Spanish Language & Culture
2010 July 6-Week - Academics

Academic Focus

The Spanish Language & Culture Program at the University of Salamanca allows students of all language levels to focus on language acquisition and improvement while taking Spanish electives in a variety of subject areas. All students will enroll in one Spanish language course and have the option to take electives taught in Spanish. Language courses focus on oral comprehension and expression, listening comprehension and grammar components appropriate to your language level. Beginner students are also required to take a vocabulary expansion course, while students at the intermediate level and above must take one required elective. All students may also opt to take up to two additional electives. Spanish electives concentrate on topics related to Spanish language and culture.

Language classes meet for a total of 40 contact hours during the four-week summer session and a total of 60 contact hours during the six-week summer session, and are generally worth 3 or 4 semester credits respectively. Each elective meets for 20 hours during the four-week summer session and 30 hours during the six-week summer session, and is generally worth 1 or 2 semester credits respectively. Students in the four-week session will earn a total of 4 to 6 semester credits and students in the six-week session will earn a total of 6 to 10 semester credits. Please note, it is up to the discretion of the student’s academic advisor to determine how much credit will be awarded.

Schedule Summary

Language classes are held Monday through Friday from 9am – 12pm. Elective courses take place in the afternoon, immediately after the language classes.

Course Registration

As part of the registration process, the university requires that you complete a preliminary placement exam prior to your departure to Spain. This exam will be sent to you via email approximately six weeks prior to the start of the program. Based on the results of this test, you will be placed into one of 12 language levels: Beginner I,II; Initial I, II; Intermediate I,II; High Intermediate I, II, Advanced I, II, High Advanced I, II; Superior I, II. During the first few days of class, your language level will be assessed by your professor through written and oral in-class exercises in order to confirm and determine the appropriate level of language study. Placement as determined by the University of Alicante faculty is final. In order to ensure that you receive credit for the level that you place into, it is in your best interest to have courses at several levels approved by your academic advisor prior to departure.

In addition, all students are required to complete an elective selection form prior to departure. This form must be returned to the CEA Tempe office with your program confirmation, or no later than the application closure date for your program. You will automatically be registered for your language courses.