On an overcast afternoon in August, Dr. Osvaldo Di Paolo, Austin Peay
State University associate professor of Spanish, stood on a beach in
the Galapagos Islands and watched ocean waves crash against black,
volcanic rocks. A few feet away, a marine iguana prepared to go for a
swim.
The creature was a bit larger than the lizards
Di Paolo might find at home in Clarksville, but it was nothing compared
to the giant, 800-pound tortoises he saw earlier that day. Charles
Darwin wrote about both animals more than 100 years ago, when he made
his famous voyage to the island, and Di Paolo hopes to show off the
creatures to a group of students next summer as part of a new study
abroad program, offered by the APSU Office of International Education.
The four-week program will allow students to study Spanish while
experiencing a unique aspect of culture in Ecuador. Study abroad
programs in foreign languages often take students to metropolitan areas,
where they learn urban forms of communication and culture.
“This one is going to be all about nature,” Di Paolo said. “We’re going
to visit turtle breeding farms, the Darwin Institute of Research; we’re
going to visit different islands and learn about all the unique
wildlife.”
For Spanish students, the location is ideal because people from all over Ecuador inhabit the town of Puerto Ayora.
“They’re from all over the country, so you’ll hear different accents, taste all different foods,” Di Paolo said.
Students will stay in the Hotel Mainao in Puerto Ayora. The hotel is
centrally located, with views of the ocean. During the day, participants
will enhance their Spanish skills while exploring one of the world’s
most unique and diverse ecosystems.
“A study abroad opportunity in
the Galapagos Islands would definitely be a life changing experience
for most APSU students,” Dr. Marissa Chandler, director of International
Education at APSU, said. “Students will have an opportunity to fully
immerse themselves in the adventurous island culture, while learning in a
unique and precious biosphere.”
Students in other
disciplines, such as biology or history, who intend to someday conduct
research in a foreign country, could also benefit from the program, Di
Paolo said.
sumber dari: apsu.edu
