Study Abroad Valencia, Spain

Next Meeting: March 6, 3:30 Grainger 322!
(Meetings are mandatory for all participants in the program; we will have info about flights and specifics about the course, and we will practice strategies for speaking Spanish!)

Study at the beaches of the beautiful city of Valencia, defended by El Cid against the Moors, while becoming proficient in Spanish and immersing yourself in a culture rich in history, art and romance. Then stay in an eleventh-century castle in Toledo, and wander its ancient streets to buy the famous swords and damsquino jewelry.

Courses offered:
Choose one: Spanish 201, 202 or 302 (3 credits)
View course descriptions

Successful completion of this program waives Longwood University's Goal 9 (as an "approved international experience"), in addition to satisfying one of the following: Goal 10, Goal 12 (302), BA Humanities requirement, and/or Spanish major/minor elective (minor electives can double-count with other requirements).

General Itinerary 2008:

     Albarracín May 11: Meet at Washington-Dulles Airport, Iberia Airlines area, 5:30 pm*
May 12: Arrive in Madrid; transfer to flight to Valencia; Meet host families; homestay begins.
                Afternoon rest. Evening tapas downtown: meet in Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
May 13: Orientation meeting, 9:30 am at Institute of Spanish Studies.
                10:30-12:30 clase. 12:30-1:30 Conversación, "Preguntas del Día"
                 1:30-5 comer con familias, descansar, hacer deberes.
                 5:00 Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Visita de Orientación por el Centro: Palacio de Correos,
                 Ayuntamiento, Plaza de la Reina, Catedral, Plaza de la Virgen, "Calle de los Caramelos",
                 Torres de Serranos. 9:00pm a casa para cenar.
May 14-26: horario parecido al del 13 de mayo.
May 17:    10:00 am Excursion to Albarracín, medieval walled city, and Teruel.    Return to Valencia 7 pm.
May 18:   10:30 Churros y Chocolate at Plaza de la Reina, in front of Cathedral.
                  11:00 Visit Roman ruins museum behind Cathedral.
                  12:00 Mass in the Cathedral for those interested.    Afternoon: Beach!
May 20:    Excursión a Játiva en tren.
May 24:     10:00 Excursion to Peñíscola; tour 13th-century Castle on the sea,
                   learn about its history and ghosts.
                  Afternoon at the beach. Return to Valencia 5:00.
May 26:    Last day in Valencia.     Exams.   Farewell Dinner.
May 27:    Travel to Toledo; comida en el Castillo de San Servando. Tarde: Catedral, tren turístico,
                   Cena en el Castillo.
May 28:    Toledo: Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca, y Sinagoga del Tránsito. Museos.
                  Tarde: Tour de Leyendas. Cena en el Castillo.
May 29:    Leave Toledo for Madrid Airport. Flight to U.S.
                  Arrival at Washington-Dulles Airport in the afternoon.

                                        *Flight times are approximate; exact times will be announced later.
Click here for more topics and excursions to be covered during the program.

Typical daily schedule during the program:

8:00 am            breakfast
9:00 – 1:30       classes
2:00 pm           lunch with host family
2:30-5:00        siesta; free time; exercise time / or to the beach!
5:00-7:30        mosts days accompanied class activities in Valencia
7:30-9:00         discussions; journals; tapas
9:00 pm            dinner with host family

$2,950 Program Price Includes:
*Round-trip Airfare Washington-Dulles to Madrid / Valencia
*Homestay with Spanish family
*3 meals per day in Valencia; 2 meals per day in Toledo
*Excursions, visits and tours:
       Albarracín, medieval walled city; Teruel, site of the "amantes".
          Peñíscola, 13th-century Castle on the sea with history and ghosts.
          Xátiva, Sagunto, boat ride on the Albufera Lake,
          Visit to the Tribunal de las Aguas, Museo de Historia de Valencia, Cathedral de Valencia,
          Historic areas of Valencia, Central Market, Spectacular Oceanográfico, much more…
*2 days in Toledo, staying in an authentic 11th-century castle (Castillo de San Servando).
       Visits to many historic monuments and sites, including the Cathedral, synagogues, museums,
         a mosque, artisans making the gold "damasquinado" jewelry, more...
*Medical insurance through MAPFRE
**(Tuition is not included in the above cost; you will receive a separate bill for tuition.)

$1,350 deposit due February 29, 2008
Make checks payable to Longwood University
Take payment form to Office of Cashiering, Lancaster
**Please write Cid Account number #81136 on form

Important 2007-2008 Meeting dates:
Information meetings:
Sept. 20, 3:30, Grainger 322
October 18, 3:30, Grainger 322

Required Class meetings
(3:30 in Grainger 322):
November 15
February 12
March 6
April 10
April 24

(Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar--"El Cid"--says farewell to his beloved wife Jimena and his daughters, as he begins his exile.)

Topics in these courses will focus on the history, art, literature and culture of the “Three Cultures” of medieval Spain

SPANISH 201. Intermediate I. A course designed to help students develop skills in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing in Spanish, and apply these skills in a context that recognizes and explores the particularities of Spanish and Latin American cultures. Prerequisite: SPAN 102 or an appropriate placement test score. Followed by SPAN 202. 3 credits. (Satisfies General Education Goal 10)

SPANISH 202. Intermediate II. Students will continue to develop the skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing at a higher level, integrating a wide variety of topics and materials from the target culture. Prerequisite: SPAN 201 or appropriate placement test score. Successful completion of this course satisfies the foreign language requirement for the B.A. degree and is prerequisite for upper-level courses. 3 credits. (Satisfies General Education Goal 9)

SPANISH 302. Conversation. Practice in oral communication skills, including expansion of vocabulary and improvement of pronunciation and listening comprehension. A functional approach, emphasizing strategies for circumlocution, initiating and closing conversation, requesting and providing information, narrating, expressing wishes, complaints, and emotions, giving and receiving advice, and supporting opinions. Prerequisite: SPAN 202 or equivalent. 3 credits. Speaking intensive course. Satisfies General Education Goal 9, 10, 12, BA Humanities requirement OR Spanish major or minor elective.

En el Alcázar de Segovia Molinos de Viento en Consuegra

See photos of last year's Toledo group! (click here!)

Puente de Alcántara, the bridge leading to the Castillo de San Servando

El Alcázar de Toledo

The Castillo de San Servando is what remains of part of Toledo's defenses and is reached by crossing the Alcántara Bridge. There were fortifications as far back as the Moslem era and probably in Visigothic times too. When Alfonso VI took the city in 1085 he built the castle on the ruins of older buildings. Two further reconstructions have taken place, one in the twelfth century and again in 1380. The final rebuilding incorporated Arabic elements including a large central square and turrets. Castilla La Mancha's first regional government chamber was established here in 1983. Nowadays, the castle contains a youth hostel and you will be staying there!