University of Delaware Institute for Global Studies
Winter 2018: Panama DLLC

Program Dates January 01, 2018 - February 01, 2018
This program is closed.

Program Overview Special requirements: A digital video camera will be required for the video blog assignments in both SPAN306 and SPAN3676.

NOTE: Students are encouraged to bring their laptops to facilitate the completion of video blog assignments. A commitment to speak only Spanish throughout the program is a requirement for application/participation on this program. Students accepted into this program will be asked to sign a ‘language pledge’. An oral proficiency assessment must be completed prior to scheduling the admission interview. To purchase and schedule your OPI or Versant tests you may visit one of the following sites: http://versanttest.com/ (Versant Test, non-refundable cost: $39.95) or http://www.languagetesting.com/academic-services (OPI, non-refundable cost: $139). The focus of this program is the development of Advanced Speaking Skills, it is imperative that students who join the program are at least at the Intermediate-Mid level of oral proficiency as measured by ACTFL's OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) or the Versant Spanish Speaking Test (minimum score: 45 points). Students who do not achieve at least the minimum score will not be admitted to the program.Achievement of the minimum score does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Study Spanish in Panama City, the capital of the most prosperous, dynamic and cosmopolitan Central American country. Panama City has a very warm climate and is close to many interesting and beautiful sites. For five weeks this winter, you will stay with Spanish-speaking host families and take classes at one of the best schools in the Central America: The Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá.The program has been designed as a full language-immersion experience for intermediate and/or advanced students of Spanish. Through class work and interaction with the local community, you will have a unique opportunity to improve your oral communication skills, and to enhance your familiarity with Latin American culture. In addition to regular academic work, you will have the chance to participate in service-learning tasks at orphanages and schools in Panama City. These service-learning activities will allow you to interact directly with Panamanian children, practice your language skills, and most importantly, give back to the local community. The Panama program features homestay housing, with double (or in a few cases, triple) accommodations in neighborhoods close to the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. Host families provide two meals per day (breakfast and dinner), along with WiFi and access to laundry facilities. Cultural visits that are part of courses offered on this program (such as a tour of the Panama Canal) are included in the program fee, as well as ground transportation from and to the Tocumen airport in Panama City and transportation from the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá to the Service Learning site.

NOTES:
1) This program features four free weekends to maximize your interaction with your host family, and to allow you to explore the many attractions offered by this beautiful Central American country according to your own interests and preferences.

2) Since the focus of this program is the development of Advanced Speaking Skills, it is imperative that students who join the program are at least at the Intermediate-Mid level of oral proficiency as measured by ACTFL's OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) or the Versant Spanish Speaking Test (minimum score: 45 points). Students who do not achieve at least the minimum proficiency score listed above will not be admitted to the program.

The Program Fee includes housing, all program-related events and excursions, some meals, in-country transportation and international medical insurance.

The Program Fee does NOT include airfare to/from Panama, nor airport transfers within the U.S. The program officially begins when students arrive in Panama City. Students will receive detailed travel instructions after acceptance, explaining how and where to purchase their plane ticket. See the Cost section below for estimate airfare.

ACCESSIBILITY: Participants with disabilities should know that accessibility and accommodation in some program locations may differ from the United States. Transit systems and legacy building construction practices may not meet U.S. accessibility standards, and alternative access to public transportation, buildings, or public sites cannot be guaranteed. But UD students with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to study abroad. Review http://www.udel.edu/global/studyabroad/information/disability.html these questions with the http://www.udel.edu/DSS Office of Disability Support Services to determine whether this program can meet your accommodation needs.

Courses: Students must enroll in all credit-bearing courses for a grade. Only the UNIV (zero credit) course may be taken pass/fail. Audit registration is not permitted on UD Travel Study. Please refer to the University Catalog to verify requirements and prerequisites. Honors credit may be available. Check with the faculty director and the Honors program for approval (check before departure). All students must enroll in at least 7 credits, as well as the 0-credit UNIV course.

Program Costs:

How much does it cost?.

	Delaware Resident	Non-Delaware Resident
Final Tuition based on current year	$2,228.00	$5,976.00
Final Program Fee	$1,550.00	$1,550.00
UD Registration & Activities Fee	$30.00	$30.00
Total to be charged to UD account	$3,808.00	$7,556.00
Plus Airfare Estimate (purchased separately)	$650.00	$650.00

The rates above may not apply to you if you are a UD graduate student during the time you are studying abroad. Please refer to http://www1.udel.edu/finaid/rates.html for the appropriate rates.


When and how do I pay?
If you are offered acceptance to the program, you will have 3 days to withdraw without financial penalty. After the 3 days have passed, you will be officially accepted to the program, and IGS will post the full Program Fee and Tuition/Fees to your UD student account.

• An initial payment of $1000.00 will be due in mid-May.
• The balance of the Program Fee and Tuition/Fees will be due in early January.
• Payments are submitted through My Finances in UDSIS.
• All charges, once posted to your account, are considered non-refundable.

*All students will receive an email when they are accepted to a program and will have 10 days from that notification to make their $1,000.00 Initial Payment.


Contact Information:


Deadlines:
Submit Program Application by 5pm on April 20, 2017
Recommendation also due by 5pm on April 20, 2017
Acceptance and Scholarship Announced: May 02, 2017



Interest Meetings:
03/15/2017, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, OCL 202
03/15/2017, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM, OCL 202


Program information is subject to change at any time. Please check this web site periodically for updates.