Summer Institute for Spanish Teachers

  Venezuela

Merida

Term: Summer 
Dates: inquire for more dates

Description: State University of New York at Cortland in affiliation with VEN-USA Institute of International Studies and Modern Languages, is pleased to offer its Summer Institute for Spanish Teachers in Merida, Venezuela. Participants will spend two weeks living with Venezuelan families, attending classes and visiting sites of cultural and historical significance. Participants can earn six (6) credits at the graduate level from SUNY Cortland. Homestay with a Venezuelan family is one of the main elements of this program.

Highlights:
*Course Offerings and Pre-requisites
Participants must hold a B.A. degree in Spanish and should be teaching or planning to teach Spanish. The goal of the Institute is to offer the opportunity to improve one's ability in all of the language skill areas. All course work will be conducted in Spanish and participants will be expected to use Spanish at all times throughout the Institute.

*Spanish 529 Methods Course
Integrating, Adapting and implementing Innovations in Foreign Language Teaching. This is an advanced course in FL teaching conducted in Spanish. The thematic content focuses on integrating technology with both state and national standards. By the end of the in-country portion, students will have completed a portfolio consisting of two modules that ask participants to perform various tasks related to the course themes, accompanied by an introductory cover report that reflects on course reading and assignments. The first module will relate to technology, in itself; the second will relate to the standards and their implications for instruction. Three graduate credits are earned during this in-country part of the program.

The second three graduate credits are earned by participating in an extension of the methods course once participants are home. This extension course will be conducted on the web using WebCT software; students need only have Internet access and a web browser to participate. Participants will need to participate in WebCT-based discussions and a web-based course that could potentially be implemented during the following school year. Participants will be expected to complete course readings, assignments as well.

*Advanced Spanish Grammar and Conversation for Teachers
Part of the in-country course work will be "Advanced Spanish Grammar and Conversation for Teachers" two hours daily, Monday through Friday. The class is designed to increase vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and improve overall proficiency in the Spanish language. Cross cultural themes will be discussed in the conversation portion of this class, which is taught by Venezuelan professors.

*Methods Course Instruction
Mark K. Warford, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Foreign Language Ed. and Spanish at Buffalo State College who taught K-12 Spanish for several years before pursuing a Doctorate from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Warford's research areas include teacher development and educational innovation.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: $1500 - $2000

Program Cost for Summer
$1,983.10 for New York State residents
$2,411.10 for residents of states other than New York

Experience Required: no

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network

VEN-USA International Studies & Modern Languages - Merida, Venezuela's Mission Statement: VENUSA was founded in 1987 by individuals who felt that a greater contact and understanding was necessary between North and South America. At its inception, VENUSA was established as a private institute dedicated to international studies and modern languages, and over the years has grown to satisfy a wide variety of interests. VENUSA is located in the beautiful city of Mérida, nestled in the heart of the Venezuelan Andes. Though its student body has grown dramatically over the years, VENUSA's goal remains what it has always been: the promotion of greater international understanding through education, and the development of interpersonal relationships between its students, both Venezuelan and North American.

Year Founded: 1987