Studying abroad gives students new confi dence and a new
perspective, said senior Erin Halye, president of Phi Sigma Sigma, who spent her summer studying Spanish in Peru.
“It’s such an amazing experience that you can’t get here in the
U.S.,” Halye said. “You get to see a different culture and a different history. You can’t see or experience that anywhere else.”
Not only did Halye independently study linguistics in Peru,
but former VCU professor Monika Ciesielkiewicz requested
Halye assist her in teaching Spanish classes.
“I held study sessions. I helped grade homework,” Halye said.
“I helped them to learn new concepts.”
Stephanie Davenport, assistant director of Education
Abroad, said there has been a large increase in the number of
students who use the summers to study abroad and get
ahead in their classes. Within the last year, many of the 450
students who studied abroad did so during the summer and
received up to 10 academic credits.
Halye, 22, said her best experience in Peru was an adventurous hike on an Incan trail that ended four days later in Manchu Picchu. While the experience included long hours of hiking with blistered feet and no showers, Halye was fascinated by the Incan ruins’ history and Peru’s beautiful scenery.
“I just loved the different views, the landscapes … the ruins
of temples. It was cool to remove yourself from city life,” Halye
said.
Halye said that being in Peru taught her a great deal about the
Spanish language. Her most beneficial educational experience was living with a host family for a portion of her trip, she said.
“I had to stretch what I knew because I did not have a professor
right there,” said Halye, who has taken several rigorous Spanish courses for her double major in Spanish and math. “I had to step out of my box and … learn new vocabulary.”
Despite her good experience, Halye said, she understands why students are hesitant about studying abroad.
“It is nerve wracking because you’re going to a different culture,” Halye said. “But at the same time … you just have to come out of your comfort zone for a little while and you adjust. You just have to take a leap and reap the rewards.”
Davenport said Peru is one of VCU’s best study abroad opportunities, offering students options to take Spanish, English and art classes.
Javier Tapia, a native Peruvian, oversees the Peru trip each
year. The program is unique because the students get to spend periods of time in various places, including the capital, Lima, and Manchu Picchu, Davenport said.
“It’s a very successful program and one of our longest-standing
programs,” Davenport said.
The university is currently in the process of creating brand-new
programs, a study abroad trip to South Africa. The trip, which
is geared toward nursing students, has attracted a great deal of
student interest, Davenport said.
Study abroad programs also are available to students studying
Zulu and Portuguese. These programs aim to provide Zulu and
Portugese students with a way to use speaking skills acquired
from their language courses, which the School of World Studies introduced this fall.