Fifteen American university students will undertake an educational stay in Cádiz focused on learning Spanish and gaining an understanding of Hispanic culture

The University of Cádiz has welcomed around fifteen students from Valdosta State University (United States), who are undertaking an academic stay in the city between 22 June and 9 July as part of a language and cultural training programme organised by the University School of Modern Languages (CSLM). This year marks the fifteenth edition of the initiative, which has established itself as one of the most enduring examples of international collaboration between the two institutions.

The welcome ceremony took place in the Salón de Grados at the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies and was attended by the Director-General for Language Policy and Director of the CSLM, Leonor Acosta; the centre’s coordinator, María Fernández; and the programme director in the United States, Victoria Russell.

Professor Victoria Russell, who teaches Spanish and Foreign Language Teacher Training at Valdosta State University, has maintained close ties with the University of Cádiz for almost two decades. Her association with the University of Cádiz began in 2006, when she first took part in a training programme for teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language organised by the Centro Superior de Lenguas Modernas in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in Washington. Furthermore, in 2022, Russell served as president of ACTFL, the leading professional association for language teaching in the United States.

Over the coming weeks, the American students will take part in an academic programme focused on improving their Spanish language skills and deepening their understanding of Hispanic culture. The programme will be complemented by a range of cultural activities and visits to various locations in the province and across Andalusia, including Bolonia, Tarifa, Vejer de la Frontera, Seville and El Puerto de Santa María.

Beyond the academic aspect, the programme also incorporates a significant social dimension. This year, eight of the students will be carrying out voluntary work at the San Juan de Dios Care Home for the Elderly in Cádiz, an experience that will help to strengthen cultural exchange and foster direct contact with the social reality of the local community.

The celebration of this initiative’s 15th anniversary highlights the strength of a partnership which, over the years, has brought the Spanish language and culture to hundreds of American students. At the same time, the programme helps to strengthen academic and institutional ties between the University of Cádiz and Valdosta State University, fostering the creation of opportunities for international exchange and collaboration.