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Multilingual and Multicultural Spain


Faculty Leader

Ryan Bessett
rbessett.ucsd.edu 

Ryan Bessett head shotRyan Bessett received a PhD in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Arizona. His research interests center around language variation and change, Spanish in contact, bilingualism, Spanish as a heritage language, language acquisition, and Spanish phonology. He is especially interested in the Spanish spoken around the US-Mexican border and through variationist methodology differentiating contact-induced change from language-internal variation by comparing the Spanish of monolingual speakers in Sonora, Mexico to the Southern Arizona bilingual Spanish of speakers who come from families from Sonora. 

Courses

Why you should go

Come study in Barcelona, Spain on the Mediterranean coast! This Global Seminar is a perfect way to expose yourself to the rich multilingual and multicultural communities of Spain. Barcelona is located in the region of Catalonia, home to the Catalan language, which like Spanish, derives from Latin. In this community, both languages (Spanish-Catalan) thrive. The bilingual/bicultural nature of Catalonia creates a wonderful learning experience, especially for Latinx students, because unlike Spanish in the US, Catalan in Spain (and especially in Catalonia) has political, social, and economic power, creating a much different dynamic than the one we see in the US Southwest. We will make parallels to the bilingual/bicultural situation of the Southwest US and Catalonia. Both courses in this Global Seminar are project-based and will allow students to engage in the local community! Students will explore Barcelona, Valencia, Girona and Figures during multiple cultural excursions.

Who should go

Any student with Spanish comprehension (including Spanish learned at home and in the community) will be considered based on an interview with Dr. Ryan M. Bessett (rbessett@ucsd.edu). LTSP 2C or 2E will also be considered based on an interview. Students who have completed the prerequisite of LTSP 100A or LTSP 100B do not need to conduct a Spanish interview. Courses will be taught in Spanish.

The courses in this Global Seminar will count for a variety of majors and minors including the following: Literature in Spanish major and minor, World Literature and Culture major, Intensive Language track of any Literature major, Language Studies major and minor (Spanish concentration), as well as fulfill upper-division electives for any major that includes free electives. 

Information Sessions

  • Wednesday, Jan 17, 3-4:30pm (In-person at University Center 214, next to Center Hall and across from Career Services) 
  • Thursday, Feb 1, 5:00 - 6:30pm (Zoom)
  • Register here for the live Zoom link, and/or to get the post-session recording.
  • Information session presentation (pdf)

See the Info Session Calendar

Dates

Departure from U.S.: Sat., June 29, 2024
Arrival: Sun., June 30, 2024
Mandatory Orientation: Mon., July 1, 2024
First Day of Class: Tues., July 2, 2024
Last Day of Class: Fri., August 2, 2024
Departure for the U.S.
(or personal travel):
Sat., August 3, 2024

Flight Information

  • You will be responsible for purchasing your own airplane tickets, and your program coordinator will provide guidelines and resources during the pre-departure process to help you find an appropriate flight.
  • Do not purchase plane tickets until the program is confirmed. All approved applicants will be notified by e-mail when the program has reached minimum enrollment.

Global Seminar Fees

All fees subject to change. See https://summersession.ucsd.edu/tuition/tuition.html for current tuition and campus-based fees.

  UCSD Other UC Non-UC
Program Cost:
(includes $500 administrative fee)
$5,239.77 $5,239.77 $5,239.77
Estimated Tuition and Campus-Based Fees:
 
$2,514.43 $2,564.43 $3,454.43
Total:
(not including airfare or personal expenses)
$7,754.2 $7,804.2 $8,694.2

Budget Sheet

Funding Options

See the funding options page to learn how financial aid and scholarships can help you pay for this program.

Local Site Visits

  • Historical City Tour
  • Picasso Museum
  • Tour of contemporary Spain
  • Modernism and Gaudi Tour
  • National Museum of Catalan Art

Overnight Excursion to Tarragona (3 days/2 nights)

  • This overnight excursion includes day 1 in Tarragona with a tour the city.
  • Day 2 would be a tour of historic Valencia. Day 3 will allow the group free time to interact with people and collect the data for their projects.

Overnight Excursion to Girona, Besalu and Figueres (3 days/2 nights)

  • This overnight excursion includes day 1 in Figueres with a tour the of Salvador Dalí Museum, a visit to the medieval village of Besalu, and then moving to Girona for two nights.
  • Day 2 would be a tour of historic Girona which would include the Roman city wall, the Cathedral, and the Plaza of Independence.
  • Day 3 will allow the group free time to interact with people and collect data for their projects.

 

Excursions are subject to change without prior notice. No refunds are possible.

Apartment kitchen and bedroom

Housing

  • Double room in a shared apartment with kitchen and bathroom
  • Student apartments include a kitchen, bathroom, television, reliable Wi-Fi, all utilities, and linens. All
    shared apartments have a kitchen with all the essential utensils and appliances. Most do not include a
    coffee maker or a kettle.
  • Housing arrangements are subject to change based on local circumstances without prior notice. No price adjustments are possible.

Included Meals

  • Welcome meal upon arrival
  • Farewell meal at end of program

Classroom and Computer Access

  • Classroom space is located in located in Plaça de Catalunya.
  • Wireless internet connection, a few computers and a printer available in our partner's study center, but you should also plan to bring a laptop.
  • Wireless access may be intermittent due to local conditions. No refunds or price adjustments are possible.

Transportation

  • Airport pick-up in Barcelona for all students who arrive between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.on official arrival day.
  • Return airport transportation on Saturday after the program ends.
  • Local transportation card in Barcelona for program duration.
  • Ground transportation for all out of town excursions.

Phones

  • Information about how to obtain a local SIM card will be provided at the pre-departure orientation.
  • Students will be responsible to purchase their own calling time/minutes.

Insurance, Health, and Safety

  • An in-depth orientation will be given on the morning after arrival, including health and safety procedures.
  • Program partner staff will be available by telephone after hours.
  • All students must register for UC travel insurance. This is free coverage, but registration is required prior to departure.