SPANISH IMMERSION SCHOOL
17 June 2024
Full time
2 weeks
Suzhou
School of Languages
Knowledge and skills
What do we offer?
- A meaningful immersive experience to ensure that you effectively communicate in Spanish no matter your proficiency level, thus improving your Spanish skills via authentic communicative situations.
- Extensive and diverse cultural knowledge through a great variety of fun and cultural activities that will facilitate language acquisition and provide you with the necessary intercultural skills to succeed in our ever-changing world.
- Cutting-edge teaching methods, as well as an innovative immersive approach.
- A highly experienced team of Chinese and Spanish lecturers from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University that come from different academic backgrounds (linguistics, cultural studies, literature, communication, performing arts, etc.) and have extensive experience in educational institutions all over the world (Spain, India, the US, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Estonia, Ireland, etc.).
- The extraordinary human and material resources of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, the historic partnership between Xi’an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool in China.
- An experience adapted to your Spanish level, whether you are a beginner or an intermediate-high learner.
Approach
At XJTLU Spanish Immersion Summer School, we have adopted an approach that incorporates Chinese expectations and learning beliefs into an immersive experience where learning occurs in real and meaningful communicative settings. Our learning sessions don’t follow a traditional approach focused only on language structures, nor a natural approach that focuses exclusively on content and ignores the study of grammar. Instead, we have created an integrative-dynamic immersion environment in which students’ daily schedules begin with a more-traditional language class, and transition progressively to less-controlled immersive settings to promote Spanish language use and acquisition in meaningful and authentic communicative situations. These sequences, along with cultural knowledge, are not isolated but instead always embedded in relevant cultural contexts. For instance, the daily cultural content that frames the learning sessions is built around a specific Spanish-speaking country or community.
Student learning outcomes
At the end of this program, you will be able to:
- Show improvement in your Spanish language listening and speaking skills in real-life situations in a culturally appropriate manner.
- Recognize cultural practices, products, and perspectives of a variety of Spanish-speaking communities.
- Develop confidence when communicating in Spanish.
Modules
General structure, Types of courses, and Integrative-dynamic immersion (Idi) environment.
Every participant in the Spanish Immersion Summer School will take five types of courses, which are designed to provide this integrative-dynamic immersion environment:
- Language courses ≈ 14 hours
These more-controlled sessions provide the primary language resources that students will need to apply in the other sessions of the day (e.g., grammar, vocabulary, and communicative functions).
- Spanish applied to culture ≈ 12 hours
In these content-based sessions, students will deepen and increase their language resources in context while learning Hispanic cultural products, practices, and perspectives.
- Cultural Workshops ≈ 18 hours
These open learning spaces will allow students to apply the language resources learned in authentic cultural activities (e.g., handicrafts and cooking).
- Specialization Workshops ≈ 9 hours
Students can choose between several cultural and professional workshops, considering their personal or professional interests (e.g., sports, Spanish for business, theater).
- Experiencias en el mundo hispanohablante ≈ 3 hours
Presentations of and conversations with individuals in the community who have studied Spanish and lived in Spanish-speaking countries.
Social activities: In these optional activities, students gather with other students and the community while immersing themselves in cultural practices and languages (e.g., dancing events and movie sessions).
*Social activities are optional. When there is an expense related to a social activity (e.g., dinner in a Mexican restaurant), the participant will cover this expense if they decide to join.
Fees
5,460 RMB
What is included in the price?
- All the courses and materials needed for the courses.
- One official t-shirt of the Spanish Immersion School.
- Certificate of attendance (if you attend at least 80% of the mandatory lessons/activities).
Other expenses (accommodation, meals, expenses related to optional social activities, etc.) are not included in the price and must be covered by the participant.
- Current XJTLU/UoL students, XJTLU staff & family/partners: -40% (3,276 RMB)
- Former XJTLU students (UG, PG & Spanish Extended Learning): -20% (4,368 RMB)
- Early Bird Registration (until 30 April): -10% (4,914 RMB)
*Please note that discounts cannot be accumulated.
How to apply
Deadline: 31 May 2024
Applications should be submitted via the XJTLU online application system.
Important
Seats are very limited. Consequently, if you are interested in the program, it is strongly recommended that you submit your application and make the payment as early as possible. Please note that your seat will not be reserved until you submit your application, your payment is processed, and you receive an email confirming that you have been admitted to the program.
Please note that the minimum group size is 10 participants. If fewer than 10 students register in one specific level, this level might be canceled (students will be notified by June 3rd at the latest, and the reimbursement will be processed soon after).
Contact
If you have questions about the registration process, please contact Zhen Zhang at Zhen.Zhang@xjtlu.edu.cn.
If you have any general questions about the Summer School, please contact SPA.spais@xjtlu.edu.cn.
Please scan the QR Code to apply now:
Please scan the QR Code to follow us:
Overview
To provide a distinctive and unique experiential learning opportunity through a 2-week linguistic and cultural immersion experience on campus, at XJTLU-SIP, in which you will increase your communicative proficiency, cultural sensitivity, and confidence when speaking Spanish.
Download the course flyer here.
Participants
The XJTLU Spanish Immersion School is open to any elementary and intermediate (A1-B2) learner of Spanish interested in a) improving their oral skills in real-life communicative situations, b) developing their cultural background in a variety of Spanish-speaking countries, and c) strengthening their confidence when speaking Spanish. Candidates must be at least 18 years old to participate in this program.
Dates
17 – 28 June 2024, from Monday to Friday (6 hours/day + optional social activities).
Justification
Opportunities to expose students to Spanish in places like Suzhou (or China, in general) are often scarce beyond the classroom. Consequently, several second language acquisition theories and models confirm issues in a context where exposure to the target language outside the classroom is low.
In countries like the United States of America, there is a tradition of language programs that offer immersive learning contexts that significantly increase students’ proficiency in a location where Spanish is not the native language of the general population. However, in China, few programs have the same characteristics and tradition. To provide our students with more opportunities to be exposed to the Spanish language and its cultures, the Spanish Division at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University has put in place the Spanish Immersion Summer School in Suzhou. This program follows the principal traits of this immersive learning and teaching philosophy but is adapted to Chinese peculiarities and tradition.