Languages Open Doors: teaching assistantships in Chile
Location: various cities throughout Chile
Dates: May 22 - August 9, 2010
Course: Interdisciplinary Studies 399 (optional)
Contact: oie@uwosh.edu
Details: http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/chile.php
______________________________________
Travel to Chile with a group of Oshkosh students
to assist Chilean English teachers
and to help improve English education in Chile!
Experience another culture.
Improve your Spanish.
Live with a Chilean family.
Become involved in a Chilean community.
Help others who value your unique skills.
Make a lasting impact on the lives of your students. Motivate them to improve their English, participate in cross cultural exchange and succeed in an increasingly globalized world. Placements are made throughout every region of Chile.
UW Oshkosh students spend approximately
- 25 hours per week assisting a Chilean English teacher.
While you will officially be considered an English teaching assistant, you will generally be in charge of half the class (approximately 20-23 students) while the Chilean teacher works with the other half.
- 10 hours per week leading extracurricular activities.
Extra-curricular activities significantly increase English-language learning while also engaging students in cultural exchange. Activities may include helping paint a classroom, preparing the auditorium for an event, helping to train a sports team, participting in dialogue teams at the elementary school level or debate teams at the high school level, teaching English to adults in the agro tourism industry or working on self-initiated projects aimed at engaging in your community and increasing interest in the language and culture of the U.S.
- one week between class sessions volunteering at an English Immersion Camp.
Languages Open Doors, the Chilean Ministry of Education and the United Nations Development Programme-Chile offer
free accommodation and meals and a monthly stipend, pre-departure information and support, an e-blended Spanish course (online Link Chile e-learning Spanish), classroom materials and program certification by the Chilean Ministry of Education.
All of the information included here is subject to change. Modifications may be required depending on the exigencies of the situation.
Course(s)
These courses are open to all UW Oshkosh students volunteering through Languages Open Doors; because students pay a program fee to participate in this program no tuition is charged for these courses. Students who participate on this program are NOT required to enroll in these courses. Interested students must contact Chrissy Lambie in Career Services for more information (920-424-2044).
Optional Courses
Interdisciplinary Studies 399 3 credits
L&S Career Internship
Pass/fail course.
Interdisciplinary Studies 442 1 credit
Cooperative Study
Accommodation
The Chilean Ministry of Education works with local schools to arrange accommodations and meals with a host family. Host family details will be provided closer to your departure date.
Schedule
Summer I Session 2010
| 22 May | Depart U.S. |
| 23 May | Arrival in Santiago |
| 24-27 May | Orientation |
| 28 May | Travel to placement city |
| 28 May - 5 August | Volunteer placements
|
| 5 August | Last day of classes |
| 8 August | Departure from Chile |
| 9 August | Arrive U.S. |
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh reserves the right to make changes to itineraries, travel arrangements, hotels, excursions, activities or other arrangements made necessary by factors beyond its control. On certain dates when some attractions or activities may not be available, UW Oshkosh reserves the right to substitute alternate attractions or activities.
Flight
Luggage Limits
Restrictions on carry-on baggage (t.b.a.).
Restrictions on checked and excess baggage (t.b.a.).
Depart UW Oshkosh
Long-term parking is allowed on campus in parking lot 6 with a valid UW Oshkosh parking permit. Participants may park on campus for the duration of their study abroad experience, except for semester-long programs.
Meeting Date & Time: t.b.a.
Departure Time: t.b.a.
Departure Location: Parking Lot 6
Flight
t.b.a.
Return to UW Oshkosh
Estimated date & time: t.b.a.
Return Location: Parking Lot 6
Fees
| Program Fees (summer 2010) | |
°$550 |
Program fees are estimated at $410 - $550 based on 6-20 participants. |
| Estimated Expenses in U.S. Dollars | |
$100 |
Application Fee ($200 for out-of-state applicants) |
$100 |
Passport & Pictures |
$1,000 |
Airfare (this estimate will change once the OIE has confirmed group rates for 2010) |
$131 |
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport entrance reciprocity fee (payable in cash or by credit card) |
varies |
Immunizations |
$1,331 |
Total Pre-travel Expense Estimate (plus immunizations) |
| Estimated Expenses in Foreign Currency (CLP = Chilean Peso) | |
CLP 0 |
Homestay (covered by Chilean Ministry of Education) |
CLP 0 |
Meals (included in homestay) |
CLP 25,000 |
Local Transportation |
-CLP 212,500 |
A monthly stipend of CLP 85,000 |
CLP100,000 |
Personal Spending Money (you may spend less or you may spend more; consider brining this amount as a minimum) |
CLP 9,725 |
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport exit fee |
-CLP 77,775 |
Total Expense Estimate while Abroad |
-$145 |
Total in U.S. Dollars as of 9/22/09 (today's rate of exchange) |
$1,736 |
Total Estimated Expenses |
°Indicates the expense will appear on your UW Oshkosh student account.
Program fees cover course-related expenses (no tuition is assessed); transportation between UW Oshkosh and Chicago O'Hare airport by school bus; airport transfer fees to designated accommodations for volunteers who arrive on official program start dates; round-trip transportation from Santiago to the regional placement site; on-site orientations; homestay (including meals); pre-travel orientation; and international health insurance. The program itinerary may be tentative and will not be finalized until approximately two weeks before departure.
Program fees do not cover items not specifically mentioned above such as trip cancellation and baggage insurance; passports; immunizations; airfare; airport transfer fees for volunteers who do not arrive on the specified arrival days; food, beverages and meals outside of the host family's home; and all expenses of a purely personal nature. Estimates for some of these expenses have been included. Fees for a single room are available upon request.
Estimates found here are based on the group rate for services and travel dates as well as current exchange rates, where applicable. Changes to this plan or a large exchange rate fluctuation may cause adjustments to the final cost.
Apply
Eligibility Requirements
We require applicants to:
- speak fluent, conversational English at a pace and using vocabulary which would be understandable by Chilean English language learners;
- be enthusiastic about spending time with children and have a very high level of energy;
- have completed at least one year of an undergraduate degree;
- have an interest in Chilean culture and living in a developing country;
- be highly committed, responsible, and flexible;
- be at least 18 years of age; and
- interview and attend orientation at UW Oshkosh. If you cannot travel to UW Oshkosh for an interview and orientation, do not apply through UW Oshkosh.
We prefer applicants to also:
- have completed coursework or have prior experience in developing curriculum, preferably related to English as a Second Language;
- have prior experience in a teaching environment or extensive experience working, volunteering or spending time with children in an academic environment such as tutoring;
- have studied a foreign language and understand the difficulties involved in communicating in a foreign language;
- show that the experience will benefit them personally or professionally;
- have a G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher.
You will be teaching in English on this program but will need to use Spanish outside of the classroom. While advanced Spanish language ability is not required to apply to this program, the more Spanish you know the easier the program will be for you.
STEP I
Read the study abroad application instructions and complete the GENERAL Office of International Education application as outlined on our Apply page.
In addition, access PROGRAM-SPECIFIC application materials as needed from below on this page.
STEP II
Program-specific documents due by the application deadline.
| Application to Interview | |
| Terms of Participation (not yet available for 2010; skip this requirement for now) | |
| Recommendations (minimum of 2) Use these to support information related to your experience provided on your "Application to Interview". |
|
| Interview Interview dates/times are listed on the "Application to Interview". Read through the Languages Open Doors information under Resources below BEFORE interviewing. |
Selection Process
The UW Oshkosh OIE will select students using the eligibility requirements outlined above. The OIE then makes a recommendation to Languages Open Doors. If recommended, you must complete the final step of the process (see "other deadlines" below). It is possible that a recommended applicant may not be selected by Languages Open Doors to participate.
Other Deadlines
Additional program-specific documents due
AFTER selection by UW Oshkosh and AFTER you have received your passport.
Languages Open Doors on-line application. *Be sure to choose "10 weeks" for your program length.
- You'll need to upload two photographs of yourself (one headshot and one photo with friends or family) on your Languages Open Doors on-line application. You do not need to submit these to the UW Oshkosh OIE.
Resources
Office of International Education Orientation Materials
Office of International Education Trip Preparation Resources
U.S. State Department Country-specific Information
Center for Disease Control (up-to-date information on immunizations)
Languages Open Doors: information for prospective and Accepted Volunteers
- Pre-Departure Information
(Click Here) - Volunteer Manual (Click Here)
- Teaching Guide (Click here)
- Class Materials (Click here)
Emergency Contact (during program dates)
In a life and death emergency ABROAD
U.S. Department of State Citizen Emergency Center (1-202-647-5225) will relay messages to the foreign Embassy. Embassy personnel may try to locate your student, pass on urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back.
To reach your student directly
If your student is staying in a hotel, use the hotel contact information listed on the web page for your student's program. The Office of International Education cannot give out private residence or homestay phone numbers unless authorized in advance by the student, but we will contact your student for you in an emergency.
To reach someone at UW Oshkosh during office hours (7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F)
- Office
of International Education Phone: 1 (920) 424-0775
- Jenna Graff: Director, Office of International Education - graff@uwosh.edu
- Dr. William Baurecht: Coordinator, National Student Exchange - baurecht@uwosh.edu
- Maria Carvalho : Front Line Advisor - oie@uwosh.edu
- Tom Kiekhafer : Program Manager - kiekhaft@uwosh.edu
- Brian Mylrea: International Student Advisor - mylreab@uwosh.edu
- Office of International Education Fax: 1 (920) 424-0185
- Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-1410
- Office of the Provost & Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-0300
To reach someone at UW Oshkosh outside of normal office hours
University Police: 1 (920) 424-1216
To reach local contacts associated with our program ABROAD
Email voluntarios@mineduc.cl or call 011- 56-2-487-5466.
Time Zone Differences
This page was last updated on: September 22, 2009