Type of Program: UT Faculty-Led Program (Program Code 353003)
Dates: Second summer session
Application Deadline: December 1 is the priority application deadline. The secondary deadline is February 15, on a space available basis.
Language(s) of instruction: English and Spanish
UT instructor: Professor Maggie Rivas-Rodríguez
Information Session Schedule

Special Feature

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Overview

The Oral History as Journalism- Spain course is offered in conjunction with the UT Spanish Language and Culture Program in Santander, Spain. This program aims to significantly improve your knowledge of the Spanish language, including your ability to speak correctly and effectively outside the classroom and to integrate you as much as possible into the local culture. The journalism course will help students develop and reinforce their writing and interviewing skills, both in English and Spanish, as students will write and publish their stories in English, but will translate them into Spanish and conduct interviews in Spanish.

Eligibility

The program is open to all undergraduate students of The University of Texas at Austin with upper-division standing. All participants are required to have successfully completed (or have credit by examination) for SPN312K by the semester of participation.

Courses and Credit

Students enroll in six hours of coursework. Two courses in the program are taught by faculty from The University of Texas at Austin and all other courses are taught by local professors. Courses and dates are subject to change.

J 349T: Oral History as Journalism (Taught by UT Prof. Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez)

Select a second course from the following (check for course pre-requisites!):

SPN 312L: Second Year Spanish II
SPN318: Conversation & Composition
SPN 327G: Advanced Grammar & Composition I (Taught by prof. Lucía Osa-Melero)
SPN328: Spanish Civilization
SPN350: History of Spanish Art
SPN352: Literature, Generation of ‘98
SPN367K: Spanish for Business (this course is cross-listed with IB372)

In-residence credit is earned. Students will register for two second-summer session courses during summer registration for a total of six hours.

Students in the College of Communication may also apply the Oral History as Journalism course (J349T) toward satisfying the requirements for the Latino Media Studies Concentration.

All participants must meet the course prerequisites for the Spanish language courses. For questions about Spanish Language courses and prerequisites, please contact: Elizabeth Hastings or Christine Fisher in the UT Department of Spanish & Portuguese.

The Oral History as Journalism- Spain course is taught by professor Maggie Rivas-Rodríguez. The model used for this class is one that professor Rivas-Rodríguez developed over eight years – one in which students read about the historical context of the topic under consideration, and then apply that context to the actual interview. From the beginning, students will be seeking to apply that social and historical context to areas in their own backyard, comparing and contrasting what they know about the U.S. to what they are learning about Spain – a sharpening of their critical thinking skills.

This oral history model is about reinforcing: the historical/social context of a topic, the language skills, and the interviewing expertise. Students read about the topic, interview a knowledgeable source, transcribe the interview, write a story based, in part, on the interview, and finally, revisit the interview subject for revision and clarification. By the end of the semester, students will be able to discuss the topic with some measure of authority, and will be eager to learn more about Spain and about the particular topic. By interviewing in Spanish, and transcribing that interview, the students’ language skills will be reinforced, both in the verbalization of the questions, the mental translation that must occur throughout the interview process, and finally, in transcribing the interview, word for word in Spanish, and finally, translating particular quotes into English for use in a story that will be used, most likely, on a website.

In addition to cultural activities and educational excursions around Santander, the program may include excursions local cities. Excursions may include visits to area archives to explore resources for the Oral History as Journalism course. Excursions are subject to change.

Accommodations

To maximize cultural immersion, students live with carefully selected local families and are encouraged to speak only Spanish while at home and whenever possible at the University. Students share lunch, the biggest and most important meal of the day, with their host families. Whenever possible, only one or two UT students will be assigned to each household. In some cases, Spanish families will host multiple American students. These households are particularly well-suited for students interested in meeting other Americans interested in Spanish Language & Culture. The opportunity to live with host families usually proves to be student’s favorite part of their experience abroad.

Student Expenses

Application fee: $50
Program fee: Approximately $3,600
UT tuition and fees: $2,500*
Round trip airfare: $1,600
Additional meals: $600
Books and Supplies: $100
Passport and ISIC card: $300

Total estimated expenses: $8,750

*Tuition rates vary by student status and by semester.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Learn more about funding for study abroad.