Language and Culture in Puebla, Mexico

The University of Kansas Summer Language Institute in Puebla, Mexico, offers students the opportunity to obtain university credit in Spanish courses, improve language skills, and experience Mexican culture firsthand by living with families in Puebla. Courses are taught by native instructors and KU faculty members and staff, and are held on the campus of the Universidad de las Americas–Puebla (UDLA).

Puebla

Puebla de los Angeles is situated on a high plateau in the center of Mexico, just 70 miles (122 km) from Mexico City. Founded over 460 years ago, Puebla uniquely blends modernity with history. It is renowned as the site of the most famous battle of Mexican Nationalism against the French. This battle gave birth to the popular “Cinco de Mayo” celebration. UNESCO has designated the city as a cultural heritage site for its beautiful colonial architecture.

Universidad de las Americas–Puebla (UDLA)

The UDLA is one of the most prestigious private institutions in Latin America. It is housed on a modern campus in view of prehispanic pyramids and the volcanoes of the Valley of Mexico. Facilities on campus include a medical clinic, pharmacy, computer rooms, automatic bank tellers, a post office, bus service to and from Puebla and Cholula, three cafeterias and dining halls, a travel agency, a library with more than 500,000 volumes, a swimming pool and athletic facilities.

Cultural Activities

Afternoon workshops such as Latin Dancing, Mexican Music and Songs, Photography, and Community Service give participants first-hand experience of different aspects of Mexican culture and allow students to practice Spanish in an informal environment. Students have the opportunity to participate in two workshops, each lasting for three weeks..

Various cultural field trips will also be offered at no charge during the program.

Examples of local fieldtrips include:

Downtown Puebla, Capilla del Rosario and "El Parian" crafts market
Cholula's Pyramid
Talavera Factory (the world famous talavera ceramics)

Students can also take part in sporting activities. These include soccer games, volleyball, basketball, bowling, ice skating, etc.

Excursions

Students on the KU program will take two day-long excursions - one to Mexico City and another to Teotihuacán. Excursions are included in the program fee.

UDLA also offers optional weekend trips to places such as:

Oaxaca (Monte Albán and Mitla)
Cuetzalan (in the northern Sierra of Puebla State)
Teotihuacán pyramids and Coyoacán
Cuernavaca and Xochicalco
Acapulco

Optional excursions can be reserved and paid for during the program in Puebla.

Courses Offered

All students enroll in a total of eight semester credit hours consisting of two credit hours of conversation appropriate to skill level, one 3-credit hour class taught by KU faculty, and one 3-credit hour class taught by UDLA faculty. Classes are conducted entirely in Spanish. Classes meet from Monday to Thursday.

Conversation Course (required)

SPAN 328/428 Spanish Conversation Intermediate I/Advanced. (2 credits)

KU Faculty Courses (select one)

SPAN 300 The Origins and Development of Spanish American Culture. (3 credits) The development of social and cultural patterns in Spanish America, and their relationship to economic issues and personal values. A topical study of the historical development of Spanish American institutions will be followed by an examination of twentieth-century cultural patterns. Special emphasis on Mexico. Will not count toward the Spanish major. Requires concurrent enrollment in SPAN 324.

SPAN 440 Hispanic Studies: Latin American Literature. (3 credits) A topics course dedicated to the study of special historical moments, topics, authors, or themes in literary and cultural history. Readings may include selections from both Spain and the countries of Spanish America. The course may cover multiple genres, authors, periods, or regions. This course fulfills a literature requirement.

UDLA Faculty Courses (select one)

SPAN 324 Grammar and Composition. (3 credits) Systematic grammar review and development of essential writing skills for advanced courses in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 216, SPAN 217, or SPAN 220, or consent of instructor. Requires concurrent enrollment in SPAN 300.

SPAN 424 Advanced Spanish Composition and Grammar. (3 credits) Writing compositions with stress on correctness and organization. Review of syntax and grammar. Prerequisite: SPAN 324 and SPAN 340.

SPAN 520Structure of Spanish (3 credits) A study of the Spanish language as it is spoken today, from perspectives of contemporary linguistics. Reading and analysis of recent publications in the field. Prerequisites: SPAN 424 and SPAN 428, or consent of instructor.

Accommodations

All students are housed with Mexican host families. Three meals per day are provided either with the host family or in the campus dining facilities.

Dates

May 21 - July 2, 2010

Eligibility

Open to students from accredited U.S. colleges or universities who have completed four semesters (or the equivalent) of college-level Spanish. Minimum 2.5 GPA.

Credit

Eight hours of undergraduate credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program.

Cost: TBD (Summer 2009 costs listed below)

Program Fee: Approximately $3,380 ($3,580 for non-KU students). The program fee includes partial tuition (3 credits) and fees, room and board, cultural activites, local field trips, use of UDLA medical clinic, Spanish tutors, day excursions to Mexico City and Teotihuacán, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, and administrative fees.

Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and fees for 5 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $1,095. *

*Actual expenses for KU students will vary by the student’s individual tuition compact. Non-KU students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above.

Additional costs: Airfare, books and supplies, passport fees, optional group weekend trips, incidental personal expenses and entertainment.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Financial Aid

KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1.

Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.

Application Procedures

Application Deadline: March 1, 2010. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Applications are available in the KU Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the application.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)

For more information contact:

Department of Spanish and Portuguese

Asst. Professor Yajaira Padilla, email: ypadilla@ku.edu
Asst. Professor Jorge Pérez, email: jorgep@ku.edu
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
2650 Wescoe Hall
phone: 785-864-3851

The University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045-7515
phone: 785-864-3742
fax: 785-864-5040
e-mail: osa@ku.edu