Overview

Components

The institute has both in-class and outside of class activities. Working with teachers from the Probigua language school, participants have the following daily sessions:

• one-on-one personalized grammar and conversation classes.
  
  
• a group class on Guatemalan culture and history with a native speaker.

La Antigua is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Latin America. Its 25,000 people live surrounded by green hills and volcanic mountains. The city offers numerous cultural and athletic opportunities, fine restaurants, great shopping for crafts, and a near perfect climate. Its colonial buildings are well preserved. In fact, UNESCO has declared Antigua to be a Heritage of Mankind.

Institute Instructors

María Gillman, has more than 20 years teaching experience at the elementary, secondary and university levels, both in Mexico and the United States. She has been involved in all previous Institute programs and has worked regularly with secondary teachers. Gillman is familiar with the needs of varied professionals interested in expanding their understanding of the Spanish language and culture, and she knows Guatemala well. Mexico is her native country.

Probigua Academia de Espanol provides trained native-speaker teachers for individually customized conversation and grammar classes. Teachers are selected for each institute participant based upon best-match criteria. The school donates profits to establish and maintain libraries in many rural villages. In 2001, Probigua was awarded the "Access to Learning" prize by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation for their work.

Here's what past participants had to say about The Guatemala Experience:

"The overall experience was incredible. I think it was a well rounded introduction to a beautiful country and culture." — Sunni Gee

"Maria was the BEST! Very clear, helpful and on top of everything." — Mari Knowles, Edmonds School District

"I am glad to have had the opportunity to join this program. It has enriched and advanced my conversational skills. The one-on-one lessons with my tutor were very helpful." — Minda Wilson, Aki Kurose Middle School

"Our host family was lovely. They were so pleasant and tried to help us so much. They talked to us at every meal." — Evelyn Velchoff

Prerequisites

Spanish Language Proficiency: The program aims to serve those who need to improve their Spanish and acquire knowledge of local culture. We are able to adapt language instruction to participants' needs. Those with questions about language eligibility should contact our office at:

206-685-8936
888-469-6499
extnadvising@extn.washington.edu

Health Requirement: It is a requirement of this program that all participants be in good health upon arrival to Guatemala. Anyone with a serious health condition should consult their doctor prior to registering for this program.

Credit and Fees

The Institute fee is $1,950 (subject to change), plus a $35 nonrefundable Registration fee. Housing, planned excursions and almost all meals in Guatemala are included in the Institute fee.

Upon successful completion of the Institute's academic requirements, participants receive six credits of Spanish 493 from the University of Washington.

Note: If you are a UW undergraduate student and have not taken SPAN 303 or 316 plus an additional 300 level course, you must sign up for Span 393 by checking that box on the registration form.

Travel and Associated Fees

Participants are individually responsible for the following arrangements and all associated costs: airfare, transportation to/from airports in the United States, transport and insurance of personal property/luggage, local travel arrangements and associated costs in Guatemala (except for excursions as may be specified by UW), travel documents (passport, visa, etc.), medical insurance, travel insurance and necessary vaccinations.

Registration Deadline and Refunds

Immersion courses fill up fast.

A $500 deposit plus a $35 nonrefundable registration fee is due at the time of registration. A transaction summary and a University of Washington Extension Foreign Travel Waiver will be mailed. Registration is complete when full payment and the signed Travel Waiver are received by UW Extension.

If you should need to withdraw from the Institute, send a written request to the UW Extension Registration Services at 4311 11th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105 or email us at uweoreg@extn.washington.edu. Requests received by the deadline, will receive a full refund less the $35 registration fee. Requests received after the deadline, will be processed without refund.

UW Educational Outreach reserves the right to cancel the Institute if minimum enrollment standards are not met.

Passports, Health Concerns and Insurance, Responsibility and Risk Information

Note: The following information is very important. Please read it carefully.

Passports
Participants need a current passport to participate in this program. If you need a new or renewed passport, please apply for one immediately. For detailed passport information, call the U.S. Department of State Passport Agency in Seattle, 206-808-5700, 900-225-5674, or 900-225-7778 (TDD).

Health Concerns
Before registering, prospective participants should consider the following to determine if the Institute is appropriate:

• foods vary and special diets often cannot be accommodated;
• participants may need to carry their own luggage; and
• medical facilities may not be comparable to those in the United States.

Participants with health concerns should consult their physician regarding the suitability of the trip.

Insurance, Responsibility and Risk
The University of Washington cannot be held responsible for personal illness or injury, nor does the University make any representation as to the availability or level of medical facilities abroad. Participants are responsible for their own health, travel, luggage and personal property insurance. You must have foreign travel medical accident/sickness insurance, including emergency medical evacuation coverage, to participate in this program.

As with any foreign travel experience, participants may encounter unexpected risks. These include (but are not limited to) sickness, exposure to disease, political upheaval, accident, the forces of nature, travel dangers on the ground or in the air, and property loss and damage. Apart from the academic content of the Institute, the University of Washington acts only as an agent for suppliers and contractors providing services for the Institute. The University is not responsible for the acts of third parties which cause injury, death or property loss or damage, nor is it responsible for travel or accommodations disruptions beyond its control. Participants assume all the risks involved and agree to hold harmless the University of Washington for all liability that may arise in connection with participation in this program.

The University further reserves the right to deny participation in this program to any person who fails to make payments or comply with requirements within the specified time, or whose presence could constitute a hazard, and prohibits the use or trade of illicit substances; participants who are found under the influence or in possession of illegal substances will not be allowed to continue with the group.

Questions? Contact us to Learn More!

206-685-8936
888-469-6499
extnadvising@extn.washington.edu

For updated information about the institute, including travel information, please call or e-mail using the contact information above. There will be an orientation meeting for all registered participants in early July.

Accommodations for Disabilities

To request disability accommodation, contact the UW Disability Services Office as early as possible at 206-543-6450 (voice), 206-543-6452 (TTY), 206-685-7264 (fax) or dso@u.washington.edu (e-mail).

(Photos courtesy of Marķa Gillman)