SiS Newsletter - January 2010 - Interview Lounge:
Article Index
Benjamin Smith
Benjamin Smith is a professor of Spanish at the Minnesota State University at Moorhead. He has taught all levels of Spanish for over 15 years, which gives him a vast experience in the educational area. His years as a teacher have also given him the opportunity to interact in first person with students and share their experiences.
He currently intends to create a new program aimed at students wishing to study in Spain. It is thus an active collaborator of the various Study Abroad initiatives in Spanish speaking countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador and Spain.
When was the last time you have been to Spain?
December, 2009 as a part of the Eduespaña Trip to visit Spanish Institutions interested in establishing exchange agreements with American Universities.
What do you enjoy most about Spain?
The thing I enjoy most about Spain is the lifestyle. When I am in Spain, I eat healthier, I laugh more heartily, and I enjoy life more.
What do you think are the advantages of Spain as a destination for American students?
Spain has an advantage for students who want to learn Spanish in an immersion environment because there is less culture shock traveling to Spain. It is very easy to make the transition from living in the US to living in Spain. In addition, there is so much culture available to capture the students interests; from 1000 year-old castles to modern art museums within relatively close proximity.
Could you describe the Study Abroad programs your university has with Spain?
At this point, our university sends students to Spain on an individual basis. We are looking seriously into creating a summer program starting in 2011 for students in Toledo and Santiago de Compostela.
How satisfied are, in general, American students going to Spain?
Not only can they not stop talking about what a great time they had, but they are counting down the days until they are able to return.
Amigos del español
Sofia Vergara
Who was Griselda Blanco? For many years, this woman was only the ‘Black Widow’ or the ‘Cocaine Godmother’ two of the nicknames that the few people who knew her were using to identify her.
Sofía Coppola
A teenager and a rock star fall in love and get married in Director Sofia Coppola’s biographical drama, ‘Priscilla’. Literature has even found its way into her on-screen work.
Xolo Maridueña
The new DC action movie, 'Blue Beetle', is the first to feature a Latino superhero as the protagonist. The film tells the story of Jaime Reyes, a recent university graduate, who returns home to Ciudad Palmera when he comes into contact with a Beetle
