Semester in Toledo

Location:
Toledo, Spain

Language of Instruction:
Spanish

Subjects:
Spanish Language & Culture, Contemporary Issues, Pedagogy, Teaching Practicum

Credits:
Transferrable to UNL by departmental validation

Housing:
Homestays or residence hall during three week orientation

Program Length:
19 weeks -- spring semester

Program Dates:
January - May, 2010

Costs 2010-2011 (approx)
Semester: $4533 (NE resident rate) plus housing ($4035-$7425) and airfare

Eligibility:
Spanish 202 or 210 or equivalent and acceptance into the program of Teacher Education (7-12) at UNL

Application Deadline:
October 15

Contact:
UNL Teaching Learning & Teacher Education (TLTE)

Dr. Thomas McGowan,
472-2231, tmcgowan2@unl.edu,
Henzlik 118

Dr. Aleidine Moeller,
472-0429,
amoeller2@unl.edu
Henzlik 115

Dr. Harriet Turner,
UNL Modern Languages
472-3266,
hturner1@unl.edu
and
UNL International Affairs,
420 University Terrace
(402) 472-5358
e-mail: iaffairs@unl.edu
www.unl.edu/iaffairs

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Semester Exchange in Toledo

The "Imperial City of Toledo", 70 kilometers (40 miles) from Madrid, expresses the most complete and characteristic ensemble of all that is genuinely Spanish. Located in the crossroads of civilizations, Toledo arose as the coveted prize of many cultures, among these, Christian, Jewish and Moorish. The accumulation of artistic, religious, and civic monuments speaks for a characteristic blending of styles--Arab, Mudejar, Gothic, or Renaissance--and for sustained periods of convivencia--the coexistence of peoples of all religions and ethnic heritages. For as early as the 13th century, the School of Translators had brought classical and oriental cultures within reach of the Western world. Synagogues, mosques, and the Cathedral of the Primate of Spain articulate Toledo's identity as a national monument.

Landscape and sky are dramatic: the earth is red and the sky is violet, which lends a special, polished brilliance to towers and spires. Such gleaming contrasts in light and color inspired Domenikos Theotokopoulos, better known as "El Greco", who arrived in Toledo about the year 1577. El Greco painted and bequeathed to the Toledo his best works, his presence and his absence. His finest paintings are still there, and the city of Toledo and the province Castilla-La Mancha have become virtual museums of "El Greco".

Toledo, bounded by the Tajo River, sits upon enormous masses of rock and cliff. Poplars, almond trees and classic olive groves surround medieval walls. The Universidad Castilla-La Mancha, which enrolls some 8,000 students, is located in the heart of the old city; narrow streets, rising steeply from the main highway to Madrid, take you to headquarters in the Renaissance Palace of San Lorenzo. Quiet little squares, massive mansions, a maze of steep , narrow lanes, portals crowned by coats of arms and crests, suburbs a thousand years old--Toledo is grandiose but intimate, described by the playwright Tirso de Molina as "the heart of Spain". This great city of tradition and innovation will be your environment during Spring semester.

ESTO, the Office of International Relations, and the School of Education of the University of Castilla-la Mancha (UCLM) offer a program that combines intensive immersion in Spanish, a course in civilization and culture, courses and tutorials in Teacher Education and a Practicum in elementary and secondary schools. Recognized by the Instituto Cervantes as an official center for the Diploma de Español como una Lengua Extranjera (DELE), ESTO offers to students enrolledin this exchange program the opportunity, through courses in the Spanish Language, to prepare for and earn the certificate/diploma (DELE). This diploma confers quite a distinction to the academic record of any student but particularly of those who intend to become teachers of Spanish at any level.

The program divides into three components: 1) a Spanish language course and a course in Civilization and Culture (January/September); a placement exam will be given on arrival to determine language level; 2) courses in pedagogy and teacher education, and 3) a practicum and tutorials in local schools.

I: September/January: (a) The Spanish language course is designed to assure progress from intermediate levels to proficiency at advanced levels in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Emphasis is placed on current social, economic and political events and realities in today’s Spain.
(UNL SPAN 398 or 304--3 credits).
(b) The course in Spanish Culture and Civilization evolves in part through the imperial city of Toledo, which becomes itself a "classroom" ("Toledo mi aula"), offering a vivid experience of the historical and multicultural realities of Spain's Christian, Arabic, and Jewish communities: (UNL SPAN 321--3 credits).

II. September to December/February to May: Enrollment in Lengua Española y su didactica (UCLM--School of Education; Linguistic analysis as pertinent to grammatical structure; introduction to the Spanish system of education (TEAC 397--3 credits).

III. November to December/March to May: Tutorials and Practice Teaching. The tutorials in which UNL students join Spanish students and their professor refine the understanding of teaching and learning, pedagogy and language acquisition, in theory and practice, as applied cross-culturally between the U.S. and Spain. A practicum in an elementary school and a secondary school takes place for six weeks.

Once back on campus, UNL students will complete additional contact hours under the supervision of faculty in Teaching & Learning and Teacher Education (TLTE) during the fall or spring semester. (SPAN 399 -- 3 credits)

The tutorials and practicum are applicable to TLTE’s curricular requirements according to the program of each student as deemed appropriate by the TLTE advisor.

The exchange program is based on an agreement between UCLM and UNL. Exchange students pay the program costs to their home institution and then swap places with a student from UCLM. UNL students remain eligible for most scholarships and other forms of financial aid they normally receive. Credits earned on the program have been pre-approved, based on prior courses in Spanish an dthe approval of the UNL Dept. of Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education.

Sept 9/10 -- Fall orientation in Toledo
Sept 14-Dec 22 -- courses at ESTO & UCLM
Jan 3/4 -- Spring orientation in Toledo
January 7 - May 21 -- courses at ESTO and UCLM

Applications will be accepted through October 15 if space is available. Apply early.

Academics: Students should discuss general academic information with

• Dr. Thomas McGowan, 118 Henzlik, UNL Teaching Learning & Teacher Education. 472-2231, tmcgowan2@unl.edu
• Dr. Aleidine Moeller, 115 Henzlik, UNL, Teaching, Learning & Teacher Ed, 472-0429, amoeller2@unl.edu
• Dr. Harriet Turner, 420 University Terrace, UNL Modern Languages and International Affairs, 472-3266, hturner1@unl.edu

Financial Aid: For information about applying your financial aid to study abroad programs, contact a study abroad financial aid advisor in UNL's Scholarships and Financial Aid Office. (472-2030). UNL students remain eligible for most scholarships and other forms of financial aid they normally receive.

Administrative Details: For applications and details about studying abroad, transferring credit, contact a study abroad advisor at International Affairs, 420 University Terrace.

Related Programs: Other UNL programs in Spain include Fundacion Ortega Y Gasset,also located in Toledo, and sites through ISEP, the Utrecht/MAUI network, and CIEE. UNL also sponsors programs in Mexico and Latin American countries. Information is available at International Affairs.