Camino de Santiago for Spanish Teachers, Luck, Summer 2025

Course Number:	EDX 5710 S77
Instructor:	Jennifer Luck, M.A.
Location:	Travel the historic Camino de Santiago in-person June 19-27, 2025. There will be a video meeting on September 10, 2025. The remainder of the course takes place in an online, independent format.
Dates and Times:	Jun 15 - Sep 30, 2025
Credits:	3 Graduate Credits
Tuition:	$1,195

Course Description

Embark on a transformative journey along the historic Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, is a network of historical pilgrimage routes in Europe, culminating in the city of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

This course is aligned with the journey and is designed specifically for Spanish language educators seeking to deepen their expertise and rejuvenate their teaching practices. This immersive experience offers a unique blend of language and cultural learning, enriching educators both personally and professionally.

Audience: Middle/High School Spanish Teachers with an earned Bachelor's Degree

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals:

The primary goal of the Walking the Camino: A Journey for Spanish Language Educators course is to provide educators with an immersive experience that enhances their language proficiency, cultural understanding, and teaching inspiration while fostering personal growth through the journey of walking the Camino de Santiago.

We will partner with CaminoWays, a travel company that specializes in customizing the Camino experience. This will allow participants to determine their preferred starting date, point, pace, and accommodations, and other details to tailor their experience. The cost of their customized Camino will be paid directly to CaminoWays by the participant.

Course Objectives:

Increase Spanish Fluency:

Improve conversational skills and confidence in speaking Spanish through direct interactions with locals and fellow educators.

Understand Cultural Context:

Gain deeper insights into the history, traditions, and cultural nuances of Spain that can be integrated into language instruction.

Create Innovative Lesson Plans:

Develop engaging lesson plans and classroom activities inspired by the landscapes, cultural experiences, and themes encountered along the Camino.

Network Professionally:

Establish connections with other educators and professionals, fostering collaborative opportunities for future projects or exchanges.

Enhance Teaching Authenticity:

Build authenticity in teaching by sharing personal experiences and stories from the Camino, creating a richer learning environment for students.

Course Schedule

Preparing for your Camino:

Read the text "Leyendas del Camino de Santiago: La ruta Jacobea a través de sus ritos, mitos y leyendas" and write a reflection in Spanish.
Finalize travel plans using CaminoWays.com

During your Camino:

Keep a daily journal in Spanish while on the Camino reflecting on your experiences, conversations with locals, and interactions with fellow pilgrims.
Conduct interviews with locals along the Camino to gather their stories and perspectives, documenting these in both written and audio formats.
Create a professional network map by connecting with educators, fellow travelers, and locals. Document potential collaboration ideas.
Organize small group discussions or impromptu teaching sessions with fellow educators, sharing insights and teaching strategies inspired by the Camino experience.

After your Camino:

Design a lesson plan or an educational project based on your experiences from the Camino, integrating elements of geography, culture, and language learning.
Research a specific cultural aspect encountered on the Camino (e.g., local traditions, history, or cuisine) and create a brief presentation or infographic to share with peers or students.
Capture photographs or create video clips of your journey with accompanying descriptions in Spanish, highlighting cultural elements and personal reflections.
Write a reflective essay on personal growth during the journey, focusing on themes such as perseverance, self-discovery, and emotional resilience.

Instructor

Jennifer Luck has taught Spanish at Essex High School in Essex Junction, Vermont for 26 years. She graduated with BA in Spanish and a concentration in Secondary Education in 1999 from St. Michael’s College and went on to earn her MA in Spanish at Middlebury College in 2004. Additionally, she worked for two years in the Teacher Apprenticeship Program at Champlain college, supporting emerging teachers in their licensure and practicum journey. Jen is passionate about the critical role that social-emotional well-being plays in education as a tool to increase student engagement, connection and success. Her vibrant classroom community and deep connections with students propel their learning and empower students to succeed.

Required Texts

Required Texts are not included in the course tuition.

Atienza, Juan. Leyendas del Camino de Santiago: La ruta Jacobea a través de sus ritos, mitos y leyendas. Madrid: Editorial Edaf, S.L., 2012. [This book, Legends of the Camino de Santiago: The Jacobean Route Through its Rituals, Myths, and Legends, is arguably the most comprehensive collection of stories written about this historical pilgrimage. Although it was published in 2012, it is considered the most comprehensive and significant literary work connected with the Camino de Santiago. It is also written originally in Spanish, which is relevant for Spanish teachers.] https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Leyendas-del-Camino-Santiago-leyendas/dp/8441431140#detailBullets_feature_div

Bennett, Tracy. Lessons From the Camino. Educators Collaborative, 2023 https://www.educatorscollaborative.com/2023/01/13/lessons-from-the-camino/

For additional course information

Jennifer Luck

(802) 363-7887

For additional registration information

Center for Schools Team

(802) 468-1325