Summer Exchange Programs - Argentina

Age Range:

15 years 0 months - 18 years 6 months

Birth Date Range:

12/22/93 - 06/22/97

Travel Dates:

Jun 18-21, 2012 - Jul 23-26, 2012

Application Deadline Extended! Apply by April 16, 2012

Argentina Summer Language Study Program

This 4 week program is designed to further your Spanish language skills through formal study while offering you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the lifestyle and culture of Argentina.

Program Details

You and your fellow AFSers will fly together between Miami and Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina. Upon your arrival, you will be met by volunteers and staff of AFS Argentina and taken to the Arrival Orientation site located in outside Buenos Aires. There you will take part in a 2-day orientation that will help prepare you for your intercultural experience. Following the orientation, you and the group will travel to your host community by bus where you will be met by the local volunteers and your host families.

80 hours of Spanish language classes (4 hours per day, 5 days per week) will be offered by a professional language school. Beginner Spanish speakers welcome. Classes are offered exclusively to AFS students (from both the United States and Italy). Class size varies by language level but will be approx. 5-12 students per class. All language study materials will be provided but we suggest that you bring an English-Spanish dictionary for personal use.

In addition to your language classes, other cultural lessons and activities will be organized by your local AFS volunteers. These may include cooking classes, tango lessons, sightseeing trips, and visits to nearby places of historic interest.

Placement Realities

The host communities are determined based on the number of participants. You may be placed in Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Paraná, Concepción del Uruguay, or Santiago del Estero. Your site will be assigned by AFS Argentina.

Meals and Diet

Be prepared to eat most of your meals with your host family, as meals carry strong social significance in Argentina, and families typically eat together. Eating beef is central to Argentinean culture and cuisine. Due to the high level of meat consumption in Argentina, applicants who require a vegetarian diet will not be accepted.

Eligibility

To participate in this program, you must:

• Be within the age range at the start of the program (age range located above)
• Have a passing GPA. Preference given to applicants with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) (on a 4.0 scale)
• Be mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policies
• Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
• Be in possession or have applied for a U.S. passport at the time of application.

Learn More about the Argentina Summer Langauge Program