Choice of classes will depend on student interest. A variety of excursions will be organized for late afternoons at local sites. Students will also enjoy various incidental celebrations depending on what is going on. In previous years, programs included participation in the legendary D a del Maestro, a gastronomic event with a sampling of Mexican foods, a demonstration of regional costumes, mariachis and a festival of typical Mexican dances, including the famous Mexican Hat Dance. You will get plenty of support from the directors of the program to prepare you for a positive interchange with your host family.
Students report that their homestays have been one of the best parts of the program.
To ensure that you will have a successful language experience, we require a minimum of one year of college-level Spanish before you go and a GPA of 2.8. As part of the course, you will be asked to keep an extensive journal of your observations during the four weeks which will be used in part to determine your grade. Your work will be assessed at the program site in Orizaba and converted into transfer credits by Juniata s Office of International Programs. The only additional cost would be some pocket money for personal expenditures. Your qualifications for this program will be assessed by Dr. Henry Thurston-Griswold, Associate Professor of Spanish, and Dr. David Sowell, Associate Academic Dean and Director of International Programs at Juniata College.