Innovation in Language Learning
Community Engagement and Experiential Learning in a Spanish Study Abroad Program
Blanca Aranda Gómez García, Western Washington University (United States)
Luis Gonzalo Portugal Tarifa, Western Washington University (United States)
Abstract
This presentation examines a faculty-led study abroad program in Guanajuato, Mexico. Developed in 2017 and continuously revised since, the program addresses second language acquisition and cultural competence while abroad. Drawing on experiential and reflective pedagogies, the program understands the city itself as a dynamic learning environment. Over five weeks, students live with host families, complete coursework in Spanish and Latin American culture, participate in artistic workshops with Mexican artists, and guided excursions to Mexico City, Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende. A central component of the program is the use of reflective and creative pedagogies grounded in students’ lived experiences abroad. Through written assignments, photographic reflections, oral history projects, and collaborative graphic novel productions developed in the city of Guanajuato, UNESCO World Heritage Site, students reflect on Spanish language, Mexican identity, and cultural exchange. The program also incorporates site-based literary and cultural activities, including student presentations at the Museo Iconográfico del Quijote connected to readings from Don Quijote, linking literary interpretation to public space and cultural heritage. Student reflections and course assessments consistently indicate increased confidence, stronger interpersonal engagement, and greater willingness to communicate in Spanish and learn more about Latin American cultures.
This presentation reflects on the broader pedagogical structure and sustainability of the program, including community partnerships, curricular planning, and the role of experiential learning in contemporary language education. The Guanajuato program ultimately proposes a more participatory, reflective, and community-engaged approach to study abroad in higher education.
Keywords: Study Abroad; Spanish Language Acquisition; Experiential Learning; Community-Engaged Pedagogy; Intercultural Competence, Latin American Culture
REFERENCES
[1] Guía de Rutas Culturales en Guanajuato. Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad. Mauricio Vázquez González. Universidad de Guanajuato, 2011.
[2] Maximizing Study Abroad. Second edition. Michael Paige, University of Minnesota, 2009
