Study Abroad: Spanish—Spain

Code Dates Cost SA46 June 30 - July 28, 2008 $6,550

The program in Spain starts in Aranjuez, a UNESCO World Heritage City, located within the comunidad de Madrid. Here, the participants visit the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, the summer residence of Spanish royalty, and its world renowned gardens. Participants then travel up to Madrid for a day of sightseeing.

The main study portion of the trip takes place in the charming city of Santiago de Compostela in the region of Galicia. The discovery of the supposed tomb of St. James the Apostle in the ninth century has made this city an important cultural attraction.

While in Santiago de Compostela, students stay in a residence hall. Days are filled with language, conversation and Spanish culture classes, city explorations and cultural activities.

Between classes and city explorations, the group takes excursions to the city of A Coruña, and to the beautiful southern beach of San Xenxo.

One of the highlights of the program is a week-long stay with a Spanish family in northern Spain. During this week participants are able to practice their previous study of Spanish language and culture

Spanish Study Abroad—Spain Dean

Michelle Marisol Thomas is dean of the Spanish Study Abroad—Spain Program. Marisol has been on staff for six years and is a parent to two villagers. She is fluent in Spanish and has studied Portuguese and Quechua.

Marisol earned her bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She studied at the Universidad Menéndez-Pelayo and the Universidade de Lisboa. She graduated with her master's degree in interdisciplinary studies (applied linguistics) from Texas Tech University and completed coursework beyond the master's degree in the same field.

She is currently a doctoral student at the University of North Dakota. Thomas currently works at Northland Community and Technical College in East Grand Forks, Minn.