Our Family program, just like the Heritage program will also be organized completeley around students' individual needs and will have this overseas study component. Let your faculty team know your own set of learning objectives for the entire year. Participating in the overseas study group Family program is different than signing a contract because besides studying what you are interested in, you become a member of a learning community. Some 15 students or more will travel to Peru in the Winter 2008 or the summer 2007.  Students planning to attend the 2007 Heritage: Summerworks program will also have the opportunity to travel to Peru in the summer 2007. The travel preparation module will be organized by participating students, for the summer session the module will start meeting after academic fair in May, and for the winter 2008 trip the module will be during the fall. In Peru there will be very minimum group activities, most activities will follow students own interests (based on students proposals made during the preparation period and which will in fact be like individual contracts!). The program in Peru will follow most of these guidelines.

-Use your knowledge and skills to do community work mainly at local schools or community institutions.
-Learn to lead (or about leading) without being a missionary, a developer or a liberator.

Connecting theory to practice
-It is an opportunity to experience community life in a real functioning community.
-It is an opportunity to live within populations affected by political decisions in advanced countries, to talk, think, and learn about it.
-If your intention is to learn the language and culture of minority populations in Latin America, this could be a great introduction to your future plans.
-It is your chance to connect all you have learned theoretically about international politics/economics or multicultural issues with real life.

Program demands
Most Evergreen sophomore students have already learned to be responsible for their own education and are ready to study under the Independent Learning Contract model. Participating students in the 2007 Heritage: Summerworks or the 2007-08 Family programs practically do an independent contract in Peru just by enrolling in the programs overseas study group. Each participant either design a contract according to each student's specific needs and interests or just follow the basic immersion plan. The extent and depth of the curriculum and most of the instruction is driven by the student self motivation and the assessment is an embedded part of everyday activities. Participants will base their educational experience on Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

These self-learners then have the opportunity to experience/arrange: 
-Real use of Spanish as your second language. Your classroom is the whole community.
-Experience life with a low middle class family, the purpose is not to experience life of the rich in rural Perú. You contribute for your room and board and live at home as any other family member. There are other possible arrangements according to circumstances.
-Learn Spanish using a constructivist approach, some % self instruction and most % student-centered active learning and community time.  
-If your knowledge of Spanish is limited and you are willing to teach English teaming with local teachers, you wil be offered this opportunity. Other volunteer community work involve teaching your hobby or anything you feel eager to share with the local community, activities at the hospital and local institutions (youth organizations, sports entities, local government projects, etc.). Participants have control in the schedule and itinerary.
-Socratic dialogue and pedagogy of the oppressed at the praxis level.

STUDY LANGUAGE, CULTURE & ARTS IN ECUADOR
Spanish Language and Latin American Arts and Culture
- A unique interdisciplinary approach to study abroad 
- Study Spanish and Ecuadorian culture while experiencing firsthand life in Ecuador's    capital city, Quito
- Administered by CIMAS, an Ecuadorian NGO, in cooperation with the Washington State Cooperative Development Programs in Ecuador
- Minimum one year college-level Spanish language or equivalent
- Internship possibilities in Spring Qtr with previous term participation

Credits:	16 
Costs:	$4,400 per quarter for tuition& fees, homestay, 2 meals per day and field trips.  Airfare not included.

For more information and application, contact the Office of International Programs and Services at extension 6312, or stop by L1401, 11am-1pm drop-in advising.  Visit the CIMAS website at http://www.cimas.edu.ec

Next Steps
 If interested call me or better yet e-mail to Raúl H. Nakasone nakasonr@evergreen.edu
 Phone: (360)867-6065
 Visit the Study Abroad Evergreen site: http://www.evergreen.edu/advising/abroad/home.htm

To Raul's page

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Madeby: Raul Nakasone
E-mail: nakasonr@evergreen.edu
Last modified: 04/06/2008