summer language + culture

Quick Info

By Term

• Summer 2013
• Summer 2014

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Program Overview

Whether you’re looking to begin your study of Spanish, or you’re an intermediate student ready to take your Spanish proficiency to the next level, come spend your summer in vibrant Barcelona.

Summer study abroad in Barcelona offers you two tracks of study. The seven-week program is designed for students looking to improve their language skills and take content courses in Spanish or English. Students interested in beginning their study of Spanish, or studying about an aspect of Spanish culture in English, can take one or two three-week sessions. In both cases, a wide selection of challenging courses, homestays, and a variety of cultural activities and excursions provide you with a unique academic and intercultural experience abroad.

Study abroad in Barcelona and you’ll:

• Improve your Spanish language skills through courses at all levels
• Live with a Spanish family or in a student residencia
• Visit sites of natural and cultural importance in and around Barcelona and Catalonia including museums, monuments, and cathedrals, and enjoy an overnight trip to the beautiful Costa Brava beaches and the south of France
• Choose between “full” and “modular” programs

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

Whether you choose the seven or three-week program, you’ll have your choice of courses in architecture, politics, history, marketing, and art offered in both English and Spanish.

Excursions

Enjoy cultural excursions to sites of interest including the Gothic Quarter, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and districts like the Olympic Village and Born.

You’ll also take part in one weekend trip per session to areas of significant historic and cultural importance. In Session I you’ll journey north to picturesque Catalunya, while Session II takes you 200 miles south to Valencia and the Mediterranean coast.

Homestay

Immerse yourself in Spanish culture and improve your language skills by living with a local family. It’s the ideal environment for an authentic, meaningful cultural exchange.

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Summer 2013 (7 wks)

Extended to: 04/15/2013

06/02/2013

07/20/2013

$7,900

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$5,748

Housing ***

$1,750

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes two meals per day for homestay students; no meals are included for students staying in the Residencia option

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$1,500

International Airfare **

$1,300

Local Transportation

$300

Books & Supplies

$200

Personal expenses

$1,300

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* Amount for meals for Residencia students. Students living in homestays are responsible for lunches, estimated at $250

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Summer 2014

04/01/2014

to be announced

to be announced

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Date + Fee Note

The original Barcelona, Spain Summer Language + Culture Program consists of a full 7 week program where students will take two courses for 7 weeks (listed above). For 2013, CIEE has created a modular program that consists of two, 3 1/2 week sessions, where students can take one course per session and have the option of doing both sessions (7 weeks). The cost of an individual session is $4,150 and two session cost is the same as above. Please check with your school to find out which program has been approved, or contact your CIEE study abroad advisor for information on applying to these sessions.

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 2.75
• For CIEE content courses taught in Spanish, 4 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent

Recommended Credit

Full program: Recommended credit is 6 semester/9 quarter hours.

Modular program: Recommended credit is 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours per session.

Contact hours for all courses are 45 and recommended credit is 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours, unless otherwise indicated.

Program Requirements

Full program: Students take one Spanish language course and one content course.

Modular program: Students take one course per session.

Participants are placed in appropriate language courses, or courses taught in Spanish based on a language examination given on site at the beginning of the program. Students with four or more semesters of Spanish language may choose to take their content course in Spanish.

About The City

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain with its own distinctive history, culture, and language. Set between mountains and the Mediterranean sea, the city's population is 1.6 million, with a total of 4.5 million in the greater metropolitan area. Walking though the city, one can observe 2,000 years of architectural history—Roman remains, the network of narrow streets in the Old Town, the 19th century Eixample district with its original examples of Modernista architecture—contrasting with the ultramodern showpieces that continue to redesign its skyline.

Meet The Staff

Marilena De Chiara

The CIEE Resident Director, Marilena De Chiara, supervises and administers the Language and Culture Program. The Resident Director also assists students with academic, administrative and day-to-day matters. Marilena, a native of Naples (Italy), holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Universidad Pompeu Fabra and a M.A. in Literary Criticism. As part of her doctoral studies, she spent a year and a half at Yale University. Her research interests are focused on Performance Studies and the role of Cultural Icons in the representation of creative cities like Barcelona. She is also trained in Translation Studies in Spanish Language.

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You are about to depart for one of Europe’s most beautiful, dynamic, and cosmopolitan cities. Barcelona is not only a seaside city near spectacular mountains, but it is also a city of artists, architects, and designers. From the audacious heights of Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família church to Salvador Dalí’s surrealist fancies, the city has played host to many artistic movements.

No matter what side of the Catalan character fits your personality best, be prepared for a challenging academic program that will bring many rewards in the future., Barcelona will be the highlight of your undergraduate career.

— Marilena De Chiara, Resident Director

“”

Where You'll Study

The CIEE Study Center in Barcelona, Spain, is located in two adjoining historic buildings on Passatge Permanyer, near Passeig de Gràcia and Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona’s main square. This historic passageway provides a quiet haven in the city center and houses CIEE classrooms, a computer lab, and student lounges.

Housing & Meals

Study abroad students can choose to live in either Spanish homestays (there is an option to live in a homestay along with another CIEE student) or in a student residencia (residence hall) with other Spanish and international students. These are located in urban settings throughout the city. Students living in a homestay will have breakfast and dinner provided at home, while lunch is at the students’ expense. Kitchen space is allotted to students should they wish to make lunch to bring to campus. Many students choose to eat at one of the university-run cafeterias. Students in homestays will have their laundry done for them once a week. Meals and laundry are not included in the student residencia option, but students share fully equipped kitchens where they can prepare their own meals, and laundry facilities are available. All homestays and residencias are located in the city of Barcelona and within 30 minutes, by public transportation, of the CIEE Study Center and host institutions.

As space in the residencias is limited, students who request to live there but cannot be assigned a place are accommodated through a homestay placement. In the event that there are more requests to live in a residencia than the total available spaces, students with more advanced Spanish take priority over those with less Spanish. Proficiency level is based on students’ CIEE Spanish course pre-registration and academic background in Spanish, as reflected on the transcript. Students who are not assigned the housing option of their choice are notified by the resident staff prior to arriving in Barcelona.

Orientations

A three-day orientation session conducted at the beginning of the program introduces you to the country, culture, and the academic program, as well as provides practical information on living in Spain and Barcelona in particular. Themes such as health and safety, banking, cultural adaptation, and an introduction to Catalonia are covered. Orientation also includes structured cultural activities, guided tours, and time with your Guardian Angel, a local student guide. For student’s taking language classes, a language placement exam is also conducted during orientation and students are placed in the appropriate language courses based on the results. Ongoing support is provided by center staff on an individual and group basis throughout the program.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring a wireless-enabled laptop. You'll have wireless Internet access at your homestay or student residencis. In addition, you'll be able to use theWiFi and computer room at the CIEE Study Center.

Culture

The academic program is supplemented with excursions, guided tours, and cultural activities. These activities include city tours to the Gothic Quarter and other emblematic sites such as Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and Park Guell; a tour of Modernist architecture in Barcelona; or districts like the Olympic Village and Born.

In addition, there is one weekend trip per session. (Students participating in the full program will take part in both weekend trips.) Each trip will complement the Barcelona experience by exploring other areas of significant historic and cultural importance. During Session I, students travel to the north of Catalunya, where they explore the extremely picturesque Costa Brava, and visit the south part of France, which shares a common history with Catalunya. During Session II, students visit the city of Valencia, located approximately 200 miles south of Barcelona. Valencia, also located on the Mediterranean coast, boasts the City of the Ciencies and the Arts, which students will visit. In addition, students will participate in a city tour of the historic center, where they will visit the Cathedral, and try an authentic paella.

Immersion

Guardian Angels

Guardian Angels are local university students who help CIEE study abroad students settle into their life in Spain through small group activities including cooking classes and tours of the city, and participate in field trips and other events. Guardian Angels are there to help you make local friends, introduce you to the city’s culture, and generally help you adapt to life in Barcelona. The Guardian Angels Program is a unique feature of the CIEE Study Center in Barcelona.

Catalan

Castilian Spanish and Catalan are both official languages in Barcelona and the region. Catalan is regularly used in all aspects of life, but is not imposed on non-Catalan speakers. Taxi drivers, shopkeepers, service representatives, professors, and homestay families all speak clear Castilian whenever a Spanish speaker is present. While it is not necessary to speak Catalan to survive in Barcelona, you will find that learning a few words can be an enjoyable experience and open doors to making friends.

Academics

Full program: The full summer study abroad program is designed for students who are interested in improving their Spanish language skills while taking a class in business, marketing, culture, history, or the social sciences. Content courses are offered in English or Spanish. Students take one language course and one content course simultaneously over seven weeks.

Modular program: This program is designed for students who are either interested in a shorter stay (three and a half weeks) or prefer to take two courses consecutively rather than simultaneously over seven weeks. Students choose one three-credit course per three and a half week session.

Academic Culture

CIEE language classes are small, with no more than 12 students per class. The class model is specially designed for language teaching, providing a structure for a communicative methodology that allows small groups to work well together. The size of the CIEE content classes varies, but there are never more than 15 students. All classes meet Monday through Friday.

Nature of Classes

All courses are for CIEE study abroad students only.

Language Environment

As students gain proficiency in Spanish, resident staff encourage them to use their language skills in everyday settings. They are encouraged to meet with local students through CIEE language exchanges, spend time communicating with their host family, and to interact with people they meet. The more students participate, the greater their development of Spanish language proficiency and understanding of Spanish society.

Grading System

Students are graded on the basis of class participation, in-class activities, homework assignments, examinations, papers, and oral presentations, similar to standards in the U.S. Grades are given on a 10-point scale.

Language of Instruction

English
Spanish

Faculty

All CIEE courses are taught by faculty from local universities. Language courses are taught by experienced professors who specialize in teaching Spanish as a second language.

Course Description

Program Blog

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