Are you a practicing SLP or graduate student in the field of Speech-Language Pathology interested in providing better services to Spanish speakers and Spanish-English bilinguals? Get clinical experience abroad in a beautiful location though immersion in Ecuador’s culture and language!
Dates for the 2024 SLPs in Ecuador Program are TBD
Overview
Portland State University’s 6-week program is for professional SLPs and graduate students in speech-language pathology who have intermediate to fluent Spanish skills. Experience immersion in Ecuador’s culture and language while becoming a culturally competent SLP while also improving your Spanish skills related to speech-language pathology. The program includes homestays, daily intensive Spanish classes, training for assessing and treating communication disorders in bilingual individuals, a clinical placement, graduate coursework for SLPs on Spanish-English bilingual topics, 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.
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 practica 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 Ecuadorean jungle and the Andean highlands as well as excursions in Quito are included. More information, including the program application, is on the Ecuador Program Education Abroad Website.
Information Meetings
Information meetings are held annually in the winter and spring terms. Check back for additional information about our upcoming information meetings.
Costs (from 2022 program)
Everyone:
- Tuition, fees, homestays, most meals, seminars, Spanish classes, group trips, travel insurance: $4,600
- Airfare, personal expenses, travel, & immunizations: $2,380
- Cost is the same for in-state and out-of-state participants
Students:
- Two additional graduate clinic credits: $820
University Credits/Continuing Education
- Students: 10 graduate credits. Depending on home university requirements, these credits can transfer to other university programs.
- Professional SLPs: 8 graduate credits. Can be used for continuing education and professional development.
Program Leaders
Mayfe Ortega is the program coordinator in Ecuador, arranging classes, homestays, and clinical sites and has worked with the program since it started. In addition to coordinating the program, Mayfe creates, directs, and produces books, movies and television documentaries related to peoples and communities in Ecuador and Latin America.
Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann, Professor at Portland State University, co-created this program and oversees all aspects of this program. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann.
Apply and Learn More
To find out more about the academic, clinical, language aspects of the program, contact Christina Gildersleeve-Neumann at cegn@pdx.edu.
To find out the program logistics, scholarships, and to apply:
Visit the International Office brochure page to learn more and to apply for this program. You can also contact Hannah Fischer in the Education Abroad Office to schedule an appointment.
Join us for this professional and personal experience of a lifetime!