In a fantastic showing of partnership with local organizations, UCCS Downtown held a NLNG 1110 Intensive Beginning Spanish I course to teach Spanish language basics to staff members of the District Attorney’s Office, taught by Édgar Cota-Torres, Ph.D., Languages & Cultures Department Chair and professor of Spanish.

Each Monday and Wednesday over nine weeks, the District Attorney’s Office staff attended an hour and a half class at UCCS Downtown to learn rudimentary Spanish with an emphasis on legal terminology and phrases.

“The goal was provide students with a challenging and friendly environment so that they achieve a beginner proficiency level of the Spanish language through a broad understanding of its applications and implications,” explained Cota-Torres. “The students were well motivated and interested in the subject. I always tried to keep this course fun and to incorporate cultural aspects of the Hispanic world, and the students were appreciative of this as well. I am grateful to Colorado’s 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and to UCCS Extended Studies for offering this opportunity to this excellent group of students!”

Professor Cota-Torres and UCCS Downtown already have more courses in the works, with another legal profession-based class expected to start in August and a goal to expand to other industries including a medical field-based version.

“As UCCS Downtown has grown in popularity, we have continued to refine how to best serve the students, faculty, staff and alumni of UCCS, but also how to best serve the Colorado Springs community,” said Zak Kroger, director of UCCS Downtown. “As such, we have been working to create affordable, non-credit classes for professionals seeking to increase their knowledge or competence in various areas. The Spanish class is exactly the type of thing we want happening here! There is a huge demand, and it has been extremely encouraging to see just how much community interest there has been with it.”