Summer Springboard
Advanced Spanish Language Studies
ON THE CAMPUS OF CAL POLY SLO
AN ADVANCED SPANISH-LANGUAGE COURSE DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF BILINGUAL LEADERS THROUGH HIGH-LEVEL TRAINING IN PUBLIC SPEAKING ARGUMENTATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Advanced Spanish Language Studies @ Cal Poly SLO
- Develop professional‑level Spanish skills for formal debate public speaking and presentation settings.
- Learn advanced argumentation techniques for crafting persuasive evidence‑based messages.
- Engage deeply with civic issues like environmental sustainability labor rights and water management through research and advocacy.
- Create a final project focused on a topic you care about and deliver a solution‑oriented presentation in Spanish.
- Practice teamwork peer critique and collaborative communication in structured group activities.
- Embrace ethical and culturally aware leadership to become an informed bilingual advocate.
Summer Springboard
Advanced Spanish Language Studies
About This Course
The Advanced Spanish Language Studies course offers high‑achieving high school students a two‑week immersive experience in professional Spanish communication.
Participants refine their skills in public speaking structured debate and persuasive presentation while diving into civic topics affecting Californian communities like labor rights environmental justice and water resource policy. Through collaborative exercises students craft research‑based advocacy projects in Spanish tied to issues they care about develop culturally informed proposals and deliver them confidently to peers.
The program also emphasizes ethical leadership cultural sensitivity and peer mentorship skills, preparing participants to lead positively in bilingual academic or professional environments
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
Students collaborate on real‑world issues in Spanish during group exercises and final presentations, building fluency and persuasive communication skills.
Career Exploration
By focusing on leadership communication and advocacy in Spanish, students prepare for bilingual roles in public policy education translation international relations and community organizing.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“This experience was very rewarding. I gained a lot of independence and really learned a lot, I would definitely to this program again.”
– J. Jerge | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Advanced Spanish Language Studies
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Marion Hart is an experienced educator and program coordinator specializing in language instruction, bilingual advocacy and civic engagement. With almost two decades in language education, Marion is also the Director of Spanish Language Debate. Her work focuses on building students’ skills in argumentation, public speaking, and cultural awareness, preparing them for success in academic and civic spaces.
Marion has a Masters and Doctorate from UC Irvine and is a dedicated advocate for programs that support bilingual education and community engagement across California.
DR. MARION HART
“The Summer Springboard program is a great chance to learn more about different fields of education and the college experience, while also meeting new people.”
– E. Watanabe | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Advanced Spanish Language Studies
Dates & Tuition
| 2025 Dates |
|---|
| Session 2: July 20 – August 1, 2025 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,298 |
| Commuter Tuition: $2,998 |
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: San Luis Obispo |
| State: California |
| Campus: Cal Poly SLO |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly and NYSID which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.