Social Justice, Identity, and Language in Oaxaca:
Summer study abroad for heritage speakers

Summer 2023 dates: Probably July 9 - August 6, 2023.

Please check back soon for updates as well as our NEW video!

This program is for heritage Spanish speakers -- bilinguals who have been in contact with Spanish through their homes -- to complete their language requirement or begin their major/minor courses in a diverse environment. If you've been to Mexico but not to Oaxaca: IT IS DIFFERENT in its history, mountainous geography, culture including crafts and food, and its vibrant indigenous presence!

All courses respect and build on heritage speakers' varieties of Spanish, and focus critically on issues of bilingualism and social justice such as these:

  • What is the history of the region of Oaxaca, and why is it the Mexican state with the 2nd largest number of individuals leaving to seek work in the United States?

  • What social justice messages are currently seen around the city via the vibrant Oaxacan street art scene?

  • What similarities are there related to language, identity, and social justice among U.S. Latinx Spanish speakers and speakers of the 16 different indigenous languages in Oaxaca? 

  • What unique positionalities (such as "Ni de aquí, ni de allá") are involved when a person is seen as "Mexican" (or "Ecuadorian," "Dominican," "Puerto Rican," "Guatemalan", etc.) in the U.S., but they are seen as "American" in Latin America?

No matter what your major, this program will increase your formal written and spoken Spanish. It is especially well-suited for students majoring in Spanish, Latin American & Latinx studies, education, health sciences/medicine, urban and rural development, linguistics/bilingualism, arts and architecture, tourism, communication, law & public policy, and sociology.

All courses are taught by faculty at the Ollin Tlahtoalli Centro de Lenguas y Cultura except SPAN 363 and SPAN 399 which are taught by UIC Professor Kim Potowski. 

We take field trips most Saturdays to local sites of archaeological and cultural interest, including Monte Albán and visits with local communities.  

Students may complete internships in areas related to medicine, education, the law, and other areas.

Check out this excellent video made by the 2013 group (NEW VIDEO COMING IN NOVEMBER 2023)!   "Like" our Facebook page!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Probably July 9 - August 6, 2023.

    Please check back soon for updates.

  • Approximately $3,200 includes tuition, housing and food (2 meals per day), airport pickup, orientation, all Saturday trips, and cultural workshops.

    Airfare (as low as $400... check out https://www.kiwi.com), mandatory international health insurance ($27) and spending money are not included.

    Most students do NOT pay the entire amount! There are many scholarships and other financial aid available:

    • For UIC students: Click here

    • There is also a scholarship essay as part of the application, usually resulting in $200-800 per student depending on available funds.

    • If you are a First Gen student, you may qualify for this $2,100
    scholarship!     (deadline earlyApril)

    • For all students: 
    Gillman Scholarship: Deadline March.
    Hosteling International USA: Deadline TBA

  • All students live with a host family that lives within 15 minutes' walking distance of the school where you take classes. You have a private bedroom and eat breakfast and "comida" (the main meal of the day, served at around 1:30 or 2:00 pm) with the family. We request that students from no other programs be in the home at the same time, but sometimes there is overlap with a student from another country. Families are very good about accommodating any dietary or allergy restrictions. Past students have formed close lasting bonds with their Oaxacan families and several have returned to visit them. You/your parents may contact the host family via telephone before your arrival to get to know them! 

  • Monday:
    10:00-1:00 Spanish class.
    1:00-4:00 free time and comida at home.
    4:00-6:00 workshop or cultural activity, for example,
    Benito Juárez' childhood home

    Tuesday:
    10:00-1:00 Spanish class.
    1:00-4:00 free time and comida at home.
    4:00-6:00 workshop or cultural activity, for example Santo Domingo

    Wednesday:
    10:00-1:00 Spanish class.
    1:00-4:00 free time and comida at home.
    4:00-6:00 workshop or cultural activity, for
    example el Mercado Sánchez Pascuas

    Thursday:
    All day activity, for example El Jardín Etnobotánico

    Friday:
    10:00-1:00 Spanish class.
    1:00-4:00 free time and comida at home.

    Saturday:
    9:00-3:00 Field trip to sites such as Monte Albán, 
    Teotitlán del Valle,Mitla, Hierve el agua, etc.

    Sunday: FREE DAY.

  • Students will receive 6 or 7 UIC credit hours (depending on the coursework) upon successful completion of the program.All students take two (2) courses:

    One (1) Spanish course, 5 different options:Course descriptions at https://catalog.uic.edu/ucat/course-descriptions/span/

    SPAN 114: Spanish for Heritage Speakers II (4 credits)SPAN 202: Spanish Grammar (3 credits)SPAN 204: Advanced Composition (3 credits)SPAN 363: Spanish in Society (3 credits)SPAN 399: Independent Study (3 credits)

    ONE Mexican culture course (same for everyone). Can count as SPAN 360 or LALS 399. Consists primarily of lectures and field trips

  • YES, all courses count toward a Spanish major/minor (except SPAN 114, which fulfills the UIC foreign language requirement). You may contact the UIC LAS Spanish advisor Meg LaLonde (mlalonde@uic.edu) if you have any questions about this.

  • If you are eligible for SPAN 399 Independent Study, you will carry out a research project that is related to some aspect of Oaxacan culture and life. This could be at a hospital, in an elementary school, about a local indigenous language, or some other relevant topic. This is carried out with the close assistance of the program director,
    UIC professor Kim Potowski.

    Past research topics completed by
    Oaxaca summer study abroad students:

    Indigeneity: Students will read about the 16 indigenous groups in the state of Oaxaca and interview speakers of at least two (2) of the local indegenous language groups in order to understand themes of minoritized languages, bilingualism and majority language education.

    Access to healthcare: Only for students with some basic medical training. Students will volunteer at the local Red Cross and assist walk-in doctors and nurses with patient care. They will also complete a research project about the Mexican healthcare system and the different degrees of access afforded to members of society.

    Women in society: Students carry out a research project on the ways in which Mexican women generally, and Oaxacan women specifically, contribute to the private and the public economies through their labor and cultural, religious, and familiar activities.

  • The first step is to attend a required meeting called "First Steps" at the UIC Study Abroad Office. Go here for the schedule. If you are a non-UIC student, click here for additional information.

    Applications are due March 11, 2022. Applications are available at the UIC Study Abroad Oaxaca website

    If you are a non-UIC student, click here for additional information

  • Of course! In addition to emailing the program director, Professor Potowski (kimpotow@uic.edu) with any questions, you can email the following students and they will be happy to answer your questions. They can also put your parents in touch with their parents.

    Sara Izquierdo: sizqui2@uic.edu

    Mayra Huerta: mayrahu1122@gmail.com

    Annabel Torres: torresannabel343@gmail.com  
    Her mom's email: magodelrey@yahoo.com 

    Belem Medina: belmed91@gmail.com

    Maritza Castillo: maritza_silverio@yahoo.com