Liberal Arts students travel to Spain for immersive faculty-led course

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This summer, students from across the College of the Liberal Arts had the opportunity to embark on the “Spanish Language and Culture” faculty-led course trip to Ronda, Spain. The six-week experience abroad allowed students to learn at a local school, live with a host family and learn more about Spanish culture.

Faculty members Susana García-Prudencio, associate teaching professor of Spanish, and Miguel Ramírez-Bernal, assistant teaching professor of Spanish, led this year’s trip. Prudencio has overseen the Ronda program since 2015, noting each summer “has been a true gift.”

“This summer, the cultural activities as well as the relationships formed among students have brought me great satisfaction,” Prudencio said. “One of my fondest memories was the personal relationships created between students and their host families. Witnessing tears from both students and host families during their farewells was a deeply touchable moment.”

By utilizing their education at Penn State abroad, the students were able to get real world experience practicing the Spanish language and strengthening their preexisting knowledge.

Maggie Day, a third-year student majoring in education and public policy and Spanish, said the experience improved her Spanish “immensely.”

“My language abilities are much better, as is my confidence in speaking, reading, writing and understanding the language,” Day said. “I also learned a lot about Spain and the culture there, which has improved my knowledge of literature, linguistics and the world. Learning another language is a lifelong process, but a lot of people say studying abroad is a pretty big factor in that, and I'd have to agree!”

Similarly, Lindsay Conrad, a fourth-year student majoring in labor and human resources and Spanish, found the trip further developed her skills more than she could have imagined.

“After this trip, I can say that I am fluent in Spanish,” Conrad said. “This has already helped me be successful in my current Spanish classes as I can converse easily with others in Spanish, understand my professors perfectly and read the famous Spanish book ‘Don Quixote’ with minimal difficulty.”

For Molly Donlon, a fourth-year student majoring in criminology and sociology, the trip was a profound personal experience.

“I think the knowledge I have gained from this trip will have a long-lasting impact on me,” Donlon said. “It has made me see every situation from a wider worldview and it really helps me put things into perspective in my classes that I have here at Penn State.”

While students praised various aspects of the faculty-led trip, they all had one favorite experience in common: weekend trips to various destinations throughout Spain.

“One weekend, we did the Caminito del Rey in Málaga, which is essentially a walking route against a cliffside,” Day said. “The landscape is incredible, and we learned about the fascinating history behind the route. Our tour guide was awesome and talked to us about her experience moving to Spain from Finland, as well. As an adrenaline lover, this experience was everything.”

Sam Woloson, a third-year student majoring in digital/print journalism and Spanish, said his most memorable experience was “hanging out at the beach with friends in Cádiz.”

“The city was so beautiful, and the weather was perfect,” Woloson said.

All told, it was an experience the students won’t soon forget, and Day was quick to credit the College of the Liberal Arts for providing the opportunity.

“The college helped with the funding aspect of the program and has been providing opportunities to talk more about our experiences and mentor other students potentially interested in studying abroad,” Day said. “I’m glad they place a lot of emphasis on studying abroad and hope they continue to because studying abroad is often a hugely rewarding experience.”

This is one in a series of 10 stories about College of the Liberal Arts faculty-led course trips that took place this summer. Summer 2024 programs will be posted before the end of the fall 2023 semester. Read additional stories and learn more.