Study Away
Study away activities at Trinity date back to the 1930s and early ‘40s, when students could elect to take some of their classes abroad in Mexico. The young Spanish department provided first-hand linguistic and cultural experiences for its students. In the following years, study away participants began branching out into Europe, taking classes at local universities in countries like France and Norway and immerse themselves in life abroad. Today, the Center for International Engagement at Trinity University provides opportunities for travel all over the world to enhance students’ learning experience. To account for its small size, Trinity often allows students to participate in study away programs sponsored by other, larger institutions; thus, students need not rely solely on the resources at Trinity. The culture of diversifying learning has developed into a tradition of encouraging students to participate in study away, providing them with new and instructive perspectives on life and education. The Center for International Engagement also encourages students to reflect on their experiences abroad, connecting lessons learned to their lives back home with continued contact with friends abroad.
1944 Take the Trail to Trinity
Starting in the summer of 1944, Trinity students were able to study Spanish and Latin-American culture at the Trinity University Language School in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. As Trinity and its Language School expanded, the program eventually moved to Mexico City. The program lasted for six weeks, from July to August, and courses were provided by Trinity. Both Trinity faculty and visiting Mexican faculty taught courses in Spanish-American philosophy, Archaeology, Folklore, Spanish Conversation, and Mexican History and Literature. While Trinity already offered Spanish courses on campus, students could test their language skills on a daily basis and immerse themselves in Mexican culture.
2005: Study Away in China
Article written by Jonathan Magee in 2005. Study away teaches more than academic course material because students come into direct contact with different cultures and perspectives that books might not teach. Students who study away may make personal connections and memories of a foreign environment that they might otherwise not have seen.
