Spanish Language & Culture
Fall 2023 Semester Alicante

About the Program

Gain Spanish proficiency while complementing your language studies with elective courses focused on art, tourism, cinema and more...taught in Spanish and designed to help you learn about Spanish culture. Language courses at your level focus on oral comprehension and expression, listening comprehension, and grammar. Semesters are divided into three 4-week blocks; you’ll be tested at the end of each block and may move up into a higher language level. Electives help hone your fluency and communication skills and, combined with your immersion experience in Alicante, allow you to advance your language skills at an accelerated pace.

Program Structure

Enroll in 3 language courses and 1 elective course. Language courses meet for 60 contact hours/4 credits, while elective courses meet for 45 contact hours/3 credits. You'll earn 15 credits (up to 225 contact hours).

Language courses meet for 3 hours per day, Monday-Friday. Elective courses meet for an hour per day, Monday-Friday. Active learning components required by your courses may be scheduled for Fridays.

For an additional fee, you may enroll in an optional, non-credit internship to further your language skills while gaining valuable experience with a local company or organization. This internship will help hone your fluency and communication skills, as well as deepen your understanding of Spanish culture. CEA will work with the University of Alicante to find you a meaningful placement.

Contact hours will be arranged with your internship placement. Work schedules vary, but expect to work at your internship no less than 10 hours per week. Internships are available for students at every language level; however, some placements will only be available to students at higher levels.

Before you leave for Alicante, you will select your preferred courses and take a language placement exam. You'll be enrolled into courses based on their availability. It is in your best interest to have multiple alternative courses approved by your home university prior to your departure due to course availabilities. To ensure that you receive credit for the language level you place into, have your home university pre-approve courses at several levels before you leave for Spain. Please consult with your academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.

Excursions

Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs*. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.

Tabarca Island

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From the port of Alicante, a 45-minute ferry ride carries you to Tabarca Island, the only inhabited island of the Autonomous Community of Valencia. This natural marine reserve is a prime example of virtually undamaged Mediterranean marine life, with excellent water quality, and incredible biodiversity. During the tour, you’ll learn about the island’s history; once a pirate refuge, the island’s only village was settled by a group of Genoese sailors in 1770 after they were rescued from a shipwreck off the Tunisian coast. After touring the island, you’ll enjoy delicious paella and relax on a tranquil beach.
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Calpe y el Peñon de Ifach

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No matter which way you approach the community of Calpe, it’s impossible to miss the Peñon de Ifach. Since the days of the Phoenicians, this 1,089-foot-tall rock has protected Calpe Bay from pirates and raiders. Today, this massive monolith is a nature preserve — home to more than 300 species of wildlife and many rare plants — and the largest rock in the Mediterranean. In the morning, watch the fishing boats leave the Calpe harbor in droves. They’ll return at day’s end, followed by flocks of sea birds, and sell their catch at the quayside auction house. So, head to nearby restaurants to feast on the result of a hard day’s work.

Altea

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One of the Costa Blanca’s most memorable coastal towns, Altea retains its own unique Spanish charm despite its increasing popularity. This picturesque town nestles between a stunning bay and a rugged mountain range and is named for the Moorish term althaya, or “health to all”. Set on a steep hillside above the sea, Altea has long been a popular retreat for artists, sculptors, and writers. In the city center, you’ll find a treasure trove of shops, galleries, cafes, and tiny white-washed buildings adorned with flowers, all nestled in winding and cobbled medieval lanes. At the top, you’ll see the blue-domed of the Virgin de Consuelo church. The walk to the top is well-worth the hike, as the mountain and bay views are nothing less than spectacular – plus, you’ll find a square lined with tapas bars.
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Algar Fountains

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Travel to the interior of Alicante province to the small town of Algar, where an abundance of water and a mild climate allow for the cultivation of Mediterranean products such as almonds and vines in traditional terraces. We’ll visit the Algar Fountains and see the springs and waterfalls of the Algar River. Hiking up the river provides the perfect opportunity to photograph the beautiful scenery.
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