Boomers Abroad

Highlights

I feel like the impact that ELAP has had on me has been very positive for the most part. I absolutely fell in love with the kids and I find myself thinking about them often. I have tons of pictures that I still enjoy flipping through every once in a while. In fact, I am in the process of applying for law school and wrote about one girl and how she left my heart just melting in my personal statement essay. I think I learned to have a lot of patience and being the only instructor for so many, and for such a broad age range helped me to just let things happen. I felt that the organization was very unorganized, and I was warned about that before getting involved, but I didn't fully comprehend it until I was able to experience the lack of structure firsthand. I see now why it is so important to have structure and organization within any organization. The kids themselves left the most impact on me. Seeing where some of them live and the conditions they are subject to was eye-opening and insightful. It made me realize that there is more to life than just living as Americans do, and it was still great in its own way. I truly miss those kids and grew very fond of each one in their own way. I am not sure if it was the kids themselves or the organization or a combination of both, but I grew very passionate for volunteering and have gotten involved in several community outreach programs in Denver. None of them quite compare to Caritas, both in good and bad ways, but I love it nonetheless. I take what I learned and how I dealt with and handled the situations and know that I gained so much on a personal level from it. Working with kids is my passion and I always knew that, but ELAP was just one more thing that firmly established that it is in fact what I really want to do. This has helped me to chose a career in law and to actively put my passion towards the greater good.

Maggie McNamara - Regis University
Santiago, Dominican Republic - Fall ISA + ELAP 2008

I am currently student teaching at a local high school, where I teach Spanish 2. I am completely in charge of the classroom. I will be graduating in May with a teaching degree. The ELAP program was a great introduction to teaching a foreign language. I am potentially interested in teaching English abroad so it was an interesting look into a different way of teaching; each country has a different set of classroom norms and teaching philosophies. The children I worked with were absolutely adorable, very loving, and I will always remember them.

Robin Dykema - Grand Valley State University
Santiago, Dominican Republic - Winter ISA + ELAP 2008

Qualifications

Eligibility Requirements
* 4 semesters or 6 quarter units of Spanish for 6 or 8-week ELAP programs and ALL ELAP programs in Chile
* 3 semesters or 5 quarter units of Spanish for 10, 12, or 16-week ELAP programs and ELAP Add-on programs following an ISA intensive month program.

*Some placements in Cusco, Peru can accept participants with less Spanish language experience. Please contact ISA-ELAP about these opportunities.

As part of the application process, we also will schedule a 10-15 minute telephone language interview conducted in Spanish by an ELAP Coordinator to verify your language level.

To apply for an ELAP program you will need to submit the following documents (at least 2 months before your program start date):

* Standard ISA Application
* Official Transcript
* ELAP Profile Form (PDF)
* ELAP Volunteer Expectations
* Résumé in Spanish
* ELAP program deposit of USD200 (deducted from program price)
* Complete the Spanish language interview

* Please note that if you have already applied to a regular ISA program and would like to add an ELAP program you do not need to complete the general ISA application again or submit an additional transcript. We do need a deposit for the ELAP program.

Languages

• Spanish

Cost in US$:

1,400 - 2 weeks

Cost Include Description:

* Room and Board
* Medical insurance
* Pre-departure advising
* Access to the ISA office
* Support of resident staff
* Volunteer or internship placement
* On-site orientation
* Airport reception and transfers*
* Cultural activities
* Spanish tutoring
* Certificate of volunteer hours completed
* Donation made to the organization upon completion of service
* Students may earn internship credit depending on their home university's academic internship options

Credit Available

yes

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Age Range

This Program is open to

American, Canadian, Worldwide Participant. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel to Dominican Republic

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone/Video Interview
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

ISA (International Studies Abroad)'s Mission Statement

To provide high quality education abroad opportunities to American and Canadian college students at an affordable price. We recognize that we play an important role in the worldwide effort of international educators to increase individuals' awareness of cultures and societies outside of their own national boundaries.

Year Founded

1987