Spanish Program Offers Study Abroad to Peru
Posted: September 19, 2019 | Author: Savannah Byers | Read Time: 2 minutes
Southern Utah University’s Spanish Program has created a program that allows students to live, study, and intern abroad for a semester in Cusco, Peru. This program is one of the most customizable study abroad opportunities available at SUU, offering several different internship placements for a variety of interests.
“This program is unique because it was specifically created to fit the needs of our students,” said Dr. Iliana Portaro, program director and assistant professor of Spanish. “It provides our students with an enriching, affordable, and safe opportunity to immerse themselves in Latin America.”
Peru is a cosmopolitan city, filled with restaurants, bars, museums, local markets, cathedrals, art, theater, and archeological sites. Cusco is the historic capital of the Inca Empire and a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site.
Studying abroad in Cusco offers a truly unforgettable, immersive, cross-cultural experience. For the duration of their stay, students live with assigned host families. Host families provide not only logistical support (airport pickup, daily meals, etc.), but also emotional and cultural support.
“During their spare time, students have the opportunity to participate in activities organized by their host family or language school,” Dr. Portaro continued. “Weekly offerings may include dancing lessons, cooking lessons, trivia nights, food tastings, intern dinners, and yoga.”
Excursion opportunities are also available to places such as Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, and Machu Picchu.
Internships are arranged based on student skills, interests, and career aspirations, so each student gains professional experience in a different cultural context customized to their goals.
“They can learn or improve their Spanish language skills, but also explore how language and culture connect to a professional field,” Dr. Portaro said.
Internship placements can be arranged in the following fields:
- Veterinary medicine
- Education
- Youth development
- Social work
- Medicine (includes dentistry, midwifery, physiotherapy)
- Nutrition
- Psychology
- Physical education
- Language therapy
- NGO support
- Tourism (eco-tourism)
- Hospitality
While in Peru, all students will take courses that can either fill a general education language requirement or complete Spanish major/minor credits. Courses available in Cusco include:
- Beginning Spanish I (Spanish 1010)
- Beginning Spanish II (Spanish 1020)
- Intermediate Spanish I (Spanish 2010)
- Intermediate Spanish II (Spanish 2020)
- Spanish Proficiency Development (Spanish 3000)
- Advanced Conversation in Spanish (Spanish 3610)
- Spanish Internship (Spanish 4893)
- Spanish Workshop/Study Abroad (Spanish 4920)
Tags: College of Humanities and Social Sciences Study Abroad International Affairs
