I visited in 2010 and took 5 days of Spanish classes, as well as touring cultural and natural sites. I was incredibly impressed with the structure and resources available. All I had to do was give the Academia my desired itinerary, and they took care of all of the details--from housing to meals, to classes, to excursions.
Alumni Spotlight: Joanne Gilbert
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Dr. Joanne Gilbert is a professor of Communication at Alma College in Michigan. She is deeply grateful for the transformative experiences she and her students have had in Quito at the Academia Latinoamericana.
Why did you choose this program?
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
I took my Intercultural Communication classes in 2011 (12 students) and 2017 (16 students), and I simply sent my desired itinerary to Academia. They did the rest! My students stayed (in pairs) with host families, we all had 4 hours of Spanish a day for 10 days, and we went on a number of excursions. We also served at Neque y Mas Neque, a latchkey program for kids 6-12.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Be aware of your own ethnocentrism! Realize that you will be stepping far outside of your comfort zone, and that's a good thing. Embrace and value difference. Engage in perspective-taking. Try new foods. Be open to new experiences. Take risks. Always try to speak the language! Most of all, trust yourself and others. Play. Have fun!
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Classes in the morning, lunch, excursions or service in the afternoons, and some free time on weekends. You will have four hours of Spanish a day, but it won't all be in the classroom. Sometimes you might go for ice cream or to the soccer field. You might watch movies or shop at the local market. The important thing is that you will experience total cultural immersion, and that will transform you.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I didn't really have fears, but was anxious about my students' willingness to step out of their comfort zones. I prepared them well by having a week of intense work on campus prior to our departure. In both 2011 and 2017, the students did a terrific job of being open to difference, change, and new perspectives.
What was the best part of your trip?
In 2017, one of my students slipped on wet pavement and severely sprained his wrist. He had immediate and excellent (and inexpensive) medical care, but missed our visit to Mitad del Mundo (the Equator). We had a shirt made for him that said in Spanish: "My class visited Mitad del Mundo, and all I got was this stupid shirt!" When we did our waterfall hike in the cloud forest of Bellavista, he assured me that even with his wrist in a splint, he could climb the waterfalls, and amazingly, he did!