World Languages
At the Community College of Denver (CCD), you can expand your career potential and cultural understanding through world language study. CCD offers Spanish (SPA) and American Sign Language (ASL) courses that help you build practical communication skills for real-world success.
Through the Colorado Community College System, you can also study French, Chinese, German, Japanese, Arabic, Russian or Italian, broadening your global perspective and professional opportunities.
Learning another language enhances your resume, strengthens your communication and problem-solving skills, and enriches both your travel and work experiences. In today’s culturally diverse and globally connected world, speaking more than one language is a valuable advantage in almost any career.
Did you know?
Speaking more than one language enhances cognitive abilities, improves career opportunities, increases cultural awareness, and builds stronger communication skills.Spanish is spoken in more than 20 countries and by over 600 million people worldwide. With more than 57 million Spanish speakers, the United States is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. Additionally, Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the country, making it an essential skill in today's job market.
In Colorado, over one in five residents identifies as Hispanic or Latinos, and nearly 12% of Coloradans speak Spanish at home.
Why Study Spanish at CCD
- Hispanic-Serving Institution: Practice the language in and outside the classroom.
- Accessible, affordable, and transferable courses through Colorado’s Guaranteed Transfer (GT) system.
- Go beyond grammar with cultural studies, conversation skills, and professional applications.
Colorado Guaranteed Transfer: Up to 19 Credits
Approximately 11 million people in the U.S. consider themselves deaf or have serious difficulty hearing, and an estimated 500,000 use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary language.
Learning ASL not only opens doors to meaningful communication but also supports accessibility, inclusion, and career paths such as interpreting and education.
Why Study ASL at CCD
- Develop signing fluency and vocabulary in a supportive, immersive environment.
- Gain skills that can transfer to further interpreter training and professional roles.
- Learn from passionate instructors dedicated to Deaf culture and communication.
Colorado Guaranteed Transfer: 3 Credits
As the job market continues to shift toward skills-based hiring, employers increasingly seek proof of the skills and knowledge candidates bring to the workplace. The Community College of Denver's World Languages program offers micro-credentials through short, workshop-style classes that help students build relevant, in-demand skills. Upon successful completion, students earn a CCD Credly digital badge, a verified credential they can share online to showcase their achievement and demonstrate their expertise to employers.
This credential validates proficient skills in Spanish communication and comprehension at a foundational level. The holder of this badge demonstrates fluency in reading, writing, listening, and conversation, and is able to participate in settings that require a foundational level of Spanish. It underscores a dedication to language learning, showcasing the ability to contribute meaningfully in diverse professional contexts.
The foundational Spanish badge is awarded upon successful completion of SPA 1012 (Spanish Language II) at the 80% level including the ability to express oneself in the language and to develop appreciation and competence in various aspects of Hispanic culture, including mastery of grammar for this level. If SPA 1011 and SPA 1012 are taken online, students will need to take an exam and pass it with 80% or more to earn the badge.
The Intermediate Spanish credential attests to proficient skills in Spanish communication and comprehension at an intermediate level. The holder exhibits fluency in reading, writing, listening, and conversation, and is able to participate in settings that require an intermediate level of Spanish. It underscores a dedication to language learning, showcasing the ability to contribute meaningfully to diverse professional contexts.
Students will obtain this Badge upon successful completing SPA 2012 (Spanish Language IV) at the 80% level or higher, including the ability to express in the Spanish language and to develop appreciation and competence in various aspects of Hispanic culture including mastery of grammar for this level. If SPA 2011 and SPA 2012 are taken online, students will need to take an exam and pass it with 80% or more to earn the badge.
The Spanish Bilingual Badge: is a competency-based micro-credential offered through the World Languages at the Community College of Denver. Students, particularly heritage speakers whose Spanish language is advanced, will be equipped with the necessary Spanish language skills to serve as bilingual professionals in different settings. Competencies set for this micro-credential are aligned with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) standards for proficiency in areas of interpersonal, presentational, and interpretive communication.
This micro-credential certifies advanced skills in Spanish communication and comprehension. The holder demonstrates abilities in grammar, reading, writing, and conversation that allow them to express themselves in public and some professional environments requiring fluency in Spanish and the English Language. This achievement reflects bilingual advanced fluency in writing and oral communication and the ability to contribute to multicultural and international teams in diverse professional settings.
Students earning this badge are required to take three Spanish non-credit courses: 1) reading and writing, 2) cultural perspectives, 3) vocabulary for the professions. After taking these three non-credit courses and successfully completing them with final oral presentations and other assessments in which they will confirm auditory understanding of dialogue in professional situations and read and write a variety of professional communications, students will earn the Spanish Bilingual Badge.
The ASL Foundations digital badge is a competency-based micro-credential offered through the World Languages at the Community College of Denver. Earning this badge demonstrates foundational competency in American Sign Language (ASL), a comprehensive understanding of Deaf culture, effective interpersonal communication with the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, and a deeper understanding of the linguistic landscape in the United States. While this micro-credential does not prepare students adequately to become ASL interpreters, it is an important first step for students on this journey. Competencies for this micro-credential are aligned with American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards for proficiency in the areas of interpersonal, presentational, and interpretive communication.
Our instructors:
Spanish:
Belkis Suárez has a Ph.D. in Spanish (Latin American Literature) and an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida. She is the Director of World Lanaguages at CCD. She specializes in teaching all levels of the Spanish Language and Contemporary Latin American literature and film.
Gloria Monzon is originally from Hernandarias, Paraguay, and holds a Ph.D. in Technology, Innovation, and Pedagogy along with a TESOL graduate certificate. Her work centers on improving online Spanish instruction through social learning theory and digital tools, and she enjoys languages, culture, travel, gardening, and time with her grandson and her dog.
Leah Becton is one of our Spanish and English composition instructors. She has her MA in Spanish from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and an MA in Comparative Literature from the University of Cambridge. Leah loves helping students along their Spanish-learning journey and strives to make language acquisition accessible, relevant, and exciting for all students.
ASL:
Bonita Haris is deaf and has been teaching ASL for more than 20 years. She is passionate about to have teaching and learning culture and language. Her hobbies are Zentangle art, watercoloring, and reading the books.