Is Spanish in your future?
Do you want a major or minor in Spanish?
Do you want to travel?
Do you want to save yourself 2 years?
The Spanish Immersion Program will do that for you!
Immerse yourself in the language and experience the culture
You can earn 19 credits in one semester:
SPA 121, the equivalent of SPA 101;
SPA 122, the equivalent of SPA 102;
SPA 221, the equivalent of SPA 201;
SPA 222, the equivalent of SPA 202
SPA 223, Study abroad
The Immersion Program concentrates on the acquisition of oral proficiency skills as well as writing skills. Although there is an emphasis on oral communication first, and then reading and writing, listening and cultural information are also incorporated in the program. The immersion program is an active learning process that requires the concentrated participation of the student. A higher level of language proficiency is achieved than is normally possible in a more traditional classroom.
Because of the intensive nature of the program, we have established the following minimum admission pre-requisites.
- You must have at least a second-semester, first year status.
- You must have a 2.7 grade point average.
- You must have taken one semester of Spanish (or any other Romance Language) and have earned a grade of B or better or two years in high school.
- The semester’s activities are conducted in the following fashion:
- Spanish is the language of instruction.
- Students are divided into small groups (5-8 per group); this allows for active participation by the students.
- The daily schedule includes varied language instruction, activities, movies, laboratory instruction, etc.
- Several conversants (teaching assistants) help in the teaching of the small groups.
How to apply:
To apply for admittance to this program, do the following:- Download and complete the Spanish immersion application form.
- Go see Daniel R. Serpas in Babbitt Academic Annex room 305 for an interview.
- Once you have been admitted into the program, you must pay the $50 application fee. Link here to the Spanish Immersion Program Application Fee page.
- Deliver the completed application form with the receipt attached to the Modern Languages Department Administrative Assistant Alexandria McConocha in the Babbitt Academic Annex Room 108.
- Acquire permission numbers from Daniel R. Serpas to enroll in the classes.
The weekly schedule is as follows:
Monday-Thursday:
08:30-09:20 Grammar presentation/entire group
09:30-10:20 Drills, exercises/3 small groups
10:30-11:20 Grammar presentation/entire group
11:30-12:00 Break
12:10-01:00 Dialogues, drills/3 small groups
01:10-02:-00 Dialogues, drills/3 small groups
Friday:
8:30-11:00 oral and written exams
The program significantly enhances the linguistic and cultural island in which you are learning and improving and will take you to higher levels of language learning than you would otherwise achieve. By the time you complete the program, you will be able to take upper division courses either at NAU, or abroad.
Trip to Mexico
The last two weeks of the semester take place in Mexico. You will be welcomed by a carefully selected family as part of your adventure, and be immersed in the foods, life and language of your “home away from home”. You will go on excursions, visit museums, art galleries, and enjoy the people. The trip is an extremely important part of the program and is therefore mandatory.
The cost of the trip, not including airfare, is $1,200. This includes: Room and board (meals), excursions, entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites, and transportation within Mexico. Please contact Daniel.Serpas@nau.edu, Program Coordinator, at (928) 523-7633 for additional information. During the first week of the trip the students stay with families and they will receive three meals a day from the families (students will receive a packed lunch from the families for excursions taken during this time). Meals during the second week of the trip are included in the program fee and provided by the program director.
The Summer Spanish Immersion Program
NAU also offers a Summer Spanish Immersion Program for 12 credit hours. It is a ten-week program and you must enroll for both five-week summer sessions. The program follows exactly the same schedule and protocol as the Spring Semester Program which includes a one week trip to Mexico. The cost of the summer trip, not including airfare, is $600. This includes: Room and board (meals), excursions, entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites, and transportation within Mexico.
he program follows exactly the same schedule and protocol as the Spring Semester Program; however, it does not include SPA 101. Students must have completed SPA 101. The program will also admit students who have completed SPA 102.
For more information contact Daniel R. Serpas Daniel.Serpas@nau.edu, Program Coordinator, at (928) 523-7633.