Program Reviews

I had a wonderful time in my experience with SIT. The language situation was approachable and they were flexible with different levels of Spanish. The classes were interesting, with frequent varied guest speakers that gave us perspectives from government officials, academia, and non-profit organizations. My host family was attentive, caring, and helped me learn about opportunities in the city so I could grow in my autonomy and security exploring alone or with friends. If anything, sometimes I felt the classes could be a little easy; students could get by without doing *all* of the reading and the classes weren't very high-stakes. I also spent more time with the US students and less time meeting Argentine students my age than I'd hoped. If you're confident about your Spanish and want very rigorous courses and more dynamic socializing, perhaps local enrollment would be right for you. In the end, I think this program was great for me. Plus, the traveling part of the program was wonderful! It wasn't only tourism; we got to learn from people and local organizations that I wouldn't have hear from otherwise.

The program absolutely lived up to the expectations of being immersed in Ecuador's amazing biodiversity and complex conservation challenges. I learned so much through the experiential, comparative approach of the program. Furthermore, the opportunity to perform independent real-world field research was invaluable and allowed me to develop practical skills for my future. The Galapagos alone makes this program worth the value, and it is so much more beyond that! Visiting the paramo, cloud forest, Amazon, and other ecosystems gives a comprehensive view of research and conservation methods. The program staff is passionate about what they do and very helpful throughout the course of the program. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone passionate about ecology, conservation, and Spanish! I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

I studied abroad in Peru through the SIT Study Abroad program in Spring 2018 and it was definitely the highlight of my undergraduate experience! The program is based in Cuzco, so a good amount of my time was spent there. However, I was able to visit so many different parts of the country. For example, I visited the Sacred Valley, where I hiked Machu Picchu; the Peruvian Amazon, where I got to travel through the Amazonia; Lake Titicaca and Puno, where I lived with an indigenous family, and lastly; Arequipa and Colca Canyon, where I got to relax but continue to explore another amazing region. Besides the excursions, traveling to Peru through SIT allowed me to immerse myself in the culture by living with a Peruvian host family in Cuzco and again with an indigenous Peruvian family where I was able to practice my Spanish and even learn another language: Quechua: the language of the Inca empire. And to top it all off, I was able to travel independently as I conducted field research and developed my very own independent study project. Specifically, I was able to choose a topic that I was personally and academically interested in, travel to a region where my topic was relevant, live in such area, interact and investigate that community and then produce a piece of writing that illustrated my findings. It was quite intense but it was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience that allowed me to continue learning about various aspects of the Peruvian culture. I would say the program has a strong anthropologic basis. However, if you are interested in learning about cultures, globalization, the environment, religion, and anything related to such, studying abroad in Peru through SIT will allow you to learn and experience each and everyone of these focuses in multiple facets. Ultimately, if you would like to be in a country and with a program that allows you to be in the city but also the country- side, learn inside and outside the classroom, and most importantly, allow you to learn about a different world while also learning about yourself, SIT Peru is the program for you!

The academics were amazing, we learned so much about so many different things and were able to be taught by some of the best professionals in the field/visited wonderful organizations. The people were fantastic, I met some of the coolest people and the directors of the program were also some very impressive ladies. The excursions and adventures were unforgettable--we were able to explore different parts of Argentina while also continuing to learn awesome things . I truly had an amazing 3 months participating in this program and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. As cheesy as it sounds it was very life changing and eye opening! If you have specific questions or concerns I really recommend you reach out to the program specifically through their website!

This Spanish intensive program based in Buenos Aires changed my perspective and attitude towards experiential learning. Small program size creates an intense and intimate learning experience. Through homestays, learning service, Spanish immersion, independent research projects and extensive international travel on program (we visited Asuncion, Montevideo and Sao Paulo), I was challenged to learn and grow in ways that a traditional college experience could never have provided. Program coordinator Nuria is extremely knowledgeable, approachable, fun to be around and always put students first throughout our time together. This program is centered around authentic learning and immersion. Do not take this program if you just want to take a break from the standard 4 year campus experience in the US. Come prepared to learn and you will leave a different person than when you started.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is hoping to improve their Spanish, immerse themselves in the chilean culture, and experience a lifestyle very different than that of the US. One of my favorite parts of my time in Chile was living with my host family and learning how to live the chilean lifestyle as if I was a native. I was stretched in the best way; life in Chile teaches you to slow down, it gives you the opportunity to listen to the experiences of others, to learn from those so familiar to this land, and to humble yourself by asking for help when you don't understand the public transportation system. The program takes you on an experience that forces you to grow, learn, and leave your comfort zone for the better. It was a wonderful experience and I cannot wait to go back to this country and visit my chilean family once again.

Throughout this program, I gained confidence in myself, as well as an appreciation for familial bonds and a different perception of life and family structure. I learned about important environmental issues while visiting some of the most beautiful and biodiverse places in the world. I also made amazing friends who share my passions and values, both from Ecuador and the US. The homestay enriched my experience and provided the most opportunities for Spanish practice.
Ecuador is a beautiful country with so much to offer (Galápagos!!) and this program provides an incredibly unique way to visit the different regions. The style of learning can be tiring, because it is rigorous, but it is easily justified by the hikes through the Amazon, the early morning bird watching, or snorkeling and seeing marine life in the Galápagos.

This program, which focuses on traveling and in-the-field learning, provides students with an incredible opportunity to not only study a diverse set of habitats and ecosystems, but also to live among and alongside the people who interact with them on a daily basis, displaying multiple sides to the education provided by this program. Aly Dagang, the program's director, is a true hero, providing unbiased, eloquent education while supporting social and personal activities/development. You will gain great confidence in yourself and abilities while learning in some of the most beautiful environments, spending the first two months of your program exploring the country with your fellow students and professors and the final month researching anything you could desire or imagine, developing independence and allowing for incredible self-exploration; I could not have asked for a better experience.

Academics:
The program academics were definitely easier than my on-campus courses. However, SIT capitalized on the benefits of experiential learning and the incredible amount we as students learned just by being abroad, in the field, and with the communities we studied.
Living Situation:
I lived with a host family my entire time abroad, and it was one of the best parts of my study away experience. My host parents were extremely welcoming and made me feel like part of the family.
Food:
It can be hard to get used to the food in the high mountains of Peru, especially with the lack of lots of fresh fruit and veg. Our host families cooked a lot of delicious food and attempted to make foods we would enjoy from back home as well.
Language Component:
I was definitely integrated into the local culture through my host family and the constant Spanish, but it's easy to slip into looking like tourists when you're with the other students on the program. Definitely something to consider, but I'd say those breaks were worthwhile and even helpful for my own mental health.
Finances:
Almost everything was covered by tuition! We even received stipends when we traveled, so we didn't have to worry about spending our own money.

This program was very travel-intensive, which I liked. We traveled around Panama (and briefly Costa Rica) to different locations to stay with homestay families, conduct interviews, and to learn about different ecological field research methods. My Spanish skills improved a lot, and the program allowed me to explore a wide range of fields. The program staff really encourages hands-on learning and experiences over stressing about grades. The independent study project was a very academically and personally challenging, but also very rewarding, experience. It was incredibly fun, rigorous, and unique! Looking at this program on the website can make it seems intimidating, but it is set up in a very manageable way that helped me learn and grow a lot.