DANBURY, CONN. — Known as the land of volcanoes and lakes, the Central American country of Nicaragua is rich in culture and natural resources. And it was the perfect classroom setting for students from Western Connecticut State University. As was Madrid, Spain, the site for a second university study program abroad.

Students accompanied by Assistant Professor of World Languages and Literature Dr. Stacey Alba Skar and Assistant Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences Dr. Theodora Pinou from July 25 through Aug. 10 (or through Aug. 24 for the four-week program) participated in “Global Academy in Granada, Nicaragua,” where they were immersed in language, culture and biology.

Students stayed in Granada, the oldest colonial city in the continental Americas with buildings that date back to the early 1500s, and participated in community service and work on education and ecology projects, including the study of sea turtles and learning to preserve turtle eggs which are often removed from the mother and negatively affected by climate change.

A second group of students took part in the third WCSU Summer Study in Spain from May 27 to June 25 with Assistant Professor of World Languages and Literature Dr. Galina Bakhtiarova. The stay in Madrid included attendance at a bullfight at the Las Ventas bullring, the International Book Fair and book signing by well-known writers whose texts are used in the university’s Spanish courses and an outdoor concert by Peruvian opera singer Juan Diego Florez by the Royal Opera House and visits to the Prado Museum, Lope DeVega House Museum and The Royal Palace.

“The students’ reflections on their studies abroad are indicative of the philosophy of World Languages and Literature,” Bakhtiarova said. “We teach languages through culture, and we teach culture through languages and literature. Living in other cultures is a vital part of our program.”

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.