| Friday, April 27
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Expanish’s Unique Summer Program Meets Growing Study Abroad Demand in South America |
Buenos Aires-based Expanish is launching a unique summer program this year that steps out of the typical study abroad mould with hands-on learning and the opportunity to actually “experience Spanish,” filling a significant gap in the city’s educational program options that has existed for years.
Study abroad rates among U.S. university students are steadily increasing, and Argentina (a non-traditional destination) is on the rise as one of the 20 most popular country, as reported by IIE in Open Doors 2006. Out of these students, IIE reports, “…the majority (56%) of U.S. students elected summer, January term, and other programs of less than one semester. These short-term programs have played an important role in increasing the popularity of study abroad, offering flexible international study opportunities to students who might otherwise be unable to participate in traditional programs.” Argentina’s exchange rate, its people and its cosmopolitan capital, Buenos Aires, are only a few of the many factors that account for the significant increase in the amount of university students studying throughout the country.
In response to this popularity surge of Argentina as a study abroad destination, program providers must create unique and innovative programs to fulfill the needs of a new generation of university students looking to immerse themselves linguistically and culturally in another country while simultaneously honing their job skills.
Unlike any summer study program currently offered in Buenos Aires, the Expanish Summer Program is open to students from all over the world, allowing them to experience life in Argentina while taking a variety of Latin American studies classes at a local university. The program works in conjunction with the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE), which offers Spanish classes, as well as courses taught in Spanish related to South American culture, allowing students to contextualize their daily experiences in the country.
Expanish students are immersed in the Argentine culture and language with relevant field trips; practical topics are incorporated into all courses in such subjects as political science, economics, culture and society, literature, art history, and marketing and communications. The Expanish Summer Program gives students the opportunity learn Spanish while living and breathing South American culture.
To complement the classroom experience, students can go on excursions, attend cultural activities, stay with local students or a family and meet with a conversation partner (intercambio). They also receive a variety of support services including a free cell phone, on-site orientation, comprehensive health and safety information and airport pick up.
All Expanish programs offer resume-building volunteer and internship placements for students who want to improve their Spanish, give back to the community and enhance their vocational skills.
Expanish’s knowledgeable university staff works closely with each participant to ensure individual attention and personal development, tailoring our flexible programs to his or her needs. Students truly learn by doing, ensuring that they get more out of their study abroad than if they were just in another classroom.
Since a diverse student body among study abroad program participants can be difficult to attain, Expanish has taken one more step forward among program providers by initiating Diversity Abroad scholarships that encourage and support students in promoting diversity though cross-cultural exchange overseas.
The scholarship and program application deadline for the Expanish Summer Program is May 11 (late applications accepted upon review), and the program runs from June 7-August 4.
Expanish offers Semester, Short-Term Study, Gap Year programs, and Intensive Spanish programs in five South American cities (Buenos Aires, Bariloche and Ushuaia in Argentina, Quito in Ecuador and Santiago in Chile), excursions, workshops, local accommodations and volunteer and internship placements. Additional information is available on our website, by email, or by calling at USA +1 800 595 3379.Labels: study abroad |
posted by ^%&^
@ 10:18 PM
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