This fall, Moorpark College is offering a semester-long study abroad program in Quito, Ecuador. This opportunity will allow students to fulfill units while being immersed in an entirely new culture and language. There are 40 spots available for the trip, and registration is open to students on any VCCCD campus.

With a full semester abroad in Quito, students will have an entire semester to complete credits in Anthropology and Spanish. Students may also choose to take service-learning courses, in which they have the option of volunteering in a local elementary school or residential facility for the elderly. Nursing students may also volunteer in a local hospital.

Students will live with host families during a homestay, where they can be welcomed into a new culture and introduced to the city by its local residents. Students will be paired in double rooms and enjoy breakfast and dinner with their host family.

Ashley Vaughan, a program advisor and Anthropology professor at Moorpark College, believes the best way to learn both a language and a culture is through immersion.

“Living with a local family, along with another student, allows you to engage with the language and culture on an intimate level on a daily basis,” Vaughan said. “Most students end up forming long-term bonds with these families, most of whom have been hosting students for decades.”

Students will be guided throughout the semester and have faculty available to aid them for whatever they may need. Both advisors, Helga Winkler and Vaughan, will be available to assist students during office hours and students will work with local teachers who offer tutoring for Spanish as needed. Students are required to take one Spanish class and one Anthropology class, both fulfilling GE requirements.

“It really is just taking Moorpark College abroad,” Winkler said.

Students are encouraged to combine this course load with online classes through Moorpark so they do not lose any semester units.

While the courses offered directly through the program are Anthropology and Spanish, students of all majors and interests are encouraged to participate. Moorpark College student Monique Layne said that the program sounds like a great opportunity for any student interested.

“Some of those classes are required anyway, and it’s good to know that they’re all UC and CSU transferrable too,” Layne said. “It is definitely an awesome way to fulfill some credits and experience something new along the way.”

The program is in partnership with donQuijote, a Spanish language school with locations in 13 Spanish speaking countries.

The school in Quito is located in the quiet, upscale neighborhood of El Batán, it is walking distance from Parque Metropolitano and is located near bus stops with easy access to explore the capital city. Students participating in the program have access to the school’s facilities and activities, as well as optional excursions offered.

“You’ll be living in a beautiful and safe city with a well-preserved history, cool climate and rich local traditions,” Vaughan stated. “You’ll be able to experience not only an array of cultural activities but also plenty of outdoor fun.”

Students on the trip will participate in field trips in addition to the cultural excursions. Visits to sites such as the Pululahua Volcano and Geobotanical Reserve will introduce students to the natural sites of Ecuador.

This chance to study abroad in Quito is an opportunity for students to grow while living away from home, be immersed in a new culture and language and gain a better understanding of the world around them.

According to Winkler, it is also an experience which is looked at very highly by transfer universities as well as employers. Winkler believes it shows that students took a risk and made an effort to study in a new country, showcasing both responsibility and a strong personality.

“This is an experience that [students] may not always have the opportunity to do, it’s a very unique experience,” Winkler said. “All students will testify that this is something that has been life-changing and highly enriching.”

The total cost for the program not including the flight and personal costs is $4,580. Full-time students participating are eligible for financial aid through donQuijote. The loose registration deadline is February 20 or until all spots are filled.

For more information contact advisors Helga Winkler at [email protected] or Ashley Vaughan at [email protected].