Eligibility
You must have at least a 2.5 grade point average and sophomore status to study in Honduras. Because the semester is an advanced Spanish studies program, you must have completed at least Spanish 301 at Calvin.
Cost
The Fall 2009 program cost is $16,400 and includes:
- Tuition
- Roundtrip air transportation Grand Rapids/Tegucigalpa
- Full room and board with Honduran families
- Administrative fee
- Program excursions in Honduras, Guatemala & Nicaragua
- Two-week summer school course
Additional expenses not included in the program fee: passport, books, medical insurance (required), independent travel and spending money.
Accommodations
You will live with a Honduran family during your time in Tegucigalpa.
Courses
You must have taken Spanish 301 at Calvin before participating in the Spanish Semester is Honduras.
Summer course
A two-week course at the end of August will prepare you to study at La Universidad Pedagogica Nacional in September:
| SPHO 342: Language and Culture in Honduras | |
| An on-site orientation to Honduran language and culture, designed to prepare students for taking upper-level courses with Honduran instructors and introduce them to the cross-cultural issues they will encounter. | 2 semester hours |
Semester Courses
All courses are taught in Spanish. You must enroll in SPHO 205 and SPHO 315, and then choose among the remaining courses for a total of 12–16 hours during the semester.
| SPHO 205: Poverty and Development | |
| Analysis of development theories and major issues such as population, the environment, and globalization, and the role Christian values can play in shaping responses to them. Includes several field trips. | 2 semester hours, fulfills Global and Historical Studies core and elective for International Development and Missions minors |
| SPHO 315: Engaging Honduran Culture | |
| A weekly seminar in which students compare and reflect on what they have learned from readings, interviews, and daily experiences. Includes speakers and excursions. | 2 semester hours, fulfills CCE credit |
| SPHO 302: Advanced Grammar, Conversation, and Composition II | |
| A continuation of Spanish 301 and the second gateway course to the major or minor sequence. Designed to improve speaking and writing skills through vocabulary acquisition, honing of grammatical accuracy, and extensive practice in oral and written communication. | 3 semester hours |
| SPHO 308: Introduction to the Hispanic World | |
| This course introduces students to the major developments of the Hispanic World from antiquity to the independence of the American colonies in the early 19th century. Discussions center on the relationship of major literary and artistic works to economic, political, religious, and social developments in the Iberian Peninsula and the Castilian colonies in the Americas. This course is normally the first in a sequence of two and is designed to prepare students for advanced-level culture and literature courses. | 4 semester hours, fulfills Global and Historical Studies core |
| SPHO 309: Introduction to the Hispanic World II | |
| This course introduces students to major developments of the Hispanic World from the independence of the Spanish American colonies to the present day. Discussions center on the relationship of major literary and artistic works to economic, political, religious, and social developments in Spain and Spanish America. In addition, students develop their skills in reading and evaluating literature in a second language through representative texts, and they sharpen their skills in critical writing and analysis. This course in normally the second course in a sequence of two and is designed to prepare students for advanced-level culture and literature courses. | 4 semester hours, fulfills Literature core |
| SPHO 340: Spanish Phonology and Dialectology | |
| An introduction to Spanish linguistics, concentrating on the sounds of Spanish (phonetics and phonology), with appropriate pronunciation practice and contrasts with English pronunciation. Included are units on the history of the Spanish language and the major dialects spoken today. | 3 semester hours |
| SPHO 364: Central American Authors | |
| An in-depth study of major Central American authors and works. The course requires the reading of several complete texts and the writing of a major research paper. Prerequisites: Spanish 308 and 309, or permission of the program director. | 3 semester hours |
| SPHO 390: Independent Study | |
| Course taken at the Universidad Pedagógica. Prerequisite: Spanish 308, 309, and permission of the program director. | 3 semester hours |
| SPHO 393: Independent Ethnographic Study | |
| Placement in a local agency, school, or business to observe and/or participate in a work setting. Prerequisite: permission of the program director. | 2 semester hours |
Apply
Submit a preliminary application to the the off-campus programs office by March 1, 2009. Once your eligibility for the program is determined (within 1–2 weeks), you will be sent an application. The final application deadline for this program is March 18, 2009.
Guest students may apply for this program.
Contact
Program Director, Fall 2009
Pablo Villalta, Spanish department
Email: pvillalt@calvin.edu
616.523.7717
