International College of Seville
www.ics-seville.org
ARABIC LANGUAGE AND CULTURE SUMMER PROGRAM
For those students who wish to study Arabic in Spain for a shorter term than the usual semester-abroad the ICS offers in collaboration with the University of Seville an intensive Arabic language and culture program every Summer. The ICS Intensive Program is one month in duration, mostly coinciding with the month of June. The program provides an excellent introduction for students planning to work in fields requiring a thorough knowledge of Arabic language and culture.
The University of Seville/ICS Summer-in-Seville program offers American students the opportunity to spend four and one half weeks studying Arabic language and culture. Classes are held weekdays at the University of Seville. Visits to important sites in Seville and field trips to Córdoba and Granada (overnight), and a four-day trip to Morocco are included.Courses.
The University of Seville/ICS Intensive Summer program offers Arabic language at two levels (Elementary and Intermediate) in addition to Islamic Art and Architecture or Islamic Culture and Civilization. All courses meet two hours daily, Monday through Friday. Each week, one Culture and Civilization and one Art and Architecture sessions are given on-site at a place of historic relevance. With these exhaustive visits students are able to see and experience, first-hand, the subject matter studied. On-site classes are given at the following locations: The Archeological Museum of Seville; The Royal Palace or Alcázar, the Cathedral, and the historic Jewish Quarters.
During the Summer program ICS students are taken on three distinct trips, complete with air-conditioned motorcoach and English-speaking guide. The organized group trips are to the city of Córdoba, Granada, and a four-day visit in Morocco. Like the cultural visits to points of interest within the city, the organized summer trips are included in the student tuition fees.
A one-day Orientation session is conducted at the ICS at the beginning of the Summer program. The Orientation introduces the student to the country, the culture, and the academic program while also providing practical information about daily living in Seville. The Orientation session then moves to the University of Seville.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR: SUMMER 2008
- Group arrival: May 30
- Orientation: May 31
- First day of classes: June 2
- Midterm exams: June 17
- Final exams: July 1
- Program ends: July 2
Courses
| 08:30 - 10:30 | Arabic I (Gracia López Anguite) |
| Arabic II (Juan Manuel Uruburu) | |
| 10:30 - 12:30 | Fundamentals of Islamic Civilization (Ana Torres García) |
| 13:00 - 15:00 | Islamic Art and Architecture |
City Cultural Trips
| Archeological Museum | June 6 * |
| Alcázar | June 13 * |
| Jewish Quarters | June 19 * |
* Culture & Civilization and Art & Architecture classes held on site.
Field Trips
| Córdoba | June 7 |
| Granada | June 20-21 ** |
| Morocco | June 26-29 ** |
** No classes held at the University of Seville.
SUMMER FIELDTRIPS
Each SUMMER, ICS students have the opportunity to participate in three distinct and fascinating excursions throughout Andalucía and to Africa. These organized trips are to: Córdoba, Granada and Morocco. All visits are given in English.
Córdoba
Córdoba is a town of considerable charm, known widely for its beautifully flowered courtyards, its narrow cobblestoned streets, its secluded niches and tiny workshops where silversmiths create fine jewelery and, of course, for its impressive history which once exemplified harmony among cultures. For centuries, Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived in peaceful coexistence. But Córdoba is most known throughout the world for its magnificent decorative architecture, as seen in the great Mosque.
Situated at an hour and a half north of Seville today Córdoba is a minor provincial capital, but it was once the largest city of Roman Spain, and for three centuries formed the heart of the western Islamic empire, the great medieval caliphate of the Moors. The heyday of the Córdoba caliphate came in the 10th Century. While parts of Europe languished in the Dark Ages, Córdoba became a center of advanced learning in sciences, medicine, philosophy and poetry. Together with Baghdad and Constantinople, it was considered one of the three greatest cities in the world. In this city, where Seneca studied, there developed a stream of illustrious thinkers among them Averroes, the Arabian scholar, and Maimónides, the Jewish philosopher.
In Córdoba, ICS students are taken on tour of the famous Mezquita, or Mosque, begun in the year 785 and extended through the 10th Century. It is the third largest in the world and is considered unparalleled for the beauty of its architecture and the vastness of its dimensions as well as the sumptuousness of its decoration. It is also one of the greatest historical landmarks of Spain.
After the Mosque, students walk through the heart of the old city, the former Jewish quarters, with its labyrinth of winding streets, passing whitewashed houses and flowered patios to the Ancient Jewish Synagogue, one of the three ancient synagogues still in existence in Spain. This small Mudéjar-style synagogue, built in 1315, was one of 26 that once stood in the city. Fortunately, one can still appreciate segments of Hebraic inscriptions on the walls. The upper gallery where women were seated, and the niche where the Torah was kept are still intact.
To complete the guided visit to medieval Córdoba, ICS students are taken to see the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, or Christian palace-fortress. The Alcázar, constructed in 1328 on the site of a former caliphal fortress which was itself built on Roman foundations, was used for a number of years as the residence of the Catholic monarchs during their campaign to conquer Granada from the Moors. It later became the seat of the Inquisition. After touring the Alcázar and its splendid gardens, with its fountains, pools and wealth of flowers and shrubbery students are given the rest of the day free to explore this uniquely sublime city.Granada
To begin this two-day visit to the city of Granada, ICS students are taken to The Alhambra palace, universally recognized as the most beautiful example of Arab art of all times and places. Built in the 10th Century on the highest point of the city, the Alhambra is filled with the most elaborately decorated rooms and halls and is surrounded by imposing military stone walls and towers. Next to the Alhambra palace is located the "Generalife" palace, or summer residence of the Nazarite sovereigns. In its magnificent gardens one cannot help but admire the varied abundance of flowers and vegetation intermixed with an incessant playing of water through its many fountains and natural waterfalls. Upon completion of this professionally guided tour, the ICS motorcoach drives the group to the downtown area where check-in at a local hotel takes place. Students are given free time for the rest of the day.
The following morning, students are taken to the Royal Chapel, constructed by order of the Catholic monarchs in 1504 for their future burial place. ICS students visit the magnificently-carved tombs of Queen Isabel and King Fernando, as well as those of Juana La Loca, and Felipe El Hermoso. In addition, within the Chapel they have the opportunity to contemplate important works of art in the form of painting and sculpture as well as King Fernando's original sword and army banner. For its most impressive size and quality "The Passion" tryptic by Dierek Bouts, situated on the High Altar, is the most important pictoral work of art of Granada. Once outside, students never fail to appreciate the imposing facade of the Chapel, a perfect example of the Spanish Plateresque style of architecture. To complete the group visit of Granada students are taken on a guided walking tour of the Albaicín, or the ancient Moorish quarters of the city, after which free time is given.Morocco
Day 1: Seville - Tarifa - Tetouan - Tangier
Day 2: Tangier - Rabat
Day 3: Rabat - Meknes - Fez
Day 4: Fez - Chaouen - Tarifa - Seville
The trip includes the following:
- Round-trip bus with A/C from Seville.
- Round-trip ferry passage to Morocco.
- Three nights hotel accomodations in Tangier, Rabat, and Fez with breakfast and dinner.
- Guided visits of Tetouan, Tangier, Rabat, Meknes, Fez, and Chaouen.
- Belly dancing and Moroccan music show.
- Professional tour guides.
- All entrance fees
Your first stop will be in Tetouan, a city which is strangely enchanting with its dramatic setting of the somber Rif Mountains and the cheerful and colorful Martil Valley. The white walls of the town give way to bursts of color here and there while the green tiled roofs frame the odd mixture of Spanish and Moorish architecture.
In ancient times, Tangier was a prize sought after by many, from the Phoenicians, who built a trading post there, to the Romans who founded the town of Tingis. After continuous domination by the Vandals in the 5th Century and the Byzantines in the 6th Century, the town was long the target of Arab thirst for expansion. Tangier, a melting pot of civilizations where Mediterranean meets Atlantic, boasts a splendid bay at the foot of lush green hills. Tangier, the first or last city in the continent, is a stopover not to be missed, affording a first taste of the legend of Morocco.
Rabat is located along the country´s Atlantic coastline. Here in the nation´s political and administrative capital, we will visit the tombs of past Kings as well as one of Morocco´s most picturesque medinas and kasbahs. It offers impressive entrances, beautiful gardens, beaches and traditional monuments; its twin city, Sale, is located on the opposite side of the river and it is worthy to be visited.
Meknès, surrounded and protected by merlons and walls, invites you to see its historical center, protected by the UNESCO, and its important archaeological ruins, among other things.
Fez, the oldest and most important of the imperial cities, was once the capital of Morocco. Our guides will lead you through the famous medina that is comprised of over 9,400 narrow alleyways. troll through its streets and covered bazaars. This is a labyrinth which invites you to wonder around -be careful not to get lost!.
Chaouen is a charming city located in an enclave difficult to access. For centuries it dominated the mercantile route between Tetuan and Fez and served as a base to restrain the entrance and influences of the Portuguese of Ceuta. During the 15th and 17th Centuries the city prospered and grew in considerable form with the arrival of the moriscos and sefardíes who had been expelled from Spain. Nowadays, the district Andalúz is one of the most popular of the medina.All fieldtrips include:
- Roundtrip transportation on first class motorcoaches.
- Entrance fees to the different monuments.
- Guided tours in English of these monuments.
Attendance on the trips is non-transferable to a second party.
Summer Housing
For the Summer program all students live with families* located in the near vicinity of the ICS. For the month's duration, students receive three meals a day, seven days a week.
The ICS is responsible for making rent payment to the housemothers. However, those students who stay on past the end of the program are responsible for making payment of the extra day/s directly to the housemother. Students in this situation must inform both the housemother and the ICS at least one week in advance.
* Please consult section on Housing for a full description of living with a family.
