Five Howard Payne University (HPU) students are beginning the fall 2026 semester with a fresh perspective on life and academics after participating in the Spain Summer Immersion Program through HPU’s Department of Spanish and Hispanic Studies.
Students spent a month in Seville, Spain, learning about the region’s culture and history while being totally immersed in the Spanish language and society.
Students lived with host families and communicated with them entirely in Spanish, earned HPU credit hours through the University of Seville, participated in multiple agricultural and business visits, and attended church services in Spanish.
Ana Faulk, a junior from Alvarado, said the most challenging part of the program was the initial shift in both language and lifestyle.
“Although I had learned some Spanish before, I learned so much more when I arrived at my host home and found that my host mother spoke no English,” said Faulk. “Living in Spain gave me the opportunity to be fully immersed in the language, and though it was hard to adjust, I have now come away from the program able to understand and speak Spanish with a confidence I previously lacked.”
Faulk also noted several aspects of Spanish culture and ways of living that differ from those of the United States.
“The Spanish schedule is very different than ours,” she said. “They typically have meals later, have a siesta during the day and stay up much later than we do. The people of Seville also walk almost everywhere, so I had to adjust to that form of transportation instead of driving everywhere.”
Ultimately, Faulk said, the experience made her much more adaptable and gave her an appreciation for a lifestyle and language different than her own.
“Learning a new language is a very demanding and intense process, but it also equips you with skills that you can use to learn any subject,” she said. “Because of my time in Seville, I feel that I have gained these skills and am far more prepared for upper-level coursework.”
Dr. Danny Brunette-López, professor of Spanish and department chair at HPU, directs the immersion program and gave additional details of how it works.
“During their month-long stay, students practiced perfecting their language skills by taking two HPU Spanish classes at the prestigious University of Seville, embarked on three main excursions to the beautiful cities of Cádiz, Córdoba and Granada, learned about how Spain is the world’s biggest producer and exporter of olives and olive oil, and visited some of Spain’s most significant historical sites dating back to the ancient Romans,” he said.
Additionally, Dr. Brunette-López said, students were given in-depth knowledge of how the Christian, Arab and Jewish cultures coexisted during the Middle Ages to form a unique syncretism of cultures that was reflected in the art, architecture, literature and music of the time.
Faulk said her favorite part of the program was getting to experience and tour different cultural and historical sites.
“We visited sites and cities such as the Real Alcázar, the tomb of Christopher Columbus, the Barrio Santa Cruz and more,” she said. “Learning about these different sites in the language of the country itself was a wonderful experience and strengthened my appreciation for the language. Seeing ancient palaces while hearing about their history in Spanish definitely added to the experience.”
Dr. Brunette-López said the students were wonderful representatives of Howard Payne University.
“I am so proud of how these students exemplified HPU’s Core Values halfway across the world, and how they followed the footsteps of Jesus on a daily basis to learn about Spain’s beautiful and unique culture and the Spanish language,” he said.
In addition to Faulk, program participants included Jaden Elie (Edgewood, Texas), Lauren Phelps (Bangs, Texas), Arianna Sanchez (Early, Texas) and Katelynn Turner (Katy, Texas). They were accompanied by Dr. Brunette-López; Lisa Medlin, chair of HPU’s Department of Criminal Justice and assistant professor of criminal justice; and Martha Treviño-Brunette, university nurse.
HPU’s Spain Summer Immersion Program will next be held in the summer of 2028.
For more information on HPU or to apply for admission, visit www.hputx.edu/apply.
ABOUT HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY
Howard Payne University, founded in 1889, is a Christ-centered liberal arts university in Brownwood, Texas, dedicated to preparing students for lives of faith, leadership and service. With more than 100 majors, minors and pre-professional programs across six schools, serving three locations, HPU combines academic excellence with meaningful personal connection in a close-knit campus community.
Guided by its five core values — centered on Christ, focused on community, called to service, committed to excellence and dedicated to stewardship — Howard Payne prepares students through rigorous academic programs, vibrant student life, competitive athletics and service opportunities that equip graduates to make an impact in their communities and professions.
