The Siena Heights Spanish program doesn’t want its students to just “learn” Spanish; students will be able to speak it. In fact, students will start speaking Spanish on their very first day of class. The program features a “flipped” classroom format, meaning the grammar is no longer taught in the classroom but as an online lecture.

The project-oriented program focuses in on the liberal arts of communication, technology, and creativity.

Another unique aspect of the program is the Costa Rica Experience. Faculty accompany students for a three-month study abroad trip that allows students to immerse themselves not only in the language but in the culture as well. While taking Spanish classes, students will also be to take courses like marine biology.

Spanish is a skill that can accompany any major and allows our graduates to be independent, cross-cultural, and adaptable in their careers.

From day one, the Siena Heights Spanish program strives to speak Spanish. Students will spend as much time as possible using the target language.

We do this by removing grammar lectures from the classroom thus allowing more time for activities.

We work closely with academic advisors so that students can pair a Spanish minor/major with a business major or communications major to name a few. After completing intermediate Spanish, students have the option to spend three months living with a Costa Rican host family while attending Veritas University in San Jose, Costa Rica. While abroad, students live with families, travel on the weekends, and take five classes (three Spanish classes and two electives).

Fast Fact

Spanish majors have the opportunity to earn money as Spanish tutors, volunteer as translators and interpreters, and be involved in the Latino community.

Program Distinctions

• We incorporate the flipped classroom to spend more time speaking Spanish instead of talking about Spanish;
• Most courses incorporate a technology-based final project that is posted on YouTube;
• Work to send all Spanish majors and minors to Costa Rica for a semester.

The Costa Rica Experience

As part of the Spanish major and minor, students now have the opportunity to study abroad in San José, Costa Rica at Veritas University.

Specifically, we have partnered with their Center for International Programs which brings students from all over the world to learn Spanish.

While there the students will take classes in Spanish (for the major-minor) and classes in English (liberal arts). This allows them to stay on track while abroad. Students live with Costa Rican families and can either walk to school or take the university shuttle.

On the weekends, the students travel all over the country to the university. From rain forests to volcanoes to the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, there is an infinite number of things to experience.

Students can study in fall, winter or summer, but our biggest group of students students from January to April.