University of Akron programs
To attain real fluency in a language and an in depth understanding
of the culture it is nearly indispensable to spent time studying, working
or living where the language is spoken. You should first investigate the
UA study abroad programs at the Office
of International Programs. There are no details about specific programs
on the Web site. For further information call 972-6349 or go to the office
in Polsky 483. These programs (the ones for Spanish are at the Universidad
Autónoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara,
Jalisco,
Mexico and the San Germán Campus
of the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, San Germán, Puerto
Rico) are not run by anyone here. Their affiliation with the UA does facilitate
acceptance of credits when you return and enables you to use any loans
or financial aid you have to study here at the foreign university. Since
there is no one from here to help you once you get there, a few students
have had problems at first dealing with the unfamiliar situation. After
the initial adjustment, however all students have been overwhelmingly enthusiastic
about their study abroad experiences.
Other study abroad programs
There are many other good programs in Mexico and Puerto Rico as well
as in Spain and other Latin American countries. The Department of Modern
Languages receives dozens of brochures from other universities publicizing
their study abroad programs. You can receive credit for these courses by
transferring it from the sponsoring U.S. university. We keep these brochures
in a file which you can consult in our office in Olin 304. There are also
hundreds of private language schools to consider. You can receive credit
for classes in these schools too if you provide documentation of course
content, course level, and contact hours. See an advisor in our department
and get written approval in advance.
Some internet sites to explore study abroad programs from are:
Studyabroad.comNone of these are complete enough to include every small language school if it doesn't have a web page. You might search further in sites devoted to travel and tourism in some specific country or region of a country. In considering these programs it is very difficult to evaluate their academic quality from here. What you should look for is the kind of experience they offer. Living with a local host family is far better than living in a hotel room or in a residence with other English-speaking students. After class and weekend cultural programs and trips may be as important as the classes.
WorldWide Classroom
International Study and Travel Center's Online Study Abroad Directory
Council on International Educational Exchange
Institute of International Education's Study Abroad Resources
Volunteer work
Participating in a volunteer work program can be even more valuable
than taking classes abroad. The experience of communicating with native
speakers to accomplish a task forces you to use language in ways hard to
simulate in a classroom. This is the real world of language use.
The Peace Corps is of course the best choice. Not all who apply are accepted and not many people want to devote two years of life to this experience. Those who do not only become highly fluent in the language and intimately familiar with the culture but also acquire leadership and organizational skills which give them immediate access to high level well paying jobs in government and business.
For a short term commitment an excellent alternative to the Peace Corps is Amigos de las Americas. This organization trains high school and college students at weekly evening sessions during the spring semester to participate in a four to eight week program in Latin America during the summer. The programs are normally public health projects in rural or poor semi urban areas. This is not enough time to become really fluent but you do develop a solid working knowledge of the language, great motivation for further study, and a real appreciation of life in the “third world”. For information click on the Amigos link, call the national office at 1-800-321-7796, or write to the local chapter at Amigos, P.O. Box 126, Kent, OH 44240.
There are other possibilities. Some churches have programs for community development as well as missionary work in Latin America. Information on volunteer work abroad can be found at the Council on International Educational Exchange and the International Travel and Study Center. These sites have some information about paid short-term jobs too. There are limited opportunities for paid work, mostly teaching English in private schools. The magazine Transitions Abroad is a good source of information on independent travel, language study, specialty tours, volunteer opportunities, and working abroad. Information on the magazine and its publications, Work Abroad and Alternative Travel Directory, can be found on its Web site, by e-mail at info@transabroad.com or by calling 1-800-293-0373.
It is possible to get a limited amount of academic credit for these non-academic cultural experiences. See an advisor in the Spanish section. It is absolutely necessary to register and get this approved prior to your travel.
Your safety
Most people are naturally wary about going off on their own to a foreign
country. You should learn as much as possible about conditions in the country
before you go and then take the same precautions you would here. Street
crime is a serious problem in most Latin American cities but for the most
part they are not more dangerous than New York or Miami. Go to the U.S.
State Department's Web page to consult travel advisories and consular
information sheets for the country you plan to visit. These travel advisories
are sometimes criticized for being politically biased—exaggerating the
dangers of countries the U.S. is opposed to and minimizing dangers in friendly
countries. Don't depend totally on these reports but don't ignore them
either. Consult other sources. Most importantly talk to people where you're
studying about local conditions before venturing out on you own.
You should be especially concerned about your health. In some countries and cities the water is as good as here. In many others not even the natives would think of drinking tap water. Consult a reliable guide book (such as the acclaimed Lonely Planet series) or one of the many Internet travel guides. For information on travel health see especially the information at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and the International Traveler's Clinic at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The State Department's page also has information on health, legal issues, etc.
Wherever you are it's easy to ask for help. People are more than willing to help visitors in their country and will be pleased that you have learned Spanish even if it's only a little bit. Approach your study abroad with a spirit of adventure. Be open-minded, respectful of foreign customs, flexible, and willing to deal with problems as they come up. It will be the experience of a lifetime.
Return to Spanish Information. Page
Last revised: 2 February 1999