Viajar es enamorarse a cada paso!

LLP Spanish Program Brings Back Study Abroad.
By Amauri Barnes

Dr. Francesco Masala with his study abroad
students in Madrid

     This week I was delighted to interview TSU tiger Azia Banks and Spanish Professor Dr. Francesco Masala. Over the summer Masala, of TSU since Spring 2021, pioneered a new study abroad program in Madrid, Spain.
      Masala partnered with a school in Madrid that allowed tigers to go to school internationally for two weeks during Maymester and live a normal everyday life like their classmates. Banks is still excited by her study abroad experience. “Surprisingly, when we finally arrived in Spain at 4am we were not tired! We had sort of an adrenaline rush, so we stayed up until about noon excited to see the city” said Banks.
     While in Madrid students were able to go out to explore and learn. Banks' favorite part of the trip was being fully immersed in the culture and freedom to learn outside of the school and house. While in Madrid they stayed with a host family.
     According to Masala, this was a significant learning experience because students were required to do everything using Spanish from ordering food, shopping, and holding conversations. Each student who went on the trip were minors in Spanish and Masala describes this experience as a great way to get students out of their comfort zone. By the end of the second week they were more confident not only in speaking the language but also as a person.
     Banks said some advice she would give any student interested in this experience is “Just do it! However, you must have some experience with speaking and understanding Spanish. It doesn’t have to be perfect but simply make sure you are able to say things in a way that natives of the country are able to understand.  "It’s a new experience and will prepare you for the next one!”
     Masala hopes to make this an ongoing, annual program. He hopes to take bigger groups to different countries to have a hands-on learning experience!