Spain: Salamanca & Barcelona

SPAN 333 and SPAN 311/312/408X (6 credits)

Summer 2010 dates: June 3 - July 17, 2010

Maryland’s Department of Span­ish and Portuguese, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, in cooperation with El Colegio Hispano Continental and International House-Barcelona, is conducting a six-week intensive summer program in Salamanca and Barcelona. The program seeks to develop students’ language proficiency in Spanish and introduce them to the culture and life of Spain through active participation in academic courses, in­teraction with families, as well as excursions throughout the cities and surrounding countryside.

SALAMANCA and BARCELONA

Salamanca is in the northwest region of central Spain, near the Portuguese border and two hours from Madrid, the capital. With two universities, two cathedrals and many palaces and churches, Salamanca balances the pace of contemporary university life with its historic and cultural status as a centuries-old city.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is 2002 years old and rivals Madrid as the industrial and business center of Spain. After its refurbishment for the 1992 Sum­mer Olympics, it has become one of Europe’s most modern and beautiful cities. It offers the perfect mix of old and new, ranging from its gothic architecture to a number of modern beach resorts.

EXCURSIONS

In Salamanca, the students will enjoy a program of four one-day excursions with a guide to Segovia, Los Arribes, Toledo, and Peña de Francia . There will be tours of the city and its historic sites, “tapas” outings and a banquet featuring the local cuisine.

In Barcelona, students will participate in a half-day city tour upon arrival and a one-day excursion to the Salva­dor Dalí Museum in Figueres, and the city of Girona, one of the most promi­nent centers for Jewish studies during the Middle Ages. Other outings and group activities will be planned ac­cordingly.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Students will live individually with Spanish families in Salamanca. The families will be selected with the help of the program’s housing coordinator. This will give students additional opportunities to learn about Spanish so­ciety and to practice the language.

In Barcelona, participants will share rooms in a Student Residence, living among both Spanish and international students. Interaction with these students will provide further venues to practice Spanish and learn about Spanish culture from local peers.

The program fee includes full room and board in Salamanca and full room and half board in Barcelona (breakfast and dinner).

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Maryland student Jamie Adasi participated in this program summer 2008 and took part in a promotional video for the city of Salamanca.  Check it out!  

A University of Maryland student, Eric Shields, went on the Spain summer program offered during summer 2003. He created a website from his experience and would like to share it with students interested in the program. Please note, all contents on this website are expressions of the owner and maintainer of this site and are not necessarily opinions shared by the Study Abroad Office. Visit Eric's UM Spain 2003 website.