Spanish Immersion & Social Sciences Field Exposure Study Abroad

Argentina - Chile - Peru

Phone: 1 347-329-5506

For global-thinking, culturally-compassionate psychology/counseling students...

Discover How You Can Get Counseling Field Exposure While You Travel Your Way To Spanish Fluency

(and get all the career, lifestyle and social benefits that come with it)

Community development project in Peru.

A 3-country study abroad program that prepares you for success in today's diverse America by improving your Spanish and developing your Latino cultural empathy

Anita Sharma United States

"After researching many study abroad programs in Latin America, I found Ecela and, from the beginning, knew I had found the perfect match. The staff and administrators at are wonderful; they are so helpful, organized, and very friendly—they work hard to keep each student happy."

The professors are also gems: they are effective teachers, enthusiastic, make learning Spanish fun, care deeply about students, and are always available for extra help. In fact, since returning to the U.S., professors have continued to be available whenever I have any questions."

Weeks 1-3

Buenos Aires (Argentina)

"The Paris of Latin America"

Weeks 4-6

Santiago (Chile)

"#1 Travel Spot" by NY Times

Weeks 7-9

Cusco (Peru)

"The Gateway to Machu Picchu"

2018 Spanish & Counseling Dates & Prices

Community development project in Peru.

Program Fees Include:

Intensive Spanish course
Homestay, private room, with breakfast & dinner
Academic transcript
(9-week and 15-week options) Travel from Argentina to Chile to Peru
Cultural activities
Counseling field exposure with local organizations
Social sciences site visits
1 weekend excursion (3-week option), 3 weekend excursions (9-week and 15-week options)

Not Included:

Flight to South America
Additional travel for wildcard weeks (15-week option)
Lunch (students usually buy lunch near the school)

3-Week Program $3,400 (Jan Term or Maymester)

3 weeks at any Ecela in Argentina, Chile, or Peru.

Jan Term: Dec 30 (2017) - Jan 19

Maymester: May 6 - May 26

9-Week Program $9,900 (Summer or Quarter)

3 weeks in each of Argentina, Chile, or Peru

Winter Quarter: Jan 21 - Mar 24

Summer 1: May 27 - July 28

Summer 2: June 17 - Aug 18

Summer 3: July 8 - Sep 8

Fall Quarter: Oct 1 - Dec 2

15-Week Program $14,900 (Semester or Gap Year)

3 weeks in each of Argentina, Chile, or Peru - plus 6 wildcard weeks of your choice.

Spring Semester: Jan 21 - May 5

Fall Semester: Sep 9 - Dec 23

WARNING: DO NOT APPLY Before Reading

The Ecela Spanish Immersion experience is not like most study abroad programs. Here are three things some students label as "drawbacks"...

Busy Schedule Between the social sciences field trips and volunteering, the Spanish classes, and cultural activities, you don't have as much free time as some other programs, which are "glorified vacations" by comparison
Class Attendance The Spanish classes are deliberately kept very small so you get lots of practice and feel comfortable participating. Skipping them is not an option.
Unpredictable Changes In general the Latin American culture does not value punctuality and organization as highly as Americans do. If you cannot handle occassional last minute schedule changes, you will be frustrated.

Begin Application

Questions? abroad@ecelaspanish.com or (347) 329-5506

"Is Getting Fluent in Spanish an 'Ethical Imperative' for Tomorrow's Psychologist or Social Worker?"...You Be The Judge

About Our Mission

Our Spanish Immersion study abroad programs are designed to prepare today's college students to face the demographic realities of America, where professional services (counseling, social work, healthcare, legal, education, etc.) struggle to keep up with a growing population of Spanish-speakers.

We believe that:

It is more realistic for a (relatively privileged) college student or professional to learn Spanish than for his or her immigrant patients and clients to learn English
Beyond language skills, it is important to develop cultural empathy and experience Latin American life firsthand
Speaking their language helps immigrant Spanish speakers feel like welcome members of the community, rather than outsiders living in the shadows

That is why we have developed our courses to give you genuinely useful Spanish-speaking abilities (not just "good on paper") and to expose you to the Latin American culture.

Did You Know the USA Has More Spanish Speakers Than Spain?

In fact, only Mexico has more.

Today's college students are not prepared for America's demographic reality. That's why our 3-country study abroad program accelerates your language skills and develops your Latino cultural empathy.

After joining us you can leapfrog past otherwise equal candidates on job and grad school applications. You will no longer fear rejection just because you can't check off "fluent in Spanish"

Source: Washington Post

There is a Chronic Shortage of American Counselors & Social Workers that Speak Spanish

- IMDiversity

If you don't learn Spanish now...

...will you hate yourself later?

Many immigrants lack the time (and resources) to get fluent in English

Some studies predict that within two generations the USA will have the world's largest Spanish-speaking population, surpassing Mexico
“But THEY came here, THEY should learn English, right?' Regardless of which side of that debate you take, the reality is that most immigrants don't have the time (or resources) to learn English.
While college courses can help you acquire technical Spanish skills, the large class sizes and lack of conversation practice, and over-emphasis on grammar, limit real world effectiveness
Other modern solutions, like smartphone apps and DVD sets, while convenient and inexpensive, suffer the drawbacks of isolation and lack of feedback
Most study abroad programs don't provide language development, expecting you to arrive already fluent (or set aside in an English side program)

Who Should (or Should Not) Apply?

This program is designed for psychology, social work students who plans to use their Spanish to make a positive impact:

Future psychologists, social workers, and other counseling professionals who want to communicate with their Spanish-speaking clientss, safely and compassionately, in their own language
It is important to you that your clients bond with you, not with your translator
You want to send a message to your clients, by learning their language, that they are welcome members of the community, and that you appreciate their culture
You are willing to learn in a system that focuses more on ""learning by doing" rather than "learning by studying"
You are open to cultures different than your own, and you will not expect an "Americanized" experience

This program is NOT for you if:

You don't have a genuine desire to serve Spanish-speakers and just want to do the program to "pad your resume and applications"
You have a hard time adapting to people from cultures different than your own
You get homesick very easily and will have a hard time being away from family and friends
You are already fluent in Spanish and don't need to improve your language skills
You want an educational experience that is "just like college (or high school)"

“For the first time in my life I woke up looking forward to class...and dreaded days off”

- Heather Krane, Michigan

A study abroad program carefully designed for your success:

Practice Spanish they same day you learn it.

Classes include mini-group conversation classes, so you develop real world skills that you can practice the very same day in the “Spanish everywhere” environment
By studying in three unique countries you develop wider Latino cultural awareness as well as a “flexible ear” for adapting to varied accents
The language schools are singularly focused on improving your Spanish, removing the frustrations of juggling multiple subjects
The program schedule is carefully designed to accommodate semester or quarter system, so you don't need to rearrange your whole life just to join us
The comfortably affordable tuition is comparable to typical in-state public tuition, yet with much smaller classes and many extra activities

“We don't just teach Spanish...

We give our students a

'magical golden key' to a better life”

Spanish is so much more than just a language skill. We help you:

Serve More People By getting fluent you are able to serve an often otherwise left behind segment of the population, not limited to just the privileged English speakers
Powerful Tie-Breaker You gain an “unfair advantage” over other job and grad school applicants and don't lose out on opportunities you are otherwise qualified for
More Social Life Beyond school and work advantages, you have an open door to the world's 400 million plus Spanish speakers, for cross-cultural friendships and even romances
Seem "Smarter" Bilingual people are often perceived as more intelligent and sophisticated, raising your status over others that have limited themselves to one language
Better Neighbor As a Spanish-speaker with Latino cultural empathy, you will demonstrate a welcoming attitude toward immigrants, rather than the “learn English or leave” message they often hear

Meet some of our students...

Clockwise from left: Outside Ecela Buenos Aires, Spanish & Medicine students before shadowing, Brittnay (California) in Peru, Argentina host family

Clockwise from upper left: Dom (Scotland) studied at all 6 Ecelas, Marianne (Norway) in Cusco, Keisha (Barbado) in Buenos Aires, Heather (Michigan) in Viña del Mar, Nils (Sweden) in Mendoza

Clockwise from left: Matthew (Illionois) at a wildlife rescue center, volunteering at a local elementary after-school program, an Ecela teacher reviews fundamentals, group class in Chile

Clockwise from upper left: Streets of Cusco, group class in Santiago, horseback riding in Ica (Peru), extra private Spanish help, between classes in Mendoza

Clockwise from left: using Spanish at a Peruvian artisans' market, learning to make empanada, group class with Profesor Antonio, Stephanie (Belgium) at Machu Picchu, the excursion from Cusco

Clockwise from upper left: Spanish class in Mendoza, boarding train to Machu Picchu, extra one-to-one help, La Boca (Buenos Aires), surf lessons near Viña del Mar (Chile)

Clockwise from left: Machu Picchu near Cusco, nature reserve in Chile, Peruvian festival, Argentina Carnaval