Salamanca’s golden medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and soaring cathedrals nestle in the northwest corner of old Castile, far from the tourist crowds that overrun the rest of Spain. Just two and a half hours from Madrid, Salamanca retains the romantic charm of a medieval university town. Known as the “Oxford of the Spanish world,” the University’s elegant buildings draw visitors and students from around the world.

Frequent field trips and travel opportunities enable students to experience the culture and history of this great city as well as the beautiful countryside of Spain.  In addition to Spanish language courses taught by native speakers, Washington State faculty offers coursework around several themes common to the locale, i.e. Introduction to Human Geography in Europe and Introduction to Physical Geography.

Site
Classes are held at the Colegio Unamuno language school.  The school is within walking distance of the homestays. Students have access to the school library and computers.
Transportation:

After a two-night stay in Madrid (see excursions), group transfer by private bus from Madrid to Salamanca on Sunday, January 13th is provided. Also included is the return transfer from Salamanca to Madrid on Saturday, March 22nd.

Optional Transportation Package
Students may purchase an optional transportation package consisting of round-trip airfare (Seattle-Madrid-Seattle) and round-trip transfers between the airport and hotel in Madrid for an additional $750 excluding mandatory U.S. government and airline-imposed departure taxes, fees and fuel surcharges for which students will be billed separately.

Courses
WCCCSA will conduct a pre-registration process to determine enrollments in each course. Actual course registration occurs at the home institution with the Campus Coordinator, after the pre-departure orientation. Program fees are paid to AIFS. Tuition fees are paid to the home campus.

Courses are taken at the Colegio Hispanico De Unamuno.

Spanish Language Classes
Students select one or two Spanish language classes (5-10 credits), from SPAN 101 through SPAN 203, plus one or two of the following classes, to earn a total of 15 credits.

Intro to Human Geography in Europe
Human geography is the study of human populations and the spatial distribution of their activities across the Earth. Salamanca represents a geography student’s dream location for studying these topics. Students will spend considerable time in the field looking at the ways culture influences the landscape and how cities like Salamanca and Madrid reflect the history of Spain and its many cultural influences.

 Intro to Physical Geography
Physical geography explores the relationship between Earth’s systems and the humans who inhabit them. This course is taught from an “Earth systems science” perspective, emphasizing the interrelated nature of all physical systems. Students will use Salamanca as a natural laboratory to investigate weather and climate, the Tormes River and water resources, and other physical processes. Students will participate in several field excursions and go home with a much greater appreciation for the role that natural environment plays in their everyday lives.

This is an academic program and students are expected to enroll in a full-time course load. Failure to participate in the academic coursework may result in dismissal from the program.

Students are encouraged to make the most of their classroom learning as it will enhance understanding of all the local area has to offer.

 Excursions/Activities
Two-night stay in Madrid (January 11th-13th), after arrival on January 11th, and one night accommodation in Madrid on March 22nd.

Accommodation in Madrid will be in twin or triple occupancy rooms in a centrally located 3-star tourist-style hotel on a bed and breakfast basis. Guided sightseeing tour of Madrid by private bus.

Orientation program after arrival in Salamanca with welcome reception and a guided walking tour.

There will be two day trips during the program. One will include visits to Segovia and Avila. The second day trip will be to Finca de Toros (bull farm).  There will be weekly cultural events such as cooking demonstrations, a visit to the cinema or a sporting activity, which introduces the students to Spanish life and culture.

Independent Travel
Use free weekends to travel in Spain, to Portugal (Lisbon is only an hour and a half away from Salamanca) and other European destinations.

Housing
Students will live in shared homestays, with local families in their homes. All families are carefully screened and selected by AIFS personnel overseas.  An AIFS program coordinator and office on site will support the WCCCSA group.

Accommodations are in twin-bedded rooms (two students per homestay sharing a double room). Three meals a day, seven days a week and weekly laundry service also provided by homestay.

By living with a host family, students have a link to the local culture and customs. At the same time, students will have ample opportunity to use their Spanish language skills. Students are encouraged to make the most of family life and community activities during their stay in Salamanca.  Students are expected to respect the norms and customs of their host family.

Program Dates and Deadlines
Program Dates: January 10 – March 23, 2008
Application deadline: no later than 70 days prior to departure
Payment Deadlines:
--$450.00 due with application, October 26, 2007
--Balance of fees ($5,545.00, plus $200.00 refundable damage deposit) due November 21, 2007


Optional Flight/Insurance Payment Deadline:
--Airfare ($750.00 plus taxes, fees, etc. $228.00, subject to change), due November 21, 2007
--Personal Effects Coverage ($90.00), due November 21, 2007
--Medical Insurance Upgrade ($65.00), due November 21, 2007

Students have the option of purchasing a round-trip ticket for the flight arranged through AIFS ($750.00 plus taxes, fees, etc. of $228.00, subject to change).

Students choosing this option should note the following restrictions. Tickets purchased from AIFS are exclusively on scheduled airlines (not charters). They are not endorsable to another carrier. Flights are not necessarily direct or non-stop, and frequent flyer miles are not applicable. The AIFS Transportation Package includes your ground transportation from the airport in Europe to your accommodations on the regularly schedules program dates. AIFS will book flights on the dates indicated on the application or you may choose an alternate return date. Participants who choose an alternate return date are responsible for their transfer from their accommodations to the airport.

Students wishing to purchase the Transportation Package must notify AIFS in writing by Monday, October 26, 2007. Students wishing to change their return flight date must notify AIFS in writing by Wednesday, November 21, 2007, and must pay a penalty at the time of the request is made. After this date, tickets are non-refundable.

Students making their own travel arrangements should plan to arrive in Madrid on Friday, January 11, 2008, before 6:00 pm. AIFS and WCCCSA will provide arrival information and maps at a local pre-departure orientation. Details will be provided at least 30 days before departure. Students are welcome to travel independently either before or after the program at their own cost.

Orientation
Pre-departure orientation is approximately 6 weeks before departure.  Participants are welcome to bring parents or guardians to this program so they can learn about it with you.  More information with dates and venue will be coming soon!

Costs
Program Fees : $ 5,995.00 (based on a minimum of 25 participants)

INCLUDED:

• Group transfers from overseas airport (only with purchase of transportation package)
• Two nights in Madrid upon arriving including hotel with breakfast
• Guided Madrid city tour and entrance to the Prado Museum
• Transportation by private bus from Madrid to Salamanca
• Home stay with weekly laundry service
• Three meals/day, seven days/week, in homestay
• AIFS Study center support services including 24 hour emergency assistance
• On-site orientation/tour in Salamanca
• Welcome reception
• All listed excursions/ Cultural activities
• Medical and travel insurance
• Spanish Language and Spanish Life and Culture courses
• Farewell dinner
• Group transfer at end of program to Madrid with overnight hotel accommodations

NOT INCLUDED:

• Airfare (unless the transportation package, $750, plus $228 taxes, fees, etc. subject to change, is purchased)
• $200 refundable damage deposit
• Transfer from and to the airport in Madrid (unless students purchase the transportation package)
• Community College tuition and fees
• Course books or materials (unless specified)
• Passport and visa fees
• Personal expenses
• Anything not specified as included in the program
• Optional personal effects and medical insurance upgrade