Yale Summer Session in New Haven & Bilbao: Intermediate Spanish I & II + Culture

Description

Development of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing through communicative activities rather than as a sequence of linguistic units. Use of authentic Spanish language texts, films, and videos; presentation of cultural topics. Also, analysis and discussion of the historical, social, and cultural development of Spain from the Civil War to the present. Use of a variety of materials, including literary texts, essays, film, television, music, and visual arts. During the second half of the program classes will be held on the University of Deusto campus, located opposite the estuary and facing the Guggenheim Museum. Founded in 1886, the university continues to be one of the most important institutions of higher education of the Basque Country and Spain.

This program starts with four weeks in New Haven, on the Yale campus, before moving on to Bilbao, Spain for the final four weeks.

Learn about study abroad in Spanish and hear more details about this YSS Program Abroad. This session also covers details on the Spanish major and Spanish certificate. 

Courses & Credits

SPAN S130-S140: Intermediate Spanish I & II (3 credits)

SPAN S148 (1 credit)

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad are intensive, highly structured academic programs led by Yale instructors. 

Instructors

Ian Russell, Lector of Spanish, Yale University

Ian Russell completed a PhD in Hispanic Studies at Brown University in December 2019. He has taught language, literature, and culture at institutions such as Brown, Rhode Island College, Brown’s Alpert Medical School, and Jacksonville State University in Alabama. His research focuses on queer poetry and performance in Spain and the Americas and he has published on nineteenth- and twentieth-century authors in Spain and the Caribbean. His teaching practice centers content-based and communicative approaches to language-learning. Currently, he is working on translating poets and artists working at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Maripaz Garcia

A native of Spain, Maripaz Garcia earned a Ph.D. in foreign language education at the University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. in Spanish language and literature at the University of Cincinnati. She has taught in several colleges and universities in the Chicago area and has worked at Yale since 2007 teaching elementary and intermediate Spanish. She also participates regularly in the study abroad programs offered by Yale. Her areas of interest include foreign language teaching methodology, curriculum development, virtual exchange, Spanish for the medical professions, technology, cinema, and the use of children’s literature at the undergraduate level.

María Vázquez, Senior Lector of Spanish, Yale University

María Vázquez is a Senior Lector of Spanish at Yale University, where her research and instructional interests include 20th Century Caribbean and Latin American Literature, literary and cultural theory, gender and race issues, Latin American Cinema, Second language teaching methodologies, instructional technology, and distance learning. She earned her PhD from Yale University in 2012.

Alan Mendoza Sosa

Alan is a current Yale PhD student and holds a BA in Comparative Literature from Brown University and a Master’s from The University of Cambridge. His research interests are on Mexican and Latin American literary, film, and cultural studies; queer studies, postcolonial and decolonial theory, Latinx literature, translation, and poetry. Alan has 5+ years of experience as writing fellow for high-school, college, graduate, and professional students, and is passionate about empowering diverse individuals to become confident and effective writers.

Class Times 

The class will meet Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and students should expect about 2 hours of work outside the classroom each day, as well excursions and other program activities. Class times may be subject to change.

Classroom Location in Spain

Classes in Bilbao will be held Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Universidad de Deusto main campus located just in front of the Guggenheim Museum. A member of your host family will accompany/guide you to the university on the first day of classes.

(Note: Class time in New Haven is earlier than in Bilbao. Classes will meet from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. while on the Yale campus.)

Money & Budgeting

Many participants find a combination of credit and debit cards to be the most convenient way of accessing money while abroad. It’s important to have a backup option as well in case of emergency. Spain uses the Euro, and can withdraw cash at ATMs throughout the country, including at the airport.

Participants should also bring a moderate amount (equivalent to $100 or so) of the host country currency in cash when leaving the U.S. to cover initial expenses like bus/taxi fares, snacks, and phone calls for the first couple of days. Please note that participants likely will need more than $100 for out-of-pocket expenses throughout the entire duration of the program.

While it would be much more comfortable to just carry around a plastic card, participants should remember that some stores, restaurants, and hotels in other countries do not accept credit cards, especially for small purchases like coffee. Student should try not to use credit or debit cards unless necessary.

Participants should expect out-of-pocket costs not billed by Yale, including but not limited to class materials, coffee, snacks, and transportation to and from the classroom.

Program Cost & Funding

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad costs are updated annually and include the administrative fee and program deposit, program fee, tuition, and international housing charge.  

Budget

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad updates program budgets in late January. Please note the year listed on the button below.

Summer 2025 Budget

Trips and Activities

On every Yale Summer Session Program Abroad, learning extends outside of the classroom. Participants can expect a variety of integrated activities and excursions that enhance the academic goals of the program. Trips and activities listed below are included as examples only and are subject to change. 

All required activities and excursion include transportation (when outside of the host city), entrance fees, and most meals. 

In the past, excursions on this program have included a guided tour of the University of Deusto, the city of Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, and the Fine Arts Museum. Professors from the University of Deusto will provide three lectures about the Spanish economy and the Guggenheim Museum.

There will also be day trips, which in the past have gone to Pamplona during the Sanfermines (running of the bulls) and to San Sebastian, as well as a long weekend excursion to Madrid. In Madrid, the program will likely visit the Prado Museum, downtown neighborhoods, the Guernica painting by Picasso, as well as provide time for participants to explore on their own.

During the four weeks the program is in Bilbao, participants will most likely have two weekends in which there will not be any program planned activities.

Guidebooks from most retail bookstores can be invaluable resources for participants to get to know Bilbao before they leave. The Travel Channel website is also a helpful resource for learning about Spain.

Housing

All participants are required to live in program-provided housing while abroad and are not permitted to arrange housing independently. International housing is guaranteed from the first day of the program until the official end date.

In Bilbao, students will live with carefully selected host families either in the center of Bilbao or in surrounding suburbs located by the seashore (approximately 20 minutes by Metro to the University of Deusto). Living conditions and distance to where classes will be held will vary amongst housing assignments. Participants who are assigned a family who resides outside of the city of Bilbao may incur more transportation expenses than those placed within the city. 

Homestays are an integral part of this program. This living arrangement provides participants with the opportunity to learn more about the host culture, increase language proficiency, and form meaningful connections in the community. Students admitted into the program are expected to spend time getting to know their homestay family and be mindful of the need to balance time spent at home with time spent traveling or going out with friends. If students have any questions about living with a homestay family, they should reach out to the program instructor.

Participants are expected to contribute to the cleanliness of the home. Participants also are advised to discuss any personal conditions or considerations (including allergies, preferred foods, and the like) with their host family at the beginning of the program and at any point such issues emerge. It is important to make an effort to fit into the patterns and assumptions of the host family. This might include expectations regarding mealtime, laundry, returning home late, travel, etc. 

Participants must depart housing on the last day of the program.

Helpful Tips for Staying with a Spanish Host Family

Communication

Participants should make an effort to find time to talk to their host families when at home, even if they have to rearrange their study or homework time. If they like cooking, they are advised to help in the kitchen or ask to observe their host family as they cook.

Bathroom

Participants should note that in some houses, the bathroom does not have an inside lock. If this is the case, it is likely that the rule of the house is the following: door closed = bathroom occupied, door open = bathroom free. Participants should ask their hosts if in doubt.

Meals  

Host families will provide participants with breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day and will be interested in having their host students actively participate in meals with them. Participants should keep in mind that it is important (and polite) to let their host families know if they are not going to be home for one of the meals they are providing. If they want snacks, participants should purchase them themselves.

Meals will be provided on all excursions. For participants with dietary restrictions, they should always double check when eating at restaurants, even if a note has been made beforehand.

Gift Custom

A small gift makes a good impression on arrival. An inexpensive token from the participant's university or hometown, such as a magnet or a mug, is a nice gesture for the hosts.
 

Notes

Climate

Summers in Bilbao are generally temperate and comfortable, but humid. Although Spain is rather notorious for its high temperatures during summer, Bilbao will be different. Given its location on the northern coast, the weather should be cool and sometimes cloudy, yet humid. Temperatures can rise as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.

Packing Considerations

1. Pack light! Participants will be able to do laundry and will likely return home with new items from the host country. Participants should expect the possibility of carrying their bags on several modes of transportation and up several flights of stairs alone.

2. Keep all essential items in a carry-on bag (e.g., passport and medications). 

Clothing

While participants should pack normal summer clothing like short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and sandals, they should also bring an umbrella, light sweaters, and long pants. Students should also bring one semiformal outfit. 

Useful Items to Bring

Students should pack sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes suitable for hiking, and a hat. It is also recommended that participants bring a bag that stays close to their body, such as a fanny pack or a money belt, to wear while in transit or in crowded areas.

Electrical Adapters

Spain uses the Type F plug. Inexpensive plug adapters can be purchased easily online or in many brick-and-mortar stores. Participants may want to bring a current converter, but should not need it for their phones, laptops, or other larger electronics. Participants are advised not to bring hairdryers or straighteners, as American hairdryers and straighteners won’t work in Spain, even with adapters. Participants can purchase them if their host families do not have them available for use.

Cultural Adjustment

Although the summer session’s main goal is to learn Spanish, participants should be aware that other languages are spoken in a number of regions throughout Spain, including Bilbao – the heart of Basque region. Participants shouldn’t have a problem in the city since the official language is Castilian, but Basque or Euskera are prominently spoken in Bilbao, especially in the more remote regions. While Euskera is considered a linguistic mystery given its distinctiveness, spending time in a region different from Madrid or Barcelona will heighten participants' experiences with the cultural and linguistic diversity of Spain.

Students are advised to observe the behavior of their hosts and be respectful of local culture. Basque Country inhabitants are divided amongst those who support independence and others who support union with Spain. If speaking to strangers, student should avoid political topics as it can upset or offend.
Additionally, students should try to keep a low profile and not wear any Spanish symbols. Spain national football (soccer) tops, Spanish flags or Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid club paraphernalia are best avoided.

Questions

For general program questions, contact studyabroad@yale.edu.

Important Information Before Applying

• All YSS Programs Abroad are intensive, highly structured academic programs for Yale credit and grades.
• Students may only apply to one YSS Program Abroad per summer.
• Admission is not guaranteed. Applicants should anticipate that more students will apply than there are spots available, and Yale College students should apply to a backup Non-Yale Summer Abroad opportunity.
• Ensure that your transcript reflects how you have met the pre-requisite, if applicable, prior to applying.
• Participants must commit to the full program dates. Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted.
• Participants are required to be enrolled in all program courses.
• Participants should expect evening and weekend requirements. Students who have questions about religious observance during a YSS Program Abroad are encouraged to Meet with an Adviser.
• Program-arranged housing is required for all YSS Programs Abroad. Students are not permitted to secure independent housing. Students who have housing-related questions about placements, allergies, religious observance, or disability-related access are encouraged to Meet with an Adviser.

Apply to a YSS Program Abroad