Language and Culture in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Earn 9 hours of university credit in Spanish courses
- Experience Argentine culture first-hand by living with host families
- Immerse yourself in a Spanish-speaking environment to improve language skills
- Take classes from faculty at Universidad de San Andrés
The Summer Language Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina, offers students the opportunity to obtain university credit in Spanish, improve language skills, and experience Argentinean culture first-hand by living with families in Buenos Aires. Courses are taught by both Universidad de San Andrés faculty and KU faculty and staff.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina located on the Río de la Plata, is a 500-year old cosmopolitan city renowned for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Each neighborhood has its own characteristics and style; for example, San Telmo is famous for tango, La Boca for its colorful houses, and Recoleta for its ornate cemetery, museums, and parks.
Universidad de San Andrés (UdeSA)
The Universidad de San Andrés is a small, private liberal arts university with roots going back to the early 1800s. The program will be located on the UdeSA's downtown campus, which is close to the world-famous Teatro Colón opera house, the Casa Rosada, the Plaza de Mayo, and the Puerto Madero neighborhood.
Nine hours of undergraduate credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program. All students will take three courses for three credits each. Classes are conducted entirely in Spanish and will typically meet four days a week. SPAN 471 is a conversation course.
Summer 2018 courses
Level I
Pre-requisite: SPAN 216 or otherwise being eligible for SPAN 324 & SPAN 328.
SPAN 323: Spanish Composition and Cultural Analysis
SPAN 346: Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures
SPAN 471: Studies in Spanish-American Culture and Civilization
*Please note: for Spanish majors and minors, SPAN 323 will fulfill the Intermediate Grammar/Composition requirement (normally satisfied by SPAN 324) and SPAN 471 will fulfill the Intermediate Conversation requirement (normally satisfied by SPAN 328).
Level II
Pre-requisite: SPAN 324 or SPAN 424 and SPAN 340. SPAN 340 can be deferred until Fall 2018 upon petition.
All students will take a total of three courses, depending on previous coursework. Only students who have already completed the lower-level courses are permitted to enroll in the advanced courses.
SPAN 424: Advanced Spanish Composition and Grammar OR SPAN 520: Structure of Spanish
SPAN 346: Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures OR SPAN 440: Hispanic Studies
SPAN 471: Studies in Spanish-American Culture and Civilization
*Please note: for Spanish majors and minors, SPAN 471 will fulfill the Advanced Conversation requirement (normally satisfied by SPAN 428).
All students are housed with Argentine host families. Some host families will host one student, while others will host two. Breakfast and dinner every day (except for Saturday dinners) are provided with the host family and internet access is also included.
Host families are in neighborhoods near downtown Buenos Aires where classes are held and most students take public transportation to get to class.
Students will participate in cultural activities and local excursions to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of Argentine culture. Examples of local excursions include:
-A visit to the UdeSA main campus to meet UdeSA students
-A tour of a park dedicated to the victims of the Dirty War
-Tango lessons and shows
-Buenos Aires urban art and graffiti tour
-A boat tour of El Tigre, a town on the delta of the Río la Plata
-A visit to a traditional Argentine ranch with a demonstration of Argentine cowboy skills
Open to students from accredited U.S. colleges or universities who have completed the required pre-requisites (or the equivalent) of college-level Spanish. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Exceptions considered after submission of a petition.
Veronica Garibotto, Associate Professor, Department of Spanish and Portuguese (garibotto@ku.edu)
Rafael Acosta, Associate Professor, Department of Spanish and Portuguese (rafael.acosta@ku.edu)
