Guatemala

The Guatemala program emphasizes immersion in, and intensive study of, Spanish language and Latin American culture. It is based in the city of Quetzaltenango in the Guatemalan highlands (7600 ft. above sea-level) near the Santa Maria and Santiaguito volcanos. Also called by the ancient Mayan name of "Xela," Quetzaltenango is Guatemala's second-largest city (pop. 225,000), a university town surrounded by Quiche and Mam indigenous villages. The academic program has two phases: five weeks of intensive, one-on-one instruction in Spanish, followed by ten weeks of continued Spanish language instruction and the addition of seminar courses. The program involves a service-learning experience and coursework from a range of subjects: Mayan Societies, Guatemalan History, Theater of the Oppressed, Medical Spanish and Public Health. Students also take a course taught by their CSB/SJU faculty director and participate in activities and excursions that span both phases. Each student lives with a Guatemalan family. Courses are taught by language academy teachers and faculty recruited from local universities. Prerequisite: completion of Spanish 112.