Chile: Valdivia Semester
Program Overview
Valdivia is a thriving, regional center of southern Chile and only a 10-minute drive inland from the Pacific Ocean. A charming, accessible city at the joining of three rivers, Valdivia was a strategic outpost of the Spanish Empire in the 1500s. After independence, German immigrants strongly influenced the region’s culture, still visible in the local architecture. Valdivia is a compact, walkable city with numerous cultural offerings, a daily fish and farmer’s market on the downtown riverfront, and a nearby airport linking the region to Santiago and the north, Punta Arenas and the south, and the Andes and Argentina to the east.
Students attend classes at the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh), located on an island near the center of Valdivia. All courses are designed for students with intermediate or higher Spanish-language abilities, and are taught in Spanish by UACh faculty. Participants will be able to take classes in Latin American history, literature, culture, and film. Full-year students are eligible to enroll in regular university classes during their second semester.
- Photo #2 by: Arvid Puschnig
Founded in 1954, the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) enrolls approximately 10,000 students in 40 undergraduate majors. Facilities available to students include libraries, computer labs, Wi-Fi, sports centers, and an 11-hectare botanical garden.
Today UACH is recognized nation-wide for its academic achievements and enjoys a prominent and prestigious position among Chilean universities.
Course Offerings
| » Language & Culture Program | This program is ideal for students at the high intermediate and advanced levels of Spanish proficiency who wish to further develop their language skills and gain a greater understanding of Chilean culture. Classes meet four days per week and are available in Spanish composition and conversation, Chilean culture, history, international relations, literature, and cinema. The program also includes a number of excursions to historic Spanish sites, national parks, and indigenous communities. Students enroll in four classes and earn 16 semester (24 quarter) credits. Eligibility: Students must have completed the equivalent of two years of college-level Spanish prior to departure. | Language & Culture Courses | Language of Instruction | Contact
Hours | Semester
Credits
| Quarter
Credits | Advanced Spanish  | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | Chilean Cultural Seminar | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | History of Chile | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | International Relations between the U.S. and Latin America | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | Latin American Cinema | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | Spanish Composition and Conversation 1 | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | Spanish Composition and Conversation 2 | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | Spanish Composition and Conversation 3 | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | Survey of Latin American Literature | Spanish | 60 | 4 | 6 | |
Eligibility Requirements
Minimum GPA of 2.5
Students must have completed the equivalent of two years of college-level Spanish prior to departure
Good judicial standing (no major disciplinary violations in the past 12 months)
Program Dates and Costs
| » Language & Culture Program | Semester | Arrival
Date | Departure
Date | Program Cost * | Application
Deadline | Fall 2010 | Aug 20, 2010 | Dec 11, 2010 | $6,407 | May 14, 2010 | Spring 2011 | Mar 25, 2011 | Jul 16, 2011 | TBD | Nov 25, 2010 | Fall 2011 | Aug 19, 2011 | Dec 10, 2011 | TBD | Apr 21, 2011 | * Note: A program deposit of $300 is due upon acceptance and is applied toward the total cost of the program. | |
| » Advanced Program with Chilean Students (2nd Semester) | Semester | Arrival
Date | Departure
Date | Program Cost | | Fall 2010 | Aug 6, 2010 | Dec 22, 2010 | $6,407 | | Spring 2011 | Early Mar, 2011 | Mid Jul, 2011 | TBD | | Fall 2011 | Early Aug, 2011 | Mid Dec, 2011 | TBD | | |
Costs Included
Tuition, homestay with three meals per day, course materials, excursions and cultural activities, airport pickup service, medical insurance, and a Lonely Planet travel guide
Costs Not Included
Application fee ($50), passport ($130), visa/immigration fee ($131), airfare ($1,400), local transportation ($300), and personal expenses ($800)
Student Life
Upon arrival, students are connected with a small group of Chilean university students who are designated peer advisors. They help introduce program participants to Chilean university life, accompany students on excursions to cultural and historical sites in and around Valdivia, and serve as cultural resources throughout the semester. The peer advisors also encourage participation in extra-curricular activities such as university sports teams or salsa dancing lessons. The American Corner, a center for U.S. and Chilean cultural exchange, allows participants to meet local students who want to practice English and learn more about the United States.
Program participants can also interact with the local community through service and volunteer opportunities. Abre Puertas, sponsored by the Chilean Ministry of Education, connects university students with elementary schools in Valdivia to help teach beginning English lessons. Un Techo Para Chile is an organization that builds houses for those in need. Many past participants have enhanced their Chilean experience by offering their time to these organizations.
Housing
Practicing language skills in an informal, supportive environment is the perfect complement to Spanish language study in the classroom-and that happens every day in a homestay. Students live with Chilean hosts (anfitriones) in a private or shared room, and eat three meals per day with their host family. Homes are located in convenient, safe residential areas and are either within walking distance or a short bus ride of campus. The families provide opportunities for students to learn about daily life in Chile-many have hosted students for a decade or more.
Alumni Feedback
“I made incredible friends both in and out of the program. Not to mention, I learned another language and had great experiences while doing it.”
- Danny Byrnes, Western Washington University
“The classes, people in the program, and various trips we took gave me a new appreciation for other cultures that may be overlooked.”
- Liz Sampson, University of Oregon
“Studying in Valdivia was exciting, challenging, and fun. I really learned a lot about living on my own and experiencing the Spanish language for what it was, as well as taking advantage of being a student. Traveling around the country was a phenomenal experience.”
- Natalie Ottenweller, University of Washington
CCIS Chile Application Checklist
1. CCIS Application 
- Students must obtain their advisor's signature on the application.
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Two Letters of Recommendation - Letter must be from a professor or assistant instructor that you have had in the past or have currently.
4. Language Proficiency Report
5. Universidad Austral de Chile Application
6. Homestay Application
7. Official Transcript - You may have your registrar send this directly to CWU, or include it with your application.
8. Passport-sized photo (2" x 2")
9. Disciplinary Clearance Form
10. $50.00 Application Fee - Include a check or money order made payable to Central Washington University. This fee is non-refundable.
Submit Application Materials To:
Ray Bates, Study Abroad Advisor
Study Abroad & Exchange Programs
Central Washington University
400 East University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7407
batesr@cwu.edu
(509) 963-3621
(509) 963-1558 (Fax)
CCIS Chile Facebook Group
All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.
CCIS Chile Study Program Sponsor:
Central Washington University
Larry Laffrey,
Director, Study Abroad & Exchange Programs
© 2008 College Consortium for International Studies
2000 P Street, NW, Suite 503 Washington, DC 20036
Phone 800-453-6956 or 202-223-0330
Fax 202-223-0999
info@ccisabroad.org