Guanajuato, Mexico
Rock Creek Bldg. 5, Rm. 203 | 971-722-7152 | FAX: 971-722-7170 | studyabroad@pcc.edu
Program Highlights
- Summer Term Program - July 8 - July 27th, 2012
- Application Deadline - SUMMER 2012 PROGRAM CANCELLED
- Open to students over 18 who have earned at least 12 college units with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Low cost flights, living accommodations
- Earn 4 credits which are transferable for Bachelor’s Degree credit
- Students who receive financial aid to attend PCC may apply their aid toward this program, but must notify their campus financial aid office early
Why study in Mexico?
One of the most beautiful colonial cities of Mexico, Guanajuato was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 for its cultural and historical significance. It is a very walkable city with winding cobblestone streets, charming plazas and pastel-colored houses. Nestled in the mountains at 6583 feet, the city has a temperate climate in the summer, though clouds build up during the day and a rain shower is likely late in the afternoon. With a population of 120,000 residents, Guanajuato boasts a variety of cultural activities: the Cervantes Museum, the Teatro Juarez, the University of Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra, the state historical museum, and the Diego Rivera House, containing early drawings and paintings. The Jardin de la Union is a peaceful site for strolling musicians and vendors in the central plaza, surrounded by attractive cafes.
Spanish classes are held in the Escuela Don Quijote, whose Guanajuato site was started five years ago by the home office in Madrid. All instructors are university-trained language teachers, and the curriculum is a student-centered, interactive methodology grounded in cognitive learning processes. It also follows the Oregon standards for Spanish coursework in a full language immersion program—only Spanish is spoken during class, and activities include a variety of communicative, grammatical and cultural tasks. Better yet, no class is larger than 8 students. The school is located in the residential area of Pastitas, about 25 minutes from downtown, and provides an office for meetings with your faculty advisor.
On the first day of classes, you will be tested and placed according to your listening, speaking and writing skills in Spanish, regardless of which Spanish course you have registered for. This ensures that you derive maximum benefit from your classes.
*Guanajuato Fun Facts
*Site Visit Photographs
Program Dates
Summer 2012 (July 8- July 23, 2012)
Round trip air is included in the total program fee. The flight will be on a regularly scheduled major airline. The exact schedule will be distributed to all participants at the final orientation. Tickets will be distributed and seat assignments made upon check-in at Portland airport.
Itinerary
Depart from Portland (PDX) on Sunday morning, July 8, 10:45 a.m. and arrive via Houston at 8:19 p.m. in Leon-Guanajuato airport (BJX), which is 24 miles from downtown. The don Quijote shuttle bus will greet you and take you home to rest and visit. The Spanish placement tests and classes begin Monday and classes continue through Friday with optional field trips on the weekends of July 14-15 and 21-22. Homestay check-out is at 11 a.m. on July 27, and the shuttle bus will drop you at the airport for a 2:30 p.m. departure to arrive via Houston into Portland at 4:48 p.m. Friday afternoon.
What Next?
- Review the Study Abroad Handbook and the Steps to Study Abroad.
- Attend an Informational Meeting.
- Complete and submit the Guanajuato Abroad application (submit electronically by email) .
- Complete and submit the Release Form.
- Review Program Fees and follow Payment Schedule.
- Email program coordinator Greg Lyons if you have any questions.