FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              August 8, 2006

NORTHWESTERN GROUP STUDIES IN SPAIN

            Two Northwestern Oklahoma State University students, along with two university staff members, spent part of the summer studying Spanish at the source—Spain.

            Tye Parr, a special education and Spanish major from Washington, Okla.; Ashley Vlcek, elementary education major from Anthony, Kan.; Lupita Sinnes, instructor in Spanish; and Dr. Patti Wilber, director of the Walch Center for Business Development, spent two weeks at the Escuela CF Idiomas (School of Languages) in Aranda. They also had a few days to study the history and culture of Spain.

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University study abroad group visits the Alcazar Castle in Segovia—inspiration of the famed Disney castle. From left are Tye Parr, student from Washington; Mercedes Calva, director of the Escuela CF Idiomas; Dr. Patti Wilber, director of the Walch Center for Business Development; Lupita Sinnes, instructor in Spanish; and Ashley Vlcek, student from Anthony, Kan.

            After arriving in Madrid from the United States, the group spent two days touring the city, including visits to the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), Plaza Mayor (Main Square), Botanic Garden, Prado Museum and Reina Sofia Museum.

            The Northwestern contingent then traveled to Aranda where they met its host families and started their classes.

            “The study abroad program gave me great opportunities to learn the Spanish language and experience life in another country,” Parr said. “I got to live with a host family that provided me with cultural, historical and practical applications of being an actual Spaniard.”

            In addition to formal classroom instruction, the group visited local attractions and commercial enterprises, as well as attending typical activities with the host families.

            “We received certificates for 35 hours of Spanish language training,” Wilber said. “The level of study depended on our level of knowledge of the language—I was a beginner, the others, more advanced!”

            “As a Spanish major, Tye was quite fluent by the time we left Spain,” she said. “His host family was very impressed with his language skills.”

            Wilber explained that Spain’s language varies somewhat from Mexican Spanish and that Spain actually has four recognized languages. The Northwesterners studied Castilian Spanish, considered the “purest” form.

            When they arrived in Aranda, the group met with the city’s mayor and tourism commissioner and presented them with Northwestern Ranger lapel pins and postcards of the university. They presented the school with a copy of the Northwestern history book and other university information to encourage students to come to the United States to attend Northwestern.

            When returning to Madrid, the group toured the Moorish Alcazar Castle and Roman Aqueduct in Segovia. They then had two free days before flying back to Oklahoma

-NW-

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