Recent News November, 2012

Download Newsletter in PDF format

• Cities in Massachusetts add Spanish at kindergarten level.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/11/04/dover-sherborn-study-adding-spanish-kindergarten-level/YBNRQnBbUjuFTVaeEFdkYJ/story.html

• Language and cultural programs for children are rising in South Florida.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/02/3079408/the-language-of-the-future.html

• Wisconsin schools teach languages through Skype
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/through-skype-lodi-school-trades-teachers-with-thailand-077qlgn-181639581.html

SiS Student Ambassadors

• Natalie Roberts

SiS on the road

• Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year.

Amigos del español

• Ewan McGregor

Institution Profile

• University of Granada, University Modern Language Centre

Do you know...?

• Do you know

Natalie Roberts

As an SiS ambassador I would promote Spain in part by sharing my personal experiences in Spain with my fellow peers. I will be able to offer a new and exciting outlook on the Spanish culture as I have recently returned from six weeks in Sevilla. I plan giving class presentations about aspects of Spain that I find most interesting. This may include but is not limited to Spanish dialects, the importance of Spanish history, common Spanish stereotypes, and las fiestas de Sevilla. By permission of the instructor, these presentations would be accompanied by a powerpoint and highlight contemporary Spain that promotes the country as one that is rich in its culture, history, and traditions.

Over the course of two semesters I also plan to attend study abroad fairs at my university as well as “predeparture” meetings for students soon to study abroad in Spain. In both of these events I will be able to answer questions from a student’s perspective giving insight on what it is like to study in Spain. In order to fulfill my rated activities I would like to organize a dinner or small meal of typical Spanish food and drink as well as El Café Español in which I will be able interact with many students who already have an interest In the Spanish language. I could advertise the Cena activity through different clubs on campus and serve bocadillos or tortillas de patatas while promoting studying in Spain.

For most students traveling to another country can be intimidating, but most do not know the valuable assets of an international experience. I may create a brochure explaining all the benefits there are to studying Spain. I would include the programs offered in my university; information on transfer credit hours and financial aid, as well as all that Spain has to offer an undergrad. I could distribute the brochure to the study abroad office, the Spanish department, and the study abroad fairs.

Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year

Following the path of 2011, in 2012 Study in Spain will keep its participation 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.

DECEMBER 18
STUDY IN SPAIN Annual Meeting and Student Ambassador Award Presentation - Miami, FL
Reception and award ceremony for the top-10 SiS Student Ambassadors.

DECEMBER 10-16
SPAIN WORKSHOP - Madrid and selected cities, Spain
Participation of 15 U.S. university administrators, faculty and study abroad program administrators.


Read more...

Ewan McGregor
Actor

'I would love to shoot a movie in Spanish'

The Scottish actor Ewan McGregor plays a real life father on vacation in the movie The Impossible. The story of a real Spanish family in Thailand when the devastating 2004 tsunami hit their seaside resort, scattering their family across the region. Directed by José Antonio Bayona, McGregor says in this interview that for a long time he has been following the Spanish filmmaker. The Impossible was shooting between Thailand and Spain where the actor had the opportunity to learn about Spanish culture, traditions and pick some words of our language.

Ewan McGregor has received the San Sebastian Film Festival's Donostia Award for career achievement. The actor attended the Spanish event for the European premiere of The Impossible, which screens out of competition. It is produced by Spain's Apaches and Telecinco Cinema. McGregor is one of the finest stars of his generation, who demonstrates his versatility across a multitude of genres styles and scope. McGregor's credits include Danny Boyle's Trainspotting, Roman Polanski's The Ghost Writer, Lasse Hallstrom's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and Bryan Singer's Jack the Giant Killer.

Why you wanted to work with a Spanish director?
I’ve been infatuated with Spain and the directors that are coming from the country, it’s been a while now. It’s something about them that I like, a quality. As an actor I go on my gut instincts. Occasionally, the thought of working for a director pricks up my ears, or being alongside an actor gets me interested. But if the story can’t live in my head when I read the script, I feel I can’t be bothered to live with it on set.

So for a father, it must have been a really grueling role to play The Impossible.
Well I felt it was one of the first times I had had a chance to explore being a parent on film in my work, I’ve been a father for sixteen years, and then apart from Nanny McPhee 2, I’ve got some kids, not one of my biggest roles, (laughter) I haven’t really explored Parenthood. And one of the reasons I was drawn to the script is that it was a chance to do that albeit against this unbelievably horrendous real tragedy, but still it’s kind of a look at the love we have, that unique love that we have for our children.

Do you remember the moment when you heard about the Tsunami?
Yeah, I remember obviously being horrified by it, but I don’t remember where I was though.

Had you met the real family, the Spanish family this movie is based upon , before you started shooting?
I didn’t meet them before. We started shooting the movie in Alicante and the family was down there, but I met them in Thailand for the first time, in the hotel where they had left in 2004, on the day of the Tsunami, they arrived back there too. It was extraordinarily emotional for them, I think they had never returned to Thailand since the Tsunami, and they had wanted to, but not until they could all do it together.

How was your experience in Spain?
I love the country but I wasn’t there for holidays. The Impossible was a strange film to make in that respect for lots of reasons, and the main one being that it’s a true story and it happened and it was a real disaster, and thousands of people lost their lives in the Tsunami and thousands upon thousands of people lost loved ones in the Tsunami, so I think you carry that with you all the time. And when you shoot, it’s your responsibility to respect that and to respect those people, especially when you are making a film, it’s a complicated scenario, because you are putting a movie camera on and recreating something that really happened in Thailand with a family who lived that, who were all affected by the Tsunami and then so you carry that responsibility and you never, ever want to feel like you are using it for the movie, for the purposes of the movie, yet you are making a movie and you want the movie to be as good as possible, and as effective as possible, because you are telling the story and if you are going to tell the story, you want to tell it well.

Did you learn some Spanish?
Some words here and there from the crew and the director. I wish I could speak Spanish because I would love to shoot a movie in that language, being able to play a character in another language it has to be a very different experience. But I love the life style that you have in Spain.

Is there any book written in Spanish that is close to you?
Yes. Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara is one of my favorite books. When I go in my motorcycle trips around the globe always get that book in my backpack. I read that book many times. I just love it.

When are you going on the next motorcycle trip?
I don¹t have any planned at the moment. I felt like after our Africa trip in 2007 that it would be a while away. And whether we do another one together with Charlie and our group, I don’t know. It may well be that I do some other stuff on my own or with my wife or with my family. I’d like to travel, not on motorbikes, but in a truck or something; it might be quite good fun to do some of that stuff with them. So I don’t have any plans at the moment. I did two very long motorcycle trips with my friends. I did a big one in 2004 and in 2007. And there were almost too close together. They take a lot of preparation and they were both over four months to ride. And I think we'll wait a little bit before another one.

What do you take away from them?
Just people you meet. And the experiences you get of people and the way places you know. When you’re traveling by road in a motorcycle that it’s a very conducive experience in the world because you’re so vulnerable to everything, to the elements and traffic and temperature. And when you’re traveling through countries where people are familiar with that like in Kazakhstan or in Mongolia or Eastern Russia or in Africa and some African countries; people know what that’s about. Mongolia for instance, it’s a nomadic country as is much of Kazakhstan, so they’re aware of it. And they travel by horseback really so they understand your vulnerability so when you turn up somewhere they look after you because that’s what happens to them when they travel. I suppose that ultimately what you come away with is that people are really nice to each other even when people have very little. Often the people that have the least are the most generous that’s what I experienced like in Ethiopia. There’s a little village in Ethiopia where we stopped and these people wanted to give us, take us into their little hut. And we went into their hut and I think the woman had one small root of ginger; ginger root. And she made us this ginger tea that I’ll never forget it was a fantastic tea-in her little hut. And I’m pretty sure that was her only piece of ginger. And they gave us bread and they literally were extraordinarily good people and they fed us and sent us on our way. You come back very inspired with human kindness and that we’re very nice to each other. And it’s something that you have to go out there and discover because we can't be like that with each other in cities, it doesn't work. And it's a shame because I think in our nature that's what we're like but in cities we can't be like that. So when you're out there in the middle of nowhere if you break down or you get punched or you fall off or something or you run out of petrol, you just know that somebody's going to come by and help you and they do, always.

Is there anything else creatively that you're good at?
I've become really into things all the time. At the moment I like to build bicycles, because I've ridden motorcycles a lot all my life. I made a film called Perfect Sense up in Scotland. And my character was a fixed gear rider. He rides track racing bikes on the street. He's also a chef but I became obsessed with bicycles much to the director's annoyance. I wasn't really interested in cooking but he kept dragging me into kitchens trying to get me to look like a chef. But I kept just standing up outside just tinkering with a bicycle. I'm not a very good cook. But I can build a quite nice bicycle. I enjoy that and that's creative. And they're artistic and they all have a look and you have to collect the right components and put them together and they are like little works of art. But you can ride them down the street. I think that's really nice.

Have you ever thought, you are quite young, but having your own autobiography, do you ever want your story…
I haven’t thought about it, no I haven’t, but I’d be interested in trying to write stories, I loved . . . Dirk Bogarte wrote some really beautiful stories, he wrote some really beautiful books. In his later years, he wrote some really nice novels, and I like that as an actor who ended up going into writing that way, I think that’s nice. I’m not sure that I would be a very interesting person to read about, I don’t know, probably not really. I quite like people that write their autobiographies and people find them in the attic after they die, and they expose themselves as being horrible monsters, or having had 15 wives or something on secret, I like the idea of people who expose themselves after they died. I don’t know, I haven’t really got anything to talk about. It would be really boring.

You should just do it so you can write something and leave it in your attic.
Yeah, maybe I can just write something that is a whole crock of shit. (laughter)

(c) America Reads Spanish

University of Granada, University Modern Language Centre

The University Modern Language Centre, Centro de Lenguas Modernas, located in the central and typically "granadino" district of the "Realejo", is housed in the old palace of Santa Cruz (16th century) which has been specially restored for teaching purposes. Since restoration was completed in 1992, the new Centro de Lenguas Modernas offers not only its now renowned Spanish Courses for Foreigners (Hispanic Studies Course (CEH), Spanish Language and Culture Course (CLCE), Intensive Spanish Language Courses (CILE), Intensive Spanish Language and Culture Course (CILYC), Spanish as Foreign Language Course (CELE) and Optional January Course (CCE)) but also a variety of Modern Language Courses (English, French, Italian, German, Catalan, Arabic, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Swedish). It is the combination of the two that make the centre such an original venture; here foreign students can share their daily lives with those of Spanish students, thus stimulating a mutual interest in their different languages and cultures. This contact is strengthened through a language exchange service, which gives students the opportunity to practice their Spanish outside the classroom, and by cultural visits and activities.

In addition to the aforementioned courses, the Centro de Lenguas Modernas also offers courses in Teaching Spanish, German, French, English or Italian as a Foreign Language, exams for those who wish to certify their level of Spanish (D.E.L.E. - Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign language - organised by the Instituto Cervantes). Teaching Business Spanish and other types of language courses for special purposes, including those specially designed in conjunction with different academic and professional institutions are also available.

The Centro de Lenguas Modernas and the University de Granada do their best to make the students' stay as pleasant and advantageous as possible: the Language Exchange Service, the Accommodation Service, and organisation of cultural and sports activities are just a few examples.

On the academic side, the highly qualified teaching staff are specialised in language teaching, and include University of Granada professors and lecturers. The Centre is fully equipped with a library, the most up-to-date audio-visual aids both in classrooms and in language laboratories set up for multimedia and audio-video activities. Furthermore, students have access to electronic mail. 
With a firm commitment to constant improvement always in mind, the Centre carries out external surveys periodically, which assess the teaching staff, the contents of the different courses offered, and the quality of the Centre’s management and infrastructure.
If you want to study Spanish in Granada, the Centro de Lenguas Modernas now offers its clients new services to facilitate and simplify the organisation of the students' stay in Granada, their studies at our institution and the cultural and sports activities they would like to sign up for. A member of staff is available to resolve any questions about the program a student has registered for and clear up any doubts which may arise.

For more information:
Placeta del Hospicio Viejo s/n
18009 Granada. Granada
Tel +34 958 215 660 Fax +34 958 220 844
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.clm-granada.com

People use same brain regions to read alphabetic and logographic languages.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=people-use-same-brain-regions-to-read-alphabetic-and-logographic-languages

Kids learn languages through video games.
http://www.thestar.com/living/technology/article/1290031--call-of-duty-and-world-of-warcraft-double-as-language-class

Recent News September, 2012

Download Newsletter in PDF format

• Spain, #3 preferred study-abroad destination.
http://chronicle.com/article/Top-Study-Abroad-Destinations/129706/

• Spain as the link between mother and son.
http://www.philly.com/philly/travel/20120902_Language_of_a_mom_s_love__and_a_son_s_origin.html

SiS Student Ambassadors

• Diana Donnarumma

SiS on the road

• Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year.

Amigos del español

• Sofía Vergara

Institution Profile

• Melon District

Interview Lounge

• Torian Lee

Diana Donnarumma

"As a SiS Ambassador, I would use my love for the Spanish culture and language to influence my peers to study abroad in Spain, so that they may have the same life changing experience that I did. During a meeting and/or event I would engage my peers with my bubbly, outgoing personality to reach out to other and generate excitement. I believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the experience of studying in Spain, not just the Spanish majors. The proposed rated activities not only will occur, but will be hosted with excitement and emotion, which I will be able to initiate. Additionally, I have lived with host families three times in my life, which were all hosted in Spain. The summer of my sophomore year in high school I studied in Madrid with a family who spoke no English. I really feel that is the best way to learn Spanish, thus I will greatly encourage speaking in only Spanish. The next summer, I spent a month in Castellon de la Plana. Then, this summer I just received 6 credits at the Universidad de Cantabria in Santander. A common belif is the that perfect path to anyone’s heart is by delicious food, so at social gathering the Spanish cuisine will make my peers feel a little more accustomed before they decide to partake in this life changing adventure. I am very excited to host all the activities listed in 3.2 and have others’ lives be changed by my influence. If accepted, I have no doubt that I will represent Spain in an incredibly positive manner and become one of the top ambassadors."

Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year

Following the path of 2011, in 2012 Study in Spain will keep its participation 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.

NOVEMBER
ACTFL - American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
November 16-18
Philadelphia, PA
Spain group participation of Spanish providers.

DECEMBER
STUDY IN SPAIN Annual Meeting and Student Ambassador Award Presentation.
Washington, DC
Reception and award ceremony for the top-10 SiS Student Ambassadors.

DECEMBER
Spain Workshop.
December 10-16
Madrid and selected cities
Spain Participation of 15 U.S. university administrators, faculty and study abroad program administrators.


Read more...

Sofía Vergara
Actress

Sofía Vergara, the Colombian former Univision TV host who became famous in Latin America for her flirty personality, voluptuous physique and Latin lovers, never intended to be a scene-stealing funny girl on American TV. But that's exactly what she is on ABC's new hit comedy Modern Family. Sofia is the new hot Latina that is coming with the movie New Year’s Eve. With her we talked in Los Angeles about her role of the sassy Gloria, a Colombian icon that she created.

You play “Gloria” in “Modern Family”. What is it about her that you like so much?
Oh, everything. She is the perfect character for me. I get to keep my accent, to speak Spanish, I get to play a Colombian, I have a kid. She is me! (Laughs). And it helps that she has money too.

How has your life changed since you got the part in “Modern Family”?
It’s changed a lot, of course. Money wise I am much happier today than I was before (laughs). But I have been in this business for 22 years. I was used to attention, but this show has taken it to a whole new level.

How do deal with your sex symbol status?
Well, at my age it’s a surprise, no? – I am competing against girls that are 15 years younger than me. I am proud to be competing against them.

Were you always fascinated by the United States?
You know I grew up in a city that was only two hours away from Miami. So, we came to Miami a lot. I grew up very Americanized. I had a fun childhood.

You always seem so happy. Is that a misconception?
No, it’s not. You know, my mother has been through a lot in her life. But we always felt that we didn’t have the luxury to get depressed. You have to live your life. You have to keep living, even when things are not that great all the time. Even in Colombia during the bad times, we would party and have weddings. You never lose hope that things can get better. That’s my philosophy in life. Always keep going.

So why do you think "Modern Family" is such a success?
I don't know. It is a combination of many things. I think it is luck, first of all. I think also we have a great cast. The casting was amazing. We all like each other. We all have chemistry. The writers are amazing, Chris Lloyd and Steven Levitan, the creators; they know exactly what they want from the show. So it's mainly, you know, good luck.

When you were first approached to play this crazy woman with this sense of humor, could you imagine that the show would be a success and even with the awards?
No. No. You never know with television, and I did read the script, and I thought this is a great character for me. This is perfect. I get to be Colombian, have the accent; have a kid; be an immigrant, so it was like fantastic for me. I never thought even from the pilot I started getting recognized in the street. And to be, you know, like one of the most watched shows right now, it's like totally, for all of us, it's unbelievable.

How important is it that the character is Colombian? And what do you think of the jokes about Colombia that make it on the show?
I love it. I think it is fantastic. Everybody loves it. Colombians, we don't get offended because it is not like they are inventing things. It is not like the writers are inventing things about Colombia. It's a reality of what Colombia was and what we can do? We have to laugh about it. The country has changed. It is not like that is happening right now, in Colombia, thank God. So I don't get offended at all. I think it is hilarious. I think it's funny.

So do you get recognized a lot in the street by the fans? And what sort of reactions?
Yeah, it is crazy. You know what; I think in person I look a little bit smaller than on the TV. So people just stare and stare, like “she is... maybe she is not.” The moment I open my mouth, "I knew it." So it's like when I go out with people they are looking at me and its like, "Mom, don't talk now. We are going to be here all like an hour more taking pictures and we need to go." As long as I don't speak I'm safe.

So is there a lot of your personal stuff and from the other actors and maybe the writers as well in the shows since all of you have families?
Well, yeah, for them it is very easy, for example, to write for Julie and more normal families. They all have family sisters, but for them to write for a hot Latin woman, I thought it was going to be a problem, but they are great. They are fantastic. It's like they have created this character so perfect for me. And, of course, the more they know me, the more they get ideas, —sometimes they listen to me telling a story about what happened to me at Christmas or just what happened to me on the weekend.

Does the cast get the chance to improvise in Spanish or add in things when you are filming?
You know what, we don't need to. The script is so fantastic and the group of writers are so amazing that, I'm telling you, even for me when I was worried at the beginning, "How are they going to know how a Latin woman thinks," they write my mispronunciations now. They know me so well we don't even have to — you know, — usually they write like and, "Gloria says something in Spanish" they let me say whatever I want. They are not going to tell me what to say in Spanish. And of course I say something that I think is funny, but it is a lot of fun.

There are not a lot of Colombian icons. Penelope Cruz, she is Spanish and there is Salma Hayek, she is Mexican. So you think you've become like an icon to this country, that you are showing people a window?
Well, I love it because there is not really known actors. We have Shakira which is one of the biggest singers right now. She is from Barranquilla, my hometown. But there were no really household names on national TV. And for me it's been amazing to, you know, represent Colombia. Not only represent me as a Colombian actress, but with the show that I'm able to show a little bit of Colombia not only the stereotype things about the bad things, about the Mafia or whatever, but also about the food or the real essence of the personality of a Colombian person. They are very happy, yeah.

How does your family feel about it in Colombia?
Oh, they love it. They love it. Sometimes I have to say, you know, names of Gloria's family and I always use my real family name like, Rosa Marina, Daniella, Paula, Sofia, they are all my cousins and they are all like, "Ahh. You said my name."

(c) America Reads Spanish

Melon District – Student Residence Halls Statement

MelonDistrict is a new concept of accommodation for national and international students who are looking for a place to live in Barcelona. This innovate proposal was born to address the needs and modern lifestyles of a dynamic and demanding public.

Description:
Urban locations, an international atmosphere, and a wide range of services based on demanding quality standards are the key aspects that define the MelonDistrict model, giving it this distinct style that goes beyond a simple accommodation service.

MelonDistrict’s priority is to offer flexible accommodation that is adapted to the requirements of students who come with different purposes, to study, to work, or simply to travel. This flexibility makes it the ideal option both for long stays as well as for medium or short stays.

Rooms are grouped into MelonFlats, modern units boasting contemporary interior design with a complete balance between privacy and a social atmosphere. Each MelonFlat includes between 8 to 10 rooms, all with private en-suite bathrooms and a shared kitchen/living room.

Our Residence Halls
Melon District Poble Sec opened in 2007 and has 97 rooms.  Melon District Marina opened in 2009, has 500 rooms and is currently the largest student hall in the city of Barcelona.  Melon District has two new projects under development in Paris and in Prague.

For more information:
Gabriela Fernández
Marketing

MelonDistrict - Rent a Bedroom S.L.
Av. Diagonal 538 5º 2ª 08006 / Barcelona
Tel +34 93 217 88 12 / Fax. +34 93 416 08 45
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.melondistrict.com

Torian L. Lee, J.D.
Director
Center for Intercultural & International Programs
Xavier University of Louisiana
St. Joseph Student Resource Bldg., Room 312
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125-1098
(504) 520-5490 / FAX (504) 520-7920
www.xula.edu/ciip

When was the last time you have been to Spain?
- March 2012.

What do you enjoy most about Spain?
- The culture, the people, the opportunity to learn about its history and tradition.

What do you think are the advantages of Spain as a destination for American students?
- A visit to Spain would compliment the Spanish language instruction many students had in high school or college. Spanish history and culture will truly provide students with an intercultural experience they will not forget.

Could you describe the Study Abroad programs your university has with Spain?
- Xavier University currently works with Study Abroad Provider programs that allow students to study in a variety of cities in Spain.

How satisfied are, in general, American students going/studying in Spain?
- Am an not satisfied with the number of Xavier students in Spain. I hope to establish direct connections with Spanish Universities for academic collaboration in the areas of student, faculty and cultural exchange. We truly want to have students from Spain on Xavier’s campus and vice versa, and to promote university to university projects.

Recent News July, 2012

Download Newsletter in PDF format

• Soccer camp as a language inmersion program.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/08/4614603/ex-kennedy-high-star-offers-soccer.html

• Foreign language instruction must be increased.
http://blogs.cfr.org/renewing-america/2012/06/26/foreign-languages-and-u-s-economic-competitiveness/

• Rhode Island committed to learning languages.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2012/06/rhode_island_crafts_roadmap_to.html

• The relevance of Spanish at work.
http://www.eduespa.org/en/boletin.asp?idb=144#c

SiS Student Ambassadors

• Kelly Burns

SiS on the road

• Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year.

Amigos del español

• Charlize Theron

Institution Profile

Cesine Business School

Interview Lounge

• Elizabeth Dille

Kelly Burns

"Since middle school, studying abroad in Spain was always a dream of mine.
In September of 2011, that dream became a reality when I began my full academic year in Madrid. Without a doubt, those ten and a half months marked the most incredible and surreal time of my life.
During my year abroad, I was lucky enough to travel to several other Spanish cities as well as other European countries.
I immersed myself within the Spanish culture, especially though music, art, food, and language exchanges. I gained an entire new appreciation of cultures and became more globally aware. Now that I’m home, I am thrilled to be named a Study in Spain Student Ambassador. Not only do I still feel tied with Spain and my cherished memories there, but also now I have the opportunity to affectively promote studying in Spain to other students.
The knowledge that I gained while studying in Spain changed my life indefinitely and has already proven to benefit my career goals and has enriched my day-to-day life."

Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year

Following the path of 2011, in 2012 Study in Spain will keep its participation 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.

NOVEMBER
ACTFL - American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
November 16-18
Philadelphia, PA
Spain group participation of Spanish providers.

DECEMBER
STUDY IN SPAIN Annual Meeting and Student Ambassador Award Presentation.
Washington, DC
Reception and award ceremony for the top-10 SiS Student Ambassadors.

DECEMBER
Spain Workshop.
December 10-16
Madrid and selected cities
Spain Participation of 15 U.S. university administrators, faculty and study abroad program administrators.


Read more...

Charlize Theron
Actress

Charlize Theron is the “it” actress of the moment. This summer comes to the big screen with two movies Prometheus and Snow White and the Hunter where she plays the devil queen who wants to kill Snow White. At 35, Theron confess that her Spanish is very limited, in fact she only knows the dirty words of our language, she learned those words in the set of the movie The Burning Plan that she shot two years ago with the Mexican director Guillermo Arriaga.

Do you feel freer now to play more characters since you won the Oscar?
I just feel lucky. I feel lucky to have been given the opportunities that I’ve been given. I don’t know if I ever want to feel free. I mean I feel lucky to have been given the opportunities. I don’t know how else to put that. You know I think the first maybe eight years of my career was what it was because that’s all I was kind of being allowed to do. When you need to work, all bets are off. You have to take the job and try your best to kind of make whatever is there as good as you possibly can, but you can’t really make a rabbit come out of the hat if it’s not there, you know. So I feel very lucky that people like Patty Jenkins have come into my life, and Niki Caro and Jason Reitman and directors who have kind of seen something and said, “Yeah. You know what, here’s an opportunity.”

Do you have to find something good when you have to play someone bad. You played the evil queen. Do you think she has a good side or you just didn’t care?
No. I think you’re trying to play human beings and human beings are – I think we’re kind of a melting pot of a lot of things. I mean if anything I’ve discovered and the more kind of conflicting characters that I’ve played. Maybe my greatest lesson in life was to come to the realization that there is no such thing as good or bad. We all kind of are victims of our circumstance. I think the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve been aware of that, the more I understand how easy it is for somebody to sit at the Four Seasons and drink tea and say “I would never do that” until you’re sitting on a freeway and you’ve been homeless for 30 years and been raped. I mean it’s like circumstance of life, you know. Life is who we become and especially in our formative years when we’re young and things like that. I never went into this thinking she’s the evil queen. I wanted to understand how she kind of gets to this place of wanting so desperately to survive in this horrible way.

She is the archetype of the character that looks at the mirror and the reflection she sees she doesn’t like it. Everybody just plays with the mirror saying what this character does.
That’s not really the prime focus. We got the fairytale aspect of Mirror Mirror on the Wall which was like “arrrggh” really, really hard. First day of shooting, I was like, “Oh my god, don’t make me do this on my first day.”

What do you think of the reflection when you look at yourself in the mirror?
I think I’m like every other woman. It depends on the day, you know. I think this idea that we are somehow different than other women, I’m like every single woman sitting at this table right now.

Why do you think there is a trend now to make films about fairytales?
I don’t know. I mean I think there has been – Hollywood has suffered from the one hit recipe but I don’t know. I mean maybe there’s something people are tapping into, maybe you understand bigger themes, and maybe that’s what it is. I haven’t really thought about it that much because I think a good story is a good story no matter what it is. I think when you start getting stuck on genre or ideas of you know, if it’s a good story, it deserves being told.

How is your knowledge of the Spanish Language?
Guillermo Arriaga taught me some dirty stuff shutting The Burning Plan. He had a really good friend with him and I was kind of like this little messenger between them. Guillermo's friend Adrian would be like, 'Go to Guillermo and say, blah blah blah.' I'd be the little person rushing over to Guillermo saying the words really loud, and half the crew understood. I was embarrassed at not being able to converse with Guillermo in his native tongue, especially as I convinced him I would learn the language before shooting began.

So you don’t speak Spanish?
I'm really embarrassed to say I don't speak Spanish. I've lived in California for ten years and I just think it should be a prerequisite - you should be able to speak Spanish if you live in California. I had this fantasy that I would learn Spanish before I shot the movie with Guillermo that he would be really impressed with me, that he could direct me in Spanish. Of course it never happened. I’m still trying to learn.

What are the moments in your own life that feel like a fairytale?
Those moments like when you get seven people like one doing your nails, and one doing your makeup and the hair and you get to go to the Oscars or you get to do Dior shoot, those are total princess moments. Are you kidding me? For sure, yeah.

When do you feel comfortable playing a character?
You do it. It’s your job, you got to do it. I mean it’s what I’m trying – well, actually what I’m saying is once I understand what the objective is and then I can do it. It’s when you don’t know what the objective is when you haven’t done the work to understand what the character needs to do. I think that’s when you can’t do it. I think for me, if I understand who I’m playing, what she needs, what she wants, who she is, what she’s scared of, what makes her tick, you know when I understand all of those things and the director and I are on the same page, then that stuff is like living under your skin. You can’t make something happen. That’s when it’s bad. When you can see an actor make something happen, what you’re trying to do is to not do anything but to just be in it. Rupert allowed me to improve which was great. The whole litter slip through your tiny little fingers like all of these belittling things were allowed that I kind of improved because at that moment, that actor had to represent everything that I was long to lose and so that’s what I had to do as an actor. It’s great when the director gives you that and the actor that I get to play with is just amazing.

Cesine Business School

Description:
CESINE Business School, founded in 1993, is a private institution for university, post-graduate and specialised training for firms. It has consolidated itself as one of the most prestigious centres in the north of Spain in the areas of Business Administration, Advertising and Marketing, Information Technology Engineering, and Industrial Design and Multimedia Engineering.

CESINE is accredited by the Regional Government of Cantabria, according to Royal Decree 557/1991, art. 19, on the creation and recognition of universities and the Organic Law 6/2001 of Universities. CESINE is also accredited by QS Stars, becoming the second university in Spain having this prestigious award.

CESINE is mainly characterised by being the “Business School of the Companies” due to the career opportunities we offer. Every year the Career and Placement department handles a large number of job opportunities for our graduates and currently our graduates are fully employed. This department also provides companies with top
candidates for their hiring needs. The success is three-fold, being shared by CESINE, students and companies. In fact more than 400 top companies use our placement service.

Programs Offered:

• Certificate in International Business Management
• Bachelor Honors in Advertising & Marketing
• Bachelor Honors in Business Administration
• Bachelor Honors in Information Technology Engineering
• Bachelor Honors in Industrial Design and Multimedia Engineering
• Programa Intensivo en Estrategia y Gestion de Negocios (Master Level)
• Executive MBA
• MBA International Marketing
• MBA International Management
• Master in Golf Management

For more information:
Cesine Business School
Simon Cabarga, 6
39005 Santander, Cantabria
Web: http://www.cesine.com
Phone: + 34 942 281 858
Fax: + 34 942 276 180
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Elizabeth Dille

When was the last time you have been to Spain?
- This will be my first trip to Spain. I am very excited for the opportunity.

What do you enjoy most about Spain?
- I have never had the opportunity to visit Spain, but I look forward to the experience.

What do you think are the advantages of Spain as a destination for American students?
- Spain is an ideal study location for American students for many reasons, but for the purpose of this interview I will only name a few. First, the opportunity to have a full language immersion experience, which is so important for language majors in order to grasp the nuances of a second language. Second, students see Spain as the gateway or starting point of their international adventure. Not only do they get to experience the culturally rich and unique traditions of Spain, but they have easy access to Europe and North Africa.

Could you describe the Study Abroad programs your university has with Spain?
- Presbyterian College has exchange partnerships with three universities in Spain for both semester and year long programs. Presbyterian College also hosts several short term faculty led trips each year and Spain is one of the most popular destinations.

How satisfied are, in general, American students going/studying in Spain?
- Spain is a very popular study desination for our students and they always return with positive experiences and desire to return to Spain the in future.

Recent News May, 2012

Download Newsletter in PDF format

• Illinois district hires teachers from Spain.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2012-05-12/urbana-schools-may-host-teachers-spain.html

• Philadelphia, commited with bilingual education.
http://articles.philly.com/2012-05-15/news/31701728_1_immigrant-students-undocumented-students-undocumented-immigrants

• The growing popularity of dual inmersion.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/23/26duallanguage_ep.h31.html?tkn=UOYFwCZn88e1rEM0d6te%2BOfLl3FuSrmoWNqO&cmp=clp-actfl

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

• Julia Roberts

Institution Profile

Universidad Nebrija's Mission Statement

Interview Lounge

• Malcolm Miguel Botto

Nora Dougherty

“I knew when I began college that I wanted to study in Spain. I spent the Spring of 2010 in Sevilla, Spain and it changed my life completely. I was nominated to become a Study in Spain Student Ambassador upon my return and it allowed me to remain connected with my experience in Spain as well as help encourage more students to study in Spain. Additionally, it gave me the confidence to apply for a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Grant in Spain. This past December I was fortunate enough to be invited down to Washington by the Commission to have dinner with the Spanish Ambassador-a memory I will never forget! I am sure that the opportunities I received when I returned from my study abroad experience are what led me to not only apply, but be awarded the Fulbright Grant. I am very much looking forward to returning to Cantabria, Spain as a Fulbright Grantee and I know it will not be the end of my relationship with Spain!”

Study in Spain will be traveling throughout the US again this academic year

Following the path of 2011, in 2012 Study in Spain will keep its participation 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 CONFERENCE AND EXPO
May 28 - June 01
Houston, TX
Official Pavilion of Spain. Islands 819-833, 918-932, 919-933, 1018-1032

JUN
EDUCATION ABROAD WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS W2
June 18-24
MADRID, SPAIN
Participation of 15 U.S. university administrators, faculty and study abroad program administrators.


Read more...

Julia Roberts
Actress

Julia Roberts enters the Casa del Mar hotel ballroom with the confidence that comes from enjoying a solid movie career. On this particular day, the Pretty Woman star has made herself available to discuss her role as the sinister queen in Mirror Mirror, the re-imagining of the classic Snow White fantasy, directed by Tarsem Singh. The actress has a close relationship with Spain after receiving last year the Donosti Award in San Sebastian. Close friend of the actor Javier Bardem, with whom she worked in the past, Julia Roberts confesses that she doesn’t speak fluent Spanish but knows some words and reads many books of Spanish authors.

What is your beauty secret if you have one?
Just happiness, and the love of a good man. I think that keeps you (knocks on table-laughter) it really does.

To take care of the kids, that’s a beauty secret.
Well, that’s the exercise part, of the beauty and exercise part of life.

Do you think your kids will like to see you as a bad Queen?
Eventually I think so. They are a little young for that still, but I think there will be a day where they probably will think it’s quite amusing.

What do you think about this hunt for everlasting beauty? Like not necessarily using bird poo, but in the real world, what people do to keep young?
I know, it’s pretty incredible, I would think it’s exhausting really, but I guess some people have more time to spend on it than would be interesting to me.

We don’t often see you in villain roles Julia, but you obviously had a great time and it was a pleasure to watch you. Had you been after a bad guy role in particular or was it just the script?
No, it was just Tarsem, I’m just so crazy about that guy, there’s just no two ways about it, I just think he’s so remarkable and his point of view is so original and massive, I was really a big fan, I just really wanted to have lunch with him, I didn’t really care what we were going to talk about, and he spins his web, (laughs) and there’s no getting out of it.

You didn’t feel a little lost with all the special effects and all the opulent sets?
I didn’t feel lost, but it’s not so crazy special effect-y really, I mean, it was all kind of there for me, I mean I never felt like I was looking at tennis balls, or didn’t understand where I was, and even when we did the stuff in the cottage where I’m with myself as it were, we had worked it out so well and my sister actually who is an actor, had come to read the other side for me, so I at least had this comfort of a voice that made sense to me, as me, as we kind of went back and forth, so that was really as confusing as it got in that realm, but otherwise it all seemed like it was right before us.

With the fairytales, I’m looking at the old Grimm books, I have a daughter now and I wouldn’t read that to her.
Parental editing. That’s what I call it, you kind of start and then you get through part of it and then make some stuff up, and make some stuff nicer and then you say, The End. That was a short one! (laughter)

Sometimes, even like Dr Seuss’ The Lorax, there are things that are pretty dark.
Well Rapunzel, the fairytale of Rapunzel, is so savage and the Prince falls out of the tower, and his eyes get gouged out, and then he’s bleeding and then he can’t find her anymore, and he wanders through the deserts and the streets looking for her but of course he’s blind now and I read that story to my kids one night and it was very (xxxx-laughter) very well.

Did you ever read any Spanish author?
Yes, of course. I read the books of Carlos Ruiz Zafón and Hundred Years of Solitude. But I didn’t read them in Spanish (laughter)

Do you speak any Spanish at all?
I know some words nothing mayor. I wish I could tell you that I do speak Spanish. I know “Por favor” y “Gracias”

What do you do to make the planet greener now?
Just try to limit our impact obviously as a family of five, we can produce a lot of waste, and so we compost and we have chickens, so that takes care of most of our food waste, we don’t use any superfluous paper products in our house, no paper towels or anything like that, they don’t use Ziploc bags for lunches, in fact, our school has a waste free lunch policy, so everything has to be reusable, all the containers, and stuff like that. We have solar shingles on our roof, I drive a bio diesel and a Prius…

In Mexico on your ranch?
Here in California.

Do you still grow your own vegetables?
We have a lettuce garden because I don’t like to buy lettuce in a plastic box, it just makes me have a pain in my stomach, I just feel bad, that box is so big and so we grow a lot of lettuce and kale and carrots, that’s all we have in our garden right now. And we get our fish and our meat and our fruits from local farmers that co-op that get every week.

Now you sit here all dressed in white, I would imagine with three kids, I would not be able to do that. How do you juggle that balance being like the mommy, at work, and the private life?
Well a few years ago, we would have had dried avocado all over me (laughter) but I think we’ve all gotten past that, that stage where you can wear white again. (laughs)

I saw a beautiful movie with you and Ryan Gossling, and it’s a small movie, a story about family, very beautiful, it was released one month ago. Do you think in the future, you will have the desire to produce a small movie, a particular movie, or not?
Well we just produced a movie, I think it’s going to come out actually in April, with Toni Collette and Michael Sheen, called Jesus Henry Christ, and it was at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, and it’s the same director as Fireflies in the Garden. Yeah, it’s a nice movie. They did a great job.

Is it hard to get excited about new projects Julia after a career of about 20 years?
It’s not, I feel like if I have the privilege to be part of something and I’m going to take time away from my life which I’m enjoying, it’s got to be something that I’m going to be pretty excited about, and I like my job, I’m happy at work, it’s fun and pretty extraordinary, so I try to appreciate all that time that I’m there, make the most of it.

And do you prefer to play a Pretty Woman or a bitchy woman?
Well, they are not mutually exclusive, (laughter) but just whatever comes up that has some good stuff for me to do.

Was it a tougher challenge to be a bad queen than to do like your last films?
You know, everything has it’s challenges, being funny, being nice, being mean, it all kind of on the day, when you are trying to do it the best that you can do it, and it will last forever, it’s going to have a challenge with it.

Where did you find your inspiration for this wicked role? Is it somebody you got your inspiration from, or it was all on paper?
George Clooney. (laughter) It was all on the paper. (laughter).

Do you remember the amount of your first paycheck and how did you spend it?
I’m sure it was a very small amount, like the first paycheck ever? It’s a smaller amount now. (laughter) I think I spent it on myself, I was a teenager and I think I had gotten a job so that I could buy things that were not important for my mom to be supplying. Struggling to kind of keep everybody fed and with the appropriate amount of everything that they needed, it was, oh, but I have to have this coat, and that was back in the days of a layaway plan, where you could, every time you got some money, take it to the store, and then pay it off.

How often do you look into the mirror?
When I brush my teeth in the morning, I’m looking at myself. I just don’t put a huge investment in it, I mean, anybody with kids knows that it’s, come wipe me, where are my shoes? There’s just not a lot of time.

Would you like to go back to the theater?
I would love to do that. I would love to do that.

And a lot of social networking as well, where people are interconnecting and they think they know about you, are you part of that Twitter universe?
I have never had Twitter…I’ve never seen Facebook. I saw The Social Network, but I’ve never seen Facebook.

You do have the internet at the house I presume.
I do, I have email and I know how to text.

Any desire to direct or write yourself?
Zero. (laughs) I’ll leave it to her. The young have energy and time. I’ve never had any desire to do that really, it’s just a different thing, so many people coming at you, and looking at you for answers to a whole lot of questions, I just like my one little section.

Universidad Nebrija's Mission Statement
Universidad Nebrija offers high academic standards in a stimulating and friendly atmosphere. The University provides an interactive learning environment with an international approach. Nebrija is well known for its academic experience in the field, the personal attention to its students and the innovative programs based on experiential learning and intercultural exchange.

Description:
Nebrija University has three decades of experience in teaching, training and research in Spanish as a foreign language. The Centro de Estudios Hispánicos offers an international atmosphere within the university. It is located in the Dehesa de la Villa Campus, in the city of Madrid.
Our Spanish courses are designed for anyone over 18 who would like to learn about Spanish culture or improve their Spanish language, from beginners to heritage speakers.

Our courses combine the teaching of language and culture because we are convinced that it is not possible to learn a language without understanding people's way of thinking, behaving and living. The programs include cultural and recreational activities in Madrid as well as a great variety of appealing extracurricular activities. Spanish courses are given all year around (except the month of August) in seven different programs. The flexibility of our courses lets students choose any program or combine various programs from these periods.

Our Programs:
Hispanic Studies Program: students from all over the world come to our institution to study Spanish grammar and culture but also history, art, literature, society, Spanish for business or Spanish cinema.

Spanish Plus Program: Nebrija offers courses taught in English where students combine from different disciplines (business, marketing, communication, European studies, art etc.) with Spanish language and culture courses.

Integrated Program: international students attend regular classes with Spaniards in the faculties of social sciences, communication, engineering, arts or humanities.

For more information:
Centro de Estudios Hispánicos
Universidad Nebrija
Campus de la Dehesa de la Villa
Web: http://www.hispanicosnebrija.com
Phone: + 34 91 452 11 00
Fax: + 34 91 452 11 10
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Address: C/Pirineos, 55 – 28040 Madrid (España)

Malcolm Miguel Botto
Brigham Young University – Provo, Utah

When was the last time you have been to Spain?
- September 2007

What do you enjoy most about Spain?
- I enjoy the sense of history and diversity of Spain. I enjoyed the architecture and the food as well as the engaged conversations with the people there.

What do you think are the advantages of Spain as a destination for American students?
- Relative sense of security. Number of sites to visit and learn from within a short distance. Percieved similarities with the USA (predominately white, European, etc.).

Could you describe the Study Abroad programs your university has with Spain?
- Currently, we have a faculty-lead program in Alcala de Henares. Students stay with host families in Alcala. Professors teach classes and lead group on excursions throughout Spain. The program is offered Spring (Jan-March), Summer (April-June) and Fall (Sept-Nov) semesters.

How satisfied are, in general, American students going/studying in Spain?
- Very satisfied.