Spanish Summer Immersion Program

Our Summer Immersion Program at Universidad de San Andrés is a 4-week program oriented to students who want to improve their Spanish and be immersed in the Argentinean Culture.

The program curriculum seeks to enhance participants’ Spanish skills, expand their understanding of Latin America and the Argentine culture, and provide students with an ever-lasting experience.

Courses are always content-oriented and carefully tailored by a team of native instructors and professionals with vast experience in the teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language. Syllabi are constantly reviewed and redesigned for updated content.

Although every course has specific field trips and planned activities, the program curriculum is complemented with cultural events and recreational activities aimed at portraying the most prominent cultural features of the city of Buenos Aires. Among these activities stand visits to an estancia, museums, theatre performances, tango lessons and shows, canoeing across the Delta, etc.

Activities are carefully designed, taking into account students’ needs.

Location

The classes are taught at our “Sede Capital,” conveniently located at downtown Buenos Aires, five blocks from the legendary “Plaza de Mayo.”

This facility is full equipped with classrooms and a small computer lab with Internet and printing services.

Program Calendar 2012
Classes Start Monday, June 4, 2012
Classes End Friday, June 29, 2012

Course Information

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, students attend an orientation session to gain main insights into Argentina. During that day, they take a placement test that will allow them to take either one of the Spanish Language courses.

Classes are usually held in the mornings, Monday-Thursday. Fridays are reserved for excursions, activities or for free time.

All students register for a total of two courses, one language course and one elective. Each course will provide 32 contact-hours of language instruction.

Spanish Language Courses:

1) Accelerated Intermediate Spanish

Prerequisite: 4 Semesters of College Spanish or equivalent.

This course is oriented to students who have taken 4 semesters of Spanish. It takes advantage of the program’s cultural and linguistic immersion, providing a systematic grammar review and development of essential writing skills, preparing the student for advanced courses in Spanish.

The course develops speaking, listening, reading and writing skills by providing instruction in a dynamic and inspiring cultural context. Students learn to use Spanish in increasingly complex ways, in class as well as in real life.

2) Accelerated Advanced Spanish

Prerequisite: 5 Semesters of College Spanish or equivalent.

This course is oriented to students who have taken 5 semesters of Spanish. It takes advantage of the program’s cultural and linguistic immersion, providing strategies to listening, speaking, reading and writing in increasingly complex situations. With a constant review of the Spanish syntax and grammar, students learn to write different types of texts (argumentative, expositive, creative, etc.) in specific topics.

The course provides instruction in a dynamic and inspiring cultural context. Students learn to use Spanish in increasingly complex ways, in class as well as in real life.

All students enrolled must choose a second course from the following options (both of them taught in Spanish): *

1) Argentine Literature and Culture

Prerequisite: four semesters of Spanish

2) Spanish for Business

Prerequisite: four semesters of Spanish

Students who successfully pass the two courses will receive 3 credits for each class, to be presented at their home institutions.

* Please be aware that these courses will open only if a minimum number of students are enrolled. Application Process:

Students must complete and submit an application form downloadable at:

http://www.udesa.edu.ar/files/StudyAtSA/Study-Abroad/ApplicationForm-Summer2012.pdf

Deadline: April 15, 2012.


Housing:

San Andrés arranges housing with carefully selected host families. The package includes a meal plan (which includes breakfast every day and dinner with the host family every night except for Saturday night), utilities, insurance and cleaning services.

It might also include laundry use for an additional fee. In most houses bathrooms are usually shared.

Health Insurance:

Students are required to maintain insurance with their home policy. However, San Andrés requires that all students have also a local health insurance, which is included in the costs.

Program Costs:

$ 4,500 per student

This fee includes:

  • Tuition for two Courses: one “Spanish Language Course” (Intermediate and Advanced level, 32 contact hours each); and one elective (32 hours each).
  • Coordination of the Program.
  • Use of campus facilities (classrooms, computer lab, library).
  • Welcoming reception and farewell lunch or dinner.
  • Orientation for the students.
  • Housing
  • Meal Plan (breakfast every day and dinner every night except for Saturday night) while at Buenos Aires.
  • Health insurance (main Hospitals of the city)
  • Field trips and activities in Buenos Aires.

List of Field Trips and Activities (Summer 2011)*

  • Bus and walking tour through the most vital and interesting areas of downtown Buenos Aires (La Boca, Recoleta, San Telmo, Puerto Madero, etc.). 
  • Behind-the-scenes guided tour of the legendary Colón Theater.
  • Visit to Malba (Museo de Arte Latinamericano de Buenos Aires) and to some of the other main art museums in Buenos Aires depending on group interests.
  • One-day excursion to San Isidro and Tigre (bus and boat or canoeing tour).
  • One day in the countryside: visit to an "estancia" (ranch), horseback riding, gaucho show and asado (traditional Argentine barbeque). 
  • Tango Orchestra show. 
  • Tango lessons and milonga.
  • Buenos Aires urban art and graffiti scene tour. 

* This list is only a guide. For 2012 it would be approximately the same, but some of the activities might change.

Additional costs not included: Airfare, visa fees, some meals, local transportation, laundry, cell phone rental, incidental personal expenses and personal travel expenses.