Overview

Introduction

The University of Washington, Tacoma's Spanish immersion program in Cuernavaca, Mexico offers Spanish language classes at all levels (beginning to advanced, including special classes for native speakers and for professionals). The goal of the program is to expose students to the richness of Mexican culture and to encourage students to develop conversational skills in the Spanish language. Classes are held at the Kukulcán Institute, located in a quiet residential area near downtown Cuernavaca. Kukulcán is housed in a converted mansion with extensive grounds, beautiful gardens, terraces, and a swimming pool. There is a volleyball field, locker rooms and showers, a reading room, and a cafeteria on the premises. The school is within 10 minutes walking distance of downtown Cuernavaca. Cuernavaca is situated in a pleasant valley about an hour southwest of Mexico City. It is known as the City of Eternal Spring because of its beautiful weather year round and its lush vegetation. Cuernavaca is a midsize city with many cultural attractions, and it is a popular destination for people escaping the hectic pace of life in Mexico City on the weekends. Frequent field trips to museums, historical sites, and monuments take students out of the classroom and allow them to learn about Mexico by observing and interacting with the Mexican people. Weekend excursions are available through the school at an additional modest cost.

Student Eligibility

Undergraduate and graduate students from any UW campus may apply. Participants are selected on the basis of high scholarship, academic preparation, motivation, emotional maturity, and financial responsibility. A maximum of 18 students will be accepted. The University of Washington provides equal opportunity in education without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title IX of the Education Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and University of Washington policy. Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States must check with the office that issued their U.S. visa to determine if they are permitted to travel to Mexico as part of this program.

Lodging and Food

While in Cuernavaca, students will be housed with carefully chosen Mexican families. From Monday to Friday, the host family provides students with three meals a day. On weekends, students have several options: they can pay a small additional charge to eat with the family, they can eat out in restaurants in Cuernavaca, or they can travel with a group from school to another city in Mexico on a weekend excursion for a modest price. Plans can be made on a weekly basis, allowing students the flexibility to choose what suits them. Daily transportation to and from school will be provided by the host family Monday through Friday, unless the family lives within 10 minutes walking distance from the school. Home stays provide students with a safe, clean, comfortable environment, as well as with social contact and a rich cultural experience. Meals on the weekend are not included as part of the program fee, but students will find many inexpensive options in restaurants and cafeterias throughout Mexico. Costs are based on double occupancy. Some single rooms may be available at an additional cost.

Courses and Credits

Students have several options:

1. Credit is available for Foreign Study in Spanish, TSPAN 199, 299 or 393, depending on the student's previous study of Spanish and level of proficiency. Students take a placement exam to determine the level of classwork they will do in Mexico. All grammar, conversation and culture classes are taught by experienced native speakers.
2. Students can study in Mexico for 3 weeks and receive 5 credits. This is a good option for people who can't be away from home for a longer amount of time, and is roughly the equivalent of one regular Spanish class taken on campus.
3. Students who stay in the program for 5 weeks will receive 10 credits. This is roughly the equivalent of two regular Spanish classes taken on campus.
4. Students who want more than 10 credits can sign up for an additional 2 credits of Directed Readings. The Directed Readings will be done concurrently with the language classes and will be supervised by the UW instructor who accompanies the group. The Directed Readings option is only available to students who are already signed up for 10 credits of TSPAN 199, 299, or 393.

Students will take conversational Spanish classes each morning, in groups of no more than five students per class, at a level that is appropriate for them. In addition, students will have formal instruction in grammar and practice reading and writing every day. In the early afternoon, students take part in hands-on learning experiences, such as cooking, dancing, and singing. As part of the immersion experience, students will explore the city with their instructor and practice their speaking skills in "real life" situations such as the market, a restaurant, the post office, or a travel agency. Some cultural lectures will be in a classroom environment and others will be on site, as students tour the city and surrounding areas. Students are in class approximately 25 hours per week.

Credit will be granted upon satisfactory completion of the field experience and all written work. Students will have quizzes and exams on Spanish grammar and vocabulary, and will be graded on their homework and in-class work. The program offers a great deal of flexibility and can accommodate students with different levels of competency in Spanish, from true beginners to advanced students or native speakers. TSPAN 393 can be used for the Hispanic Studies minor at UWT, and TSPAN 299 course prepares students to take more 300-level Spanish classes when they return to campus. The TSPAN 199 is an excellent starting point for beginners or near-beginners.

Faculty

Provided that a sufficient number of students sign up for Foreign Study credit through this program, a UW instructor will lead the group in Mexico. Many students prefer to travel as a group with an instructor from their university. The role of the instructor is to facilitate interaction between the students, their Mexican instructors and the Mexican host families. The instructor will be on school grounds every day and will be available to meet with students. The UW instructor will also coordinate the instruction in Mexico, oversee the grading process, and work with students on Directed Readings.

Program Cost

The total program fee is $1,700 for the 3-week program and $2,600 for the 5-week program. Program fees are divided into academic course fees and travel fees. Academic course fees will be charged to participants' UW student accounts, and are paid the same way as tuition. Travel fees are to be paid directly to UW Tacoma Cashier. The academic course fee includes a $100 non-refundable administrative fee charged by UW Tacoma International Programs. Please see Registration and Fee Schedule for details about making program payments.

What is included?

• Course fee in lieu of tuition for UW credit (5 or 10 credits as described above)
• 25-30 hours of classroom instruction per week, plus additional cultural activities such as dances, films, cooking lessons, and artesan demonstrations
• Textbook and workbook for Spanish language classes
• Room and board with carefully chosen Mexican families
• Transportation to and from school Monday-Friday

Not included:

• Airfare to/from Mexico
• Optional weekend excursions
• Meals on weekends
• Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, eating out, etc.)
• Optional bus or taxi fares

Planned Activities

Because this is an intensive program, students are expected to participate in all group activities, to attend all group events, and accompany the group on field tours. Students will be in class from approximately 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. every day. Late afternoons and evenings are "free time", but students should keep in mind that they will have homework assignments to complete. It is important that students understand the nature of the study tour; this is not a "vacation" or a sightseeing trip to Mexico. It is a university course and the purpose of the tour is academic.

Schedule

Whether students choose the 3 week or 5 week option, all work will be completed by the end of Term A of Summer Quarter 2007, allowing students the option of taking Term B courses after returning to campus. The schedules are as follows:

• 5 week program: June 10 - July 14, 2007
• 3 week program: June 24 - July 14, 2007

Preparation, Orientation and Follow up

Orientation meetings will be held during Spring Quarter 2007. These meetings are obligatory for participation in the program:

• Thursday, May 17 at 1pm in room GWP 101
• Additional date TBA