Language, Culture, and Community Engagement
During this intercultural semester, we will experience two different Spanish-speaking countries – Guatemala and Costa Rica. Students will be fully immersed in Spanish at CASAS (Central American Study and Service), in Guatemala City, from mid-January to March. Students will be immersed in the language, and speaking it every day. Students will study Spanish and culture, often through hands-on activities in small classes from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, students will volunteer with community organizations in Guatemala City. Students will have the opportunity to participate in group learning tours, and then another community engagement assignment with a Guatemalan organization, during two weeks in a rural area.
For the month of April, we will live and study in Costa Rica. Students will participate in a third community engagement opportunity with Cristo para la Ciudad, Christ for the City, Monday - Thursday. Cristo para la Ciudad assignments will allow students to be involved in vocational programs to address chronic poverty in areas of Costa Rica. On Fridays, students will attend Universidad para la Paz, (University for Peace) workshops on Peace and Conflict Studies and Development.
Through language learning, community-based work, and homestays in two distinct cultural contexts, students will gain understanding of how these communities continue to function and thrive, expanding awareness of one’s own culture, and new competence to relate to people from other cultures.
Information
- Estimated Cost Tuition, room and board + $2,500 travel fee
- Semester Leaders
M Esther Showalter, Language & Literature & Graciela Alba Spence, Intercultural Programs - Credits 15 semester hours
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Scholarships are available - talk to EMU Financial Aid
Courses
- ICSSC 201 Intercultural Social Science: Guatemala & Costa Rica (3 SH)
Students will live with families and study culture in context of each country to learn skills of adaptation and empathy, as well as gain awareness the ability to critique one’s native and host cultures. - ICSPA 110-322 Spanish Language (6 SH) Two of the following, based on previous knowledge:
- ICSPA 110, 120 Elementary Spanish I & II
- ICSPA 210, 220 Intermediate Spanish I & II
- ICSPA 312, 322 Adv. Conversational Spanish I & II
- Other advanced courses by permission
- ICHIS 304 Religion, History and Culture of Guatemala (3 SH)
This interdisciplinary course will focus on Guatemalan history and culture: human rights, justice, violence and peace, environment, health and education, economy, migration, and religious expressions. - ICSOC 220 – Peace and Conflict Studies – Environment and Development (3 SH) at University
for Peace
This course will provide a critical and concise introduction to the broad field of Peace Studies and the inseparable link between the peaceful transformation of conflicts, human development, and environmental sustainability.
Immunizations
- Routine – MMR, DPT series with last booster within 10 years, IPV or OPV, Hep B, and Hepatitis A as required for EMU enrollment.
- Influenza and Covid-19 annually, or as recommended. In an effort to maximize the safety of our hosts and our students, EMU Intercultural Programs requires all employees and students who plan to travel for intercultural immersion to have completed their vaccination regimen for COVID-19 more than 14 days prior to travel.
- Typhoid
Immunizations and prescriptions may be obtained at EMU Health Services by appointment.
Immunizations may also be obtained from your local health department or primary care
provider.
