Faculty Profile
Erin Diaz
Associate Professor of Spanish (2009)
Contact Information
Bosler Hall Room M9
717-245-1739
Bio
Professor Erin Díaz received an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) along with an M.A. and Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics with a concentration in Second Language Acquisition, Pedagogy and Sociolinguistics from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. She has co-authored several chapters about her research in acquiring the Spanish subjunctive and in delivering instruction in virtual contexts. She is a recent recipient of a Mellon Digital Humanities grant for her work on creating three websites focusing on the Spanish subjunctive/indicative, preterit/imperfect and object pronouns that serve as instructional interventions for learners and as a data collection tool for researchers. She has published in Hispania on her work in incorporating campus art museums into the foreign language curriculum and recently was part of a team that accepted an award from the PSMLA for the Trout Gallery’s innovative work with foreign languages. She teaches language classes and upper level linguistics courses in addition to running Dickinson’s Spanish language program.
Education
- B.A., Hillsdale College, 1990
- M.A., Indiana University, 2005
- Ph.D., 2011
2025-2026 Academic Year
Fall 2025
SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish
This course is a continuation of Spanish 101. The course focuses on all four langage skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking, with increasing emphasis on speaking. Prerequisite: 101. Upon completion, students go to 201.
SPAN 251 Sp for Academic Ctxt in Málaga
An advanced and in-depth study of grammatical structures to prepare students for the demands of Spanish university classes, with a focus on achieving the necessary command of the language according to DELE standards. Students will learn some of the intricacies, complexities and subtleties of Spanish grammar through personalized instruction, oral presentations and written analysis of diverse texts. These will include cultural texts, literature, art, current affairs, politics, etc. This is an intensive, four week pre-semester required course, which includes weekly exams in addition to other specific assignments.
SPAN 253 Engaging Málaga
This course provides a structured framework for students to learn from and connect their experiences in and outside the classroom in Málaga and Spain to issues with local and global significance through several lenses such as sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion. Students will expand their own cultural and self-awareness as they engage with the history, people and communities of Málaga. It has four primary goals. (1) It teaches students about the history and diverse cultures of the region, including how different communities have sought to sustain their cultural inheritances and advocate for a more just society. (2) It helps students understand the structure and culture of the Spanish university system, and the University of Málaga in particular, so they are better able to navigate it and be successful in their course work.(3) It provides an academic context to better understand and reflect on the history and cultures of the sites visited on program excursions. (4) It facilitates students’ civic engagement in the Málaga community and enables them to learn with and from the community in informed, thoughtful, and reciprocal ways. Meets once a week for 3 hours a week during the semester. 1 credit
SPAN 281 Hispanic-Arabic Art
This course focuses on topics that aid students in better understanding the relationship between disciplines and cultural competency. Courses may include the study of literature and film, Spanish-speaking culture and art, Spanish-speaking culture and business, and other topics. This course emphasizes cultural and linguistic awareness. Prerequisite: 202
SPAN 372 Spanish Society and Culture
Offered only at the Dickinson in Spain program in Málaga. In-depth study of several aspects of Spanish cultural traditions and values. Contrasts Andalusian culture with other peninsular cultures. Oral and written reports concerning cultural aspects of life in Málaga. Local field trips and interviews are an important part of the course.
Offered in the fall semester.