EKU French major Grayson Ward studying abroad in San Sebastián, Spain
Grayson Ward, an Eastern Kentucky University major in French and International Studies, is taking part in the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) program in San Sebastián, Spain! He’s the first EKU student to select this program!
Grayson is working in a local Secondary school named “Salesianos” as English Teaching Assistant.
Grayson also visited together with other USAC students the library HABE in which students had the opportunity to learn more about new approaches and methods in language teaching.
“Teaching English here in San Sebastián has been an incredibly enlightening experience. It is a fun way to get involved with the local community and it has taught me to appreciate my teachers much more than I did in the past. I'm not going to say that it was easy, but it was definitely the highlight of my semester and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything”.
~Grayson Ward - Eastern Kentucky University
This semester, the San Sebastian program is sharing two classes with the University of the Basque Country. Some students are taking Psychopathology in Films alongside local students from the Psychology department. Others are taking Reflections on Diversity in Cross Cultural Settings which is a new 3 credit course that includes group discussions with local students.
A lot of students have taken part in different activities related to Basque culture:
- One activity that they enjoyed a lot was picking apples on several Basque farms. These apples will be used for making cider. Grayson participated in it!
The first excursion this semester was to to Santillana del Mar, Santander and Comillas in which the students also had the opportunity to visit the museum and the replica of the cave of Altamira; the second excursion was to the Pyrenees, visiting Zugarramurdi and St. Jean de Luz.
There was also an organized hike to see some spectacular scenery that was used in Game of Thrones: Zumaia and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe! The tv show took footage from both Zumaia and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and put it together to make the arrival at Dragonstone (the beach and the entrance to the castle). The castle does not really exist, but students experienced the 421 steps leading up to it!
In addition, all the students are enjoying different events taking place throughout this semester and that enrich the experience and the integration of the USAC students in the city of San Sebastián!
"Living in San Sebastián has improved my Spanish dramatically. In addition, having the opportunity to teach English in a foreign environment has given me a newfound appreciation of my teachers and my own language. I would recommend this program to anyone with an interest in broadening their understanding of the world."
~Grayson Ward –Eastern Kentucky University
Published on November 30, 2017