Location:

Valparaiso, Chile

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Spring Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

Course Load: 5 courses Credit Load: 15-18 credits Language of Instruction: English and/or Spanish Minimum Spanish Proficiency Required: Beginner. On the first day of program orientation, students will complete a language proficiency test and an oral interview with a program advisor to guarantee placement at the appropriate language level. Minimum GPA: 2.5/4.0 Transcript: Issued by PUCV BridgeVirtual Language Lessons As part of your program fee, you will receive three free BridgeVirtual language sessions for your use prior to your arrival on-site! Each session lasts 2 hours and includes both pre- and post-class online activities, as well as private, face-to-face time with a certified native speaking teacher. With BridgeVirtual, you’ll learn from practical assignments that incorporate videos, blogs, news articles, and a large variety of material, appropriate for all levels and interests. You will be assigned your own teacher, who is dedicated to guiding and motivating you through a completely personalized, one-to-one program, which makes learning fun, practical and effective. And most importantly, you’ll have the language tools you need to be successful in your program abroad.

Bridge’s English Semester at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaíso (PUCV) is an ideal way to expand your cultural horizons and earn degree credit as you learn a new language and experience life abroad. Based in fascinating Valparaíso, Chile, this program is perfect for students who have completed introductory Spanish studies, as well as those whose exposure to the language doesn’t extend much beyond midnight gordita runs to Taco Bell! Using innovative curricula, you’ll build your Spanish speaking, reading, and writing skills not by memorizing boring vocabulary lists, but by meeting with Chilean peers and learning about the history and culture of the country you’ll call home. With Bridge, your learning won’t be limited to the classroom. After all, you’ll be living in Valparaíso, one of South America’s most unique and vibrant cities. Just an hour from the country’s capital, Santiago, and a 15-minute train trip from the beach resort of Viña del Mar, Valparíso is well connected to the best that Chile has to offer, but it feels a world apart. Located at the spot where dramatic hills meet one of the Pacific’s most beautiful bays, picturesque “Valpo” bustles with an offbeat but enchanting mix of commercial activity and bohemian vibes, giving the city an energy unlike any other. From picking you up at the airport to matching you with a local host family and keying you into the coolest spots in the city, Bridge will make sure you’re ready to take full advantage of your semester in Chile. Get set to make the sort of memories you’ll cherish long after you say adiós!

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso Bridge’s Chilean partner institution is the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso (PUCV), one of Chile’s most prestigious universities. Founded in 1928, PUCV is celebrated for excellence in education and for its strong commitment to public service. The university offers a wide variety of academic programs in more than 50 fields, including business and economics, oceanographic and natural sciences, law, religion, education, the humanities, and engineering. PUCV has decades of experience welcoming international students from across the world, and it sets itself apart by providing exchange students with ample opportunities to interact with local students and participate in university activities. PUCV’s modern facilities are located throughout Valparaíso, Chile’s second largest city and largest port. Located on a dramatic bay where coastal mountains meet the Pacific, Valparaíso is a city awash in natural beauty and picturesque views. The city itself is a perfect complement to a PUCV education. Not so big as to be unmanageable, Valparaíso’s rich cultural life and urban energy ensure that learning will extend well beyond the classroom.

Setting Description:

What makes Valparaíso unique? Valparaíso’s contemporary art scene is one of the most vibrant in the Southern Cone. Murals by Chile’s leading artists beautify public spaces, and the prominence of graffiti—nuisance to some, invaluable creative expression to others—contributes to the city’s urban vibrancy. The scene finds its fullest expression atop the city’s hills, or cerros. By turns elegant and edgy, Cerros Alegre and Concepción overflow with galleries and museums. Across town, the whole of Cerro Bellavista has been transformed into one of Chile’s most unusual museums—a free self-guided art walk that includes public works by some of the country’s greatest talents.