NGU studies abroad in Spain this summer
Mary Mahan, Staff Writer
Spanish flag in the wind.
Source: Pixabay
This summer, North Greenville’s Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics is excited to be pioneering NGU’s first study abroad program in Spain, led by professor Victor Prieto.
On previous trips, students have gone to different countries in Central America through the school, but this summer Prieto is taking a group of students to Madrid, Spain for a full-on study abroad experience. Before this trip, students would travel to get a taste of another country and learn more about the Spanish language.
Spain, at night, from space.
Source: NASA
This summer, students will be enrolled in two NGU classes: Spain Culture & Civ. and A Spanish Speaking Country: “Spain” while overseas. It will be the same classes that would have been taught here at NGU by professor Prieto but instead will be taught in Madrid. Prieto said, “This is going to be a complete Spanish immersion program.”
The trip will be a five-week program that will begin mid-May and mid-June. The dates set at the moment are May 13 through June 16 but are subject to change depending on plane ticket availability. The approximate cost of the trip is $3,250. This cost, like the dates, is subject to change due to plane tickets. If the plane tickets increase or decrease in price, the final cost could be altered. The cost of the trip includes flight, room and board, one of the two courses offered and administrative and insurance fees. Students only need extra money to buy souvenirs and extra food if desired.
Inside the Royal Palace of Madrid
Source: Unsplash
As of now, students will be staying in an apartment in Madrid together. As more students show a desire to go, the opportunity to stay with host families becomes an option. On Monday through Thursday, students will be in class. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., class will be in session in the apartment, but in the afternoon students will be sent out to Madrid to do projects. These projects will encourage the students to use their language skills to ask natives how to find a particular monument or a particular thing in the market.
The students will have Friday through Sunday off, except for two weekends that are scheduled for mission opportunities, Prieto said. “ Prieto and the students will work with local churches and pastors to help with things like VBS, ESL classes or sports days. On their weekends off, students can either stay in Madrid, explore other parts of Spain or travel to other countries in Europe like Italy; Prieto himself has plans to go to Portugal.
At the moment, the program is only open to Spanish language students that have completed at least one intermediate Spanish course. Because it will be a “full-immersion” program, it’s imperative that students can adequately speak the language. If students who haven’t taken the required intermediate class, or aren’t in the language program at all, Prieto says they can be tested by himself and other Spanish professors to see if they know enough of the language to be considered. Prieto states, “These instances will be evaluated case-by-case.”
This summer is the catalyst of a rotating abroad program between Europe, primarily Spain, on the even years and Central America, countries like El Salvador and Guatemala, in the odd years. The future also holds the potential to start allowing other majors to participate in these trips. Prieto said, “While we are in Spain, we will see if there are opportunities for other programs and/or majors there.”
The Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics is looking for students who not only have good Spanish linguistics but also have good character and have the desire to completely immerse themselves in another culture.
If this is you, contact the department chair and leader of the trip Victor Prieto for more information through email, vprieto@ngu.edu, or give him a visit in his office in Averyt office 9. If you’re thinking about applying, make it a priority to contact him before November and start saving now.
