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One of the single smartest moves graduating high school students can have is to take full advantage of the gap year. Between high school and college, these students most likely want to have an amazing experience traveling and seeing the world. More and more graduating seniors are choosing to study abroad during their gap year to make it productive and to gain something that will look good on a resume or college application. Spanish immersion programs are particularly popular during the gap year in that students can have an exciting travel experience and learn Spanish abroad simultaneously. Students also have the opportunity to live in a different country for a series of months immersing themselves in a different cultural environment.
The gap year is a very common concept in Europe. It is beginning to catch on in the States as well. Once you understand the core principle behind the idea, it makes a great deal of sense. The theory is that a gap year, the year between high school and college, should be spent getting some real world experience in hopes of becoming a more well-rounded and informed individual. This type of experience will help students become more than just book smart. Many people are putting this gap year concept to work by teaching English in Korea or learning a language in a foreign country.
The idea to learn Spanish abroad in South America is recommended for three main reasons. The first major reason is that there will soon be more Spanish speakers in the United States than just about anywhere in the world. Only Mexico is projected to stay ahead of the United States in terms of the number of native Spanish speakers. This means that learning Spanish is now becoming something of a necessity. The second major reason many experts recommend the idea of learning Spanish in South America is that while you will most definitely be experiencing a new culture, the culture shock will be less severe than other options such as volunteering in Africa, for example. Additionally, with a Spanish language school immersion program you learn much faster than you would have in standard classes. Native speakers, who you will be interacting with on a daily basis, will help you become most comfortable with the language faster. The final reason that it makes sense to head to South America to learn Spanish abroad is that often students credits will transfer to their university. This could potentially save the costs of a semester of tuition.
When you are looking for a gap year program it is a good idea to find a reputable organization that will give you the best instruction along with cultural enrichment as well. Some Spanish immersion programs have specific gap year programs. For example, you can take a four- month program that includes course work in Argentina, Chile and Peru and month of volunteer work as well. Look for a Spanish immersion program with small classes. A high teacher to student ratio provides each student with a more intensive learning experience. If you can find this sort of environment with 4-7 students per class, it will undoubtedly give you more of a dinner table experience rather than that of a large informal class.
Another item to look for in your Spanish immersion program is one that draws a wide range of international students. By doing so, students can become friends with people from different cultural backgrounds. Levi McFarland from Kentucky recently studied Spanish abroad in Buenos Aires. He stated, The classes are arranged so that you meet many interesting people from all over the world, while also offering a fun, challenging environment in which to improve your Spanish. The teachers really care for their classes, and manage to make each day an absorbing experience.
Here is an example of one Spanish immersion program gap year program to give you an idea of the wide array of experiences it provides. Students start their studies in Santiago, Chile, which is Chiles most modern city. In Santiago, of course, students can go snowboarding in the gorgeous Andres Mountains, or head west for a beach trip on the Pacific. The second leg of the Gap Year program then ventures to Argentina, which also includes kayaking in the Tigre river delta, before the final stop of Peru. While in Lima, students can visit the famous Incan ruins in Machu Picchu as well as surfing and festivals of native culture. The final month of the program concludes with volunteer work in Lima, Peru. Projects in Lima could range from working with local orphanages to working on environmental projects.
Gap Year Spanish immersion programs generally begin in mid-August and run until mid-December and are surprisingly inexpensive overall. The rough costs, even with airfare and housing, are still less than half of what a semester at a private college might run. Many students are having a once in a lifetime experience as they learn Spanish abroad and volunteer in South America.
