SUNY Brockport: Mexico Summer Program

  Mexico

• Cuernavaca: 
Cuernavaca

Term: Summer 
Dates: Vary - please inquire for more information.

Description:
The Spanish Language Immersion Program through Brockport is conducted at the Center for Bilingual Multicultural Studies at the Universidad Internacional in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Centro Bilingue specializes in teaching Spanish to non-native speakers. The school is arranged around a lovely tropical garden with a swimming pool, a small cafeteria, a library, and e-mail facilities. The Brockport Cuernavaca Program is an intensive Spanish language and Latin American Studies program.

Participants in the Brockport Cuernavaca Program will earn up to nine (9) credits in Spanish language courses and six (6) credits in Latin American Literature or Latin American Studies. Grades for work done in Cuernavaca are reported on student's transcripts as equivalent to specific Spanish language courses at Brockport.

Participants in the Mexico summer program can earn 6-credit hours for 5 weeks or 12-credit hours for 10 weeks.

Mini courses are grouped in three credit sequences according to Brockport equivalents.

"SUNY Brockport study abroad programs are for students matriculated in the US only, US students only."

Highlights:
Curriculum:

Espanol The first part of the Spanish component of the program consists of daily intensive grammar and conversation practice in small group sessions. Students are placed in groups of one to five students organized according to their previous language experience. The program allows for up to 34 of these groups. Some groups have only one or two students and none are larger than five students. Instructors are native Spanish speakers who are rotated periodically to expose students to different voice tones and accents. Espanol classes meet for 3 hours daily.

Conferencia
The second part of the Spanish language instruction consists of a daily one-hour large group lecture/discussion session. These sessions are designed to improve the students' listening skills and expand their vocabulary and dictation-taking skills while discussing topics on contemporary Latin America. Conferencia classes meet daily Monday through Thursday. The Conferencia on Fridays is usually devoted to Latin American popular songs and is led by a professional musician and recording artist.

The Conferencia and Espanol sessions comprise the program's primary instruction in Spanish. Weekly quizzes allow the Resident Director (a member of Brockport's faculty in full-time residence in Cuernavaca) to monitor the participants' progress and allow students to advance through various levels of individual instruction groups.

Mini Courses

A two-hour large group lecture/discussion taught in Spanish. Some English is permitted and most students can comprehend the materials after less than four weeks of intensive Spanish.

Optional Programs

Non-credit afternoon programs are offered to participants in the Brockport Cuernavaca Program. These are designed to provide additional speaking practice and cultural enrichment. They are held daily from 2 to 4 pm. Some carry additional costs. Recent sessions have included: a hospital visit with the school physician, individual attention in grammar, conversation club with local Mexicans, feminism in Mexico, current events, Mexican cooking, and salsa lessons.

Written Work

In addition to written exercises and exams in Espanol and short dictations in Conferencia, all students will: (a) keep a journal of their daily experiences and submit it to the Resident Director for weekly review, and (b) write a paper that integrates mini course topics, excursions, etc.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: Summer 2009 - 6 Credits: USD 3,350 New York State Residents, USD 3,575 Non-New York State Residents; 12 Credits: USD 6,350 New York State Residents, USD 6,800 Non-New York State Residents

Experience Required: no

Participants Travel to Mexico Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Scholarships are Available.