Spanish Language in Madrid, Spain

The Virginia Military Institute, in partnership with Alcalingua-Universidad de Alcalá, is pleased to present a summer five-week language and cultural immersion program (nine credit hours) in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.

Dates: May 26 - June 28, 2019

Cost: $5,000 excluding airfare (subject to BOV approval)

Credit Hours: Up to 9 (6 for language and 3 for history & culture)

Fees include tuition, insurance, airport transfer, Madrid travel pass, excursions and field trips, accommodation with host families, and most meals. International airfare costs are not included.

Eligibility

Any current student in good standing with an accredited university is eligible to apply. VMI students need only to submit an application. Applicants from other universities should include a faculty letter of recommendation, an official transcript, and a short essay outlining the applicant’s personal and academic goals for the program, along with the application. Cadets must have completed the application process and provided a $250 non-refundable deposit by 18 January 2019. Committed cadets must have paid program in full or signed promissory note by 15 February 2019.

Program Director

Dr. Sabrina Laroussi completed her doctorate in Spanish at Texas Tech University. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Spanish at Virginia Military Institute. Her research is focused on literary representations of death and violence in contemporary Peninsular and Latin American Literature. Her studies have also included pedagogical methodologies of teaching Spanish as a second language and Francophone Studies. Dr. Laroussi was born and raised in Algeria, and lived and studied in Spain and Texas. Her study-abroad experiences have broadened the scope of her education and of her career as well.

Program Description

This will be a language, culture, art and history program in which all participants will earn six hours of Spanish language credits at the 100, 200 or 300*, and three hours of Spanish culture or History credits. Students will visit the most significant sites and museums in Spain and will be introduced to the history, traditions, and culture. In addition to language studies, courses are combined with cultural activities such as visits to battlefields, Military Museum in Toledo, Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum, Sorolla Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Royal Palace and Naval Museum. Students will be observing the cultural diversity of Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, among other cities.

Room and Board

Students will be housed in a typical university dormitory. Three meals a day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week will be provided.

* Each student will take a proficiency test in-situ to determine his or her language proficiency and be enrolled in the appropriate courses.