By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
For some University of Nebraska at Kearney students, this summer marked a series of firsts – first time boarding an international flight, first time navigating a foreign city and first time learning in a classroom thousands of miles from home.
Thirty-two Lopers participated in study abroad programs in Argentina, France, Spain and Costa Rica, where they immersed themselves in global languages, cultures and communities while earning academic credit overseas.
Among them were juniors Abby Trantham of Beatrice and Dylan Seitz of Kearney, who returned to Nebraska with life-changing experiences.
Discovering Spain through literature and everyday life
For Trantham, who is majoring in secondary English language arts education with minors in Spanish and creative writing, studying in Spain was the fulfillment of a long-held dream.
“One of my big life goals ever since I started learning Spanish as a freshman in high school was to become bilingual,” she said. “Something every one of my teachers and professors has stressed to me is the importance of being surrounded by native speakers to fast-track my ability with Spanish.”
She spent the month of July in Granada, living with a host mother in the historic Albaicín neighborhood. Trantham enrolled in three courses at the Universidad de Granada – Spanish literature, Latin American literature and advanced Spanish language – while exploring the city and surrounding region.
Her program included excursions to the scenic mountain town of Ronda and picturesque coastal community of Nerja, along with many smaller moments she treasures just as much.
“I wish I had some big, grandiose moment to say that was my favorite, but I really appreciated the little moments,” she said. “Reading in a public park, petting my host mom’s dogs before swimming in her pool at night and all the quiet moments studying in cafes between classes. I also adored walking around the city just to explore. It was so beautiful, and I never knew what I was going to find around another corner.”
Trantham was often joined by fellow UNK student Daelynn Hofaker, who enrolled in the same program.
“We had never met before this trip, but I’m so glad we traveled together,” Trantham said. “We didn’t take any classes at the same time, but we went out together frequently and we got fairly close.”
The trip exceeded Trantham’s expectations and reinforced her passion for language education.
“Being able to experience another culture as a student instead of a tourist is a completely different experience,” she said. “While taking accelerated classes in Spanish was difficult, it pushed me to become a better student and a better Spanish speaker. Although studying abroad can feel intimidating, it opens your studies and experiences to something you truly couldn’t get at home.”
Experiencing history and culture in France
Seitz, a history and modern languages major with emphases in French and Spanish, also saw his studies come to life abroad.
He joined five UNK classmates and assistant professor Chris Jacobs for a five-week program in France, beginning in Paris before settling in Lyon for French language and culture courses at Université Lumière Lyon 2.
“Ever since I started studying languages, especially French, I have wanted to study abroad to not only learn the languages but also to experience the culture, the customs and the traditions that surround them,” Seitz said.
In Paris, the group visited iconic landmarks such as the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower. Once in Lyon, Seitz studied French grammar in the mornings and explored the city’s history and culture through afternoon projects and museum visits.
“The classes were great and really helped me to grow in my French language skills,” he said. “There were also excursions throughout the program. During the weekdays, these excursions consisted of a cheese tasting, visiting the Museum of Fine Arts or something as simple as making smoothies and waffles at the university.”
Weekend trips took them to Geneva, Switzerland, the French Alps and the Provence region, where highlights included the Palace of the Popes in Avignon, Roman ruins in Arles and Nîmes and the Pont du Gard aqueduct. Seitz also ventured on his own to Barcelona, Spain, to practice his Spanish skills and explore the city.
“My favorite part of the trip was, without a doubt, the excursions, especially to Provence and Barcelona,” he said. “I loved the rich history of Provence and was enamored with the hilly and colorful countryside of the region. In Barcelona, I enjoyed exploring the city and learning the regional language of Catalan.”
The experience challenged him daily but also gave him confidence as a student and person.
“Studying abroad is valuable in many ways,” Seitz said. “Not only does it allow you to experience and learn a new language, but it also allows you to live and experience new cultures, traditions and ways of thinking that can be hard to understand from the U.S.”
Providing global opportunities
The summer study abroad programs are part of UNK’s ongoing commitment to creating global opportunities for students.
For Lopers like Trantham and Seitz, the value extends far beyond academic credit.
“I think learning about other cultures and experiencing other ways of life can help make you a more knowledgeable student and also a more empathetic and well-rounded person,” Trantham said.
Seitz agrees.
“If you want to grow academically and personally while learning new languages, traditions and cultures, then you should consider studying abroad,” he said. “The world is huge, and it is worthwhile exploring and understanding it.”
