Yale Summer Session in Lima: Advanced Spanish Language and Culture of Peru through Art

Description

This is a language course that explores Peruvian culture through five different expressions of art: culinary, visual, dance, music and fashion. The two main objectives are to increase students’ written, oral, reading and listening proficiency towards the Advanced-Mid level of Spanish and to develop a global and cultural competence.

Peru is one of the most attractive countries in Latin America and Lima, its capital, is the fifth largest city in South America. It is the country’s commercial and industrial center and the dominant and most vibrant cultural center of Peru. Its landscape offers evidence of ancient civilizations as well as a metropolitan and cosmopolitan sightseeing. Lima is recognized for its culinary culture with multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, and is home to around 9 million people.

In this course, students will learn about important landmarks of Peru’s history. Many sessions will be conducted in museums, markets, and archeological sites. Students will reflect and will write daily, also they will conduct interviews and videos about Peruvian people and society. The course is designed on a project-based model where students will learn by doing. Guided by experts in the field of visual art, culinary arts, dance, and textile and fashion design, students will learn history and language by curating their own virtual galleries.

Learn about study abroad in Spanish and hear more details about this YSS Program Abroad. This session also covers details on the Spanish major and Spanish certificate. 

Courses & Credits

SPAN S227 or LAST S227: Advanced Spanish Language and Culture of Peru through Art (2 credits)

Participants choose to receive credit in either LAST or SPAN at the time of application.

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad are intensive, highly structured academic programs led by Yale instructors. 

Instructors

Rosamaría León, Senior Lector I in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Yale University

Rosamaría León is a Senior Lector of Spanish at Yale University. Her research interests include Colonial Spanish American literature, history, and religion and Spanish-American texts of the colonial period with emphasis in epic poetry and historiography. She teaches all levels of Spanish language and culture. Dr. León received her PhD from the University of Connecticut in 2007.

Class Times 

The course has several components, and the following is a tentative schedule of classes:

• Regular classes will meet Monday-Wednesday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Seminar Discussions will occur every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (5 guest speakers)
• Required guided excursions and workshops will happen every Thursday (10 hours direct instruction time)

Class times may be subject to change with notice from the instructor.

Classroom Location in Ecuador

Students will attend classes and interact with professors from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP).

Money & Budgeting

Many participants find a combination of credit and debit cards to be the most convenient way of accessing money while abroad. It’s important to have a backup option as well in case of emergency.

Participants should bring a moderate amount (equivalent to $100 or so) of the host country currency in cash when leaving the U.S. to cover initial expenses like bus/taxi fares, snacks, and phone calls for the first couple of days. Please note that participants likely will need more than $100 for out-of-pocket expenses throughout the entire duration of the program.

The sol is the official currency of Peru, although US dollars are accepted at a number of commercial establishments. However, it is a good idea to carry local cash. Participants can exchange foreign currency at banks and exchange houses and can withdraw currency from their US bank accounts in either soles or dollars from ATMs.

Many restaurants include a 10% gratuity in the bill, and if the service has been satisfactory, one can add another 10% on top of that. Generally, tipping is recommended, especially if the bill doesn’t already include a gratuity.

Participants should expect out-of-pocket costs not billed by Yale, including but not limited to class materials, coffee, snacks, and transportation to and from the classroom.

Program Cost & Funding

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad costs are updated annually and include the administrative fee and program deposit, program fee, tuition, and international housing charge.  

Budget

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad updates program budgets in late January. Please note the year listed on the button below.

Summer 2024 Budget

Trips and Activities

On every Yale Summer Session Program Abroad, learning extends outside of the classroom. Participants can expect a variety of integrated activities and excursions that enhance the academic goals of the program. Trips and activities listed below are included as examples only and are subject to change. 

All required activities and excursion include transportation (when outside of the host city), entrance fees, and most meals. 

This course has a cultural component in which twice a week, students will explore the city through short trips to various museums and city’s landmarks. Also, there will be three workshops about culinary, curatorial work and native dancing with hands-on and performing activities. There is also a plan for a three-day weekend field trip to reflect about native art expressions outside of Lima.

Helpful resources for participants to learn about Peru before they arrive:

• Lonely Planet Peru
• National Geographic Peru Travel Guide
• Nomadic Matt Peru Travel Guide

Housing

All participants are required to live in program-provided housing while abroad and are not permitted to arrange housing independently. International housing is guaranteed from the first day of the program until the official end date.

Students will live with carefully selected host families in Lima, who will provide both breakfast and dinner daily. Living conditions and distance to PUCP, where classes will be held, will vary amongst housing assignments.

Homestays are an integral part of this program. This living arrangement provides participants with the opportunity to learn more about the host culture, increase language proficiency, and form meaningful connections in the community. Students admitted into the program are expected to spend time getting to know their homestay family and be mindful of the need to balance time spent at home with time spent traveling or going out with friends. If students have any questions about living with a homestay family, they should reach out to the program instructor.

Participants are expected to contribute to the cleanliness of the home. Participants also are advised to discuss any personal conditions or considerations (including allergies, preferred foods, and the like) with their host family at the beginning of the program and at any point such issues emerge. It is important to make an effort to fit into the patterns and assumptions of the host family. This might include expectations regarding mealtime, laundry, returning home late, travel, etc. 

Participants must depart housing on the last day of the program.

Helpful Tips for Staying with a Peruvian Host Family

Communication

Participants are expected to only speak in Spanish with their hosts. People in Peru are generally friendly, and host families will incorporate students into their routine life as a member of the family. Participants should always say hello and goodbye, and should let their hosts know where they are going and when they expect to return.

Rooms

Participants will have a private room, but homes in Lima will vary.

Bathroom

Participants may be sharing the bathroom with other family members. Plumbing in Latin America is different than in the U.S., so it is not usually possible to flush toilet paper or hygiene products in the toilet. Waste baskets are placed next to the toilet to dispose of toilet paper after use. Participants should confirm the proper disposal method with their hosts.

Meals  

Host families will provide participants with breakfast and dinner each day and will be interested in having their host students actively participate in meals with them. Participants should keep in mind that it is important (and polite) to let their host families know if they are not going to be home for one of the meals they are providing. Lunches
are provided at the PUCP cafeteria, even on days when class is not in session, if no other activity is planned.

Gift Custom

A small gift makes a good impression on arrival. An inexpensive token from the participant's university or hometown, such as a magnet or a mug, is a nice gesture for the hosts.
 

Notes

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and are expected to arrive in Quito on the first day of the program, and depart no earlier than the last day of the program (see 'Dates' above); additional information will be provided upon admission.

Climate

Lima has a mild subtropical desert climate and is one of the driest capitals in the world. The winters (May-November) are cool, humid, and cloudy. Average temperatures during June and July reach highs of the mid-60/low-70s Fahrenheit (around 17-20 degrees Celsius), and daytime lows can drop to the low 60s or high 50s (15 C).

Packing Considerations

1. Pack light! Participants will be able to do laundry and will likely return home with new items from the host country. Participants should expect the possibility of carrying their bags on several modes of transportation and up several flights of stairs alone.

2. Keep all essential items in a carry-on bag (e.g., passport and medications). 

Clothing

Mornings in Lima during the winter are usually crisp and foggy. During the day, the temperature ranges from the high 70F to the low 50F. However, the humidity in Lima makes it feel a bit colder than that. For a typical day going to class or walking around Lima, students usually find it sufficient to wear jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, a light sweater, and a warm fleece or light down jacket. Participants should bring comfortable leather boots, hiking boots, or tennis shoes.

Useful Items to Bring

Students should pack sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes suitable for hiking, an umbrella/raincoat, and a hat. Makeup also tends to be more expensive Peru, so participants may wish to bring makeup from home, if applicable. Other personal care items (such as deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste) are usually around the same price in Peru as in the United States.

Electrical Adapters

There are three different types of electrical outlets in Peru. One outlet (Type A) accepts a flat parallel two-prong plug, and another (Type B) takes a three-prong plug. Outlets A and B are the same as those found in the United States. The third type of outlet (Type C) accepts a circular two-prong plug. Electricity in Peru is provided at 220 volts. This is the same as Europe, but very different from the United States and Canada that run on 110-120 volts.

Many personal electronics can run on both 110 volts and 220 volts, including cell phones, tablets, and camera chargers. Other appliances, such as hairdryers, are more likely to be limited to one of the two.

The voltage of an appliance is written on the power label, and Yale Study Abroad does not advise going against what the manufacturer says. Plugging a 110V hairdryer into a 220V power supply can result in smoking or even a few sparks. It is recommended that participants avoid this unsafe scenario and save their hairdryers or any other 110V appliances by using a voltage converter or purchasing a local version of the appliance and leaving the American one at home. Participants can purchase both plug adapters and two-in-one travel converters/adapters online before they leave. 

Social Interactions

People in Peru are generally interested in sharing time with each other. Interacting with locals is also a great way to practice Spanish! Greetings between two men typically involve a handshake, while a kiss on the left cheek is a standard gesture between a man and a woman or between two women when saying hello or goodbye.

Plumbing

Plumbing in Latin America is different than in the U.S., so it is not usually possible to flush toilet paper or hygiene products in the toilet. Waste baskets are placed next to the toilet for disposal of toilet paper after use. 

Carry toilet paper or tissues, as some public restrooms will not have toilet paper.

Questions

For general program questions, contact studyabroad@yale.edu.

Important Information Before Applying

• All YSS Programs Abroad are intensive, highly structured academic programs for Yale credit and grades.
• Students may only apply to one YSS Program Abroad per summer.
• Admission is not guaranteed. Applicants should anticipate that more students will apply than there are spots available, and Yale College students should apply to a backup Non-Yale Summer Abroad opportunity.
• Ensure that your transcript reflects how you have met the pre-requisite, if applicable, prior to applying.
• Participants must commit to the full program dates. Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted.
• Participants are required to be enrolled in all program courses.
• Participants should expect evening and weekend requirements. Students who have questions about religious observance during a YSS Program Abroad are encouraged to Meet with an Adviser.
• Program-arranged housing is required for all YSS Programs Abroad. Students are not permitted to secure independent housing. Students who have housing-related questions about placements, allergies, religious observance, or disability-related access are encouraged to Meet with an Adviser.

Apply to a YSS Program Abroad