Learning what Hispanic means
When you hear the term Hispanic, do you know who it’s referring to? As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, the period between September 15 and October 15, it’s important to get the full picture of the movement. Now is the time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of the Hispanic community and their ancestors in America.
Hispanic describes the people or things that are related to Spain or Spanish-speaking countries. It includes everyone in Latin America, including Cuba, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. It’s different from the terms Latino, Latina, and Latinx, which are unique to people in Latin America, to include places like Mexico, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.
So, can you name three Hispanic countries?
If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge about Hispanic heritage and culture, consider taking a term overseas with University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC). One of the best ways to celebrate and develop an appreciation for a culture is through studying abroad.
Study the Spanish language
- Search for programs that include Spanish courses on usac.edu.
Study the Hispanic culture
- Alicante, Spain
- Bilbao/Getxo, Spain
- Heredia, Costa Rica
- La Habana, Cuba
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Madrid, Spain
- Montevideo, Uruguay
- San Sebastián, Spain
- Santiago, Chile
You won’t regret it
“I was nervous about going abroad since I had never left the country without my parents, and my Spanish was elementary level, but I can safely say my time in Donostia (San Sebastián) was the best month of my entire life. I made some of my best lifelong friends from this program, and we are all trying to figure out how to get back to Donostia. My teachers were phenomenal, and I am so much more confident in my Spanish abilities. I love the city more than anywhere else in the world, and doing the program was one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
— Julia R., USAC San Sebastián, Spain
“USAC Alicante was such an amazing program for me and exceeded all of my expectations! … I took two classes, Tourism and Conversational Spanish. My classes were completely in Spanish, but there’s beginner classes, too, if necessary! The class sizes were small which was so helpful in building a relationship with teachers and other students. The teachers were amazing as well! I learned so much about Spanish culture and my Spanish proficiency definitely improved immensely. Since Alicante is a smaller city in comparison to Barcelona or Madrid, I feel as though you get to experience more of the rich culture. There was a huge festival going on at the time of my summer program and it was truly amazing to get to experience such an exciting and new custom.”
— Kendall Y., USAC Alicante, Spain
