HBU Professor聽Dr.聽Encarnaci贸n (Encarna) Bermejo聽knows what it鈥檚 like to learn a new language.聽The Madrid-native, who learned English as an adult,聽advises students, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 hold yourself back. You鈥檙e going to make errors and sound different. Students are always afraid to聽make mistakes, but I tell them, 鈥業t鈥檚 okay.鈥� They have to lose their fear and gain confidence.鈥�
A聽Spanish professor at聽HBU for the past seven years, Bermejo聽knows the value of full immersion聽for聽language acquisition. Early in her tenure, she set about聽establishing a partnership that would benefit the students of HBU. By happenstance, she met a faculty member聽of the聽Universidade聽de Santiago de聽Compostela, and the beginning of the partnership was formed.
聽鈥淭he opportunity to go to Spain was a dream come true. The trip made me feel more mature and opened up a whole new perspective in how I see the world around me.鈥�
-Jackie Reyes
The city of Santiago de聽Compostela, commonly known as Santiago,聽is located in the northwest region of Spain,聽the Galicia region聽of the Iberian Peninsula,聽above Portugal.聽It is known for being the destination of 鈥淓l Camino,鈥� or 鈥淭he Way鈥澛爋f St. James聽(a聽prominent聽Catholic pilgrimage route).聽Its Celtic influence is聽still evident.聽The city鈥檚 Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage聽Site.
鈥淎fter receiving approval from HBU,聽I went and met with the university leadership and I thought it was a perfect match for us. It鈥檚 a small city and a Christian environment,鈥� Bermejo said.
The four-week study abroad program is now available to HBU students, freshmen through seniors. Students聽don鈥檛 need聽to major in Spanish or have a grasp of the language yet. Students who apply are tested for proficiency, and placed in聽beginning (1300), intermediate (2300) or advanced (3300 & 4300) Spanish language classes at the university. They earn six聽transferable college credits聽through the program.
鈥淥ver the course of four weeks, I worked in a microbiology lab. Overall, this experience has given me much more than an opportunity to learn within a lab. It has also granted me friendships聽and聽an聽experience聽I will never forget.鈥�
-Jimena Gonzalez
Local Santiago families聽who have been well-vetted聽serve as hosts for each of the students.
鈥淏eing with a family allows students to live the culture and enriches the experience,鈥� Bermejo said. 鈥淚t also helps them communicate in Spanish聽outside of聽the academic setting. If they need a glass of water for example, they have to tell the family that.鈥�
A typical weekday for the study abroad participants聽involves class聽in the morning from 9 a.m. to noon, in which students study an in-depth curriculum of vocabulary,聽grammar聽and application. From noon to 2 p.m., students participate in a nearby activity, often practicing conversation with locals. After an聽afternoon break, the students set out聽together聽at 5 p.m. to聽one of many cultural activities聽in the city.聽On the weekends, students participate in longer聽group聽excursions聽to nearby sites,聽as well as聽enjoy time with their host families.
聽鈥淭his trip really helped confirm that I want to be a doctor. I have an idea of how hospital life is, and I learned how to speak with patients. I loved it and hope to come back.鈥�
-闯丑辞惫补苍苍测听搁补尘颈谤别锄
For聽heritage Spanish speakers, and聽students who already have聽a firm grasp of the language,聽an internship program in place of traditional classes is available. The聽Career Internship is聽offered聽in the areas of聽healthcare, education and business.
鈥淭he program works for them in a different way,鈥� Bermejo said. 鈥淪ome students have been speaking Spanish all of their lives, but only within the domains which聽they聽are accustomed to聽鈥� family, community church, etc.聽This聽is an opportunity for them to spend a whole month in a career setting and learn Spanish聽as applicable in聽a profession.鈥�
鈥淕oing to Santiago de聽Compostela聽was an amazing opportunity, especially with the group. I am forever grateful that I was able to be in the beautiful city聽for a month.鈥�
-滨产补测补谤听笔补诲颈濒濒补
Past student travelers become聽the biggest advocates for the study program, Bermejo said.聽Additionally, they find聽that conversational and professional Spanish comes more readily.
鈥淭hey really love the program,鈥� Bermejo said. 鈥淭hey love the experience, they love the country, they feel more confident in the language,聽and overall,聽it鈥檚 a great experience. For some of them,聽it has changed their lives.鈥�
Program:聽Study聽abroad聽with HBU聽at la聽Universidade聽de Santiago de聽Compostela, or complete a聽Career Internship聽
City: Santiago is聽set in the Spanish region of Galicia, and is聽known as being the destination of 鈥淓l Camino鈥� (The Way),聽of St. James, a prominent Catholic pilgrimage route
Courses: Students earn six聽Spanish language college聽credits
Dates:聽Departing June 29,聽2018聽and聽program聽from聽July 2 through July 27, 2018
Cost:聽$2,757 plus airfare聽($1,500 to $1,800 on average); cost includes tuition, supplies, meals, accommodation, laundry service, cultural activities, weekend tours and medical insurance; students may apply for applicable scholarships
Contact:聽Reach聽Dr. Encarna Bermejo at聽EBermejo@HC.edu聽for more information