Program Description
Overview
During Winter 2024, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies will take a group of highly motivated 203, 301 and 302-level students to the city of Quito, Ecuador to live with local families and study local culture and Spanish for a quarter.
Quito is the capital and second largest city (population 1.3 million inhabitants) of Ecuador. It is the nation's main transportation hub, with bus and airline routes that span the country and continent, and it is the home to the most extensively preserved colonial-era neighborhood in South America. Old Quito was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 and recently underwent an extensive renovation which was completed in 2007. The city's location in the Andean highlands (elevation 9,300 feet) makes it a unique meeting ground for indigenous and European-influenced cultures. Though located in a tropical zone, the altitude helps keep Quito's climate temperate, and spring-like weather conditions are the year-round norm.
Winter 2024 Program Details
Program dates: January 3 to March 8, 2024
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All students must arrive in Quito on a date to be determined for 2024 between 10:30pm and midnight. This is extremely important due to the location of the new airport being outside of Quito. All students will go by chartered bus from the airport to ACLAS and meet their host families there.
Be sure to book your flight early, as prices will go up the closer we get to the Christmas and New Years holidays.
Courses
Classes will be held at the Andean Center for Latin American Studies (ACLAS), located in north central Quito.
UPDATED – STUDY ABROAD POLICY
While students may earn more credits on a study abroad program, they can use (or count) a maximum of 15 credits towards the major in Spanish, a maximum of 12 credits towards the minor in Spanish, and 10 credits in Spanish for General Studies credit, through study abroad program. |
While enrolled in this program, students will choose one of the following options (all classes in each option are required):
Option 1
SPAN 203- Intermediate Spanish (5 credits)
SPAN 301- Advanced Spanish (5 credits)
SPAN 322- Intro to Hispanic Cultural Studies (5 credits)
SPAN 392- Service Learning (1 credit)
Option 2
SPAN 301- Advanced Spanish (5 credits)
SPAN 308- Latin American Literature (5 credits)
SPAN 322- Intro to Hispanic Cultural Studies (5 credits)
SPAN 392- Service Learning (1 credit)
Option 3
SPAN 302- Advanced Spanish (5 credits)
SPAN 308- Latin American Literature (5 credits)
SPAN 322- Intro to Hispanic Cultural Studies (5 credits)
SPAN 392- Service Learning (1 credit)
Option 4
SPAN 301- Advanced Spanish (5 credits)
SPAN 302- Advanced Spanish (5 credits)
SPAN 322- Intro to Hispanic Cultural Studies (5 credits)
SPAN 392- Service Learning (1 credit)
Excursions & Other Activities
Students will participate in group excursions and activities, including a tour of the city, a visit to the Mital del Mundo, and a visit to the Indigenous Market in Otavalo.
Please note that students must follow the rules of the Andean Center for Latin American Studies with whom the University of Washington has an agreement. These rules include, among other things, not renting a car while in Ecuador (although students may hire a driver with a car) and signing a statement promising to follow the drug laws of Ecuador.
Housing Information
Housing and board (three meals a day and laundry once a week) for students will be arranged with families in Quito. Houses are typically located in areas for easy access to school and city amenities.
Insurance
Participants must provide proof of health/accident insurance coverage. Please refer to the UW Study Abroad Health Insurance webpage for information regarding health insurance while studying abroad.
Eligibility, Application, & Orientation
Eligibility Requirements
Completion of SPAN 202, 203, 301 or placement into SPAN 203 or 301 prior to Winter Quarter 2024.
Application Procedure & Deadline
Application deadline will be determined. To apply to the program, please visit the UW Study Abroad webpage for the program and click on the "Apply Now" button.
Social Media
Follow us on Facebook for more information about this program and ACLAS.
Contact Information
Questions about the program can be answered by:
| Jorge González Casanova panta@uw.edu |