Study Abroad Opportuntity in Alcoy

Semester / Year Programs

SAOA Fall/Spring Programs will give students of all levels, from true beginners to advanced students, the possibility of completing a full semester's work with free time to travel and experience.

Spain or Europe within the regular one-semester period they generally dedicate to study abroad.

These courses are available in Spanish and are intended for students to develop their command of the Spanish language while acquiring knowledge about Spanish culture and contemporary society. This program features:

• a one-semester or academic year total immersion language and culture program

• 4 hours of language instruction per day, from Monday to Thursday

• integrated language program placing SAOA students in classes with other SAOA students.

• language class size 1 -15 students

• content courses taught using a "sheltered" Spanish approach in which the level of Spanish used in class gradually intensifies as the semester progresses

• individualized academic support and tutoring

Students complete 180 contact hours of language instruction. This Spanish Language Program provides four hours of Spanish language instruction a day, Monday through Thursday, at five levels of instruction ranging from true beginners to near-native. The methodology used emphasizes communication based on the progressive study of lexicon, grammar and structure, syntax, and style.

Recommended credit: 12-15 semester hours

A transcript and diploma will be provided by the Higher Polytechnic School of Alcoy (EPSA) through SAOA. Our staff will assist in any way possible with this process.

For a full description of course offerings and program features, click on "Sapanish Language Studies" and scroll down the page.

* It is up to the discretion of your academic advisor how many credits will be awarded.

Semester Programs

The following is a list of Spanish Language courses that has been offered in the past by the host institution. Please note, foreign institutions do not usually finalize course listings until the beginning of the academic year. This list will be updated as the host institution provides additional information.

Inicial
True beginners to intermediate novice, 0-1 semesters of university level Spanish completed. (SAOA-Lg 101-102)
Intermedio
High novice to low intermediate, 2-3 semesters of university level Spanish completed. (SAOA-Lg 201-202)
Avanzado
Mid-intermediate to low advanced, 4-5 semestersof univesity level Spanish completed. (SAOA-Lg 250-251)
Superior
Mid-advanced to superior level, more than 5 semesters of university level Spanish completed - appropriate for most upper-division Spanish majors. (SAOA-Lg 300-301)
Perfeccionamiento
A course for polishing and fine-tuning language skills.  Appropriate for advanced Spanish majors with near-native abilities or students with significant life experience using Spanish. (SAOA-Lg 350-351)

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum GPA: 2.5
  

• Foreign Language Proficiency: All Levels
  

• Education Completed: High School Graduate - Students must be high school graduates by the start date in order to be eligible for this program.
  

Application Requirements

• € 75 Application Fee
  

• Complete Application
  

• Transcript - Unofficial
  
  

Academic Focus
The Spanish Language Studies Program at the Higher Polytechnic School of Alcoy (EPSA) is designed for students of all language levels who are dedicated to acquiring and improving their language skills. Llanguage courses will focus on oral comprehension and expression, listening comprehension and grammar components appropriate to your language level. Each semester session consists of three 4-week blocks. You will be tested at the end of each block and may move up into higher levels during the semester. This structure combined with the immersion experience in Alcoy provides you the opportunity to advance your language skills at an accelerated pace, as well as gain insight into the Spanish culture.
Each 4-week session consists of 60 contact hours of language. At the end of the semester program, students will have taken three Spanish courses for a total of 180 contact hours, which is generally worth 12 credits in the US semester system. The transcripts will reflect all levels taken and three individual grades.

Schedule Summary
Spanish language courses are held from three to four hours a day, either in the morning or the afternoon, Monday through Thursday. Your schedule will be determined onsite.

Course Registration
As part of the registration process, the university requires that you complete a preliminary placement exam prior to your departure to Spain. This exam will be sent to you via email approximately six weeks prior to the start of the program. Based on the results of this test, you will be placed into one of 12 language levels: Beginner I, II; Intermediate I, II; High Intermediate I, II, Advanced I, II, High Advanced I, II; Superior I, II. During the first few days of class, your language level will be assessed by your professor through written and oral in-class exercises in order to confirm and determine the appropriate level of language study. Placement as determined by EPSA faculty is final. In order to ensure that you receive credit for the level that you place into, it is in your best interest to have courses at several levels approved by your academic advisor prior to departure.

Language Requirements

Before your program begins, you will take a placement exam so that you can take language classes with students at your same language level. When selecting an academic program, it is important that you are realistic about your language skills, keeping in mind that most foreign institutions hold higher standards for students in assessing language levels than you might expect at a US institution. Final language assessment will be determined by the host institution upon arrival in your destination city.

Please review SAOA’s description of language  levels to give you a guideline of what level in which you may fit. SAOA does not guarantee language placement or course selections based on this information.

Program features:

• Full orientation session upon arrival and on-going advisement and support throughout the course of study.
  

• Academic excusions to locations of cultural interest (possible destinations include Madrid/Toledo, Barcelona, Granada, Valencia, Mallorca, and Sevilla among others).
  

• Weekly bulletins with listings of local cultural and sports activities.
  

• Conversational language exchange activities with Spanish students at the EPSA and downtown.
  

• Use of all EPSA facilities.
  

• Full-time experienced resident director and designated university liaison to assist students in arranging for any special interest activity or to accommodate any special need.
  

• Co and extra-curricular activities to complement the academic program including visits to local sites of interest, cultural activities, and special interest classes. (Some activities and courses require the payment of an activity fee.)