Purchase College, SUNY conducts a five-week summer program in Spain. The aim of this program is two fold. First, students will witness, experience and explore in depth the main tenets of Iberian cultural diversity in situ, that is, in the Iberian Peninsula itself. Second, the students will reinforce their Spanish language skills and knowledge of Spanish Culture by taking: (i) one course on Iberian Culture(s); and (ii) one Spanish Language class (beginner, intermediate, or advance). The students will be living with Spanish host families and three meals per day will be provided.

The program venue is located in the Basque Country, a non-touristic area of Spain and far away from the clichés of flamenco dancing and bullfighting. The Basque culture in which the students will be immersed is an added value to the average study abroad program in Spain. Although Spanish will be the vehicular language, SUNY students will learn crucial notions in today’s world such as the coexistence of two cultures, Spanish and Basque, bilingualism, and national identities in a global world.

This type of program that emphasizes the cultural diversity of the composition of a foreign country rather than prototypes makes it unique in the best sense of the word. A study abroad program in Iberian Cultures with a focus on Basque Culture has no replica in the whole SUNY system or in any US university.

SUNY students interested in anthropology, ethnicity, nationalisms, linguistics and hidden cultures, in addition to Spanish language, can benefit from the possibility of going to this unique program in Spain that addresses all the issues above at once.

FOR SUMMER 2016, students will take the following courses:

Iberian Culture
The main objective of this course is to explore the diversity of the cultures and languages in the Iberian Peninsula with a high emphasis on Spain. In order to accomplish this, students will be introduced to a brief analysis of the history of the Iberian Peninsula as they learn about society, languages, gastronomy, regionals differences and challenges in contemporary Spain.

Spanish Languages (Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced levels)
Two courses of Spanish Language will e offered taking into account the level(s) and needs of the group of students. The main goal of these courses is to provide students with the appropriate atmosphere for them to develop their communicative competence in Spanish. Through development of linguistic strategies and actual conversations with their local peers, students will be able to deal with social interactions and texts truly outside the classroom.

The program offers a good number of guided excursions to historically significant cities and towns in Spain and in The Basque Country.

Visits include: Madrid, Segovia, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Gernika, Mundaka, and Plentzia.