Study and Work Abroad
Study Abroad - Latin America and Spain
One major reason to learn Spanish is to take advantage of the many study abroad opportunities Boston College offers in Spanish-speaking countries. The BC Office of International Programs (OIP) has more than 30 locations in Spain and Latin America (e.g. Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Spain) where students can immerse themselves in the language. The level of Spanish varies by location and program, but BC offering is diverse enough to accommodate speakers of any level. Around 200 students a year participate in the summer, semester and academic year programs. For more details about the different programs consult the OIP (Office of International Programs).
Our Hispanic Studies faculty also periodically offer Summer Programs through the OIP in Ecuador (Quito), Peru (Cusco) and Spain (Madrid and Barcelona). The Hispanic Studies Section prepares students from different disciplines for study abroad and also offer them the possibility to hone their Spanish language skills and continue to deepen their cultural knowledge upon their return.
For a list of pre-approved study abroad courses in Latin America and Spain, please click here.
Summer Internship Program - Madrid, Spain
In the summer of 2014, Boston College’s Office of International Programs (OIP) expanded their Summer Internship Program to include a Spanish speaking country for the first time, opening up opportunities for the many Spanish Language Program students on campus to incorporate their desire to study abroad with a unique work experience. In Madrid, the political and cultural capital of Spain, the OIP now offers a multitude of placements with companies in various industries as well as a diverse collection of smaller NGOs and nonprofits. This two-month opportunity provides academic guidance, homestay accommodations with a local family, and a chance to gain professional experience in an international setting all the while expanding one’s knowledge and competency of Spanish.
What our students say about the Summer Internship Program in Madrid
“The Madrid internship helped me to grow as a student and most importantly as a person, in my time with Manos Unidas (a Madrid based NGO). I not only learned an endless amount about the Spanish Language and culture, but I also gained an extraordinary appreciation for travel, for new experiences, and for outside of my comfort zone. It was an experience I would recommend to anyone and everyone.”
Further Study after Study Abroad
Many students after having successfully accomplished their original goal of study abroad, return to Boston College with a more firm understanding of their passion for Spanish. As an addition to the experiences of study abroad that ground students’ understanding of the practicality of proficiency in a foreign language and the credits which transfer from the university abroad, the life of immersion has a way of inspiring many students to continue exploring their curiosity of Spanish by taking additional language or literature courses or declaring a minor or major in Hispanic Studies. When returning to Boston College after your study abroad experience, carefully consider the many opportunities (in the form of literature, linguistics, teaching methodology etc.) that still wait for you on campus to ever advance your language skills.
“I felt that the Spanish program at BC was a strong introduction and foundation to the abroad experience, but the abroad experience was the motivation to truly integrate the culture into everyday life; it inspired my decision to continue my Hispanic Studies and realize what I have learned in my career."