INTERNATIONAL
EXPERIENCE REPORT
| Name
of Organization: |
Ohiyesa Language Proficiency Program |
| Location
(city, country): |
Antigua, Guatemala |
| Dates of
your attendance: |
June 14, 2001-July 16, 2001 |
| Purpose
of site institution (3-4 words): |
Spanish Language Proficiency/Cultural Competency
|
| Is there
a language requirement? If so, state language: |
The program is geared to those who have little to no
experience with Spanish |
Activities available:
volunteering at a local hospital
Opportunities
appropriate for:
pre-clinical students
- Please describe your activities while abroad (eg, seeing
patients, clinical research, public health project, etc.):
This month-long program accepts pre-clinical medical students
with little/no Spanish experience. During this time, I lived
in a host family, and each weekday afternoon had 4 hours
of one-on-one tutoring in Spanish. Mornings were spent differently.
On average during the weekday am there were 4-5 hours of
medical spanish classes and 6-8 hours of talks regarding
nutrition, breast feeding, midwifery, and many other aspects
of Guatemalan public health.
- Please describe the range of activities available,
in addition to yours:
There were also trips to a health care clinic, a hospital
for severely impaired patients, a midwife's home, and more.
- Would you recommend this institution to other Penn
medical students? Why?
Highly. This program was very, VERY well run. My Spanish
improved drastically, and I learned a lot about health issues
in Guatemala. The other students who participated in the
experience with me were of top notch, and fun to be with.
- What did you not like?
Very little. Be aware, those of you with intermediate or
more advanced Spanish, that this really is a program for
beginners. It really is for those with LITTLE or NO background
in the language. I went with 2 semesters of night classes
under my belt, and was one of those with the most experience
in the group. If you are keen on improving on your more
advanced skills, I would still highly recommend going to
Guatemala to learn Spanish--there are many good schools
and they are very affordable. Most of them are either in
Antigua or Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela. Probigua,
the school at which I studied, is excellent. They use their
profits to establish libraries in rural Guatemala.
http://probigua.conexion.com/
- Is there an application process for this institution?
How does one arrange a visit? Are there important dates
to know about?
Get in touch with Dr. Lyons. As far as I know, he doesn't
send out applications for the program until January, but
don't wait until then to contact him.
- What costs were associated with the trip, other than
transportation. Please include institutional fees, housing
costs, food, etc.:
Other than transportation and personal expenses, there
were no costs. Ohiyesa is a foundation that funds this program.
Your enrollment fee at Probigua, the language school is
paid for, as is your host family, who not only houses you
but feeds you 6 days out of 7.
- Did you receive funding for this trip? If so, from
whom and for how much? Please provide important information,
such as contacts, application procedure, and due dates:
See #5 and #6.
- Would you agree to be contacted by other students interested
in this site? If so, please give your name and contact information:
Jeremy Souder
Email: souder@mail.med.upenn.edu
Phone: (215) 662-5138
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