Spanish with Altitude

Transcription

1 Spanish with Altitude Kate Sommers-Dawes travels the Andes in search of Spanish immersion highlights Colombia While the country s tumultuous history cannot be ignored, the last ten years have amounted to something of a renaissance in Colombia. The revitalization has opened up a tourist paradise, from the arresting 17,000 foot peaks of El Cocuy National Park near the Venezuelan border to the otherworldly appeal of the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, buried in a salt mine some 600 feet underground. Colombia, bordered by both Caribbean and Pacific, has experienced changes in its leadership that, by most accounts, have had a positive impact in reshaping both its reality and its reputation. Though not immune to criticism, the hard-line president Alvaro Uribe, elected in 2002, has overseen a 40 percent reduction in violent crime. Even Medellín, the country s most violent city, is now safer than many major U.S. cities. In fact Medellín, with its colonial architecture, outdoor festivals, and streets adorned in sculpture, has experienced its own rejuvenation of late. Sergio Fajardo, its unique, if not unorthodox, mayor has focused on social programs and urban planning in his effort to reinvigorate the municipality. Every reduction in violence, he has said, we had to follow immediately and immediately is a key word with social interventions. The mayor, armed with his doctoral degree in mathematics and innovative approach, considered unequal access to quality education to be as menacing a problem as the city s violence. Education spending was increased to 40 percent of the city budget. By comparison, L.A. county s spending on its unified schools amounts to roughly ten percent. With such focus on education, safety, and community, this once beleaguered country has become increasingly attractive to language learners. Whether destined for Medellín, the lively capital of Bogotá, or historic Cartagena, the nation is ideal for travelers who want to learn Spanish in an inviting environment surrounded by the striking beauty of a land that, for a time, went unexplored. EAFIT University EAFIT University is located in the heart of Medellín, the urban heart of a metropolitan area set in a large valley in the Andes mountains at over 5000 feet above sea level and a wonderful year-round climate of 76 degrees. The school attracts over 500 students a year from more than 60 different countries to learn Spanish using a step by step curriculum. The EAFIT s Spanish for Foreigner Program began in 1995, and through these years, it has gained a valuable experience and has consolidated its curriculum so that more and more students from different walks of life learn to communicate and excel in the Spanish speaking communities. Class sizes are between two and nine students and guarantees participants individualized attention from instructors. Recognized as one of Colombia s best Universities, EAFIT offers quality education at affordable prices in a place where beauty and excellence come together. Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar The Open Access Language Center at Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar offers Spanish courses in Cartagena. The University provides the opportunity to learn and strengthen language knowledge in one of the most beautiful cities on Colombia s Caribbean coast. The program fosters contact with native speakers; while visiting students attend classes, current university students attend regular programs, providing many opportunities for multicultural interactions. Students can opt for full Spanish immersion and stay in the home of a local family within walking distance from the university or housing in a hotel or hostel. The program has been running for four years with the support of the British Council, the UK s organization for international cultural and educational opportunities. Classes are offered year round. La Sabana University La Sabana University is in Chía, right outside the capital city of Bogotá, nestled in the lush Andean mountains. A city famous for its multicultural, vibrant intellectual scene, Bogotá has 35

2 long been known for its universities and its charming culture including theater festivals, world renowned museums, modern architecture and Spanish colonial neighborhoods, and Cumbia dancing. Colombia is a country rich in culture and surrounded by diverse natural landscapes including highlands, rainforests and tropical grasslands and two coasts. La Sabana offers a chance to experience this diversity and learn more about Colombian and Latin American business and economics, international relations from a Latin American perspective, and Latin American culture and society. Students can select from a range of region-specific courses including: Geo- Economic Restraints for Logistics Development in Emerging Countries, Colombia, Politics and Democracy in Latin America, From Mariachis to Samba: Culture, Politics and Society in 20th Century Latin America, Across the Andes in Search of Freedom, and Regional Trade Agreements. Students can transfer credits to their home institution. Peru Reed Boat In Puno, Peru On Lake Titicaca From the Islas Ballestas and their condors, penguins, and hammerhead sharks up to Titicaca, the world s highest navigable lake, the Peruvian landscape is an adventurer s dream. Visitors to the country flock to the Gringo Trail, a popular travel route from Lima down the coastal deserts, through snowcapped volcanoes, past the crystalline waters of Lake Titicaca, and up into the ancient citadel in the clouds, Machu Picchu. Lima, the country s oceanside capital, can be blanketed in fog or blazing with heat, depending on the season. The city s well-developed nightlife, however, keeps it active year round. Its Cliffs of Miraflores and their pacific vistas are a popular spot for leisurely hiking and paragliding. Providing access to both the Andes and Machu Picchu, the ancient Incan capital of Cuzco is also the continent s oldest continuously inhabited city. So, there is a wealth of cultural sights as the city has retained its colonial architecture, is surrounded by Incan ruins, and is host to many museums. On the other side of the Andes and at a lower elevation lies Arequipa, the White City, which gets its nickname from the volcanic rock, called sillar, which is ashen in color and used in much of its architecture. The city is surrounded by volcanoes and glaciers and its nearby Colca Canyon is an attractive spot for adventure activities. From urban center to countryside, the allure of Peru lies in the diversity of its landscapes and its carefully preserved indigenous culture, making it a unique destination with the power to provide a rich Spanish immersion experience. AMAUTA Founded in 1996, AMAUTA has been offering Spanish Language and Volunteer Programs for students from all around the world ever since. The programs are a combination of language, volunteer, and 36

3 adventure, customized to suit student preference while enriching experience with the surrounding ancient Inca ruins of Cuzco. The city of Cuzco is a unique destination with beautiful streets and squares and elegant colonial buildings. AMAUTA offers both group and individual instruction at its charming school right in the city center, as well as specialized programs such as medical Spanish and Quechua classes. As well as Cuzco, AMAUTA has schools in the picturesque Sacred Valley of the Inca and the unforgettable Peruvian Amazon rainforest. ACUPARI Language School Located in a Spanish colonial home in the center of Cuzco, ACUPARI Language School is a non-profit cultural association whose objective via its Spanish, Quechua, and German language programs is to promote an intercultural dialogue between people of different cultures. The school gives students choice and flexibility through language options, courses at all levels, mini-group or private classes, and standard or intensive hours. The teaching staff is friendly, certified and continually trained. Students can also take part in tandem conversation practice with a Peruvian partner so that both the student and the Peruvian can practice the other s language while benefiting from a cultural interchange. Academia Latinoamericana The Academia Latinoamericana in Cuzco occupies a beautiful building on one of the city s many small plazas, directly behind one of the city s pre-colombian monuments, the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun). Its picturesque setting and homely atmosphere create a welcoming environment for students from day one. It is also conveniently located next to the main post-office, internet cafés, banks, and casas de cambio. In addition to the classes taught by native Spanish speakers, students may participate in cultural seminars, field trips, dance and cooking classes. Students may even combine a Spanish course in Cuzco with a course in the academy s sister schools in Quito, Ecuador, and in Sucre, Bolivia. Wiracocha Spanish School Studying Spanish at Wiracocha Spanish School is more than just learning the language, it is sharing in the Peruvian culture, making good friends, discovering the city, trying out new and delicious local dishes, and dancing to the local music. Wiracocha is a Spanish school with more than six years of experience teaching Spanish to students from all over the world. It is staffed with experienced teachers, all of whom are native Spanish speakers who hold university degrees in linguistics. The Spanish program includes a variety of Spanish courses, including individual classes and small groups with a maximum of five students. The school also hosts volunteer programs, excursions and provide the option to live with a Peruvian host family, in order to supply a Latin American cultural immersion experience. Wiracocha Spanish School teaches Spanish in Lima and Cuzco. 37

4 Chile Herd of guanacos in Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile Skimming along South America s Pacific coast from Peru south to Antarctic waters, Chile s 2,700 coastal miles of extreme terrain cover a distance comparable to the expanse between New York and San Francisco. From azure glacier lakes to expansive beaches to the rustic magnetism of the Patagonia region, travelers in Chile can journey from mountaintop to world s end in a matter of hours. Chile offers a wide variety of destinations for Spanish immersion. The colossal capital city of Santiago offers the comforts of any large metropolis and is not far from beach resorts and first class vineyards. It s beach front neighbor, Valparaíso, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003 and was once the home of cherished poet Pablo Neruda, whose former house, La Sebastiana, is open to visitors. Tourists can spend hours losing themselves in its ascensores, also known as funicular elevators, which wander the hills above the city center. Further south, the Chilean Patagonia region is something of a natural wonderland. While its weather can be extreme, with a little cooperation from the climate, trekkers can encounter virtually untouched glaciers, potable water racing through the park s streams and waterfalls, and incomparable vistas. From its deserts to its ski resorts,the Chilean countryside has a destination fit for even the most seasoned globetrotter. COINED International Chile offers the experience of learning Spanish while enjoying fresh powder skiing one day, wine tasting another, and a golden beach the next. Santiago de Chile, located in the central valley of the country, is a cultural, commercial, industrial, and political epicenter. Credited as both cultural and modern, Santiago boasts both tourist attractions and adventure sports. COINED Spanish school is located in a beautiful 1925 building recognized as a national monument. The Spanish school has 12 spacious classrooms, a video room, internet, a cafeteria and a 38

5 terrace with a wonderful view of the city center. Students can combine their program with salsa lessons, cultural activities, ski lessons in winter and a number of extra activities organized by the school every week. ECELA Students of ECELA who study in Santiago or any of the five ECELA schools spread throughout Argentina, Chile, and Peru discover the local culture and accent in classes led by credentialed, native Spanish-speaking instructors. A world of opportunities exists outside of the small classroom environment, and ECELA-led excursions take students everywhere: from the mountains to the shores, to the dance floors, the vineyards, and the futbol stadiums to immerse students in the language and the vibrant cultures of Latin America. Students are also encouraged to study at the different ECELA school locations to gain a more complete South American perspective. Escuela de Idiomas Violeta Parra Tandem Santiago The philosophy of Escuela de Idiomas Violeta Parra Tandem Santiago is to teach languages by bringing people together instead of using technology. The school implements this philosophy by providing opportunities for Spanish students to meet Chileans in order for the students to practice their Spanish by speaking directly to people who speak the language. In addition to the language courses, the school also offers special eco-tourism weekend trips and daytrips. As a member of the Tandem International Network, which ensures quality standards, the school uses the Tandem Language Method, where students have a set amount of time for language exchange in groups and on an individual basis. The Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaíso The Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (PUCV) offers more than one hundred undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs to over 14,000 students. The university offers a variety of programs including a full semester/year program with Spanish as a second language courses (focused on conversation, grammar, composition and phonetics), sports and extracurricular activities. Open Spanish programs of four to five weeks are offered three times a year and include 90 classroom hours in three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Typical courses include Spanish, lectures on Chilean/Latin American culture, electives such as literature and history, city tours and handcraft workshops. The school also offers a contemporary Latin American studies certificate for international students interested in studying the diverse aspects of the contemporary (19th and 20th century) Latin American reality from a multidisciplinary perspective. The curriculum includes courses in literature, history, sociology, geography, economics, journalism and communication. The program lasts one semester and is taught in Spanish. Instituto Chileno-Suizo de Idiomas y Cultura Instituto Chileno-Suizo is located in the historic Lastarria neighborhood of Santiago, near the downtown area of Chile s capital city. Qualified teachers are responsible for Spanish instruction to foreign students from around the world. Language study is enriched by cultural activities such as museum visits and dance classes. The institute offers intensive language courses, travel advice and an introduction to Chilean culture with efficiency, hospitality and friendliness. Language Pucón Pucón, in a beautiful heart of the southern Chilean Lake District, is \surrounded by three national parks, making it a center for outdoor tourism. Students study Spanish in the morning and, later that day, climb an active volcano, trek in one of the national parks, go horseback riding, skiing on the slopes of the volcano, or get to know the indigenous mapuche culture by visiting native settlements. The school is one block from the town center, three blocks from the lake, and all accommodations are within easy reach. Kate Sommers-Dawes is Language Magazine s assistant editor. Interactive Spanish School Interactive Spanish School provides a practical and entertaining course of study with cultural and daily experiences in Valparaíso. The school offers immersion programs involving 20 weekly lessons, from one to four weeks or more and are suited to all levels from basic to advanced. Instructors use practical experiences to help students understand and interact with the local culture of Valparaíso so that they enjoy the learning process. The school is located on the ocean in the historic and cultural center of town, near the Cerro Concepción and Plaza Aníbal Pinto. 39