Throughout my time at Penn State, I have had the opportunity to co-direct our Summer Abroad Program in Puebla, Mexico in the summer of 2017 and in the summer of 2018. Not only did I teach courses such as Contemporary Mexican Literature, Central Mexican History and Culture, and Spanish Language in Context, but I also organized various excursions for students to extend the knowledge and information gained in the classroom.
As a group, we visited historical and archaeological sites in Mexico City, Puebla, Querétaro, Guanajuato, and Oaxaca. These experiences were integral to the immersion experience as they required that each student navigate new destinations in the target language. We also engaged in service-learning activities by volunteering at the Telesecundaria de Yohualichan. Apart from teaching duties, mentorship and active communication with my students at all times was integral to the success of the program. Together we created a culture of mutual support to openly discuss any doubts, anxieties, and hopes for the future as they lived and studied in a foreign country. |
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