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Office of International Programs

Verano Español

On this popular, long-running program celebrating its 63rd year, students spend six weeks studying Spanish language and culture in Madrid with Rollins' own Professor Prieto-Calixto.

"Any reasonable, sentient person who looks at Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, they’re going to fall in love. Otherwise, there’s something deeply wrong with you.” - Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown (Season 2, Ep. 2)

Experience Spain!

"Any reasonable, sentient person who looks at Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, they’re going to fall in love. Otherwise, there’s something deeply wrong with you.
- Anthony Bourdain, Parts Unknown (Season 2, Ep. 2)

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Check out this excellent Rollins 360 article about the Verano Español program! (lots of photos!)

 

 


Overview

Verano Español (or Spanish Summer) celebrates its 63rd anniversary in 2023, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious American summer study programs in Madrid. This program, led by Prof. Prieto-Calixto, is based in central Madrid at don Quijote (dQ), a language school located near the Museo del Prado, Parliament, and Plaza Santa Ana. Recognizing that successful language training cannot take place in a vacuum, Verano Español provides a series of cultural activities throughout the summer designed to provide students with a fuller sense of Spanish language, life, and culture. For example, the program includes a weekend trip to Candelario and other scheduled cultural activities.

This Language and Culture program is designed for students of all proficiency levels interested in complete immersion in Spanish language and culture. The program is 6 weeks long, includes dormitory housing, and all courses conducted in Spanish by native Spanish faculty.

NOTE: In accordance with the CDC, International Programs urges all study abroad students to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 to reduce risks of illness

Requirements for Admission

  • Application deadline: February 12, 2024
  • Applications open in November
  • Sophomores, juniors and seniors
  • Clean record with the Office of Community Standards and good academic and College standing
  • Professional application: materials are submitted on-time, are edited before submission, and are thorough and thoughtful.
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA
  • Application Instructions: How to Apply

Summer 2024

  • May 19: Arrival in Madrid and Orientation
  • May 20: Classes begin
  • May 25: Segovia excursion
  • June 7-9: Candelario excursion
  • June 29: Program ends and check out of housing by noon
Please note: program dates may change to accommodate changes to the Rollins academic calendar.

Students are required to book their own flights to Madrid. Depending on when you arrive, Prof. Prieto-Calixto and/or the Student Site Leaders will meet you at the Madrid Barajas airport. Orientation will begin on the first night of the program. Students have a welcome dinner the night of arrival and have a full orientation the next day—the orientation introduces students to the language school and the city. Classes begin the following morning.

Don Quijote

The foundation of instruction at dQ is a communicative methodology of language learning that stresses students' immediate and active engagement in language acquisition. Classes are small, usually around 8 students, and instructors utilize strategies of rapid and intensive language acquisition.

Courses

Language and Culture Courses: All levels of intensive language courses, from beginning to advanced, are offered at don Quijote. Students will be placed into the 2 courses that come after the last Spanish course they completed at Rollins (some students can use these courses to fulfill their "F" requirement). For example, if a student completed SPN101 at Rollins during the Fall Semester, that student will be placed into SPN102 and 201 at dQ. Prior Spanish language courses at Rollins not required. Classes at dQ are small, usually with 8 - 10 students per class and will include Rollins students and other students from around the world who are also studying Spanish. Classes meet 4 - 5 hours per day, Monday through Friday, and students will receive a total of 8 Rollins credit hours upon successful completion of the program.

Transfer of Credits

All courses appear on the Rollins transcript as Rollins courses and the grade that students receive in Madrid will also appear on the Rollins transcript (meaning your grades abroad will be factored into your Rollins GPA).

Faculty Director

Verano Español's Faculty Director in Spain is Prof. Alberto Prieto-Calixto, Professor of Spanish at Rollins and a native Spaniard. Prof. Prieto-Calixto will oversee program academics, organize program excursions and meals, and assist students with their transition to life in Madrid.

Student Site Leader: Two former Verano participants and graduating Rollins seniors will join the program as co-leaders with Prof. Prieto-Calixto. The Site Leaders will plan cultural activities for the group, assist students in adapting to Madrid, help students navigate challenges relating to cultural adjustments, academics, and will offer tutoring services for Spanish classes.

Housing

Students will live in the Don Quijote dormitories, just a five minute walk to the dQ classes in central Madrid. The dormitory is a three story building with single and double occupancy rooms, with a mix of private and shared bathrooms. Students will be assigned to rooms on a random basis and may be placed in a single with private bath or in a double with shared bath. Students complete a housing questionnaire as part of their application and, after acceptance submit roommate preferences. The dorms include two meals per day (breakfast and lunch), kitchen access, laundry area, dining area. The program student site leaders live on the premises. 

Meals

The dQ dorm provides two meals a day (breakfast and lunch, the biggest meal of the day in Spain) and also have access to kitchens. Students also receive group dinners that are scheduled three times a week across the program and meals during the orientation and weekend excursion to Candelario. For additional meals, consider budgeting about 8-12 Euros per meal for a simple, take-out style dinner or 10-20 Euros for a sit-down meal.

Cheap Eats Out and Easy Make-it-Yourself Meals

Life in Madrid

Madrid is a dynamic and exciting city, particularly in the summer when the daytime weather is very hot. Spaniards and tourists fill the streets, plazas, restaurants and shops through the evening and into the night. Madrid is famed for its incredible museums, lovely parks and squares, historic buildings and churches, and wonderful food and music. Program participants will be expected and required to follow local and national requirements as they relate to health and safety policies for Covid-19.

Transportation: Each student will receive an Abono de Transporte (a transportation pass) for use on Madrid's metro and bus system. This pass is included in the program fee and will give students access to Madrid's superb public transportation for the duration of the program. It will serve as a great resource for getting to/from cultural activities, internships, and Madrid's many sights and events. 

Independent Travel: To ensure the health and safety of all participants on the program due to Covid-19, students should anticipate restrictions to independent travel during the program dates. Independent travel will most likely be limited to within Spain's borders only during the program. Once the program ends students are free to travel as desired. 

Activities and Excursions

Weekend Excursion to Candelario: Candelario is a small town well west of Madrid, near the Spanish and Portuguese border. This incredibly popular group excursion is organized and led by Prof. Prieto-Calixto and offers students a genuine look at real Spanish life outside of the standard tourist destinations. Activities include a pottery workshop and a guided hike in the beautiful landscape around Candelario. All meals and accommodation are also included. Past students have often commented that the Candelario weekend was a highlight of the six-week program.

Things to Consider

Students with mobility disabilities may find accessibility and accommodations different from the United States. Check the US Department of State Travelers with Disabilities and specific to the country, Mobility International USA, and the IP Your Identity Abroad page for resources.

For application instructions, click the application link at the top of this page.

Program Fees

  • 2024 Program Fee: $7,690 *Tentative Fee*

Includes

Tuition, housing, weekend orientation in Madrid, daily breakfast and lunch, plus 2 group dinners per week, program excursions, airport transfers in Spain, transportation pass, course materials, program administration and emergency insurance.

Estimated Additional Costs

  • Round-trip airfare from FL $1,200
  • Additional Meals/food $225
  • Passport $160
  • Personal Expenses $400
  • Federal loan fees $0 and professional licensure/certification $0

Need-Based Scholarships

CLA/Holt students may apply for the Need-Based Scholarship as part of their application. Awards range from $500 to $2200. In order to provide access to these programs for as many students as possible, students who received funding from Rollins to participate in one Field Study or Summer Approved program will generally not receive funding for a second Field Study or Summer Program. Students who have received funding from Rollins for a semester study away program, may still receive funding for a Field Study or Summer program but the prior experience/award will be a factor when determining award amount.

* All dates are tentative and subject to change depending on the final number of students, final costs and other considerations.

** Estimated costs for all programs are based on anticipated numbers of students, current exchange rates and commercial airfares. Costs are subject to change. Final prices will always be communicated to accepted students before they commit to the program.