Faculty: Julie Hempel
Description: : This course is an immersion experience intended to give you hands-on experience in the Spanish language and Mexican culture. The course will be held at the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro in the historic downtown area of this beautiful city. As a World Heritage site and voted the top destination for pedestrian tourism in Mexico, Querétaro has consistently been identified as one of the three Mexican cities with the highest quality of life index (measured by safety, variety of cultural offerings, and cleanliness).
Morning classes are held 4 hours per day and will be taught in small groups and one on one with a Mexican tutor/conversation partner. Afternoons will include visits to local cultural sites and NGOs. Additional travel and excursions include: El Zócalo, Templo Mayor, and the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. We will also visit Puebla, Tlaxcala, the Teotihuacán pyramids. Students will study language and culture in the classroom, on the plaza, at the market and at other sites around town. Some classroom topics include: Mesoamerican Mythology, contemporary Mexican literature, and creative writing in Spanish.
Homestays will provide students with additional language exposure and an invaluable cultural experience as students see how Mexican families live and interact. This is not the border or the beach, this is an opportunity to experience the ancient past and vibrant present of central Mexico with its incomparable literature, culture, history, and art.
Pre-requisites: None
Interview Required: Yes
Course Dates: January 2 – January 26
Expected Course Fee: $3000
Expected Out-of-Pocket Expenses: $150