Spain

Spanish Language, Literature, Culture and Journalism

Program

About Oviedo

Courses

Faculty

Accommodation & Student Life

Exploring Spain

Cost

Calendar

General Summer Program Information

Eligibility and Application Procedures

Application Deadline

PROGRAM

The Temple in Spain summer program is designed for students with at least one year of university-level Spanish. The program is based at the University of Oviedo in the province of Asturias, a beautiful region of ocean, mountains and Roman ruins in northwest Spain. The program is comprised of coursework in Spanish language, literature, cultural studies and journalism. Courses are taught at the University of Oviedo by native Spanish-speaking professors and by Temple University professors Jaime Durán, Hiram Aldarondo and Lori Tharps. Students enroll in a total of six credits: three credits of language and three credits of literature, culture and civilization, or travel writing. The first five days of the program take place in Madrid, where faculty conduct an orientation program, and where students have the opportunity to explore Spain’s capital city and its environs before traveling to Oviedo to begin classes. The period in Madrid also includes day excursions to such nearby cities as Avila, Segovia and Toledo.

ABOUT OVIEDO

Oviedo is the capital of the province of Asturias, one of the most culturally significant regions in Spain. As the administrative, commercial and cultural center of the region, Oviedo is a lively and vigorous city with a population of 220,000. Just 21 miles from the coast, Oviedo is a gateway for great scenery and beaches.

While the city has an impressive old-town center, museums and significant historic architectural sites, it is also a modern city with an active cultural life featuring concerts, opera, theater and exhibitions. As there are relatively few English-speaking visitors, Oviedo is also an excellent location to improve language skills.

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COURSES

All students enroll in two courses, for a total of six credits.

One of the two courses must be the appropriate level of Spanish language study.

Language classes are given mornings, Monday through Friday, at the University of Oviedo by native Spanish-speaking professors, and are designed to improve students’ understanding of Spanish and to strengthen their speaking and writing skills. Prior to departure for Spain, students enroll in one of the following courses, according to the appropriate level. Upon arrival in Oviedo, students take a placement test to confirm their level and course. In order to be eligible for the program, students are required to have successfully completed at least two semesters of university-level Spanish (Spanish 1002: Basic II at Temple, or the equivalent.)

• Spanish 1003: Intermediate I (3 credits)
  Prerequisite: Spanish 1002: Basic II, or equivalent.
  
  
• Spanish 2001: Conversational Review (3 credits)
  Prerequisite: Spanish 1003: Intermediate I, or equivalent.
  
  
• Spanish 3001: Advanced Composition and Conversation (3 credits)
  Prerequisite: Spanish 2096: Composition, or equivalent.
  
  
• Spanish 3003: Advanced Grammar and Linguistic Concepts (3 credits)
  Prerequisite: Spanish 3001: Advanced Composition and Conversation, or equivalent.
  

All students also enroll in one of the following courses, taught in the afternoons by Temple University faculty.

• Spanish 2002: Hispanic Readings I (3 credits)
  Open to all students participating in the Oviedo summer program.
  Students in this course read a selection of texts representing topics related to the culture of northwestern Spain. Taught in Spanish.
  
  
• Spanish 3221: Spanish Culture and Civilization (3 credits)
  Prerequisite: Spanish 2096: Composition, or equivalent.
  The Spanish character as revealed in its language, literature, architecture, history, art, music, and ethnic traditions. Geography and sociology of Spain. Lectures, readings, and discussions. Taught in Spanish.
  
  
• Journalism 3296: Travel Writing (3 credits)
  Prerequisite: Temple journalism majors must have successfully completed Journalism 1196. All other students must have successfully completed one university-level writing course.
  This course introduces students to travel writing and incorporates in-class and out-of-class writing assignments, as well as participation in excursions in and around Oviedo. By the end of the course, students should be able to think about traveling and travel-related subjects in ways that lead to solid story ideas and should be able to write several clear and unique travel pieces of professional quality. To best equip students with the skills necessary to work in a foreign locale, the course goals go beyond publishable writing skills; there is also an emphasis on cultural awareness, international communication skills, establishing local contacts, and gaining a working knowledge of Spain’s current affairs. The course is taught primarily in English, but students can expect to use Spanish language skills while completing assignments. Students in this course are required to bring a laptop and a camera to Spain.
  

Temple students who successfully complete this program automatically satisfy the World Society (GG) requirement of GenEd.

FACULTY

Dr. Jaime Durán is a native of Oviedo and Asturias. He studied as an undergraduate at the University of Oviedo and obtained his PhD in Spanish from Temple University. He is currently an assistant professor of Spanish at Temple University and directs Temple's spring semester and summer programs in Oviedo.

Dr. Hiram Aldarondo is an associate professor of Spanish and the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies at Temple University's Department of Spanish and Portuguese. He specializes in Latin American literature and has had ample experience directing and coordinating study abroad programs in Latin America. He is the current director of Temple's Latin American Studies Semester program.

Lori L. Tharps is an assistant professor of journalism at Temple University and a seasoned journalist. She has written for publications including, Ms., Glamour, Entertainment Weekly, Essence and The Philadelphia Inquirer. For several years Tharps wrote for the travel magazine, Odyssey Couleur, which eventually led to the publication of her award-winning travel memoir, Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain. Tharps continues to write and publish articles and essays about travel, Spain and Spanish culture. Tharps lived in Spain for one year during college, is married to a Spaniard and is near fluent in Spanish.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Students live either with host families or in a university residence. Host families provide three meals a day. Students living in the university residence have breakfast daily in the university dining hall and are provided tickets for 18 additional meals, which can be used for either lunch or dinner in the university dining hall.

Living with a family provides students with more opportunities to practice Spanish in a natural setting and experience the local culture, and we therefore encourage students to consider this option. During the summer, few Spanish university students live at the university residence; most are students from the United States and other countries who have come to Spain to learn Spanish. However, there usually are some Spanish students studying for exams who are in the residence in the summer. Some of the dorm rooms have their own bathroom; others share a floor bathroom.

Students will be asked to select their housing preference at the time of application.

EXPLORING SPAIN

Students spend the first several days of the program in Madrid, exploring the capital of Spain and its environs, including Toledo, Segovia and Avila. Program participants often independently visit locations including Gijón and the beach, Santander and Santiana del Mar.

ESTIMATED 2013 COSTS

Notes:

All estimated costs are subject to change. They should be used as a guideline only. Accepted students will receive updated, detailed cost information as soon as it is available after the application deadline.

*Per university policy, Temple students who are considered “upper division” are charged additional tuition per credit in the summer (Pennsylvania Residents: additional $14 per credit; Non-Pennsylvania Residents: additional $48 per credit). “Upper division” is defined as an undergraduate student with a minimum of 60 earned credits, regardless of how obtained. This policy does not affect non-Temple students.

**The Spain fee includes: housing in a university dorm or with a family, all meals in Madrid (except for lunch on arrival day); housing and excursions in Madrid; and local travel from Madrid to Oviedo (but not from Oviedo to Madrid). For students in homestays, the fee includes three meals a day provided by the host family. For students living in the university residence, the fee includes breakfast daily and tickets for 18 additional meals (lunch or dinner) at the university dining hall. Please note that this fee is based on last year's fee and will be updated.

***Applicable to students living in the university residence. For students in homestays, three meals a day are provided.

In addition to the items above, students should budget money for local and personal travel, and any additional personal expenses.

We recommend that students follow the exchange rate prior to and during their summer abroad, either through the newspaper or a currency exchange web site (such as www.oanda.com).

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2013 CALENDAR (Summer II)

Dates are tentative and subject to change

Note: In 2013, students must depart for Spain before the end of summer session I at Temple. Students participating in this program will therefore not be able to take summer session I courses at Temple.

GENERAL SUMMER PROGRAM INFORMATION

Please see General Summer Information to read about pre-departure information and orientation, passports and visas, scholarships, costs and payment policies, accreditation, and transfer of credits.

ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Please see Eligibility and Application Procedures for program eligibility, application requirements, and application procedures that apply to all summer programs. In addition, for the Spain program, the following is required:

• Students are required to have successfully completed Spanish 1002 or the equivalent (a minimum of two semesters of university-level Spanish).

APPLICATION DEADLINE: february 22, 2013

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Jaime Durán, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Temple University, jduran@temple.edu

or

Education Abroad, 215-204-0720, study.abroad@temple.edu

Students with specific questions about the journalism course may contact Lori Tharps, Department of Journalism, Temple University, tharps@temple.edu