Program Description

TENTATIVE DATES

Winter term 2005

DIRECTOR

Diane Pearsall, Senior Lecturer of Spanish

Diane Pearsall has lived and traveled in Mexico on several occasions. She studied in San Luis Potosí in 1973 and taught at the Instituto Interamericano in Veracruz, 1984-1985. She directed the Morelia Seminar in 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1999, and 2001. Her interests include Latin American theater, pedagogy, Cuban and Mexican popular music of the 1940s and 50s, and the golden age of Mexican cinema.

PREREQUISITES

Students must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors at the time of participation and have successfully completed Spanish 204 or its equivalent.

LOCATION

Morelia, the capital of Michoacán, is a picturesque colonial city which was founded in 1541. Located in the mountains four hours west of Mexico City, Morelia enjoys a temperate climate year-round. A jacket or coat is necessary on winter mornings and evenings, but the days are always sunny and afternoons are warm. Students will take classes at Baden-Powell Institute, a private language institute in Morelia’s historic downtown.

COURSE OF STUDY, 16 CREDITS

SPANISH 290-17: DIRECTED READING

(4 CREDITS)

Winter break independent reading course on Mexican history, politics, and culture.

SPANISH 206-07: CONVERSATION AND COMPOSITION (6 CREDITS)

This course takes advantage of the native setting in order to expand and develop skills in conversation and composition. In addition, it involves an advanced study of grammar and utilization of on-site resources in order to guide the student toward greater cultural and linguistic fluency.

Instructors: Mexican faculty

SPANISH 248-07: DRAMA AND PERFORMANCE IN LMERICA: MEXICAN THEATER (6 CREDITS, RAD)

This course is an introduction to 20^th century Mexican theater. Dramatists whose works will be read will include Usigli, Carballido, Solórzano, Berman, and Garro, among others. The plays will be considered from literary, theatrical, and cultural perspectives. Depending on the season, students will have the opportunity to attend plays in Morelia and while on excursions.

Instructor: Diane Pearsall

HOUSING

Students live with Mexican families. They will eat their meals at home and be included in family activities. Students are generally treated as members of the family.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Students are expected to arrange their own round-trip travel to Mexico. Program-related group travel during the program will be paid by Carleton.

EXCURSIONS

During the program, students will go on several organized weekend trips. Included are excursions to Mexico City, colonial towns Michoacán and Guanajuato, Uruapan, Mexico City, and nearby volcano Paricutín. Students will also visit the Monarch butterfly sanctuary, the pre-Columbian ruins at Tzintzuntzan, and Oaxaca.

EXPENSES

Students pay the 2004-2005 Carleton comprehensive fee, which covers the costs of instruction, room, board, and all scheduled excursions. Students are responsible for the cost of books, personal expenses, transportation to and from Mexico, and personal travel during the seminar. Student financial aid is applicable as on campus. See the Off-Campus Studies Planning Guide for further information regarding work contracts, loans, and other subjects of financial aid.

APPLICATIONS AND INFORMATION

An information meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 21^st, 2004 at 4:30 PM in the LDC.

Application forms are available from the Office of Off-Campus Studies, Leighton 119, x4332.

Applications will be due to Mary Tatge, Romance Languages Administrative Assistant, LDC 340, no later than Friday, May 7^th, 2004. Students selected for the program will be notified before registration for fall term classes.