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July/August
2002
COVER
PAGE PRACTICAL
INFORMATION REGIONAL
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Feature
Spain Markets Language Programs to Foreignersby Robert
Sedgwick In
the past decade or so, colleges and universities around the world have
become increasingly active in marketing their programs, courses and qualifications
to international students around the world. As the demand for education
and training continues to grow, so does the competition among education
providers offering degrees and certificates in everything from liberal
arts to business. Language programs are no exception, and Spanish-language
programs in particular have witnessed exponential growth in recent years.
There are several reasons for this:
In May, I was invited to participate in a working tour around Spain for foreign education journalists. The objective of the trip, hosted by Español Recurso Económico, was to promote the country's Spanish-language programs. Over the course of 10 days and in between checking out the breathtaking sights and enjoying some very tasty food, we toured five of Spain's top universities. From 1499 to 1836, the University of Alcalá was known as Complutense, one of the most important intellectual and cultural centers in Europe. During Spain's golden age in the 16th century it was considered one of the three great universities, along with Salamanca and Valladolid. But toward the end of the 18th century, the university began to founder, and in 1836 it was relocated to Madrid. In 1977, the university was renamed University of Alcalá. It is now considered one of the most prestigious universities in Madrid. Spanish-Language Programs The University of Alcalá offers several types of Spanish-language courses: yearlong programs, intensive, specialized and personalized. It also serves as a testing center for the DELE (Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language) exam leading to Spain's only official title in Spanish-language fluency. Housing for foreign students is provided at university residence halls, with host families and in shared flats. The university offers programs sponsored by several U.S. institutions, including Michigan State University and the University of California, Berkeley. A sampling of courses available from the Spanish and cultural program for foreign students include: grammar and composition, Spanish for business, geography and history of Spain, Spanish civilization, modern and contemporary Spanish art, contemporary woman writers of the Spanish-speaking world, the Spanish economy and the European Union, Spanish cinema, Cervantes, contemporary Spanish theater, Spain and the Hispanic world and art and the Prado Museum. Fall Core
Program in Hispanic Studies: Advanced Spanish-language study and coursework
in Spanish history, art, literature, film, politics, economics and law
Spring Program: Students should arrive by Jan. 5. There is an orientation Jan. 8-11, and classes begin Jan. 15. The last day of exams is April 26, and students should plan to depart April 27. ESADE (Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas) was founded in Barcelona in 1958 as a private charitable school with an international focus. The main campus consists of three buildings in Barcelona. Today, the school has a branch campus in Madrid and offers courses in Europe and Latin America. It has also forged agreements with more than 40 universities worldwide. ESADE offers a wide range of programs in the field of business management and law. In addition, the school provides training in tourism and language. Spanish-Language Programs ESADE created the Language School in 1965 with the aim of strengthening its international outlook while complementing the courses offered at the business school. Since then, the Language School has focused on providing quality programs in international communication skills. Semi-Intensive Courses: These courses are designed to meet the needs of professionals and executives living and working in Spain. There are two types of semi-intensives: one focused on general Spanish and the other on business Spanish. The starting dates for the 2002-03 academic year are:
Intensive Courses: These courses range from basic to advanced and are offered in any given month. Intensive courses are divided into three modules: 1) language-skills development (oral communication, listening comprehension and reading comprehension), 2) language awareness (grammar, sentence construction and vocabulary) and 3) Hispanic culture (lectures and workshops on Spanish culture).
Practical Spanish for Business: This course, offered twice a year, takes only four weeks to complete. There is a minimum entry level of Spanish required for either intermediate- or advanced-level enrollment.
3. University of Castilla-La Mancha Various educational institutions have existed in the autonomous community of Castilla-LaMancha since 1172, but in 1985, these institutions were merged into a single regional school, the University of Castilla-La Mancha. The institution has campuses in Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toledo, and also offers courses in Almaden and Talavera de la Reina. Since its formal establishment, the university has greatly increased access to higher education - in fact, one in four of the 32,500 students enrolled there are on scholarship. The flagship campus is in the medieval city of Toledo, which was built by the Visigoths and later served as a major cultural center cohabited for 500 years by Christians, Jews and Muslims. Toledo's Translation School was established in the 13th century. Spanish-Language Programs These programs, coordinated by Northern Illinois University, are open to advanced, undergraduate- and graduate-level students. Students should have an interest in Spanish language and culture, along with a desire to increase their knowledge of these areas via an on-site experience. Eligibility
Requirements: Three years of college-level Spanish is mandatory. Undergraduates
must have satisfactorily completed a minimum of six semesters of college-level
courses in Spanish prior to applying. Spanish majors/minors must have
a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and 3.00, respectively, in Spanish courses.
For graduate credit, the courses offered are: contemporary Spanish literature, masterpieces of Spanish literature, Spanish civilizations. masterpieces of Spanish-American literature, research seminar in literature: Spanish and research seminar in civilization and culture: Spanish. Undergraduate students may also enroll in two Spanish correspondence courses: practice in contemporary business, administrative and personal correspondence in Spanish, and advanced composition in Spanish. The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 and is the oldest university in Spain. It still enjoys great prestige today. Approximately 39,000 students are enrolled at the university, which has a teaching staff of 2,200. The university has agreements with several foreign universities, foundations and businesses. In 1987 a new university city, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, was constructed to help accommodate the expanding student body. The main campus in Salamanca has 30 buildings for faculties, schools and research. Many of these buildings, such as the Colegio Fonesca with its intricately carved façade, are of great historic value. There are also campuses in Avila, Bejar and Zamora, all of which boast historic architecture. Spanish-Language Programs Courses are organized in five levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced, upper level 2 and upper level 1. Courses are held three times a year: January to June; September to October; July and August. Beginner: Classes include broadening vocabulary, language laboratory and communication activities. Intermediate through Upper Level 1: Classes include global communicative practice, Spanish culture, Spanish literature, history of contemporary Spain, practice of written skills, history of Spanish art, Spanish for business and practice of oral skills. Types of Instruction:
The University of Valladolid traces its origins to the 13th century. By the 16th century, it was considered one of the country's three top universities. Many of the school's faculties and facilities are located in historic buildings. Among its four campuses, Valladolid currently enrolls 34,000 students and has a teaching staff of 2,300. Spanish-Language Programs Basic Language Skills: This four-week program focuses on developing basic skills in oral and written expression. Classes are held three hours a day, five days a week. Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes begin Oct. 7. Summer Courses: These four-week classes are held in June, July, August and September. Beginner, intermediate, advanced and superior students study four hours a day, five days a week. The next session begins Sept. 2. Courses for Professionals in Spanish as a Foreign Language: There are three curriculums available:
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