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SELT Project, 1997-1999



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Overview: OSEA Maya Immersion Language Field School
The SELT Project was initiated in 1997 as a 3 year program. In 2010 OSEA inaugurates a renewed and updated Teaching English Service Learning Program

Download the SELT Teaching English Service Learning Brochure
Read Student Evaluations and Comments from Previous Field Seasons

Participants in the SELT Teaching English Service Learning Program gain hands-on, practical experience teaching English as a second language to children and adults in a Maya community of Yucatán. Participants are trained to teach English as well as do ethnography of the educational process that is created in the classroom spaces. As well, SELT participants learn about Maya culture and learn basic communicative skills in Maya language as an essential means by which to work with the OSEA staff to develop a pedagogy that relies on local cultural knowledge and traditions. As ethnographers, English teachers study not only the learning experience of students in terms of success/achievements of the English language learners, but their own interactive engagement with Maya people, culture, language. As ethnographers and teachers of English participants investigate the transcultural dynamics of interaction that is established in and by the SELT program.

Summer:        7 week program
Dates:            Sunday May 23 to Saturday July 10, 2010. See the OSEA summer calendar
Start:             Start date is day of ARRIVAL on-site in Pisté in time for 2pm orientation meeting
End:               End date is the earliest date of Departure for successful completion of program. 
Location:       Pisté and Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, México, and surrounding Maya Indian communities
Credits:         6 credit hours at either undergraduate or graduate level,
Accreditation:       Accredited Transcripts by the Universidad Autonóma de Yucatán
Course Type:        Service Learning / Hands-On Interactive Learning; Field Practicum
See course descriptions

Cost:             $2700 Tuition for Direct OSEA Enrollment plus Room & Board (variable)
Room & Board:      Lodging in Posada Olalde: $950 Shared Double, $1150 Single
                       Main meals (breakfast/lunch) and light dinners included while on location
                       during program, arranged with Maya families and/or family run restaurants.
Eligibility:
Program is open to: undergraduate majors and graduate students in any field of study
Non-students who have completed a BA, MA, or other higher degree are also accepted

Requirements:
GPA of 2.7 for coursework taken to date
Completion of Freshman year of college, university, or equivalent institution
Minimum 1 year of college level Spanish or demonstrated fluency/proficiency
No prior coursework or knowledge in Maya language is necessary

Field Trips:   Educational excursions to ruins such as Chichén Itzá, Ek’ Balam, Yaxuna, cenotes such as Dzitnup, Yaxche, other ecological sites, and to nearby rancherias/jungle villages for cultural exchange and language learning are included in the program costs.  Specific locations and activities determined at program start and can change due to unforeseen circumstances.

Break:    4 Day Program Break (paid out of pocket). Scheduled after the 3rd week of program

Weekends: The weekends are generally free except those occasions when a group field trip has been scheduled. The majority of these trips are on Saturday if they involved travel, however, the first Sunday is typically reserved for our visit to Chichén Itzá The majority of field trips are scheduled during the first half of the program prior to the long four day break.

Out of Pocket:   Long Program Break, personal items, consumibles, incidentals, laundry, non-program travel to/from Pisté , international airfare, ground transportation to/from airports

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Lodging:   OSEA partners with the Posada Olalde a Maya family-run posada that offers superior linguistic immersion and cross-cultural experience. Victor Olalde, owner and tour guide, has been a friend and collaborator of OSEA for over 20 years. He has significant cross cultural experience with OSEA students and tourists and he has often worked as the Student Liaison for OSEA. This experience helps make the Posada Olalde a particularly welcome place to stay. The Posada Olalde provide a comfortable experience with privacy, study areas, internet, immersion, and ease of a hotel. The Posada Olalde is ideally situated within 2 blocks of the OSEA Headquarters, one block from the main road of Pisté, and 20 minutes walking distance from Chichén Itzá.

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Enrollment
* Direct OSEA Enrollment allows students from any university with any residence status or nationality to enroll directly with OSEA. By arrangement with their institution's financial aid office, students can apply their award to the OSEA Program. All payment is made directly to OSEA by the student as per guidelines described in the application process. Upon completion of the program the student receives an OSEA transcript and an accredited transcript from the Facultad de Ciencias Antropologí Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (UADY), OSEA's partner institution in México. The UADY is an institution on the list of accredited Mexican institutions accepted by US institutions. In order to facilate the transfer of credits, students receive two copies of each transcript in a sealed envelope. This envelope is then hand-delivered by the student to the registrar of their university in order to comply with your registrar rules for acceptance of transfer credits. It is recommended that every participant discuss the credit transfer process with their departmental advisor to secure pre-approval of transferability of course credits.