Expanish - Volunteer in Buenos Aires on your May Session (Maymester) Abroad

  Argentina

• Buenos Aires: 
Buenos Aires

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: Short-Term May Sessions: For university students who wish to study in Buenos Aires for a shorter period of time, Expanish offers a specialty Spanish immersion Maymester at the Universidad de Belgrano (UB). Students can choose either our 4-week program during a special university term in May. Students focus on intensive Spanish language acquisition, in combination with weekly cultural activities, workshops with locals outside of the classroom on topics from rock climbing to photography, weekend excursions to Colonia, Uruguay, and Iguazú Falls, Argentina, and the option of living with a local family or local students. Students can also have an "intercambio" who acts as their language exchange partner. In addition to their classes, students also have the option of a volunteer placement with our primary partner non-profit organization.

Expanish offers university students an unconventional approach to studying abroad in South America! We expand the student experience beyond just the classroom by providing local cultural integration through volunteering, fun workshops, internships, weekend excursions, homestays, and daily activities with native South Americans outside of the traditional collegiate setting. Expanish offers a variety of programs for university students wishing to study for a few weeks up through a full year abroad.

**Have Facebook?** Get the inside scoop on what Expanish students are up to by joining our Facebook FanPage. Search Facebook for Expanish Spanish Schools & Study Abroad to view photos and videos, follow our event calendar, read student reviews, make pre-departure contacts, and more!

Highlights: Expanish expands the student experience by providing the opportunity for cultural integration through skill workshops, weekend excursions, homestays, and daily activities with native Latin Americans outside of the traditional collegiate setting.

Expanish offers university group excursions from Buenos Aires specifically for students on our programs, and an Expanish trip coordinator goes on each of these trips to offer an insider's perspective and a knowledgeable answer to any question students have along the way.

* Internship placements available on all programs of 8 weeks or more.

* Volunteer Placements available on all programs of 6 weeks or more.

Weekend Excursions from Buenos Aires

* Day trip to Colonia, Uruguay
* Day trip to an Estancia (traditional ranch), Argentina
* Weekend trip to Iguazú Falls, Argentina
* Mendoza, Argentina

Weekly Activities

* Weekly staff and student dinners
* Weekly soccer games
* Day trips to Tigre
* Local band concerts
* Day at an estancia (traditional Argentine ranch)
* Asados (Argentine barbecue)
* Tango show and classes
* Museum & exhibit visits
* Theatre & movie outings
* Running & bike tours

Supplemental Workshops         
* Tango
* Wine Tasting
* Cooking
* Fileteado Painting
* Photography
* Polo

Qualifications: Students who wish to participate in the Expanish Volunteer Program as a part of their May Session (Maymester) Abroad must be at least eighteen years old and have a low-intermediate Spanish level. They must also include a one page essay in Spanish expressing why they want to volunteer in Buenos Aires. The duration of the volunteer placement will be for the entire length of the program.

* University courses and academic credit
* Official university transcript
* Home stay or shared student apartment with locals
* Volunteer placement
* Internship placement (depending on Spanish level)
* Weekend excursions:
* Day trip to Colonia, Uruguay
* Day trip to an Estancia (traditional Argentina ranch) - Programs of 8 weeks or more
* Weekend trip to Iguazu Falls
* Weekend trip to Mendoza - Programs of 8 weeks or more
* Weekly cultural and social activities coordination
* Airport pickup
* Conversation partner (Intercambio)
* Program orientation & city tour
* ISIC student ID card
* Free cell phone (with a US$50 deposit)
* Pre-arrival and welcome packets (calling card, subway pass, insider city guide, maps, and more)

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Argentina Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Transcript
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Expanish's Mission Statement: Expanish is one of the most innovative Spanish immersion programs in Latin America: students do not just take classes, they actually live and breathe the South American culture. Our base in metropolitan Buenos Aires and our strong contacts all over South America provide a unique experience for visiting students and our unconventional approach to studying abroad combines Spanish language and university-accredited courses with exceptional cultural experiences and local accommodation resulting in a well-rounded educational program tailored to each student's strengths. Expanish offers an extracurricular component to every course of study consisting of skill workshops from photography to rock-climbing, local homestays and shared student apartments, weekend excursions, and daily activities with local inhabitants that take the experience of learning Spanish and studying abroad into a new dimension.

Year Founded: 2006