Mountain View College: Spanish in Salamanca/Alicante, Spain
Program Description
Located in the heart of Oak Cliff, Mountain View College has approximately 9,500 students and
1,000 professors. The Foreign Language Department at Mountain View College, which is
located in Dallas, TX, has over a decade of experience teaching to students from all over the
U.S. and in particular Oak Cliff Spanish in native Spanish speaking countries. This intensive
program aims to improve student’s knowledge of the Spanish language, their ability to speak
correctly and effectively outside the classroom, and to effectively integrate students into local
culture.
Students take up to seven hours of coursework taught in Salamanca and Alicante, Spain on the
heart of Castilla Leon and the Provincia de Valencia. The Spanish language courses are taught
by local highly qualified faculty.
Students live with carefully selected local families with at least two students per family unless
otherwise requested. Beginning and intermediate Spanish students along with advanced native
students are encouraged to sign a pledge stating they will only speak Spanish while at the
campus abroad and at the homestay location. Students eat lunch, which is the most important
meal of the day, with their host families. Living with the host families has historically been the
students’ favorite part of their experience abroad.
Courses
1411 Beginning Spanish I; 1412 Beginning Spanish II; 2311 Intermediate Spanish I; 2312
Intermediate Spanish II; 2313 Spanish for Native/Heritage Speakers I & 2315 Spanish for
Native/Heritage Speakers II.
Program Director
Professor Ulises Rodriguez
[email protected]
214-860-8792
Summer Faculty-Led Registration
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Prospects should start saving money for the Spain trip at the credit union of their
choosing regardless of their ability to secure a scholarship. These deposits (savings) will
help them secure their participation on this trip. Actual registration for the class will
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open in April when the Summer Catalogue is published. If you have any questions,
contact Professor Ulises Rodriguez at [email protected] or 214-860-8792.
 Registration, tuition and fees follow the standard Mountain View summer
schedule and policies.
 Reference the Rules of Participation Booklet from the program website at:
http://www.mountainviewcollege.edu/Academics/acaddivisions/cted/spanish/P
ages/StudyinValladolid.aspx (exact site to be changed shortly).
Late Registration
Late registration for summer study abroad course is generally not permitted. Financial
aid students who do not register during the summer session registration period will not
receive summer financial aid.
Study Abroad |Mountain View College
Application Information
Be prepared to:
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Save money until payments start processing in April.
Sign all the waiver statements required.
Obtain a passport in a timely manner.
Purchase an airfare.
Application Fee
There is no application fee. There is however an administration fee that becomes nonrefundable by June 1.
Program Choices
There are only 6 choices and prospects must make sure they register for the appropriate
courses that they need/wish.
Notifications
Acceptance from scholarships will be sent out at around May directly from the sponsor of the
scholarship, not from the organizing institution.
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Summer Faculty –Led: After Acceptance
Confirmation Participation
1) Pay the full amount by June 15 at the latest
2) Fill out the emergency contact information
3) Rules of Participation Forms
Get A Passport
1. Make sure you have a valid passport.
2. Make sure to apply with ample time to obtain this document.
Purchase Airfare
1. Your program will provide you with suggestions on purchasing airfare for your program.
2. Complete registration. (Your program coordinator will provide you with Rules of
Participation).
3. Maintain good academic standing. (2.0 minimum GPA).
4. Meet any applicable course prerequisites
Compliance
Please note: students must comply with the above listed requirements and meet listed
deadlines to be eligible to participate in the program. Ineligible students will be withdrawn
from the program.
Timeline
August
Pre-registration begins students will provide instructor with “letter of intent to attend studies
abroad”. Prospects must deposit a savings installment of $450.00 and begin drafting the
scholarship essay.
September
Pre-registration continues and students will provide instructor with “letter of intent to attend
studies abroad”. Prospects must deposit a savings installment of $450.00 or $900.00, if previous
payments were not made, and start drafting and/or reviewing scholarship essay.
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October
Pre-registration continues and students will provide instructor with “letter of intent to attend
studies abroad”. Prospects must deposit a savings installment of $450.00 or $1,350.00, if
previous payments were not made, and start drafting and/or reviewing scholarship essay
through the Ink Spot at Mountain View College.
November
Pre-registration continues and students will provide instructor with “letter of intent to attend
studies abroad”. Prospects must deposit a savings installment of $450.00 or $1,800.00, if
previous payments were not made, and start drafting and/or reviewing scholarship essay
through the Ink Spot at Mountain View College.
December:
Pre-registration continues: students provide instructor with “letter of Intent to attend studies
abroad”. Prospects must deposit a savings installment of $450.00 or $2,250.00, if previous
payments were not made, and start drafting and/or reviewing scholarship essay through the Ink
Spot at Mountain View College
January
Pre-registration continues: students provide instructor with “letter of Intent to attend studies
abroad”. Prospects must deposit a savings installment of $450.00 or $2,700.00, if previous
payments were not made, and start drafting and/or reviewing scholarship essay through the Ink
Spot at Mountain View College. Verify Gilman and Richard McRarey Scholarships for deadlines.
February
Pre-registration continues: students provide instructor with “letter of Intent to attend studies
abroad”. Prospects must deposit a savings installment of $450.00 or $3,100.00, if previous
payments were not made, and start drafting and/or reviewing scholarship essay through the Ink
Spot at Mountain View College. If, and only if essay has been approved by the Ink Spot at MVC,
submit Gilman Scholarship application. Start looking for the best airfare available.
March
Pre-registration continues: students provide instructor with “letter of intent to attend studies
abroad”. Prospects must deposit a savings installment of $450.00 or $3,600.00, if previous
payments were not made, and start drafting and/or reviewing scholarship essay through the Ink
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Spot at Mountain View College. Submit DCCCD Scholarship application. Prospects must provide
photocopy of passport for verification purposes. Continue looking for the best airfare available.
April
Official registration begins: Prospects must withdraw their saved money from their bank and: a)
pay MVC tuition; b) purchase airfare; c) deposit $450.00 plus the remainder of the saved money
to pay the rest of the cost of the trip to MVC (approximately $1,700.00). Students must register
for 6 credit hours from any of the Spanish courses offered during this trip. Students provide
instructor with “Letter of intent to attend studies abroad”. Prospects must provide photocopy
of passport for verification purposes. Continue looking for the best airfare available, if airfare
has not been purchase yet.
May
Official registration continues: Prospects must: a) pay MVC tuition; b) purchase airfare; c)
deposit $450.00 plus the remainder of the saved money to pay the rest of the cost of the trip to
MVC (approximately $2,100.00). Students must register for 6 credit hours from any of the
Spanish courses offered during this trip. Students provide instructor with “letter of intent to
attend studies abroad”. Prospects must provide photocopy of passport for verification
purposes. Continue looking for the best airfare available, if airfare has not been purchased yet.
Official responses from scholarship offices arrived and should help them finalize their decision.
Continue looking for the best airfare available and secure one when lower than $1,500. Shall
prospects decide not to join us due to the response of the scholarship; they must cancel their
participation by the end of May for the money to be reimbursed. Provide: date and time of
arrival; 2) airline and flight number; 3) airport of origin.
June
Official registration for this particular course ends. Final payment due (approximately
$2.600.00), students will either pay the difference or be reimbursed after the total cost of trip is
adjusted based on exchange rate and the course has officially ended. Students, who have not
paid the final amount in full, will receive a refund minus any non-refundable costs incurred by
Mountain View College, and the student will forfeit participation in this program. There will be
no reimbursements after June 15.
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Once in Spain
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SALAMANCA: AIRPORT TO ACCOMMODATION
TRANSFERS: Mountain View College will be responsible for transfers from the
airport to the accommodation/transportation.
All main transfers are “Round-trip”.
Allergies: Please include in your enrollment form any allergies, meal plan choices
and any other special requests, as this information will help to insure a
compatible placement in homestay.
Banks
Banks are open in Spain from 9 to 14:00. There are no banks open, very few, in the afternoons.
Banks charge a commission every time you change money or checks. The commission runs from
400E to 7000E, major credit cards are accepted everywhere: VISA/MasterCard, AMERICAN
EXPRESS etc. The ATMs, all around, work very well.
Books
All the teaching material needed is included in the course fees. The student is expected to bring
his/her own school supplies and a dictionary.
Diplomas
There are two levels: INICAL (Elementary) and INTERMEDIO (high intermediate), Mountain View
has prepared both courses.
Email
Students can receive faxes and mail at the school. Students can also send faxes for a charge.
Free e-mail and Internet access in all schools. Wireless access is available and free.
Guarantees
ALL COURSES ARE GUARANTEED TO BE HELD WITH OR WITHOUT THE FULL NUMBER OF
STUDENTS.
Mail
Students are welcome to receive mail at the school.
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Museums
Mountain View College has organized guided tours to museums and monuments. Students are
expected to pay for tickets or entrances if there is any fee involved.
Recognition and Membership
Courses are accepted at U.S. universities.
Smoking in Spain
Spaniards smoke a lot. Almost 50% of the adult population does and it should be considered a
cultural fact. However, smoking is not permitted at the schools.
Spanish language
Spanish language or Castellano is very similar everywhere in the Hispanic World. In the area of
Barcelona, the Basque country and Galicia, they speak other languages, but they also speak
Spanish.
Sports
Common sports include tennis, football and basketball. They all can also be practiced as well as
aerobics, running, etc. Do not hesitate to contact the school if you have a special inquiry.
Telephone
Telephone service is expensive in Spain, compared to other countries, and students are not
supposed to use the phone in their homestay. They are welcome to receive calls but its better if
they use public phones. Check with your phone company to see if they have any card for collect
calls or similar systems since you can save money that way. Cell phones are inexpensive and
you can buy one on arrival. Contact your supplier to check if your cell phone works in Spain.
Towel
Bring your own towel for the beach/pool.
Homestay Students
There will be a charge for additional nights.
Homestay families meet at a given location to pick up the students upon arrival to Salamanca.
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Salamanca/Alicante
All the homestay families are located within walking distance as is almost everything in
Salamanca and Alicante. Students should walk 15 to 20 minutes from their accommodation to
the school.
Meals
Breakfast is very light in Spain never a big meal and consist of coffee and biscuits or some
bread.
Lunch is the main meal for a lot of Spaniards and is taken between 13:00 and 15:00. It is
comprised of two or three courses.
Dinner is usually tortilla, cold meats, salads, sandwiches, etc., and is taken between 20:00 and
22:00.
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