HC’s new Spanish minor includes semester in Spain
Huntington, Ind. "Huntington College students studying Spanish now have an opportunity to learn the language in the best possible laboratory: Spain. HC's new Spanish minor includes a full semester of study in Seville.
Living and studying in another country and culture not only gives students fluency in another language but will also give them life-changing attitudes about our world, said adjunct Spanish professor Margie Miller.
Last fall, Profesora Miller and English professor Todd Martin traveled to Seville, Spain to become more familiar with the Semester in Spain program now offered in conjunction with Trinity Christian college (Palos Heights, Ill.), which has operated the program for 25 years. They returned to campus very exited and eager to recommend the program to HC students.
Martin and Miller say one of the program's greatest strengths is its home stay program. Each participating student is matched with a Spanish family for the semester. The home stay allows students to attain mastery of the language and culture by conversing with the family, making Spanish friends, getting accustomed to Spanish customs and food, and developing relationships within a home-away-from-home atmosphere. Host families range from couples to families with children to widows and widowers. The homes are carefully selected and monitored to provide the best possible living environment for the students.
Field trips are another key component of the program. Frequent excursions and cultural activities allow the students to learn about Spain's most famous cities, including Cordoba, Toledo, Granada, Seville, and the coast.
Intensive Spanish-language classes meet Monday through Thursday, allowing students to take advantage of the three-day weekend for additional travel. Located in southern Spain, Seville's proximity to Europe and northern Africa allows students to experience a rich diversity of culture, attitudes, food, languages, art and architecture.
The Semester in Spain program offers spiritual growth as well. A Spiritual Emphasis Team leads a Bible study and a student retreat while providing spiritual support. Students receive information about local churches and are urged to connect with one.
The Semester in Spain is now a key component of Huntington's new Spanish minor. Candidates must earn six credit hours on campus and 16 credit hours abroad.
The first chance for HC students to take advantage of this program will be the fall semester of 2002. Currently, Dr. Martin and Prof. Miller say there are about ten students working toward the Spanish minor and an additional 12-14 students who have expressed interest in the Semester in Spain program.
Founded in 1897, Huntington is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts, offering graduate and undergraduate degrees in more than 50 academic concentrations. US News and World Report ranks Huntington College among the best in the Midwest. Huntington has also been listed among The 201 Best Colleges for the Real World and The Templeton Guide: Colleges and Universities that Encourage Character Development.
