Our beloved Shakira is taking some time off from music to further her education. La lovely Colombiana has got her head buried in books about ancient civilizations during summer school out here in Cali:

For the past month, the Colombian pop star has been taking a class at the University of California, Los Angeles, called “Introduction to Western Civilization: Ancient Civilizations from Prehistory to Circa A.D. 843.”

Apparently Shakira started the course last month, and passed herself off as a regular nobody in the class, leaving her professor floored when he found out she was famous:

“She told me she was visiting from Colombia and that she was just doing this for her own enlightenment and enjoyment,” Cleve said. “She looked like just an ordinary student. She wasn’t flamboyant … she didn’t act like a big celebrity or anything.”

Shakira, who sat near the front in the third row of the lecture hall, would often discuss the course material with him after class.

“I was really impressed with how intelligent she was,” said Cleve.

Sounds like Shaki is more than just a pretty face and a pair of gyrating hips — a good example to young girls out there who idolize her. Though it takes a star’s salary to be able to pay those international student fees.

Via / Yahoo! Entertainment