Now is the time to make plans to participate in the study abroad program offered by the Department of English and Foreign Languages at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, in partnership with the Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Studies in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
“This program has a well-earned reputation and is well established,” said Dr. Elba Birmingham-Pokorny, professor of Spanish at SAU. “Universities from across the country, including Ivy League schools, are involved with this program.”
Those interested in the program are encouraged to attend an orientation meeting to be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, in Wilson 327 on the University campus. Students will depart on Saturday, June 3, and return Saturday, July 1.
“This program was created in order to make our students more competitive in the global market,” said Pokorny.
Students will attend two Spanish classes daily with nor more than five students per class. By practicing writing, oral, lecture, and listening skills, students will develop and increase their knowledge of Spanish.
This program gives students the opportunity to earn six credits in a period of four weeks. Courses offered include intermediate Spanish, composition and conversation, advanced composition and conversation, Spanish American culture and civilization, business Spanish, Spanish phonetics, advanced grammar, and a wide range of Spanish American and peninsular literature courses.
“The study abroad program meets the guidelines of the ACFLA,” said Pokorny. “Students majoring in foreign language are required to have experience in a foreign country.”
Participants will also live with Mexican families in private or semi-private rooms. This component of the program provides rapid language immersion and real life cultural experience.
“The families who house the students have been thoroughly investigated by the program,” said Pokorny. “Not just any family can serve as a host to students.”
To be eligible to participate in the program, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and are required to be in good academic standing – a grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), or a C average – and have completed elementary Spanish 1014 and 1024.
In addition, students interested in the program must present a letter of recommendation from a faculty member of the foreign languages department.
Community members and high school teachers are also invited to participate in this trip.
The estimated total cost of the program is $1,521. The program is available at this cost because the program director will not accompany the students abroad. A contact person at the Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Studies will be available to students who have any questions or concerns.
This figure does not include the cost of four required cultural guided excursions, round-trip airfare from Dallas to Mexico City, nor transportation to and from the airport.
Students will not be accompanied on the trip by the director, Pokorny. This is to help defray the cost of the program for students.
“We are trying to provide a program that is accessible to students and their parents,” said Pokorny.
SAU students who are eligible may be able to use their financial aid to help pay for costs. Students must purchase health insurance before departing.
Fifty percent of the cost must be paid by Monday, May 1. The other half is due by Friday, May 26.
“We want the community to see what can be achieved by knowing a foreign language,” said Pokorny.
For more information regarding the summer program in Mexico, contact Dr. Elba Birmingham-Pokorny by phone at 870-235-4206; e-mail at elpokorny@saumag.edu; or at her office in Wilson 331.
