# SPANSH 59 - Spanish and the Community Semester: Spring | Year offered: 2026 | Link: [Course Website](https://locator.tlt.harvard.edu/course/colgsas-115919/2025/spring/12226) An advanced language course that examines the richness and complexity of the Latino experience in the US while promoting community engagement as a vehicle for greater linguistic fluency and cultural understanding. Students are placed with community organizations within the Boston area and volunteer for three hours a week. Classwork focuses on expanding students' oral and written proficiency in Spanish through discussing and analyzing readings, arts, and films by and about Latinos in the US. --- ## Course Head [### María Luisa Parra ](/people/maria-luisa-parra) Senior Preceptor in Romance Languages and Literatures (Spanish) Co-Director of Language Programs Undergraduate Advisor in Spanish, Latin American, and Latino Studies Research Interests: Spanish as a heritage language and Pedagogy, Second Language Acquisition and Pedagogy; Child Language Development and Bilingualism; Latino Families and Immigration; Immigration and Education Dr. María Luisa Parra has a B.A. in... ![parra](/sites/g/files/omnuum8296/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-04/maria_luisa_at_desk_1-3.jpg?itok=UH7-nHfl) See also:- [ Language ](/class-categories/language) - [ Spanish language ](/keywords/spanish-language) - [ Spanish ](/language/spanish) - [ María Luisa Parra-Velasco ](/language-instructor/maria-luisa-parra-velasco) - [ Spring 2026 ](/class/term/spring-2026)