BYU Summer Institute for Spanish Teachers

The BYU Summer Institute for Spanish Teachers for Summer 2011 has been announced. Dr. Nieves Pérez Knapp and Dr. R. Alan Meredith will direct the Institute and conduct the classes for the upcoming program.

Teachers of Spanish from all levels (K-12 and University) are invited to apply.

Benefits:

Earn 9 hours of graduate-level credit
Refresh and improve Spanish conversation skills
Learn about latest language learning and teaching methods, strategies and theories
Develop practical lesson plans
Learn about the culture of Spain firsthand through experiences and personal interviews
Develop professional network with colleagues

Additionally, qualified candidates may apply to MA program in Spanish Teaching at BYU.

Courses:

Spanish 577. Spanish Language Teaching Procedures (3 cr. hours).

Mastery of teaching skills specific to foreign language instruction.

Spanish 674. Teaching Hispanic Culture (3 cr. hours).

Methods of researching and teaching Hispanic culture.

Spanish 680R. Directed Research in Spanish (3 cr. hours).

Individualized study. Summer Institute participants will

develop and execute a plan for improving their own mastery

of the Spanish language and their ability to teach Spanish

grammar.

Program:

Dates: 13 June 2011 - 22 July 2011 inclusive

Place: Spain (We begin with classes in Madrid and then visit and conduct research and materials development projects in southern and northern Spain. In past years we have visited important cultural and historical sites such as Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada, Burgos, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, and León.)

Methods:

Participants complete assigned readings in the culture and history of Spain, teaching methodologies, and Spanish grammar. Class presentations focus on designing and teaching lessons based on current methodologies. Participants conduct a series of "ethnographic-type" interviews with native speakers from the various regions visited and complete journals that reflect the cultural and linguistic content and focus of those interviews. Lesson plans are then prepared and shared with fellow participants for use in classes in the US. Pre- and post-evaluations are also used to assess linguistic improvement and growth in cultural understanding.