MAIN GOAL
To provide a distinctive and unique experiential learning opportunity through a 2-week linguistic and cultural immersion experience on campus, at XJTLU, in which you will increase your communicative proficiency, cultural sensitivity and confidence when speaking Spanish.
PARTICIPANTS
This academic year, our local programme is open to XJTLU students of all levels, including absolute beginners. We are working hard to bring this XJTLU learning experience to our local, regional and national communities.
DATES
12 – 23 July, 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 programmes 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, there are not many programmes with the same characteristics and tradition. In order to provide our students with more opportunities to be exposed to the Spanish language and to its cultures, the Spanish Division at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University has put in place the Spanish Immersion Summer School in Suzhou. This programme follows the principal traits of this immersive learning and teaching philosophy but adapted to the Chinese peculiarities and tradition.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
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 a dynamic immersion environment in which students’ daily schedules begin with a more-traditional language class, and transitions progressively to less-controlled immersive settings, in order to promote Spanish language use and acquisition in meaningful and authentic communicative situations. These sequences, along with cultural knowledge, are not isolated, but rather 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.
GENERAL STRUCTURE, TYPES OF COURSES AND DYNAMIC IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENT
Every participant in the Spanish Immersion Summer School will take five types of courses, which are designed to provide this dynamic immersion environment:
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES:
In these optional activities, students gather with other students and community while immersing themselves in cultural practices and languages (e.g., dancing events, movie sessions).
*Social activities are optional. When there is an expense related to a social activity (e.g., dinner in a Mexican restaurant), this expense will be covered by the participant if he/she decides to join.
2,940 RMB
Please note that this price has been reduced by 40% for XJTLU students (original price of the Spanish Immersion Summer School: 4,900 RMB).
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
Other expenses (accommodation, meals, expenses related to optional social activities, etc.) are not included in the price, and must be covered by the participant.
Deadline: 25 June 2021.
Applications should be submitted via the XJTLU online application system.
If you have questions about the registration process, please contact Yunxia Jiang at yunxia.jiang@xjtlu.edu.cn.
If you have any general questions about the Summer School, please contact SPA.Summer@xjtlu.edu.cn.