Thursday, April 14, 2011

The first University of North Carolina Wilmington business course taught entirely in Spanish launched this semester. Established to help prepare students for international business opportunities, Principles of Marketing en Español provides Spanish-language immersion and hands-on learning experience about business practices in Latin America.

Lisa Scribner, associate professor of marketing, teaches the course and developed the unique curriculum. Scribner utilizes case studies in Spanish about Latin American businesses and U.S. corporations who conduct business in Latin America, such as Google and Starbucks. Scribner, who has taught at UNCW since 1997, also invites Latin American business people to guest lecture on a diverse set of marketing topics.

Media are invited to join a class session on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.

Sophomore international business major Jacqueline Richmond, who has studied Spanish for more than five years, said, "It's more interactive than a typical lecture class. It's a great opportunity to listen and speak in Spanish."

This March the class visited businesses in Costa Rica as part of an optional spring break trip. Students applied skills learned in the classroom while meeting with six different Costa Rican companies including Amcham, Cinde, Casem, Monteverde Cheese Factory, La Cooperativa de Café San Luis and Café Britt. They worked with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, a local non-governmental organization (NGO), on a volunteer service project to build homes for Nicaraguan immigrants.

Scribner believes strongly in the lasting benefits of studying abroad. She said, "It's been more than 20 years since I studied abroad in college, and it is still opening doors for me now. The opportunity to teach this class in Spanish is a great example."

The class is not limited to students who plan careers in business. Principles of Marketing en Español student Kwabene Williams, who is earning a dual major in management information systems and Spanish and plans to become a school principal, said, "I think it's important to have a more global perspective on people's conditions rather than a narrow vision if I plan on working in a school community."

The idea for the class began when Scribner learned that the UNCW Office of International Programs was offering Global Citizenship Grants to faculty to add a global focus to UNCW curriculum.

Scribner and her students are available for media interviews by request. With notice, media may also visit Scribner's class to take photos and video.

Media Contacts:
Joy Davis, UNCW media relations, 910.632.3903 or davisjc@uncw.edu