3 Reasons Your Language Base Accelerates Your Spanish Abroad

EdOdyssey’s partner language school, El Sol, located in Miraflores, Peru.

“Wow! Your Spanish is so good! How long have you been studying it?” You may hear this type of compliment during your time studying abroad, but it takes some commitment before and during study abroad for up and coming language learners.  

After you’ve spent some time creating a strong language base at home, you’ll be able to take that foundation of language skills with you abroad. It is very beneficial and necessary to build up your language skills before study abroad so you can maximize your experience while abroad.

Here are 3 ways how learning language at home will help take your language skills to the next level:

Build Deeper Connections

With the knowledge of a language, you can really take a dive into a culture. Furthermore, you have a foundation for basic communication that gives you a base of the language to connect with others on a level that is more than a friendly hello and goodbye relationship. 

You’ll need to make sure that you have a sense of how the language works and feel confident enough so you can work on going faster while still feeling in control. The world continues to move quicker, and it is still truly connected with language, which is one of the most effective tools that brings people together.

Increase Your Confidence Abroad

Before you decide that you want to study abroad, you too can experience the benefits of language firsthand. It will only require some work on your part with regard to studying the language of your choice.

A local art piece featuring the Spanish language.

For EdOdyssey’s study abroad program in Peru, it requires at least three Spanish courses of knowledge, or the equivalent in Spanish knowledge for you to have some context going into the experience. For example, if you plan to study abroad in Peru during the spring semester, it may be a good idea to make sure that you work on the language during the fall semester. If you put in the time and effort leading up to your study abroad experience, you will be setting yourself up to take the most advantage of your time abroad. 

Before even arriving, you will have a general sense of the language going into the experience which will give you more confidence and autonomy when you want to explore on your own. This will not only help you when taking classes in another language, but with your daily life, making friends, and connecting to the culture when abroad. 

When I did the EdOdyssey Peru program, I was with a group of fellow classmates in the program who also had a strong base of Spanish. All of us had signed the language pact to speak in Spanish and I felt like the intensive 80 hours of Spanish classes took my Spanish to the next level to fully enjoy and make the most of my time abroad.

A Second Language s a Gift For Life

Understanding a second language, such as Spanish, is beneficial when exploring the city during your travels!

The advantage of going abroad is that study abroad itself accelerates language learning. When you are abroad in the streets of Peru, you are going to have to be able to speak the language. Therefore, you will attain daily practice of a language, improving your proficiency (and hopefully local tongue) by the day. Language is a powerful tool, but its full power is only activated if you properly prepare yourself for experiences abroad.

As an EdOdyssey Peru alum, I saw first hand how my Spanish went from basic to conversational within my time in Lima and I continue to use it and study it. After you’ve invested the time and effort, you have to make sure that you do your best to keep it alive!

Interested in improving your second language skills? EdOdyssey’s study abroad program in Peru includes an intensive 80 hour Spanish language booster program for all students to advance their Spanish! Visit our study abroad page for more details!

What Makes EdOdyssey Study Abroad Excursions Special

This is me, Jake Leary, exploring Peru’s jungle!

From my study abroad semester-long experience in Peru through EdOdyssey, some of the most memorable parts of my experience were from the excursions that were a part of the program.

Initially, I thought that these excursions would be fun trips, but I did not realize the how all-encompassing, holistic nature of each location and vast difference in landscape that these respective areas have in Peru they would be.  

Pre-Paid & Pre-Planned? Yes!

During each of the excursions to Ica, Cusco, and Iquitos I never had to worry about any aspect of the trip, as everything was all-inclusive. I bought a few souvenirs to take home with me, but other than that, everything was set!

What made the excursions even more enjoyable was the incredible and knowledgeable EdOdyssey team. After each excursion, I learned a great deal about each of the different regions of Peru (the desert, the mountains, and the jungle), and came out of my experience with lasting friendships and a new perspective of Peru.

Taking a swim in the Amazon river!

Ica: Welcome to the Peruvian Desert

A delicious meal of carapulcra con sopa seca.

The first excursion out of Lima was to the south to Ica. My first impression upon arriving to Ica was how sunny and warmer it was compared to Lima. 

One of the first things we did was eat a delicious meal of carapulcra con sopa seca. This dish consists of a stew of pork and dehydrated potatoes with pasta and dry soup (sopa seca). 

The highlight of the trip was sandboarding in the desert of Ica, something that I had never done before. I did not picture myself laying stomach-down on a board flying down the hills of Ica, but it was one of the most exhilarating experiences! 

Ica is home to one of the world’s only oases in the world, called Huacachina. This was a beautiful sight, with views from the desert looking down on the oasis. While we were riding in a dune buggy through the desert, I witnessed the most beautiful sunset and the sky had a natural purple tone to it. 

What I took away from this excursion was that adventure can truly be a part of new experiences abroad. I had never really done any adrenaline-rushing activities like sandboarding, but I am glad that I went out of my comfort zone and flew down those hills in Ica.       

Iquitos: Experiencing the Jungle 

The next destination was to northern Peru in the jungle of Iquitos. Continuing on the theme of adventure, this excursion was filled with adventurous activities. 

Whether it was fishing for piranhas in deep black water of the Amazon and then frying them to eat or going for a swim in the Amazon River with dolphins nearby, there was never a dull moment in the jungle. 

My favorite part was listening to our guide’s stories about the jungle, including fantastical ones and his own first-hand accounts of life in the jungle. He would tell us these stories as we cruised through the tributaries of the Amazon, taking in the nature and wild animals along the way.

Hanging out with a sloth!

My experience in the jungle also taught me how fortunate and privileged most of us truly are. Homes and communities in the jungle are not the most advanced and do not have a lot of the amenities and infrastructure that many may be accustomed to. 

Recognizing this, it was meaningful to experience how life in the jungle can be difficult, between blazing hot heat at times and torrential downpours at another. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every minute of Iquitos, including the slightly terrifying moments of holding a python and a sloth!

Cusco & Machu Picchu: The Ancient Land of the Incas

The last of the excursions was to majestic Cusco and Machu Picchu. Many may have an image in their head of what Machu Picchu resembles, but the full feeling is experienced in person. 

Before arriving to Machu Picchu, there were many other excursions to the surrounding area. These included visiting an indigineous village, where we were able to learn some handcrafting techniques for textiles and enjoyed a homemade meal with the people of the village. 

Another site that stood out to me was Las Salinas de Maras (pictured left), home to beautiful salt flats in the mountains of the Sacred Valley. Smaller trips led up to our visit of Machu Picchu, which was breathtaking in every way.

Sacred Valley of Peru.

Through this excursion, I learned a lot about the history of the Sacred Valley and the Incas. I also experienced the feeling of seeing my first Wonder of the World, which exceeded my expectations.

Compared to the sheer size of the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu, I felt smaller than ever, but I could understand why this area was on significance to the Incas.  

Peru: Land of Adventurous Opportunities

All of these excursions showed me different parts of Peru, from the food, adventure, and history. These excursions shaped my life have shaped my life by making because they’ve made me break out of my shell and seek more adventure in my travels. 

Visiting Machu Picchu.

I never thought that a trip to the jungle or desert would bring out my wild, adventurous side, but I am glad it added some spontaneity to my life. Peru is diverse, and the best way to understand this diversity is to go on excursions like those of EdOdyssey.

Anytime I think back to my experiences in Peru, I cannot help but smile and reflect on how worthwhile of a trip it truly was.  

If I were to talk to someone who is considering going to Peru, I would tell them to go in a heartbeat. I would advise them to not only stay in one place or city, but to travel around the great and diverse country that is Peru. They will not regret a moment. 

Want to learn more about the epic Cusco and Machu Picchu semester finale? Check out it here!  And Learn more about studying abroad in Peru with EdOdyssey.

How Study Abroad with EdOdyssey Prepared Me for Harvard

One of the world’s biggest Buddhas behind me!

My name is Jake Leary and I am currently a freshman at Harvard University, but the journey to get on campus has taken me from Massachusetts, around the world, and back home. I do not know my concentration (Havard’s fancy term for a major) yet, but I am very interested in Government and East Asian Studies. I am from Brockton, Massachusetts and attended high school in Boston. I was very involved in our writing club, jazz band, yearbook publication, and running cross-country for four years in high school. In the fall of 2016, as I went into my senior year, I had no idea that I would be taking gap year after graduating and travelling the world to countries like China and Peru. I did not really even know what a gap year was, nor that a gap year was possible for me. However, looking back on it, this became the best possible path for me to take.

During the final month of my senior year in high school, I decided I wanted to take a gap year. After thinking long and hard about it, I knew that I needed to give myself a break. This was not only a break from the routines of school and school work, but a deep breath to slow my life down.

How I learned breathing techniques and how to meditate in China.

As I look back on my senior year of high school, it turned out as the most stressful year of school for me and it didn’t allow me time to consider the next step after college. If I went straight into studying in college, I would have felt the burnout from high school, but luckily, I felt supported when I told my close friends, teachers, and mentors at my high school. However, I kept getting asked the same, repetitive question: “So what are you going to do?”. I had not given much thought to this which I probably should have, but I responded: “I might want to travel, but I will figure it out.” This simple, general response probably scared a bit those who asked, especially my school’s principal and president, when their valedictorian essentially had no clue what he was doing with this year off.

Despite the little worry I had about my future plans, I knew that everything would work out. This self-assured feeling became especially true when I found out about EdOdyssey after graduating. I had an inkling that I wanted to travel, and EdOdyssey’s several travel destinations for students intrigued me. After talking with EdOdyssey about possible plans for my gap year travels, I became very excited to embark on this journey.

Loved the Chinese tea!

Prior to my gap year, I had never travelled outside of the United States and felt something missing from the experiences in my life. With a desire to learn Mandarin for the first time, my first destination that I decided to travel to was China, halfway across the world. At 18, if you told me that I was moving to China, I would have never believed you. After arriving at night in Beijing, I was a little intimidated to say the least, since I could basically only say 你好 (hello) in Mandarin. After arriving in China, my hosts referred me to a breakfast that I later found because I was starving after 19 hours of travel. Now it was time for me to order something to the best of my ability which turned into an unforgettable experience.

Luckily, when I went to the counter of the restaurant, a boy around my age who spoke some English helped me order my soup and baozi--a steamed bun filled with meat-- which felt strange eating meat at 9am. Despite my reservations, I took my food and sat down at a communal table and started a conversation with a woman and her parents, from what I could tell. Although the meat tasted great, they noticed that I did not love my soup so they handed me a warm piece of bread. I told them my story through Google translate and then asked them where I could buy bottled water. After finishing eating, they walked me all the way to the grocery store. Despite a language barrier, it was these complete strangers’ natural instinct to help me. This kind of hospitality and friendliness I later continued to experience and encounter throughout my entire trip in China.

One of my favorite experiences in China was when I studied Mandarin for the first time in my life in the small city of Guilin (population of 5 million, a small city for China standards). At the language school recommended by EdOdyssey (Chinese Language Institute), it was extremely valuable to have one-on-one classes with my Chinese teacher, and solely focus on my study of Mandarin. Since I did not take Mandarin classes in high school, it made a tremendous difference studying a new language in its native country. I took what I learned in my classes and practiced persistently when I asked locals questions, went out to eat, and explored the city. My experience with Mandarin challenged me, but I did not feel as intimidated as I first thought. Even though I studied hard, I met tons of new and incredible people and had loads of fun simultaneously.

After teaching high school students in China about culture in the United States!

Reflecting on my experience in China, I now realize how valuable it truly was because of all of the amazing people I met, my newfound interest in Mandarin, and personal growth. If I had not received all of the help and guidance from EdOdyssey for my trip to China, I would never have met such amazing friends that brought me back to China this past summer to visit. I also would not have decided to continue my study of Mandarin here at Harvard. As I entered my first Mandarin class this fall at Harvard, I felt very prepared and confident in my foundation of Mandarin that I had established abroad. Within my first week of Mandarin class, while some of my peers struggled to introduce themselves, I could hold conversations with my teachers. After my travels in China, I thought about improving my Spanish, which I could not speak and hold a conversation a year ago.

Soon after my trip to China, I decided that one country would not suffice for my year off, and through EdOdyssey, I headed south to explore Peru. Initially, I felt worried about traveling to Peru because I thought about how I would essentially start from scratch again in a new country. I wanted a new and fresh experience in Peru, one entirely different from mine in China. This fear quickly disappeared as I fell in love with Peru’s numerous destinations, diverse culture, and delicious cuisine.

Papa a La Huancaína is a must-eat!

My homestay experience shaped my entire time in Peru. Living in Lima, with a central location close to all of the restaurants, shops, and downtown area was very convenient. I was only a walk away from one of Lima’s central parks Parque Kennedy with numerous restaurants and shops and the area that overlooked the Pacific Ocean Malecón de Miraflores where I enjoyed morning runs. My helpful host family got me acclimated to this new environment and showed me around to their favorite spots in Lima several times. In my unique homestay experience I only spoke Spanish in the home, forcing me to significantly improve it. I loved sitting with my host parents during meals while eating some of the best food I’ve ever eaten and learning more about Peru, South America, and my host parents’ lives. A cultural difference that I realized, the affection exuded by everyone I met, I soon came to love, with constant hugs and kisses when greeting someone. This speaks volumes to how much love and passion Peruvians truly have in their lives.

I loved most in Peru when I had the opportunities to give back in the form of volunteer work. Going to the community of Pamplona Alta in Lima exposed me to the hardships of many living in Peru, but also the great sense of perseverance and strong-will that its people possess. I helped in constructing concrete stairs, as the citizens of Pamplona Alta must climb the mountain-sides daily. After my experiences in Peru, I learned that life does not have to be so constantly fast-paced as we sometimes make it. This has helped me in how I go about living my life, in handling any stress and managing my time in the best way possible. I have learned to approach life with a more easy-going attitude that I know will stay with me.

In summary, the opportunities to travel because of EdOdyssey have changed my life in a very positive manner. Before my gap year, with a shy and timid personality, I mainly stuck to routines. Through travel, I have grown to become more independent and adventurous. I have also in the process become a strong advocate for students taking a gap year. An amazing chance to learn more about yourself, outside of the comforts of what you are used to, a gap year is transformative. It is a time to take a risk, but a risk with infinite benefits. Nevertheless, I would give the idea of going abroad with EdOdyssey serious thought and you may find yourself reflecting on it, and maybe even writing a blog about your experiences, in one year’s time!

The day before I left Peru, I enjoyed seeing all the places where I visited during my time in Lima from above!

Learn more about studying abroad in Peru with EdOdyssey.

EdOdyssey joins the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad initiative

EdOdyssey has joined the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad initiative to help more Americans to gain international experience through study abroad programs. EdOdyssey joins an impressive list of more than 740 other organizations, universities and schools that have already committed to IIE.

IIE’s Generation Study Abroad seeks to mobilize resources and commitments with the goal of doubling and diversifying the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade. EdOdyssey has pledged to work with alumni and young professionals to share stories of study abroad, host events and forums to discuss international travel and increase the number of scholarships it offers to students to study abroad. Earlier this year, EdOdyssey also implemented a new financial aid policy that guarantees funds for all students with demonstrated need.

Peter McGovern, President & Global Founder of EdOdyssey, is enthusiastic about this new partnership. Officially announcing the partnership to his colleagues Peter talked about how, study abroad changed his life and noted his enthusiasm to "work alongside a coalition of great schools, universities and organizations to promote a common goal: help more students discover the world.”

Generation Study Abroad partners now includes over 400 colleges and universities of all sizes and types across the country and around the world, as well as 19 governments, 50 education associations, more than 100 international partners, and 100 study abroad, K-12, and social network organizations who have committed to specific goals to increase the number of U.S. students studying abroad. Commitments include actions to diversity the population of students who participate in study abroad and provide additional financial resources to make this possible.

IIE launched Generation Study Abroad in the belief that the number and proportion of today’s students who graduate with an educational experience abroad is far too low. Currently, fewer than 10 percent of all U.S. college students study abroad at some point in their academic career, according to the Open Doors Report on International and Educational Exchange published by IIE with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Generation Study Abroad aims to grow participation in study abroad so that the annual total reported will reach 600,000 by the end of the decade.

“Globalization has changed the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and expertise,” says Dr. Allan Goodman, President of IIE. “Studying abroad must be viewed as an essential component of a college degree and critical to preparing future leaders.”

About Generation Study Abroad

IIE’s Generation Study Abroad seeks to significantly increase study abroad participation by bringing employers, governments, associations, and others together to build on current best practices and find new ways to extend study abroad opportunities and resources to tens of thousands of college students whose needs are not currently served by existing programs. Generation Study Abroad will sustain an ongoing dialogue about the need for more students from all backgrounds and in all fields to gain international experience. This will include research to identify and break down barriers hindering students from studying abroad, communications to share strategies and best practices to increase study abroad, and fundraising to mobilize additional financial resources.  IIE will also hold a Summit on Generation Study Abroad on October 1-3, 2017 in Washington, D.C. to engage stakeholders in higher education and all commitment partners.

About EdOdyssey

EdOdyssey custom designs educational programs for students around the world. The organization creates amazing student immersion in Peru, China, Spain, the USA and beyond for grade 6-12 students. In addition, EdOdyssey offer a semester and full year study abroad program in Lima, Peru for undergraduate students in addition to a briefer summer term. Founded in 2014, EdOdyssey is a team of educators passionate about sharing the world with students. To date, its team has flown just shy of 1,000,000 miles with students, spent more than 13,450 hours in the classroom led 896 days and counting of programming.

About the Institute of International Education

The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, not-for-profit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 19 offices and affiliates worldwide and over 1,200 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities abroad.

The end of another great semester in Lima, Peru.

Last week, as is tradition at the conclusion of the semester, the local EdOdyssey Peru team and study abroad students gathered to celebrate the semester and reflect on the experience.

This semester the students unanimously voted for comida criolla (traditional Peruvian food) and enjoyed a delicious three course meal: papa a la huancaína, causa de pollo and anticuchos followed by lomo saltado (the group's favorite dish!), ají de gallina and carapulcra. For dessert, they enjoyed a selection of traditional snacks and pasteries such as tres leches and panqueque con manjar blanco.

During lunch the group shared many laughs and tears as they reflected on their favorite moments. Although there were too many to name, it was clear they were all very excited about their most recent group excursion to Cusco and the Sacred Valley, which culminated with a hike of the amazing Machu Picchu.

To conclude lunch the students surprised, Patricia "Patty" Valencia, their EdOdyssey Program Coordinator, with an enormous poster-size thank you card for everything she had done to support the group. Patty was moved by the gesture and ended lunch with a toast thanking the group for an amazing first semester as EdOdyssey's program Coordinator. "Everything about the semester was amazing. It's amazing to be able to share my country, culture and language with international students and I can't wait until next semester!"

Interested in learning more about EdOdyssey's Study Abroad program in Peru? Click here to check it out.