Program Overview

This six-week program is intended for professional speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and graduate or post-bac students in speech-language pathology who have basic Spanish skills. It provides the opportunity to experience immersion in Ecuador’s culture and language while becoming culturally and linguistically proficient SLPs to better serve bilingual children and adults with communication disorders in the US. The program includes homestays, daily intensive Spanish classes, clinical experiences two half days per week, a graduate course on Spanish-English bilingual topics for speech-language pathologists, and seminars and field studies about Ecuador and Ecuadorean perspectives on education and health care related to communication disorders. Field studies will be to sites where individuals with communication disorders are served, including hospitals, non-profit institutions, and educational settings. There will be specific training for assessing and treating communication disorders in bilingual individuals. Participants will observe and participate in speech therapy services to children and adults in Ecuador. Graduate students will receive graduate credits and supervised clinical practicum hours. Professional SLPs will receive graduate credits that can be used for continuing education units. Participants will receive intensive Spanish language instruction at their language skill level.

Fact Sheet

Information Sessions

• Monday, December 11th, 5-6pm, NH 79
• Wednesday, January 10th, 5-6 pm, UCB 421

The academic portion of the program will be as follows:

• Three hours each afternoon Monday through Thursday (for 6 weeks) will be spent in intensive language practice.
• Every Tuesday and some Friday mornings will include discussions or field site visits. Topics will familiarize students with Quito, Ecuador, and Ecuadorean culture and about differing views of characteristics, assessments, and treatment of communication disorders.
• A 2-credit graduate course in Speech-Language Pathology for the Bilingual SLP will be taught by the accompanying professor.
• Two mornings per week program participants will observe and volunteer in clinical settings where individuals with communication disorders are served.

Most meals will be spent with the host families, although some midday meals will be with the program participants. Some Friday mornings will be free for students to either volunteer or to travel in Ecuador on their own. Two weekend excursions will be conducted as a group: one to Otavalo and surrounding areas in the northern Andes and one to the Amazonian region for three nights.
 

Participants will earn the following credits for participation in this course:

PSU Graduate or Post-Bac Students:
Must register for a total of 10 credits via the international program:
SPHR 541 Bilingual Topics in Communication Sciences (2 credits)
SPHR 510 Cultural Considerations for the Speech-Language Pathologist (4 credits)
SPHR 506 Special Project (2 credits)
SPHR 509 Clinical Practicum (2 credits)
 
For Professional Speech-Language Pathologists:
SPHR 541 Bilingual Topics in Communication Sciences (2 credits)
SPHR 510 Cultural Considerations for the Speech-Language Pathologist (6 credits)
SPHR 509 Clinical Practicum (2 credits, optional)  

Program Costs

Scholarships 

PSU Education Abroad Scholarship Application 

Tuition & Fees Includes:

• 8-10 PSU credits 
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Local transportation
• International Medical Insurance

Additional Estimated Costs Include:

• International round-trip airfare
• Additional meals
• Personal spending money
• Passport/Visa