Students attended classes each morning, with afternoons available to explore Cádiz, spend time together and put their Spanish skills to use outside the classroom. Courses were taught by Penn State faculty, including Teaching Professor of Spanish Joe Bauman, as well as local instructors in Cádiz.
Students earn seven academic credits during the four-week program, with excursions and educational trips designed to complement their coursework.
“The primary purpose of the Cádiz program is academic: students are in Spain to study, take courses for a total of seven academic credits, and develop their language proficiency and intercultural competence,” García-Prudencio said. “Visits to historical landmarks, cultural sites and local communities provide students with firsthand experiences that deepen their understanding of Spanish language, history and culture.”
The four-week format also offers students an option between a shorter embedded program and spending a full semester abroad.
“The Cádiz program is a great option for students who want to study abroad without committing to a full semester,” García-Prudencio said. “Living together in a residence hall and participating in classes, cultural activities and excursions gives students a meaningful introduction to Spanish language and culture while providing a valuable first study abroad experience.”
Carolina Gomes, a third-year student majoring in special education with a minor in Spanish, learned about the program after taking SPAN 100 with Ramírez-Bernal. Gomes, who grew up in Brazil speaking Portuguese, said living in Cádiz gave her a chance to experience a different culture while getting to know the other Penn State students in the program.
“The atmosphere is very different. The water was so clear and calm. In Cádiz, people go to the beach all the time after work. It’s like their park,” Gomes said. “Going into this program, you don’t know the other people you’re traveling with. We would all go to the beach and sit there for hours. Most days it made us hang out and form a stronger bond. That was the best month of my life.”
