Language Learning

Courses | Supervised Field Study | Language Learning | Living Arrangements | Cultural Excursions |
How To Apply

The border region is a linguistically diverse area that offers many opportunities for students to practice Spanish.

The borderlands is a bilingual region, which presents rich opportunities for language learning. You will no doubt hear both Spanish and English being spoken in various locations. You will also hear creative and fascinating uses of language. The Border Studies Program offers flexibility in language use and offers programming for those with higher-level language skills as well as for those who are newer to Spanish.

Students are encouraged to have one year of college-level Spanish (or equivalent) prior to the beginning of the fall semester program and two years for the spring semester. Students with more Spanish language skills will find their language level to be very beneficial towards their learning process as a part of the program.

Create Your Own Language Learning Experience

While there are not Spanish classes for credit offered through the Border Studies Program, students have the opportunity to structure the level of Spanish language use that they would like. Some students, for example, may prefer a field study where Spanish is the dominant language, while others may prefer to locate themselves in an English dominant situation. The field study situations range from complete use of Spanish to use of English with some Spanish, with many variations in language use in between.  Some of the families in Tucson are Spanish speaking; others are not.  By informing the program of your language learning interests, the staff can place you in a family that best matches with your interests.

Ways to Achieve Your Language Learning Objectives

• To take advantage of using and practicing Spanish, you can ask to live with a Spanish speaking family in Tucson
• To take advantage of opportunities when presented to interact in Spanish throughout extended travel seminars in Mexico
• Choose to read some assignments in Spanish
• Participate in a field study placement where Spanish is the dominant language
• Interact in Spanish as much as possible. You may also want to listen to Spanish radio stations, watch TV programs in Spanish, and read other materials in Spanish.
• Organize a Spanish language discussion group with your peers participating in the program

The Border Studies Program has contacts with Spanish language instructors in Tucson and can arrange for students to participate in informal classes either in groups or individually during their time in Tucson.