related to the training for Spanish for Specific Purposes teachers (TSSPT) in Spanish universities Master’s degrees registered in the RUCT. The paper focuses on the academic outcomes, the contents, and the bibliography from the syllabus. It provides an overview of the university training for future teachers of SSP, which contributes to the advance and innovation of the area. From the 31 master’s degrees selected, 27 modules related to SSP were included. The criteria used in the analysis of the syllabus are from the Routledge Handbook of Spanish Language Teaching (2019), the Libro Blanco from the ANECA in Lengua, Literatura, Cultura y Civilización (2004), and the Vademécum para la formación de profesores (2008). The results indicate that in Spanish universities individual, methodological, and communicative learning outcomes are found. Regarding the contents, the theoretical perspective is found to predominate over the practical one, while business and administrative Spanish are often found. One of the most revealing data from the bibliographical references is that syllabuses promote reference texts published between 2004 and 2005.