The Latin American Studies program of Ohio University is pleased to announce the fifth annual intensive language and culture program in Cuenca, Ecuador! The 10-week program is scheduled for the Spring, 2004 quarter. Students will earn 12 credits in Spanish, 4 in Modern Languages, live with an Ecuadorian family, and travel to various places throughout Ecuador. Anne Porter, Instructor of Modern Languages (Spanish), and Brad Jokisch (Geography) will co-direct the program and Anne Porter will accompany the group and serve as the on-site coordinator for Ohio University. This website provides an overview of the program including a site description, eligibility , a course description , cost of the program , institutional affiliation , living arrangements , our travel plans , the weather conditions in Ecuador, and application.

Where is the program?
Cuenca is situated in a valley at approximately 8,200 feet in Ecuador's southern Andes Mountains. Cuenca is a beautiful and manageable city of nearly 400,000 people. Founded by the Spanish in 1557 near the Inca city of Tomebamba, Cuenca has preserved its colonial heritage of narrow, cobblestone streets and colonial architecture as it has grown into a modern, Ecuadorian city. The Cuenca Homepage (in Spanish) has the best photos and maps of Cuenca. The Cuenca homepage in English is under construction. The Ecuadorian Embassy homepage is surprisingly helpful; it has dozens of pages describing Ecuador's economy, political situation, and sites of interest.
 

Cuenca homepage (in Spanish)	Ecuador Maps
Great links to information on Ecuador	Ecuadorian Embassy homepage (dozens of links)
The Washington Post Links	Ecuaworld

When is it?
The program will take place during Spring quarter 2004. Although the exact dates are subject to slight modification, the program is scheduled from March 23 to June 7, 2004. You will travel during spring break and start classes during the same week as classes start during the Spring Quarter at Ohio University.
 

Who is eligible?
The program gives priority to students majoring in Latin American Studies and to advanced Spanish-speakers. You must have completed Spanish 212 by the end of Winter Quarter, 2004 to be considered for acceptance. Admission will be based on academic accomplishments, statement of purpose, interviews, and letters of recommendation.

Where would I attend class?
Students will take classes at the Centro de Estudios Interamericano (Center for Inter American Studies) from Ecuadorian professors; Professor Anne Porter will teach Spanish 355/6. The Center, which is located in the heart of Cuenca, is managed by both U.S. and Ecuadorian professors and is designed for language programs of this nature. Professors employed by the Center have experience teaching U.S. students; both the standards and subject matter are similar to those found at Ohio University. Click on their icon to learn more about the Center.

What courses would I take?
    Students will enroll in three Spanish courses and one Latin American Studies course. Students will earn 16 credits for successfully completing the program. The Latin American Studies course will entail orientation during winter quarter and field trips/discussion groups while in Ecuador. All credit will be granted by Ohio University , (not transfer credit) and students will receive a letter grade for each course. Courses in Ecuador meet three to five hours weekly. Each course entails approximately 36 in-class hours, totaling about 144 hours for the program.

    Because the program is designed for students who have completed introductory courses in Spanish intermediate and advanced Spanish courses will be offered. Intermediate students will complete 213, and two 300 level electives; advanced students will enroll in three 300 or 400 level electives.
    Note that all students must attend orientation sessions during the winter quarter. The sessions will occur at an agreed-upon time and are mandatory! 

Advanced Courses:
Advanced students can select three or four courses from the following list.  If you are interested in participating in the program, but have completed most of the Spanish major requirements and do not have three classes to choose from below, please contact us; it may be possible to organize a directed reading or another course.

Will I get to travel in Ecuador?
Yes! Mucho! Students will get to experience Quito (the capital), Otavalo, Patate, Cajas National Park, Ingapirca (site of Incan ruins), a tropical forest reserve in the "Oriente", the southern coast, and various sites close to Cuenca. Most of the weekends have planned events; students will not have much free time to travel on their own, but they can stay after the program to travel. Remember, travel in Ecuador means beautiful scenery and amazing destinations, but also long and sometimes tiring bus rides.  

Where would I live?
Each student will live with a family and there will be only one student per family. Participants will complete a “home-stay” form prior to departure. The form will be used by the Center's staff to match the student with an appropriate family. Students will stay in houses that are safe, comfortable, and relatively close to the center of town. Students will participate in the everyday life of their hosts, including eating what the family eats and socializing with the family friends and relatives. Previous homestay experiences have been very positive for everyone involved.  If, however, an irreconcilable problem develops between the student and the family, CEDEI and the program coordinator will move the student to a different family.
 

What's the weather like in Cuenca?
Ecuador is divided into three geographic zones: the coast, the Andes, and the Oriente (the Eastern lowlands). The Oriente and coast are humid, rainy, and warm to hot most of the year-hence the tropical rainforest and plantation agriculture. Ecuador's Andean cities (Quito and Cuenca), however are considerably cooler and receive much less rainfall. Cuenca's weather is springlike much of the year, and does not experience much seasonal fluctuation. The temperature commonly reaches into the mid to high 70s during the afternoon and falls into the 40s or 50s at night. Cuenca receives about 30 inches of rainfall annually. A sweater or light jacket is often required in the morning and evening, but usually not during the day. During the evening and on cloudy days, Cuenca will be chilly. But, don't take my word for it. When we travel to the coast and the oriente, the weather will be warm if not hot. Click on the links and take a look at Cuenca's current weather forcast and the monthly averages!
 

Is it safe?
    Cuenca is a safe city, but like all cities, crime does occur. Students will feel safe walking alone in most places, although extra caution is required at night-time. Most problems with crime in Cuenca result from petty theft such as pick-pocketing. Ecuador has been spared the well-publicized violence in Colombia and has had no terrorist problems. Most of the safety issues that arise result from poor decisions, especially excessive alcohol consumption.
    A series of vaccintions is required to travel to Ecuador on this program. Vaccinations for yellow fever, Hepatitis A and B, and typhoid as well as booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles is required. Also, prophylactic medicine for malaria is required because we will travel to the Ecuadorian lowlands. These vaccintations are standard, effective, and required for most developing countries in the world.

What would be expected of me?
An intensive language program is very rewarding, but a lot of intellectual and emotional work! Students will spend 3-4 hours a day in class and will have several hours of homework daily. Class attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to live according to their “family” rules, which requires speaking Spanish and eating what the family eats.  Patience, emotional maturity, and a willingness to cooperate and communicate are required. Drug use is strictly forbidden in Ecuador and if a student is involved with drugs in any way, he/she will be terminated from the program immediately. Drug laws are tough in Ecuador and the jails are miserable. Finally, all participants are required to sign a code of conduct agreement. This program is a great experience, but it is not a party trip!

  What will the program cost?
 You will be charged tuition plus a program fee which will be about $3,200. The final cost, however, will depend on the number of program participants and the fortunes of the Ecuadorian economy. The program fee includes  round-trip airfare (Columbus-Cuenca), housing, most meals, and several field trips. The program fee does not include the cost of immunizations, passport, personal spending money, books, travel to Columbus. Students should allocate $1,700 for non-program expenses, although this figure will depend on how much a student spends on eating out, independent field trips, and gifts.
PLEASE NOTE THE EXPENSES ARE ESTIMATES ONLY; COSTS MAY CHANGE.
 

How can I learn more?
Come to our informational meeting, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 AT 7:00 PM IN GORDY-ROOM 201!

Cathy Huber:    huberc@ohio.edu
Brad Jokisch:   jokisch@ohiou.edu

Application and recommendation forms are available at the University Office of Education Abroad, Gordy 107 and on line by clicking here: APPLICATION and RECOMMENDATION FORM . The application deadline is November 7. A non-refundable deposit of $300 will be required upon acceptance into the program.