PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This 6-week program is for graduate students studying speech-language pathology and for practicing speech-language pathologists who have intermediate to fluent Spanish skills. Experience immersion in Ecuador’s culture and language while becoming culturally and linguistically proficient. The program includes homestays, intensive Spanish classes, training for assessing and treating communication disorders in bilingual individuals, a part-time clinical placement, graduate coursework on Spanish-English bilingual topics for speech-language pathologists, seminars and field studies in medical and educational settings. Students will receive graduate credits and supervised clinical hours; professionals will receive graduate credits that can be used for continuing education. Participants will receive intensive Spanish language instruction at their language skill level.
This unique experience is open to professional SLPs and graduate students preparing to be SLPs with intermediate to native Spanish skills. You do not need to be a PSU student or an SLP in Oregon: students from over 20 different universities and professionals from all over the U.S. who work in a variety of clinical settings have participated!
You will learn from Ecuadorean and US professionals about assessing and treating Spanish-speaking and bilingual individuals while exploring the Ecuadorean cultures, places, and improving your Spanish. You will develop stronger clinical skills and cultural understanding to better serve children and adults for other languages and cultural backgrounds. Field studies and clinical practice will be in sites serving individuals with communication disorders. Lodging with homestay families, meals, group transportation, Spanish language instruction, cultural and bilingual SLP academic instruction, trips to the northern Andes and the Ecuadorean jungle, international insurance are included.
FACT SHEET |
Education Abroad Advisor |
Questions? Make an appointment with Hannah Marrs at any time!
Education Abroad, Portland State University |
Get Started |
Watch Ed Abroad 101 |
Faculty Leader |
Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann
Professor
Speech and Hearing Sciences
Thomas Appenzeller
Practicing Speech-language Pathologist
Antonio LeBaron
Practicing Speech-language Pathologist |
Travel Dates |
Six Weeks in Summer 2022 |
Areas of Study |
- Speech & Hearing Sciences
- Speech-Language Pathology
*Preference is given to SPHR grad students in the Bilingual concentration* |
Course & Credit |
8 credits (professionals) or 10 credits (students needing supervised clinical hours)
PSU Graduate Students:
Must register for a total of 10 credits via the international program:
- SPHR 506 Special Project (2 credits)
- SPHR 509 Clinical Practicum (2 credits)
- SPHR 510 Cultural Considerations for the Speech-Language Pathologist (2 credits)
- SPHR 510 Multicultural Topics in Communication Sciences (2 credits)
- SPHR 541 Bilingual Topics in Communication Sciences (2 credits)
Non-PSU Graduate Students:
Must register for a total of 10 credits via the international program:
- SPHR 509 Clinical Practicum (2 credits)
- SPHR 510 Cultural Considerations for the Speech-Language Pathologist (4 credits)
- SPHR 510 Multicultural Topics in Communication Sciences (2 credits)
- SPHR 541 Bilingual Topics in Communication Sciences (2 credits)
For Professional Speech-Language Pathologists:
Must register for a total of 8 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 510 Multicultural Topics in Communication Sciences (2 credits)
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Language of Instruction |
English and Spanish |
Host Country Language |
Spanish |
Housing |
Homestay |
Class Standing Eligibility |
Graduate (current or entering Fall 2021)
The program is also open to individuals practicing speech-language pathologists (those with a master's degree in speech-language pathology or related field) who wish to receive language and culture training.
*Preference is given to SPHR grad students in the Bilingual concentration* |
Previous Coursework |
Students must have completed a degree or post-baccalaureate degree in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Disorders |
Minimum GPA Requirements |
Undergraduate: 3.25
Graduate 3.25
Must be in Satisfactory Academic Standing. |
Language Requirement |
Minimum: Completion of 2nd Year College-level Spanish or equivalent |
Considerations |
- The program will take place at high altitude
- Sun exposure may be significant, so extra caution should be taken to ensure adequate protection
- Light hiking over hilly, irregular terrain
If you have any questions or concerns about your ability to participate due to these considerations, please contact the Education Abroad Advisor responsible for this program. |
Application Requirements
(PSU Students) |
- $50 Application Fee
- Unofficial Transcript (from banweb)
- 2 short essays
- 1 Recommendation Form (submitted electronically via VikingsAbroad)
- This is not a formal letter of recommendation, rather your recommender will need to fill out a short questionnaire about you with space for comments.
- This cannot be submitted by the program leader
- These must be Professional or Academic in nature
- Interview
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Application Requirements
(Non-PSU Students) |
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PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES |
- 8-10 PSU credits
- Accommodations
- Most meals
- Local transportation
- Group travel costs
- Language courses
- Excursions
- Clinical site visits
- Clinical materials
- Ed Abroad Service Fee
- International Health Insurance
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ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED COSTS INCLUDES |
- International round-trip airfare (estimated at $1400)
- Additional meals (estimated at $10 per meal for a total of $130)
- Personal spending money (estimated at $450)
- Immunizations (estimated at $350)
- Transportation to clinical sites (estimated at $50)
- Passport or visa
- US passport holders will not need a visa to participate in this program
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*Please note, all students enrolling for PSU credit are charged the PSU Rec Center Fee. For a current listing, please refer to PSU Fees.
*Application Fee: All applications include a $50 non-refundable fee due on the application deadline. Students who do not intend to complete a program application are required to withdraw before the deadline, otherwise, the $50 application fee will be assessed to the students' account.