Salamanca

The City of Salamanca

Golden sandstone buildings, cobblestone streets, picturesque courtyards, and towering Gothic cathedrals give Salamanca a unique historical ambience. This small city is home to the oldest and most prestigious Spanish language university in the world, where great figures of Spanish humanism and literature once studied and taught and where the purest Castilian Spanish is spoken. Its bustling student atmosphere, great location, and richness in cultural activity make Salamanca a perfect destination for studying abroad.

Salamanca Facts:

• Location of City: Northwestern Spain, approximately two hours from Madrid and one hour from Portugal
• Population of City: 160,400
• Why It's Special: Oldest Spanish university in the world; "purest" form of spoken Spanish; European Capital of Culture (2002)
• Must Sees: Plaza Mayor, University of Salamanca; New and Old Cathedrals; Casa de las Conchas
  

Airport Reception & Return

Students who arrive at the designated airport prior to arrival cut-off time on the arrival day for their program will be picked up at the airport and transferred to their assigned housing. In addition, students leaving on the last day of the program will also receive return transportation their designated airport.

Housing & Meals

All students will stay with a homestay family. All families have been screened by our local resident staff and have been carefully chosen to ensure the best possible living arrangements. Staying with a family is a great way to complement your classroom study, as you have the opportunity to practice your language skills and learn about the Spanish culture.

Tuition & Fees

The CEA program price covers the cost of standard tuition and registration fees at your host institution. Tuition includes the courses indicated in the program.

College Credit

An official transcript from the University of New Haven will be issued at the end of your CEA program. The amount of credit awarded is at the discretion of your home school.

Medical Insurance

CEA Insurance through HTH Worldwide is included in your program cost. This comprehensive medical insurance plan covers a maximum of $250,000 for any illness or accident abroad and does not carry a deductible. Coverage includes most medical expenses, emergency evacuation and a full range of 24-hour medical assistance.

Onsite Orientation

CEA will provide you with helpful resources and advising before you leave home. Once you arrive at your program destination, CEA will hold an in-depth group orientation, where you will explore your new host city, as well as learn more about local customs, extracurricular activities, CEA policies, and health and safety information. In addition, you will have the opportunity to get to know other CEA participants as you begin to adjust to life in your new environment.

Resident Staff

CEA has an experienced and friendly staff to ensure that you have a positive study abroad experience. From securing housing and planning activities to providing academic support and cultural counseling, the resident staff are available to help you make a smooth transition into your new culture and educational environment.

Excursions

As part of your CEA experience, you will receive at least two day trips to locations outside your program destination. These excursions are designed to give you a more in-depth look into the landscape and culture of your host country. All transportation and entrance fees are included.

Immersion Activities

CEA resident staff plan activities throughout the week, designed to help introduce you to local customs, culture and people, as well as to help you explore your new city. Activities may vary weekly and some may require an additional fee.

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Eligibility

• Participants must be currently enrolled in a US High School
• Age: Participants must be at least 17 years of age by the program start date
• GPA: 2.5 (4.0 Scale)
• Language Level: Participants must have taken at least 1 year of High School Spanish

Academic Focus

The Spanish Language Studies program is designed for students of all language levels who are interested in improving their language skills. Your courses will focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will also have the option of taking a Spanish elective. Depending on your level, electives focus on furthering language skills or learning about the Spanish culture. All students will take a placement exam upon arrival to determine their language level. You will be in class with other US and international students.

Classes meet for three hours in the morning or afternoon, Monday through Friday. At the end of your four week session, you will have participated in 60 hours of coursework, which is generally worth 4 semester credits in the US university system. Students participating in the July 2-Week session will complete 30 hours of coursework, which is generally worth 2 credits in the US university system. Please refer to the Courses & Credits tab for specific course descriptions.

Housing

All CEA students will live in a homestay. Homestays may consist of a single señora (with or without children) or a traditional two-parent household. This housing option allows students to continue practicing Spanish outside of the classroom while learning about Spanish culture. In most cases, students will stay in a double room with another CEA participant. All families are welcoming and generous with their home, but participants should remember that they are guests and will be expected to adapt to the traditions and rules of their homestay.

You will be provided three meals per day and laundry service once a week. All homestays are located within Salamanca's city center and are walking distance from classes.

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Itineraries

Excursions | Immersion Activities | Program Itineraries

Excursions

Students will receive at least two day trips during the four week sessions and one day trip during the two week session. We have described some of the excursion opportunities that may be offered during your session.

	Segovia Segovia's famous Aqueduct, built by the Romans in 50 B.C. offers the perfect backdrop for this treasured Spanish city. Students will also tour the 11th century Alcazar, the castle that is said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney's castle in Disneyland.
	El Escorial and Valle de los Caídos Built in the 16th century, this royal palace and monastery is the largest Spanish building of the Renaissance period and houses important masterpieces from the royal Hapsburg collections. You will also visit the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen), which Franco built for those who died in the Spanish Civil War.
	Ávila Encircled by 11th century stone walls, Ávila is one of Spain's best preserved medieval treasures. Just outside the city walls is "Cuatro Postes" which offers the best view of the city.

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Immersion Activities

Below is a sample of the types of activities that students may experience during their program.

Intercambios
CEA students practice their Spanish outside of class and have the opportunity to meet local people, and above all make new friends and socialize. Since this is an easy opportunity to feel integrated into the local community, it is one of the most recommended forms of immersion by former CEA students.

Spanish Cooking Classes
This is a great opportunity to participate in the making of several typical Spanish dishes by a local chef. Students will take notes which are later compiled into a lista de recetas and handed out by resident staff. This activity will take place in a restaurant atmosphere where students will have the chance to sample every dish prepared, learn about the different kinds of Spanish cuisine and the specialties of each region. The highlight of this class is the elaboration of the famous Spanish dish, paella. Most students agree that savoring everything at the end, especially the paella, is quite a feast!

Horseback Riding
By visiting a local picadero or ranch, students can learn about the art of bullfighting, go horseback riding and enjoy the paisaje charro. Even the bus ride to the ranch is a great way to experience Salamanca's countryside and learn about characteristics of the local landscape, like the encina, its acorns or bellotas and Salamanca's cerdo ibérico. Students will be taught some basic notions about horseback riding upon arrival and will be taken out on an hour-long ride through one of the ranch's many routes by a member of the ranch's staff. Some students have even had the chance to meet famous bull-fighters here!

Tapas Night
CEA will take students on a tour of different tapas bars in the city where they can learn about and taste typical Spanish tapas.

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Program Itineraries

CEA resident staff plan activities each week to help students become more familiar with their host city and surrounding area, as well as introduce them to the local culture. Please find below the itineraries for the 2007 summer programs. Note, activities are subject to change onsite.

June 4-Week

July 4-Week

July 2-Week

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Courses & Credits

University of Salamanca

The University of Salamanca, founded by Alfonso IX in 1218, is Spain's oldest university and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe. It was once grouped with those of Oxford, Bologne, and Paris as one of the "four leading lights of the world." Through the years, its halls have been home to many intellectuals and authors, including Antonio de Nebrija, Fray Luis de León, Miguel de Unamuno, and Miguel de Cervantes. Today, the university enrolls approximately 30,000 students, 7,000 of which are international, thereby maintaining its prestige as an international center of exchange and learning.

Students will take courses offered through Cursos Internacionales, a center within the university system dedicated to teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Classes are taught by university faculty in various university buildings located throughout the city center.

Grades & Transcripts

Students who successfully complete their program will receive an official transcript from the University of New Haven (UNH). Additional details about the transcript process will be available in the upcoming weeks.

Course Descriptions

Beginner students will take one Spanish grammar course and a vocabulary expansion course. They will also have the option to take one additional elective focused on Spanish language.

June intermediate students will take one Spanish grammar course and a Global Communication Practices course. July intermediate students will take one Spanish grammar course and will choose an elective focused on Spanish language or culture. All intermediate students will also have the option of taking an additional elective focused on Spanish history, culture, or language.

List of Courses

Beginner Spanish I	Language Lab	History of Spanish Art
Beginner Spanish II	Intermediate Spanish I	Contemporary Spanish Literature
Beginner Spanish III	Intermediate Spanish II	Commentary of Literary Texts
Beginner Spanish IV	Global Communication Practices	Economics & Society of Modern Spain
Vocabulary Expansion	Spanish Culture	Spanish for Business
Communication Activities	History of Contemporary Spain	Practice of Oral Skills

Course descriptions for the Advanced and Superior levels are available upon request. Please contact CEA for further information.

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