Lingua Franca

Study Spanish Abroad

By Fátima Serra, department of foreign languages

This past summer the Department of Foreign Languages, in partnership with Sol Education Abroad, enjoyed four weeks of Spanish Immersion in Heredia, Costa Rica. Students earned six credits at the Universidad Latina, participated in cultural activities and travelled across the country. Cooking Lessons, toucan rescue parks, volcanoes and city tours were part of the experience. Check out some of the pictures.

Salem State students in the Spanish immersion program in Heredia, Costa Rica, July 2012, while on a hike to Poas Volcano

This coming July we will be going back to Oviedo, in the north of Spain, for our summer Spanish program.  All students, regardless of their major or minor can earn 6 credits of languages. The program is affordable due to our relationship with the University of Oviedo. Students can also apply their financial aid to the program.

The Spanish Summer Program for 2012 is in Oviedo, in the Asturias region

If a month-long experience is too short for you, the Universidad de Oviedo also has a very affordable semester program.  Students may take up to five course of Spanish language and culture at three different levels and/or some business or English courses.

For more information on both programs follow this link: http://www.salemstate.edu/academics/schools/7257.php

And if you are ready to graduate and are interested in both living abroad while building your CV with valuable experience, we recommend the Cultural Ambassadors: North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain. The Ministry of Education of Spain will provide over 1,000 grants for American students to be English Teaching Assistants in Spanish schools.  It does not cost any money and you get a monthly stipend, sufficient to live on.  Applications for the 2013-2014 academic year will open in early December 2012.

You don’t need to be a Spanish Major to apply for one of these assistantships.  Four Salem State students have already participated in the program. Currently, Valerie Del Villar is enjoying her experience working abroad.

For more information: http://www.educacion.gob.es/eeuu/convocatorias-programas/convocatorias-eeuu/auxiliares-conversacion-eeuu.html