Domestic Gap Year Programs: Benefits and What to Expect
Posted On
05/11/22
Author
Kimberly Manning
WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 159200
[post_author] => 1537
[post_date] => 2022-05-11 14:53:24
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-05-11 20:53:24
[post_content] => If you’re planning a gap year but don’t know if traveling abroad is for you, consider exploring domestic gap year programs. International travel boasts numerous benefits, but you don’t have to travel far to be in a completely different reality.
In domestic gap year programs, you’re immersed in a culture unlike your own right in your own backyard. Hear stories of the land and gain a brand new perspective of the abundant culture and history of what we now know as the United States of America.
[caption id="attachment_157307" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]
Photo by Erin King, Dragons Administrator[/caption]
Benefits of Domestic Gap Year Programs
All Where There Be Dragons programs offer meaningful education, and domestic programs are no different. Domestic gap year programs encourage students to learn about impactful issues and uncover a whole new world of culture and identity. This type of education delivers an unparalleled connection to the country’s roots while encouraging personal development and cultural exploration.
Students who are seeking non-traditional learning without leaving the country will find domestic gap year programs an ideal alternative to learn about social justice, sustainability, agriculture, land rights, and more.
Learn About US Social Justice Issues
A key component of the Where There Be Dragons domestic gap year programs is social justice. Understand the narratives of the culture and hear stories from local communities to gain new perspectives of US policy and relations.
Learn about political and social considerations as it relates to border issues, as well as nationalism and US immigration policy. Students will benefit from learning directly from individuals and organizations at the front-line of immigrant-advocacy work. Relations throughout this region are constantly fluctuating and changing. Through studying in this region, students will uncover the stories of the past 600 years of colonization and life prior, as well as how to move forward.
[caption id="attachment_157027" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]
Photo by Dave Haffeman, Instructor.[/caption]
Experience Sustainability Amid Changing Climate Conditions
The richly diverse landscapes throughout the Southwest United States are truly remarkable, from the mountain peaks to the flowing rivers to the naturally carved sandstone sculptures. The parks and open land of this region are among the most dramatic in the country, and students can connect deeply to the natural environment of the Southwest. Meet with stewards of the land to gain a deep understanding of ancestral heritage, indigenous rights, and issues present today.
Students will also dive deep into sustainability, food sovereignty, and cutting-edge regenerative agriculture and its potential. Learn the integral role the Rio Grande plays in sustaining practices and life throughout the past and present.
[caption id="attachment_157297" align="aligncenter" width="2100"]
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service/Cookie Ballou, Big Bend National Park, TX.[/caption]
Spend a Semester Along the Rio Grande
Where There Be Dragons offers a semester program along the Rio Grande and beyond to study sustainability, permaculture, history, policy, and ecology. Students experience the beauty and wonder along the Colorado River Basin, the Continental Divide, and Big Bend National Park, as well as those who call this region home. Throughout the semester, students explore areas of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado studying natural and human history throughout the region.
This program dives into topics like food justice, food sovereignty, land use, natural resources, permaculture, sustainable farming, and more. This region boasts great history and today grapples with many controversial topics as droughts worsen and access to water becomes more sparse. Students learn about these topics and practical solutions amid increasing struggles related to climate change.
Learn More About Our Domestic Gap Year Programs
[post_title] => Domestic Gap Year Programs: Benefits and What to Expect
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => domestic-gap-year-programs
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2022-05-11 14:55:34
[post_modified_gmt] => 2022-05-11 20:55:34
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news//
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[categories] => Array
(
[0] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 697
[name] => Dragons Travel Guide
[slug] => dragons-travel-guide
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 697
[taxonomy] => category
[description] =>
[parent] => 0
[count] => 26
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 3
[cat_ID] => 697
[category_count] => 26
[category_description] =>
[cat_name] => Dragons Travel Guide
[category_nicename] => dragons-travel-guide
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/dragons-travel-guide/
)
[1] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 1
[name] => Uncategorized
[slug] => uncategorized
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 1
[taxonomy] => category
[description] =>
[parent] => 0
[count] => 23
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 16
[cat_ID] => 1
[category_count] => 23
[category_description] =>
[cat_name] => Uncategorized
[category_nicename] => uncategorized
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/uncategorized/
)
)
[category_links] => Dragons Travel Guide, Uncategorized
)
WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 159168
[post_author] => 1537
[post_date] => 2022-05-05 11:35:44
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-05-05 17:35:44
[post_content] => Located in West Africa, Senegal is a cultural hub for the continent of Africa. Senegal is a mecca with robust arts, rich traditions, historic landmarks, and remarkable natural landscapes. Home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and six national parks, Senegal is a country full of one-of-a-kind experiences. The beautiful and rich Senegal culture may feel much different from Western society, so it’s important to consider the roots and traditions of the country before visiting.
[caption id="attachment_158113" align="aligncenter" width="1695"]
Visiting a Pulaar village in Senegal. Photo by Morgan Sutton.[/caption]
Elements of Senegal Culture
Language
While Senegal has some colonial influences, much of the country still embraces indigenous traditions and practices of the land. The official language is French although the native languages of Wolof, Pullar, Diola, and Mandigo are spoken as well. Senegalese people are most commonly Muslim, although roughly 6 percent of the population practices indigenous religions as well. The country boasts many ethnic groups with the Wolof, Fula, and Serer being the most predominant.
Fashion
The Senegalese people wear vibrantly colored clothing, and fashion is considered an important component of an individual’s identity. Dressing up for the day is the norm, so it’s common for locals to wear their creativity. Senegal is also home to a robust artistic community famous for jewelry made of gold, silver, and bronze.
[caption id="attachment_153726" align="aligncenter" width="900"]
Photo by Elke Schmidt, Instructor.[/caption]
Food
Food, like many cultures, plays an important role in the lives of Senegalese people. Culinary inspiration comes from French and North African cuisines as well as local indigenous traditions.
Popular dishes include Thieboudienne, Chicken Yassa, Caldou, Bassi Salte, and Mafe. Common foods used include chicken, lamb, beef, couscous, lentils, white rice, sweet potatoes, and a variety of vegetables. Traditionally, pork is not eaten in Senegal due to the large population of Muslims. While there is no legal drinking age, drinking is not a large part of the culture here. It’s considered offensive to be publicly intoxicated in Senegal.
Religion
Religion is important to Senegalese people, and it’s common for people to be suspicious of those who do not practice religion at all. At the same time, many people in Senegal believe in spiritual guides, herbalists, and diviners, and the power of these supernatural forces.
Nature
Senegal boasts six national parks with a diverse environment ranging from the savannah to mangrove ecosystems. Due to the vast array of landscapes, there are abundant species of flora and fauna. The country is home to more than 600 birds as well as the African bush elephant, panthers, cheetahs, lips, hyenas, leopards, and many species of monkeys. You may also see aquatic creatures like manatees, whales, and dolphins along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, rivers, and lagoons.
Etiquette
Greetings are crucial in Senegal each time you meet someone and are believed to be an integral component of a good relationship. Senegalese people prioritize asking about the health and wellbeing of a person and their family and may consider an individual to be rude if they don’t follow that practice. Meeting etiquette will vary based on the relationship, but formal introductions are considered to be customary no matter the closeness.
When dining, Senegalese table manners tend to be formal. Individuals are shown to their seats and the arrangement is typically based on hierarchy. Food is often served communally. You are to only eat with your right hand and refrain from reaching across a bowl for something. It’s customary to sample and take seconds of a dish. Once the meal is complete, Senegalese people will typically continue conversion at the table.
Immerse Yourself in Senegal Culture
Experience the culture of Senegal with Where There Be Dragons. Our Senegal programs include a four-week summer program, a West Africa gap year program, and 11-day adult immersion.
[post_title] => What is Senegal Culture Like?
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => senegal-culture
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2022-05-05 11:35:44
[post_modified_gmt] => 2022-05-05 17:35:44
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news//
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[categories] => Array
(
[0] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 1
[name] => Uncategorized
[slug] => uncategorized
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 1
[taxonomy] => category
[description] =>
[parent] => 0
[count] => 23
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 16
[cat_ID] => 1
[category_count] => 23
[category_description] =>
[cat_name] => Uncategorized
[category_nicename] => uncategorized
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/uncategorized/
)
)
[category_links] => Uncategorized
)
What is Senegal Culture Like?
Posted On
05/05/22
Author
Kimberly Manning
Description
Located in West Africa, Senegal is a cultural hub for the continent of Africa. Senegal is a mecca with robust arts, rich traditions, historic landmarks, and remarkable natural landscapes. Home… Read MoreWP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 159145
[post_author] => 1535
[post_date] => 2022-05-03 17:25:15
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-05-03 23:25:15
[post_content] => We are so excited to announce the 2022 Dragons Video Interns! This summer we'll have five interns traveling across the globe, capturing the day-to-day experience, exciting moments, and beautiful stories that make up Dragons' programs. We spoke with a few of the interns to show you what they're up to and why they are excited for this project! Some interns are Dragons alumni and we have some folks who have been around the Dragons community — and we're so lucky they're here with us this summer to tell the Dragons story.
[caption id="attachment_159150" align="aligncenter" width="566"]
Danielle Mullings, 2022 Video Intern[/caption]
Danielle Mullings, 2019 South America Semester Alumni
Where are you in life now? What are you up to?
Marrying her love for technology and the arts, Danielle is a The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Scholar studying for a BSc in software engineering with a minor in film studies. Her dynamism currently finds her as the UWI Mona Guild President, youth leader, television host/producer and partnership and campaign officer for Transform Health. Exciting for Danielle is the opportunity to be working with youth groups for other key digital health initiatives, including the Governing Health Futures 2030 operated by the Lancet and Financial Times commission. A champion for advocacy, Mullings was also recognized as one of the Young Experts in Tech for Health in the Americas Region. In addition, Danielle was also a UNICEF U-Report Jamaica ambassador. She and her team worked assiduously to begin the development of a mental health chatline, which was recently launched in March of this year.
Why are you excited about this project?
I have long been passionate about documentary making which I view as the gateway to cultural retention and the edification of a shared identity. Here within the Caribbean, I aim to advance our capacity to accurately represent our own stories through my work. Thus, I am excited to tell the story of Dragons students, instructors and the communities we engage with. To this day, I still carry the Dragon's spirit of a curious, conscious and socially aware traveler who is eager to meet and engage with new people. Thus, traveling with this team again is always a welcomed adventure and opportunity.
[caption id="attachment_159149" align="aligncenter" width="566"]
Arian Tomar, 2022 Video Intern[/caption]
Adrian Tomar, 2022 Video Intern
Where are you in life now? What are you up to?
My name is Arian Tomar, I am an international student from the land historically stewarded by the Wahpekute Dakota Band in what is now known as St. Paul, Minnesota. I am studying in so called British Columbia on the unceded territory of the Scia'new Beecher Bay First Nation at Pearson College UWC, one of the seventeen United World Colleges whose mission it is to use "education as a force to unite peoples, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future." This fall I will be heading to Los Angeles to study film production at the University of Southern California. I am a documentary filmmaker and outdoor media creator who draws from my diverse interests and background as a Third Culture Kid to tell stories that connect audiences with the world around them, generate empathy, and motivate socially aware action. Currently I am finishing up a documentary project to uplift local perspectives from Vancouver Island to support salmon restoration and conservation across the Pacific salmon bioregion. I am also hosting this season of Coastal Insights, a webinar made in partnership between the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and Take a Stand: Youth for Conservation. This season, our guests are speaking about hope, equity, and advocacy in the face of the climate crisis.
Why are you excited for this project?
I am excited to be part of this project because of my experience with the UWC movement and my belief in the power of media to bring the world together. Through the cross-cultural, experiential learning model of UWC, I have learned so much about my place in the world and how I may make an impact on a global scale in a community of change-makers. Furthermore, I hope to use the power of media and storytelling to motivate audiences to take socially aware action for the betterment of all. Where There Be Dragons brings these two sides of me together to capture stories of resilience, growth, reflection, and community at a time in the world where hope feels distant. In working with Where There Be Dragons, I hope to highlight what makes us all human and inspire audiences to share Dragons' vision to foster a more compassionate, just, and inclusive world.
[caption id="attachment_159151" align="aligncenter" width="566"]
Benjamin Swift, 2022 Video Intern[/caption]
Benjamin Swift, 2016 South America Semester Alumni
Where are you in life now? What are you currently up to?
After two gap years (one after high school during which I did my Dragons semester, and one last year during Covid), I am in my last semester at Colorado College where I am studying sociology.
Why are you excited for this project?
In addition to my sociology studies in college, I completed several filmmaking courses and learned to love telling stories through film. However, many of my films thus far have not directly related to my interest in activism and social change, which is one of the components of Dragons I am excited to explore through this project. I have always seen film as a way to share important stories in an engaging way, and am thrilled to begin doing that as a video production intern.
[post_title] => Announcing the 2022 Summer Video Interns!
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => video-interns
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2022-05-05 11:17:49
[post_modified_gmt] => 2022-05-05 17:17:49
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[categories] => Array
(
[0] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 653
[name] => Global Community
[slug] => global_community
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 653
[taxonomy] => category
[description] => Featured International People, Places, Projects.
[parent] => 0
[count] => 47
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 7
[cat_ID] => 653
[category_count] => 47
[category_description] => Featured International People, Places, Projects.
[cat_name] => Global Community
[category_nicename] => global_community
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/global_community/
)
[1] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 641
[name] => About Dragons
[slug] => about_dragons
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 641
[taxonomy] => category
[description] => Press, Essays from Admin, and Behind-the-Scenes HQ.
[parent] => 0
[count] => 43
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 10
[cat_ID] => 641
[category_count] => 43
[category_description] => Press, Essays from Admin, and Behind-the-Scenes HQ.
[cat_name] => About Dragons
[category_nicename] => about_dragons
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/about_dragons/
)
[2] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 1
[name] => Uncategorized
[slug] => uncategorized
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 1
[taxonomy] => category
[description] =>
[parent] => 0
[count] => 23
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 16
[cat_ID] => 1
[category_count] => 23
[category_description] =>
[cat_name] => Uncategorized
[category_nicename] => uncategorized
[category_parent] => 0
)
)
[category_links] => Global Community, About Dragons ...
)
Announcing the 2022 Summer Video Interns!
Posted On
05/03/22
Author
Alex Biddle
Description
We are so excited to announce the 2022 Dragons Video Interns! This summer we’ll have five interns traveling across the globe, capturing the day-to-day experience, exciting moments, and beautiful stories… Read MoreWP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 159120
[post_author] => 1537
[post_date] => 2022-04-26 10:32:39
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-04-26 16:32:39
[post_content] => Choosing the best gap year programs to suit your needs can be a challenging task, but it should also be fun and exciting. If you’re planning a gap year program abroad or in the U.S, there are a lot of things to consider, including the type of activities, location, and cost.
Know your goals for your travel and what you want to learn and experience. Each program offers something different, so be sure to consider your options to determine what is best for you.
[caption id="attachment_159099" align="aligncenter" width="2000"]
British Columbia, Photo by Arvin Singh, Dragons Instructor [/caption]
Types of Gap Year Programs
At Where There Be Dragons, we offer one-of-a-kind programs that allow for cultural exploration, language study, learning service, and immersive education. We embrace responsible travel that delivers unfiltered and unplugged experiences. Our programs are ideal for students who want to be engulfed in a new culture without modern day-to-day distractions of smartphones and technology.
Determine the Best Time to Take Your Gap Year
Many students choose to plan a gap year program between their high school graduation and first year of college. However, you can be flexible when you take yours. At Where There Be Dragons, we offer gap year programs for students between the ages of 17-22. We also work with students who are taking a gap year away from college or high school students who graduate early.
[caption id="attachment_158471" align="aligncenter" width="2560"]
Nepal, Photo by Annika Kendall, Student.[/caption]
Know Where You Want to Travel
Another decision you’ll need to make is where you want to travel. Your experience and area of study is going to range depending on your destination. Gap travel programs cover environmental sustainability, community, culture, history, art, and more. Dragons has programs in Morocco, Nepal, Indonesia, Guatemala, Bhutan, Southeast Asia, Senegal, the Andes, the United States, and more.
Consider Cost, Budget and Payment Options
Cost is a big factor to consider when choosing a gap year travel program. Whether you’re paying for it on your own or plan to use financial aid options, it’s important to consider finances early on to prepare accordingly.
Dragons offers need-based financial aid for students who require assistance. Students can apply along with their program application and provide a cover letter and necessary documentation. There’s no harm in applying, even if you’re not sure you’ll get it! Other options include external scholarships, private loans, or 529 educational savings funds. A 529 plan is a savings plan operated by a state or educational institution, which can be used on for-credit gap year programs.
[post_title] => How to Choose the Best Gap Year Programs For You
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => best-gap-year-programs
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2022-04-26 10:32:39
[post_modified_gmt] => 2022-04-26 16:32:39
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[categories] => Array
(
[0] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 1
[name] => Uncategorized
[slug] => uncategorized
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 1
[taxonomy] => category
[description] =>
[parent] => 0
[count] => 23
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 16
[cat_ID] => 1
[category_count] => 23
[category_description] =>
[cat_name] => Uncategorized
[category_nicename] => uncategorized
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/uncategorized/
)
)
[category_links] => Uncategorized
)
How to Choose the Best Gap Year Programs For You
Posted On
04/26/22
Author
Kimberly Manning
Description
Choosing the best gap year programs to suit your needs can be a challenging task, but it should also be fun and exciting. If you’re planning a gap year program… Read MoreWP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 159106
[post_author] => 1537
[post_date] => 2022-04-14 18:11:37
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-04-15 00:11:37
[post_content] => [caption id="attachment_159108" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
Photo by Luis Reyes, Peru[/caption]
You may have heard the term carbon offset, carbon footprint, or carbon-neutral before, but do you understand what they mean and how they work together? As individuals we all have a carbon footprint based on our daily actions like driving a car, taking a flight, and consuming goods. Carbon offsets are a way to neutralize the actions we take and the actions required to support our daily lives so that our carbon footprint is minimized as much as possible.
What are Carbon Offsets?
A carbon offset is a credit that an organization or person can purchase to reduce the carbon footprint that is generated by that individual or group. Carbon offset credits are often intended to make a person or organization carbon-neutral. This happens when enough carbon offset credits are obtained to balance out the impact.
Carbon offsets are typically used to counteract greenhouse gas emissions that are generated by the activities of a person or organization, which include both direct and indirect emissions. These credits go toward funding renewable energy projects, land restoration and conservation, community projects, and more.
What are Carbon Footprints?
When thinking of carbon offsets, we need to understand carbon footprints. A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gasses that are generated by specific actions, which includes both carbon dioxide and methane gasses. Carbon footprints include everything we do and consume, including travel, our home, utility usage, food, and shopping. All of these things have a direct and indirect carbon footprint.
Carbon Offsets and Study Abroad
Study abroad programs, gap year programs, and travel, in general, comes with an associated carbon footprint. From airfare to daily excursions to food consumption to shopping- environmental and social impact need to be considered when traveling abroad.
Dragons programs promote minimizing both environmental and cultural impact in each destination. This experience includes staying in family-owned accommodations and utilizing local transportation options like tuk-tuks, train cars, and camionetas. And while Where There Be Dragons strives to provide an environmentally responsible travel experience once abroad, airfare remains a critical component that is simply unavoidable. This is where carbon offsets come into play.
Does Where There Be Dragons Offer Carbon Offsetting?
At Where There Be Dragons, we’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint. In 2019, Dragons began offsetting 100% of its administrative carbon footprint, and in 2020, began including carbon offsets in tuition for airfare. While we understand that carbon offsets are not the only solution for reducing our carbon footprint, we believe they are an important component of our organizational goals to reduce harmful impact.
[post_title] => What Are Carbon Offsets and How Do They Work?
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => what-are-carbon-offsets
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2022-04-14 18:12:37
[post_modified_gmt] => 2022-04-15 00:12:37
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
[categories] => Array
(
[0] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 1
[name] => Uncategorized
[slug] => uncategorized
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 1
[taxonomy] => category
[description] =>
[parent] => 0
[count] => 23
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 16
[cat_ID] => 1
[category_count] => 23
[category_description] =>
[cat_name] => Uncategorized
[category_nicename] => uncategorized
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/uncategorized/
)
)
[category_links] => Uncategorized
)
What Are Carbon Offsets and How Do They Work?
Posted On
04/14/22
Author
Kimberly Manning
Description
You may have heard the term carbon offset, carbon footprint, or carbon-neutral before, but do you understand what they mean and how they work together? As individuals we all have… Read MoreWP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 158834
[post_author] => 1534
[post_date] => 2022-02-08 17:00:33
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-02-09 00:00:33
[post_content] => After years of whizzing through Spanish classes in school, acing quizzes and learning vocabulary like a pro, you feel confident in your skills. Except when that person who stopped to ask you a couple of questions (in Spanish) on the street, you freeze. All of those vocab words seem useless now because you're forgetting how to string together a sentence or conjugate the correct tense of the verb (preterite or imperfect? Do I need to use subjunctive...ahhh). When you get home, you open your laptop and quickly google "Where is the best place to learn Spanish?"
[caption id="attachment_126156" align="aligncenter" width="1673"]
Students take language classes in Bolivia (divided into small groups based on language level)[/caption]
The first thing you're sure to find is lists of countries or cities where we're promised to learn "the most authentic Spanish", or “the Spanish that does not have an accent". However, after having accompanied first hand the learning process of many students who have become fluent in Spanish, I have a confession. The best place to learn a language is not necessarily a place. It is, first of all, an environment.
[caption id="attachment_126064" align="aligncenter" width="1695"]
A student learns how to weave from a Bolivian man.[/caption]
What's the best environment for learning Spanish?
The best environment for learning Spanish is one that gives you the opportunity to learn and practice in a classroom environment, and then practice what you learned with the local people — in the same day. This structure gives you the possibility “to learn how to learn” from a local point of view. That is to say, an environment in which, through the cultivation of deep and respectful relationships with the communities you visit, the doors are opened for you to critically reflect on your learning process. Thus, stop being docile receivers of information and become co-protagonists in the production of knowledge.
[caption id="attachment_130717" align="aligncenter" width="1695"]
Photo by Ryan Kost, Instructor.[/caption]
How does Dragons structure language learning?
And it is precisely this type of environment that we seek to promote (foster) in our Dragons programs in Peru, Guatemala and Bolivia, the three most indigenous countries in Latin America. Whether in semesters such as Andes & Amazon or Guatemala Language Immersion, or in the summer programs, we seek to combine personalized Spanish instruction with extended homestay and community engagement in which you have the opportunity not only to learn Spanish in an abstract way but from the ways of existence of the place that welcomes you.
It is through these experiences that you will develop better understanding of how to respond to your environment. It will also deepen your comprehension of why people use the words they use, or why they chose to say things the way they do.
[caption id="attachment_155513" align="aligncenter" width="1440"]
Students celebrate with host families in Peru.[/caption]
Whether it is talking in a market with the lady who sells fruit, at home with your homestay father, or in an indigenous community learning about the use of medicinal plants, you'll be learning Spanish. You will be encouraged from the moment you land to the last day of the trip (and beyond!) to learn and to question what we have learned, in a profound way.
This will not be a trip to learn Spanish in Peru, Guatemala or Bolivia, but a journey through which you will learn how to learn Spanish through the profound and meaningful relationship you will establish with Peruvians, Guatemalans, and Bolivians, and the breathtaking landscapes they inhabit.
Click here to learn more about our immersive language learning programs in Latin America.
[post_title] => Where's the Best Place to Learn Spanish
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => wheres-the-best-place-to-learn-spanish
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2022-02-09 09:31:58
[post_modified_gmt] => 2022-02-09 16:31:58
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 1
[filter] => raw
[categories] => Array
(
[0] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 697
[name] => Dragons Travel Guide
[slug] => dragons-travel-guide
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 697
[taxonomy] => category
[description] =>
[parent] => 0
[count] => 26
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 3
[cat_ID] => 697
[category_count] => 26
[category_description] =>
[cat_name] => Dragons Travel Guide
[category_nicename] => dragons-travel-guide
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/dragons-travel-guide/
)
[1] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 638
[name] => From the Field
[slug] => from_the_field
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 638
[taxonomy] => category
[description] => Featured Yaks, Reflections, Quotes, Photo Spreads and Videos from the Four Corners.
[parent] => 0
[count] => 36
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 5
[cat_ID] => 638
[category_count] => 36
[category_description] => Featured Yaks, Reflections, Quotes, Photo Spreads and Videos from the Four Corners.
[cat_name] => From the Field
[category_nicename] => from_the_field
[category_parent] => 0
[link] => https://www.wheretherebedragons.com/news/category/from_the_field/
)
[2] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 641
[name] => About Dragons
[slug] => about_dragons
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 641
[taxonomy] => category
[description] => Press, Essays from Admin, and Behind-the-Scenes HQ.
[parent] => 0
[count] => 43
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 10
[cat_ID] => 641
[category_count] => 43
[category_description] => Press, Essays from Admin, and Behind-the-Scenes HQ.
[cat_name] => About Dragons
[category_nicename] => about_dragons
[category_parent] => 0
)
[3] => WP_Term Object
(
[term_id] => 1
[name] => Uncategorized
[slug] => uncategorized
[term_group] => 0
[term_taxonomy_id] => 1
[taxonomy] => category
[description] =>
[parent] => 0
[count] => 23
[filter] => raw
[term_order] => 16
[cat_ID] => 1
[category_count] => 23
[category_description] =>
[cat_name] => Uncategorized
[category_nicename] => uncategorized
[category_parent] => 0
)
)
[category_links] => Dragons Travel Guide, From the Field ...
)
Where’s the Best Place to Learn Spanish
Posted On
02/08/22
Author
Luis Reyes
