Summer Sessions


During the Summer students will be able to take up to three classes (9 credits) from our extensive course list in Language, Literature, History and Geography.

This course is complemented by our immersion process with learning outside the classroom, creating a holistic language learning experience. Living with Spanish families allows for constant practice of Spanish and total interaction with the culture. We also organize individual language partners with Spanish students where students can put into practice, in a fun and dynamic way, what they have learned in class.

 ✈️ Travel Europe on your own or with your friends.

 🌍 Experience the culture of everyday Spanish life as you live and interact with your host family, participate in cultural activities and trips to other cities in Spain.

Enroll today and start learning in Valencia with us.

Dates June Session 2024

Tuesday, May 28 🏠
Home stay accommodation in Valencia begins on this day.

Wednesday, May 29
Inauguration of the School Term. Orientation Meeting.

Tuesday, May 30 📖
Classes begin.
Walking tour of Valencia

Saturday, June 1 ⛰️
Half day excursion to Roman town of Sagunto and Castle.

Sagunto Castle is a fortress overlooking the town of Sagunto, near Valencia in Spain. The site’s history extends back over two thousand years and includes Iberian, Roman and medieval remains. The castle was declared a National Monument in 1931.

Saturday, June 8 🏰
Full day excursion to Peñíscola.
 
Visit to the Castle of Peñíscola, the 14th century castle built by the knights Templar, and which later belonged to the Spanish Pope “Papa Luna” and was used in the filming on the movie El Cid and the TV Series Game of Thrones.

June 15-16 & June 22-24 🎉
Free time to travel on your own

Friday, June 28 💯
Final examinations.

Saturday, June 29 🛫
Home stay accommodation in Valencia ends on this day.

All excursions listed during the summer session (walking tour of Valencia, Sagunto, Peñíscola) are free of charge for students. Groups will always be accompanied by a Professor.
Changes to the itinerary might occur due to unforeseen circumstances or factors beyond our control.

Courses

LD=Lower Division | UD=Upper Division | G=Graduate (Special Arrangements)

SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish (LD)
Essentials of grammar; written and conversational exercises; reading of selected material based on cultural approach and knowledge of Spain and Spanish-America; systematic training in pronunciation. Instruction mainly conducted in Spanish.

SPAN 102 Elementary Conversation (LD)
A course intended to introduce the student to very simple every day conversational topics. No written work. To be taken concurrently with Spanish 101.

SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish (LD)
Review of grammar, composition and conversation. Intensive reading of contemporary texts. Outside assignments and conversation. Classes will be mostly conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 101 or 2 years of high school Spanish.

SPAN 202 Intermediate Conversation (LD)
Conversation arranged among students, with the help of the instructor, on assigned topics dealing with contemporary life and culture. Prerequisite: Spanish 102 or the equivalent. To be taken concurrently with Spanish 201.

SPAN 311 Upper Intermediate Spanish (UD)
Study of the more complex grammatical structures: the verbs “ser” and “estar”; use of prepositions; uses of “por” and “para”: the imperative and the subjunctive.

SPAN 312 Upper Intermediate Conversation (UD)
Practical course in which students are encouraged to use the various verb tenses and modes as well as more complex sentences with a richer vocabulary. Preferably to be taken concurrently with SPAN.311.

SPAN 316 Spanish for Professionals (UD / G)
The course is designed to help students meet the changing needs of professionals who are in contact with Spanish-speaking customers. The course addresses situations encountered by front-line workers in a variety of fields (tourism and travel, customer service, call centers, banking), with a special emphasis on health care professions.

SPAN 330 History of Spain (UD)
Geography and Prehistory. Primitive Spain. Roman and Visigothic Spain. Moslem Spain. The Reconquest. The Catholic Kings. The Spanish domination during the XVI Century. The Spanish crisis of the XVII Century. Reformism in the 18th Century. The origins of contemporary Spain. The epoch of Isabel II and the Revolution (1868- 1875). The era of the Bourbon Restoration (1875-1902). Carlism and the Restoration. The XX Century. Political parties.

SPAN 331 History of Spanish-America (UD / G)
America as a cultural unity; geographical background. Cultures of the Mayans, Incas and Aztecs. Hispanidad; outline of Spanish culture. Discovery and conquest of America. Colonization, culturization of Spanish-America. Independence.

SPAN 335 History of Spanish Art (UD)
Introduction. Prehistoric art: Paleolithic and Neolithic. Spanish-Romanic art. Pre-Romanic art. Spanish-Moslem Art. The great international styles of the Middle Ages and its special Spanish version. A comparative study of the Romanic and Gothic styles. Romanic art: its beginnings and evolution in architecture, sculpture and painting. Santiago de Compostela. Gothic art. Renaissance art. Baroque art. Neoclassical art. Present-day art.

SPAN 340 Survey of Spanish Literature (UD)
The beginning of prose. The literature of the XIV Century. The XV Century. Humanism. The Renaissance. The pastoral novel. Introduction to the Siglo de Oro. Theater before Lope. Chivalric books. Cervantes. The Picaresque Novel. The Baroque. The Conceptismo. The School of Calderon. The XVIII Century: characteristics. The Neoclassic theater. Lyrics and fabulists. The XIX century. Origins of Romanticism. The Novel: Costumbrismo. The realistic theater. The realistic novel. The regional novel. The Generation of ’98 and Modernism: the essay and theater. The Generation of ’27: poetry and theater. The Generation of ’36: novel, theater and poetry.

SPAN 352 Survey of Spanish-American Literature (UD / G)
Precedents: The Colonial Period and the struggle for independence. The XIX Century before Modernism. Modernism and Realism, and the Contemporary Period. Required reading and written assignments. Lectures in Spanish.

SPAN 364 Introduction to Hispanic Literature (LD))
Introduction to some of the best authors from Spain and Latin America of the past and present and their outlook on life by reading and reflecting on some their works. Analysis and appreciation of the structural elements typically associated with the various genres (fiction, poetry, essays and drama). Examine and reflect on universal themes and messages and/or in particular what these works want to communicate.

SPAN 401 Advanced Grammar and Written Expression (UD)
Revision and intensive study of the more difficult points of Spanish grammar and their application in written expression.

SPAN 402 Spanish Phonetics (UD)
The pronunciation of the Spanish language as spoken today by the educated people of Spain and Spanish America. Particular emphasis on vowels, consonants, sound changes, intonation of sentences, Spanish American pronunciation. General concepts of phonetics: intensity, quantity, intonation. Articulation drills. Use of phonetic texts and transcriptions. Intonation drills. Etc.

SPAN 403 Advanced Conversation (UD)
Advanced level conversation course where students will be able to put into practice their command of the language. Preferably to be taken concurrently with SPAN.401

SPAN 405 General Translation (UD / G)
Vocabulary and terminology used in literary texts of general interest: newspapers, magazines, news bulletins, prose, etc. Translation from English to Spanish and Spanish to English.

SPAN 406 Advanced Medical Spanish (UD / G)
This course is a Spanish language course geared toward individuals studying or working in health-related areas. The course is devoted to the study of medical Spanish terminology and the cultural issues related to successful interactions with Spanish-speaking patients and their families in the clinical encounter.

SPAN 416 Spanish Literature from the 16th to 20th Century (UD / G)
A study of the literature of the “Golden Age” in the context of the 16th Century society. Including: Lazarillo de Tormes and the great works of Lope de Vega, Calderon de la Barca and the study of the life and works of Miguel de Cervantes with special attention to Don Quijote de la Mancha. 19th Century Spanish literature, including Neo-classicism, Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism and post-Romantic poetry. Works by Galdós, PardoBazán, Bequer and Blasco Ibañez. Literary and philosophical movements from the “Generation of ’98” to the 1960’s (“Generation of ’98”, “Generation of ’27” and “Generation of ’36”)

SPAN 418 Spanish Literature from the 19th to 21st Century (UD / G)
19th Century Spanish literature, including Neo-classicism, Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism and post-Romantic poetry. Works by Galdós, PardoBazán, Bequer and Blasco Ibañez. Literary and philosophical movements from the “Generation of ’98” to the 1960’s (“Generation of ’98”, “Generation of ’27” and “Generation of ’36”).
Post-war literature and social literature. The writers of present-day Spain and their work. A study of contemporary authors including: Rosa Regás, Javier Marías, Paloma Pedreró, Jose Luis Alonso de Santos, Els Joglars, Felípe Benitez and Ana Rosetti.

SPAN 440 Present Day Spain (UD / G)
As the title indicates, this course is a round table discussion class about the various facets of Spain: political, economical, cultural, educational, etc.

Important information

Requirements

For beginners: Lower Division courses
– No previous coursework necessary.

For intermediate/advanced students: Upper Division courses
– Two years of college Spanish or equivalent.
– 2.5 GPA
– Study Abroad Approval Form.
– Faculty Recommendation Form.
– Transcript of your college work.

Credits

Credits are expressed in semester hours. For the School Year program students will be allowed to take a maximum of 15 units (credits) per semester. 
Summer Session students will be allowed to take a maximum of 9 units (credits) per session
Teachers should check with their Board of Education to make certain that credits will be accepted. 
College students should check with the Registrar of the University to which credits are to be transferred in order to avoid problems with the acceptance of credits.

Classes

Classes are held daily during the morning and/or afternoon at the Institute of Spanish Studies’ own building located at El Bachiller, 13, Valencia, Spain. 
Classes are conducted by experienced Spanish university professors and are specially designed for American students; given in accordance with the American system of teaching. Lectures for all courses are in Spanish unless otherwise stated. 
During the summer sessions, courses meet for 1 1/2 hours daily from Monday to Friday. During the Fall Semester and Spring Semester courses meet 3 hours a week. Class attendance and examinations are compulsory. 
The Institute of Spanish Studies reserves the right to cancel or change any courses.

Attendance

Class attendance is compulsory. All absences are recorded and form part of the student’s final record. Those whose absences in any course exceed 15% of the scheduled meeting of the class will not be admitted to the final examination and a grade of F will be recorded.

Examinations

Mid-term examinations in each course are held and a grade is given indicating the progress of the student. Final examinations are compulsory for all courses.

Transcripts

Transcripts will be issued upon request by the Institute of Spanish Studies:
c/ El Bachiller, 13, 46010-Valencia, Spain
Phone +34 96 369-6168; Fax +34 96 361-5189
email info@issvalencia.com.

Text Books

Books are sold at the school during the first days of class. Students should budget around $120.00 for texts depending on the courses taken.

Discipline

All students are expected to conduct themselves in good behavior. The administration of the Institute are authorized to exercise full control in matters of discipline, including the right to expel any student whose moral or academic behavior warrants such a measure.

Activities

During the school term as well as the Summer Sessions, occasional Saturday excursions to nearby places have been planned as described in the program. These excursions are included in the program fee for students and will always be chaperoned by a professor. 
Valencia offers a wide variety of cultural activities such as lectures, concerts, festivals and museums. Visits and activities are organized throughout the summer and the school year for your academic growth and personal enjoyment.

Financial Information
Summer 2024

– June Session: $4,950.00

Prices include:
– Medical Insurance. 
– Excursions as stated in the program.
– Tuition (for up to 3 classes per session).
– Room and full board  (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in private homes.
 (May 28 to June 30)Not included:

Not included:

– Air transportation, Excess Baggage charges, Local Transportation, Personal Expenses, Optional trips.

Refund Policy

In case of cancellation by the student, this refund policy is necessary to cover the large amount of non-refundable deposits that the Institute must pay in advance to the suppliers of services.

Before commencement of classes
– If rejected or up to 75 days before departure: Full refund

– Between 75 and 45 days before departure: $250 cancellation fee.

– Between 45 and 15 days before departure: $500 cancellation fee.

– Between 15 days and departure: $1000 cancellation fee.

After departure/commencement of classes
– Tuition: No refund
– Room and Board: Refund is $20 per unused day of room and board.