Welcome

Spanish & Illinois is a program of courses and extra-curricular opportunities in the Department of Spanish, Italian & Portuguese at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Our offerings allow students to develop Spanish language skills, knowledge of Latino cultures and the tenets of entrepreneurship--and then put them to use in real-world work experiences.

Spanish & Illinois creates bridges between the University of Illinois and the Spanish-speaking communities in our state, in the United States, and in the world. Our mission is to create bonds that benefit our community, our students, and our partner organizations. To achieve this, Spanish and Illinois combines Spanish language and cultural education with these three essential tools:

• Entrepreneurship (broadly defined)
• Community-based learning
• Spanish for specific purposes (professions)

Bienvenidos

Spanish e Illinois es un programa de cursos y oportunidades extracurriculares del Departamento de Español, Italiano y Portugués de la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana-Champaign. Nuestras actividades le permiten a los estudiantes desarrollar sus habilidades de lenguaje, adquirir conocimiento de la cultura Latina y los principios del espíritu emprendedor para conjuntarlos y ponerlos en práctica en el mundo real.

Spanish and Illinois crea puentes entre la Universidad de Illinois y el mundo hispanohablante en nuestro estado, en los Estados Unidos y en el extranjero. Mediante la educación en español y en las culturas hispanoamericanas, nuestra misión es crear relaciones que benefician a las comunidades hispano-parlantes, a nuestros estudiantes y a las organizaciones participantes. Para lograr esto, Spanish and Illinois combina tres elementos esenciales:

• El espíritu empresarial (en sentido amplio)
• El aprendizaje en la comunidad
• El uso del español en profesiones específicas.

Spanish and Illinois offers opportunities for:

•Students. We offer several courses in the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. With community-based learning, students learn both inside the classroom and within the Spanish-speaking communities of Champaign-Urbana. Our courses can be used towards CIBER's Undergraduate Certificate Program Global Business Culture with Area Specialization. Students can compete for paid, summer internships in Illinois organizations, putting their language and culture skills to use. Study-abroad with community-based learning enriches students' international experience. With our emphasis on entrepreneurship and real-world work experience, students can combine their academic work with career development.

•Partner Organizations. Spanish & Illinois students volunteer with our Champaign-Urbana community partners, helping them fulfill their missions. Our summer interns can help organizations and companies throughout Illinois better serve their Spanish-speaking constituencies.

•Illinois Enterprises. If you are a non-profit or a for-profit enterprise that serves a Spanish-speaking community, please contact us if you would like to become a community partner and/or an intern host

•Language Professionals. Professors Abbott and Lear developed the Spanish & Illinois program model, curricular innovations, and teaching materials. Please contact us for further information about materials and training.

Spanish & Illinois initiatives are supported by the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Public Engagement, Illinois CIBER, the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership, University of Illinois Extension and the Department of Spanish, Italian & Portguese.