Study in Chile!    

We invite you to consider an exciting new option for learning and improving your Spanish.  Why not spend a semester or a year programs studying in Chile?.  Participating students live with families, study Spanish, select regular university courses from the curriculum of the Universidad de Viña del Mar, or choose a combination of the two. 

Viña del Mar is a beautiful ocean-front city that offers a wide range of activities from surfing to tennis to museum hopping to shopping.  Trips can be arranged to other parts of Chile and to neighboring countries for an additional cost.

The church is strong in Chile and participating students will have ample opportunities to participate in church meetings and activities.  For further information, explore the links and categories below.

A student had this to say while studying at the UVM,

"I am having a good experience because of my involvement in the church here. You will be able to easily make friends who are Latter-day Saints if you want to. They have institute every Thursday night, I joined a youth choir, I play fútbol every Tuesday with the youth. I'll give you the names, numbers, and addresses of some awesome families here."

 

"Your host family will make or break the experience so you just kind of have to take the luck of the draw. I got lucky. Although my house is a long ways from the University (15 minutes in taxi or a 40 minute walk), I wouldn't change my family for the world. They are awesome. I have 2 sisters (15 and 23) and a brother (20). My mom cooks the most amazing food in South America. Some other students don't like the food but after being on a mission I think I can handle anything. One of the big complaints has been families with little kids. They won't leave you alone even though there are sometimes when you just don't want to be bugged. I would ask for a family that doesn't smoke because that would personally drive me crazy.  The University does a good job a picking out families and everyone has had a good, learning experience and is able to tell many funny stories."

 

"If you come here to surf you will be disappointed. The water is freezing cold and the waves are small. There are two main cities, Viña and Valparaíso. Both are full of places to see and things to do. I've never felt like I was in danger, as long as you walk on lighted streets and usually with someone else. I learned you have to be careful with your money because people will try to take advantage of you in whatever way they can."

Another student had this to say about her time in Chile.

There are no words to describe my time in Chile.  It was a wonderful, mind opening experience that I will never forget, and lately, haven't let others forget.  The University of Viña del Mar has developed and is still developing a unique program for International Students throughout the world.  I feel honored and blessed to have been apart of this program.  

 

There are different levels of classes for the level of Spanish-speaking that you are at.  Depending at what level of Spanish you are at depends on what type of classes you will be able to take.  (Your level is determined by a test that you take your first week while in Chile)  Classes aren't very overwhelming, nor do I think the university wants them to be, allowing you time to experience Chile outside of the classroom.  Traveling and getting involved with the Chilean people is stongly encouraged and viewed as your most important class, and I would have to agree.  

 

While in Chile, I was able to do some traveling.  For about a week I went to southern Chile, not only was the climate and vegetation completely different so were the people.  It was like a whole other Chile.  So just traveling within the border shows there is a lot to see while.  Also, I was able to travel to Argentina.  That too was fun, however quickly became quite the adventure, when Jana and I got stuck there for five extra days, because the pass was closed due to the snowfall.  Those were my major trips that I took, there were some side trips made in the area around Vina, but they were just day trips and such with the family or the university.  The bus system is rather amazing there and inexpensive, pretty much you can get anywhere you want to go by bus.   

 

Thankfully, the church is very much apparent in Chile.  There are chapels all over the place, so you don't have to worry about not being able to go to church, if anything be on the look out for two young men in white shirts and ties, that look like you, and I am almost certain that they will help out.  Church was probably my relief, even though it was in Spanish and at first I didn't understand, the Spirit was the same and I was still able to be uplifted and edified.    

 

Also, for me at least, it was hard at first to interact with the Chileans, just because I couldn't speak.  Thankfully around the same time I arrived in Chile, the missionaries were starting a program where they provided free English lessons to anyone who wanted to learn, so I volunteered to help teach.  I really enjoyed doing that because I was able to meet new people and it helped me to learn Spanish as well.  

 

If you think that you don't speak enough Spanish to go, I would be the prime example to tell you that your not.  I knew hardly anything before I went.  I had just finished Span 201 before Chile, however even then I just didn't quite get it into my head that what I was being taught  this language.  So you can guess that my first months in Chile were quite interesting.  Of course there were good days and there were bad days, however both guided me to learn. Nonetheless, it was the best thing for me to be able to truly learn the language.  If you are serious in learning Spanish, I would say it's almost necessary to live in a Spanish-speaking country.  What a prime opportunity to go, while still single and offered the student discount.    

 

Also, if you think that there is no way you would be able to afford this, once again, I can tell you that if you want to go, and are determined to go, but don't want to be in debt, it can be done.  I made the decision to go the spring before I left and gave myself a year to earn the money in.  Thinking I would have to get two jobs during the summer to be able to do it, I tried finding a second job, which I didn't succeed in.  However, thinking that my opportunity was vanishing before my eyes, I continued saving all my earnings at my job that I had, and by the end of the summer had enough to pay for my trip and for next semester's housing, and I had done this all before my year expiration date was up.  By the way, I worked at McDonalds.  All I am saying if you really want to go, make it happen for you.