SU to launch English-language study abroad program in Chile

By Claire Harrison contributing writer

Attending Syracuse University’s study abroad program in Santiago, Chile in spring 2022, Jensen Bee said her mission was to improve her language skills and immerse herself in the culture through classes taught in Spanish.

But when SU announced at the end of January that beginning in spring 2024 the Santiago program would only offer courses taught in English, Bee said she knew she wouldn’t have been able to fully immerse herself if her Santiago classes had been in English.

“It was a little sad, I think, initially to hear (about the changes) and to comprehend, just because the reasons why I loved the program so much and the reasons that I decided to go through with that program are no longer parts of that program,” said Bee, an SU senior.

In last month’s announcement, SU’s study abroad office wrote that the new center in Santiago would launch in 2024 and offer Englishtaught humanities and social science courses in the spring, while also offering courses for advanced Spanish-speaking students in the fall.

Dr. Mauricio Paredes, director and founder of SU’s Santiago program, said one factor leading to the change is inconsistency between the American and Chilean academic calendars. While SU’s spring semester runs from January to May, Chile’s begins in March and ends in July.

Under the schedule it currently operates with, Paredes said the Spanish immersion program in Santiago doesn’t align with the American summer, which can limit students’ opportunities. He said because the program’s timeline prevents students from having summer jobs and internships in the U.S., it’s been an impediment for students who want to apply to the program.

Another reason for the program’s shift was declining participation. With the implementation of the English semester, students who don’t speak Spanish can still learn in Chile, Paredes said.

Enrollment in the Santiago program has historically been between 15 and 20 students per semester, said Delaney Van Wey, the campus outreach manager for SU Abroad. But in the time following the COVID-19 pandemic, student cohorts have comprised around 10 students per semester, she said.

Paredes said he noticed that student interest in Latin American study abroad was growing until the pandemic, which he said led to a shift in interest to Europe programs.

“When you are older, and you have jobs in the U.S., the likelihood that you will visit Europe is bigger than visiting Latin America,” Paredes said. “I really encourage the students to try to come now to see this part of the world, which is really interesting and safe also.”