SiS Newsletter - May 2011
Article Index
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Recent News May, 2011
• New Florida Law Requires eTextbooks in High Schools in 4 Years.
http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/new-florida-law-requires-etextbooks-in-high-schools-in-4-years_b10985
• Hispanic Population Explodes, Census Shows.
http://temecula.patch.com/articles/hispanic-latino-chicano-population-grows-in-temecula
• Boomers and Seniors Learn Spanish Online with Live Instructors.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/04/26/prweb8325665.DTL
SiS Student Ambassadors
• Nora Dougherty
SiS on the road
• Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year.
Amigos del español
• Eva Longoria
Institution Profile
• Universidad de Valladolid – Centro de idiomas
Interview Lounge
• Ph.D. Denise Mills, Professor of Spanish at Daemen College, NY.
Nora Dougherty
Ramapo College of New Jersey
I am Nora Dougherty, the SiS Student Ambassador at Ramapo College of New Jersey. I became a SiS Ambassador in order to help other students realize that they too can take advantage of all the incredible opportunities Spain has to offer. I have been passionate about Spanish language and culture since Middle School and my study of the two has shaped my perspective on the world and the direction of future.
There was a defining moment in High School when I knew learning Spanish was no longer simply a graduation requirement, but rather a defining aspect of my future. I was fortunate to have a teacher that exuded a passion for Spanish that I had never seen in any Spanish teacher. She did not just teach me how to conjugate and memorize vocabulary; she gave me a genuine love for the language and the culture. In her class, I learned to love not only traditional Flamenco, but also David Bisbal and Real Madrid. Because of her and her personal experiences living in Spain, I had my mind set as a freshman in High School that I would study in Spain when I reached college. Living and learning in Spain was by far the most transformative experience of my college career and as soon as I came back to New Jersey I knew that I wanted to help other students have that same experience. I am very much looking forward to the coming academic year when I will be the SiS Ambassador at Ramapo and I hope to encourage more students to study in Spain!
Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year
The present year, 2011, will once more have the Study in Spain program participating in the most important education fairs and events.
Since its opening, the Embassy of Spain-Trade Commission Miami, with the support of ICEX (Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade) and EDUESPAÑA have carried Study in Spain all across the US in an effort to promote international education in Spain.
The rewards have been undeniable, as Spain is the third preferred destination for American students worldwide.
This is a brief preview of the projected participation of Study in Spain. The dates and/or events may be subject to changes.
MAY
NAFSA, Association of International Educators
MAY 29-JUN 03
VANCOUVER, CN
JUNE
EDUCATION ABROAD WORKSHOP AND NETWORKING
JUNE 20-26
MADRID, SPAIN
Eva Longoria
Actress
She is the actress that week after week we see in the show Desperate Housewives as Gabrielle Solis. Eva Longoria was born in Texas but all her family is from Monterrey, Mexico. Proud of her ethnicity the actress told us how much she loves to read the stories of Isabel Allende, her favorite author.
Do you speak Spanish?
A little. Now I speak better French than Spanish to tell you the truth.
You want to carry the torch of being a Latin actress with a lot of pride?
As any ethnicity -- if you're an Asian, black or Latino actor, if you're in the spotlight, you're automatically handed that torch and expected to embrace it, which I do. I embrace the responsibility and I love it. But it is not only about me. I want to create opportunities for other minority actors that I did not have in the past. I've had an exceptional opportunity with Desperate Housewives , but this role, you know, comes along once every 20 years and I just was lucky. So I really want to be a part of the movement that starts creating the opportunity for other Latinos.
You said you like to read poems but do you like any Spanish author, any book that you recommend?
Yes my favorite author is Isabel Allende and of course Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I love Spanish authors. From Isabel my favorite books are the House of Spirits , Eva Luna , Daughter of Fortune but I have to confess I read all her books. I love the period pieces, the time that Isabel takes you through. She gives a fantastic tone to everything whether she is talking about food or clothes or relationships. Everything she writes is so romantic and beautiful.
Will you like to see your kids reading in Spanish?
I would. I definitely will rise up my kids being bilingual and trilingual. We want them to have the capacity to learn different languages. It is very important in the world we live today.
You have a new restaurant in Los Angeles called Beso; why that name?
Because is a Spanish restaurant, very romantic, that is why I choose Beso as the name. It is very personal to me. I handled my recipes to the chef and I decorated the walls with Spanish poems that I like, because I love Spanish poems.
What do you love about Gabrielle, your character in Desperate Housewives?
I love that she is fearless in everything she does. She does what she wants, when she wants it and how she wants to do it.
Do you like to plan your career?
Yes, I am very much an organizer and a planner and a multitasker and very detail-oriented. When it comes to my personal life, I am very spontaneous and I shoot from the hip. I am all over the place. I bought my house, the first house I saw. I didn't really look around. It was the same with my car. I am very, very spontaneous with my personal life.
How close are you to the Latino actors?
Latin Hollywood is very small so everybody knows everybody and I think it's important for all of us to support each other.
Universidad de Valladolid – Centro de idiomas
Name: Isabel Paúl
Position: Coordinator
Address:
Centro de Idiomas
Universidad de Valladolid
Campus Miguel Delibes
Paseo de Belén 13
47011 Valladolid, Spain
Tel: +34 983 18 46 70
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: http://www.spanishinvalladolid.com
Description:
The history of the University of Valladolid stretches back over seven hundred years; it is one of the oldest universities in Europe. Thanks to its ability to innovate the University of Valladolid has become one of the leading centers of higher education in Spain. Its solid tradition together with its present day commitment to quality provides the guarantee for the overseas students.
Our Spanish courses for foreign students are run at The Language Centre of the University, located on the Miguel Delibes University campus where the University’s most modern building developments and faculties are placed. The increasing interest on the Spanish Language has been remarkable for
the last years. In this context, University of Valladolid is playing an important role as one of the key Institutions for learning Spanish in Spain.
We offer a wide range of courses at all levels: Summer Intensive Programs, Fall and Spring Semester Academic Programs, Language Courses & University Programs with Spanish Students, Spanish for Business, Special Programs for groups, D.E.L.E. Exam Preparation, Methodology Courses of Spanish
as a Foreign Language and Combined Programs.
Students can take part of our complementary activities and workshops and day-trips to cities of particular and cultural interest. We also offer an accommodation service for the students.
Valladolid is an ideal place to learn Spanish, with its long academic history, its broad cultural wealth and the solid tradition of its university. These characteristics make Valladolid one of the best possible options for studying the language and for living in a genuine Spanish cultural context.
It is also a medium sized city with an agreeable atmosphere of warmth and security, which is very pleasant to stroll around in. Valladolid is seat of the Regional Government of Castilla y León. It proposes best options for leisure, excellent cuisine and first class wines.
The climate is Continental/Mediterranean meaning cool winters with temperatures around 0ºC and very warm summers with temperatures averaging 30ºC.
Ph.D. Denise Mills, Professor of Spanish at Daemen College, NY.
When was the last time you have been to Spain?
My last visit was in March 2011 – my first visit was in July of 1976, so I’ve been visiting Spain for a quarter of a century! I have not yet seen all of Spain, so there are still places for me to discover.
What do you enjoy most about Spain?
That’s like asking what I love about my husband! There are so many aspects of Spain that are wonderful! First, as a Spanish language teacher, I have a life-long love of communicating in the Spanish language. If you love culture- there is no finer place than Spain for art- from Old masters to modern. The architecture is splendid – do you love Roman ruins? Medieval castles? Islamic palaces? Gothic cathedrals? Art Deco? Or are you fascinated by the modernity of Frank Gehry or Santiago Calatrava? And I have not even mentioned the food- if you have not tried jamón ibérico de bellota with a glass of tinto you are missing something special. And if you love sports, welcome to the land of the World Cup winners. Not to mention golf, tennis, cycling . . .
What do you think are the advantages of Spain as a destination for American students?
As the US has over 50 million speakers of Spanish, we are now the third most populous Spanish-speaking nation in the world. Spanish language skills are a plus in any academic or professional preparation: education, business, graphic design, health care, human services.
An American student might think her experience in Spain is all about the glorious history and art. And it is. But it is so much more. Modern Spain is no less fabulous than the Spain of the Christians, Muslims and Jews of the 12th century. Modern Spain is cutting edge design, a real commitment to green energy, an increasingly diverse population and a vital, yet distinct member of the European community.
An experience in Spain is truly interdisciplinary- an American student will learn to communicate in Spanish. He will experience the culture of a nation rooted in the past but open to the future. Spaniards are passionate about politics, film, sports, food, family, music, and they love to share their opinions.
Could you describe the Study Abroad programs your university has with Spain?
We have been sending student to the Center for Cross Cultural Studies in Sevilla and Alicante for 20 years. They have been great about working with us in terms of program and course development, new internships, and cultural programs. After this last trip I have also begun to explore possibilities for a fantastic program on alternative energy in Pamplona and possible exchanges between our Physical Therapy program and one at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria. There are so many opportunities for an American institution to find a good fit for their students.
How satisfied are, in general, American students going to Spain?
I just had coffee with a former student who studied in Spain 10 years ago who returned for a reunion with his friends and who has brought his own students to Spain. Study in Spain is a life-changing experience. Students come back feeling proficient in their language skills, and confident that they have taken a first step in becoming a member of the global community. Study in Spain is a great experience for any student.
