Dr. Argelia Andrade is a professor of Spanish at El Camino College and is one of the co-leaders of the El Camino  College Madrid, Spain, Study Abroad Program. She is excited to be teaching two classes: Elementary Spanish (Spanish 1) and Beginning Spanish for Native Speakers (Spanish 52A). Argelia Andrade has been teaching language (UCLA, Los Angeles Valley College, El Camino College), linguistics (UCLA, LAVC), and dance (Nuestras Raíces Cultural Arts Center, Santa Monica College) for twenty-two years. Argelia Andrade attended UCLA, where she earned a B.A. in Linguistics and Spanish, an M.A. in Linguistics, and Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literature.

Dr. Andrade loves the performing arts (especially music and dance), traveling, good food, and spending quality time with her loved-ones. When she is not in the classroom, she is in the dance studio. She is the founder and director of Nuestras Raíces, a cultural arts center that provides Mexican music and dance classes to over 250 children and youth. Argelia Andrade performs with Rina Orellana Flamenco Dance Academy and Xipe Totec Danzantes Aztecas.

Dr. Andrade believes that traveling abroad is transformative and is excited to share her love of world arts and cultures with her students. Dr. Andrade has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Mexico and Spain. Dr. Andrade has taken students to study abroad in Puebla, Mexico, Granada, Seville, Cordova and Madrid (Spain), numerous times.

Xocoyotzin Herrera is a native of Oxnard, CA. and received his B.A. in Latin American Studies from UCLA and M.A. in  Interdisciplinary Studies (Chicano Studies/Spanish) from CSUN. He has been an adjunct professor in the Department of Chicana/o Studies at CSUN for several years and has taught Chicano Studies at numerous community colleges in the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas as well as other local CSU campuses. In Fall 2013, Professor Herrera was hired as a full-time History and Ethnic Studies instructor at El Camino College. Professor Herrera has also been heavily involved in traditional Mexican music performance since childhood.

He is a multi-instrumentalist and has played with his family group, Conjunto Hueyapan, which specializes in folk music of Veracruz, Mexico (son jarocho) for over thirty years. Professor Herrera’s broad familiarity with Spain, a country he has travelled to on several occasions as an avid tourist and as an invited performer at the United States Embassy in Madrid, as well as his knowledge of the country’s language, history and culture will also serve to generate a better learning experience for students enrolled in his courses as they explore the connections existing between this country and people of Mexican heritage living north and south of the U.S/Mexico border.

In the past, Professor Herrera has lead trips for high school and college students from the U.S. forming part of the Encuentro Internacional de Juventud (the International Youth Conference) held in central Mexico and sponsored by the Mexican government. Summer of 2023 will mark the third year he participates as faculty for a study abroad program in Europe.

For Summer 2023, Professor Herrera will teach History 154 (History of Mexico) and Ethnic Studies 5 (Chicano Culture). History 154 will touch upon important historical content corresponding to Mexican indigenous roots, but in addition, there will be extensive coverage of Spanish influences and contributions to the history of Mexico and its cultural foundations. Ethnic Studies 5 will focus on various aspects of Mexican-American traditions in the United States and the cultural syncretism rooted in native Mexican, Spanish and American elements that define them. Exposing students to important museums and other sites of historical relevance located throughout Spain will allow them to acquire a more insightful understanding of the Spanish colonial presence in Mexico and the American southwest as well as important cultural aspects within Mexican and Chicano societies drawn from this group.

The Summer in Madrid Program is open to students who are at least 18 years of age at the time of application, is a high school graduate and has a minimum 2.0 G.P.A. Program space is limited. Students should complete the online application with the $250 non-refundable first payment as soon as they have been interviewed and accepted into the program by the El Camino Faculty. This will be confirmed via email by professor Herrera or Dr. Andrade once the interested student has attended an informational session and interview (in person or via zoom). Upon receipt of your application, first payment ($250), and verification of acceptance, El Camino College and Accent will provide you with additional application and enrollment forms. Applications must be received by April 10, 2023. Beyond April 10, limited enrollment is allowed when space permits.

The Summer in Madrid program is offered for transferable college credit through El Camino College, part of the El Camino Community College District. El Camino College will provide a transcript upon request for the coursework completed overseas. Please verify the transferability of courses with your advisor or registrar before you apply.