The Academic Program

Founded in 1983, the Program is designed to offer intensive Spanish for approximately 55 high school students, ages 14-17. TSSP offers rigorous Spanish courses which follow the traditional independent American school curriculum. Students are grouped from beginning to advanced levels according to their proficiency as determined by previous experience and a placement test.

The daily schedule includes four language classes and one Language in Life activity. There is an average of 12 students per class and all classes are conducted entirely in Spanish. Students are encouraged to speak Spanish at all times and to take advantage of Salamanca as a living language laboratory to help develop fluency. Participating directly in Spanish life gives meaning and purpose to the classes as students practice what they learn in the classroom.

Introduction to Architecture & Design

The city of Salamanca provides the ultimate setting for an introduction to architectural design due to its rich heritage and urban fabric, which dates back to the Middle Ages and has been beautifully preserved over the centuries. The historic Old City was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and its many architectural masterpieces, including the Plaza Mayor, are considered to be the most beautiful in Spain. The University of Salamanca, the second oldest in Europe, the cathedral of St. Esteban, and the Casa de las Conchas, create an incomparable environment for architectural studies and an example of successful sustainable development.

Designed for students who are interested in the arts and architecture, this three-week architecture workshop investigates Spanish architecture and explores space, form, function, and materiality, as well as the immediate relationship between buildings and the landscape. Students study scale and space through a variety of techniques and media, including scaled drawings of plans, sections and elevations, and plein air sketches using pencil, pen, charcoal, and pastels.

The aim of this course is to enhance the students’ appreciation of space, observational skills, and critical analysis along with learning techniques that will stimulate their creativity and form a strong base for further studies.