Passport to skills and credit
Chim
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Summer travelers who sign up with Napa Valley College bring back more
than snapshots and souvenirs from their trips abroad - they also earn
credit for coursework and gain a richer understanding of their
subjects, from foreign languages to art history.
"All of the trips done through the college have been excellent," said
Kathryne Bandrowski of Napa, a photographer who has traveled to China,
Vietnam, Cambodia and Cuba with NVC classes in recent years.
"The topic itself comes alive when you're on site," said NVC
International Education coordinator Amanda Badgett.
"Whether you're looking at actual art objects; whether you're living
with a Spanish family; whether you are in Paris hearing Parisians
speak French - all of this heightens the experience 10- and 20-fold,"
Badgett said.
Priscilla Upton of St. Helena, who studied digital photography with
professor Ron Rogers on the Cuba trip, called it "very eye-opening.
"For me, it was the opportunity of a lifetime, and the college does
these trips in such an organized and good way," Upton said.
Founded in 1985, the study-abroad program is taking reservations now
for six classes this summer, from a two-week photography course in
historic Portugal to a full month in Paris complete with French-
language courses at the Université Paris Sorbonne.
Spanish-language students can immerse themselves for three weeks in
the old city of Salamanca, Spain, staying with local families while
studying at the Pontifical University; a two-week trip to Italy is
designed for both art-history and studio-art students.
In the New World, a two-week course on Mexican history will include
visits to Mayan ruins and Spanish colonial sites; the first-ever trip
sponsored by the college's health occupations department, a special
class in "cross-cultural health care," will travel to the Philippines.
The time to sign up is now: There is limited space in each class, with
deposits due shortly. Students must be registered at Napa Valley
College and will need current passports to travel.
To join one of this summer's classes, which begin as soon as June 6,
contact the professors directly (see sidebar, right).
'It's life-changing'
Badgett said a few weeks of study abroad can have long-lasting
effects.
"You may decide that this is the field you want to pursue, after
having had this incredibly enhanced experience," she said. "In some
cases, it's life-changing."
Each international course is led by at least one Napa Valley College
instructor; the Italy and Portugal trips will be team-taught by two
professors each. Travel and lodging details, guides, day trips and
lectures are supported by tour agencies specializing in international
education.
Badgett, an art history professor at the college, is teaming up with
art professor Fain Hancock for the trip to Rome, Florence and Venice
in June. The group will tour museums and historical sites, but
students will also be expected to complete their course work: "They
will produce a project at the end, whether it be a paper or some kind
of art object," Badgett said.
Students will have the option of taking the trips on a credit/no
credit basis: "You can put as much effort into it as you want,"
Badgett said.
Given the cost of fuel, the state of the dollar and the high cost of
lodging in some overseas cities, Badgett said the summer courses -
most including airfare - offer a travel bargain as well as an enhanced
learning experience.
"These actually represent good value for money," she said of the
packages, which range from $1,500, including lodging and meals but
without airfare, for the Philippines trip to $3,565 with practically
all expenses included for the Italian art history tour.
Heritage and health care
Students in the college's health occupations department who embark on
July's trip through the Philippines will gain practical experience
along with credit units, observing health care in urban and rural
settings as they tour the island nation.
Nursing instructor Noreen Martin forged a relationship with the
Philippines government to offer the course, which she called an
"opportunity for young Filipinos to trace their roots and learn about
their heritage."
Martin's group will visit four hospitals, three universities and one
live volcano during their 15-day trip through the islands.
"Based on last year's experience, they should have a ball," she said.
As with all of the study-abroad classes, Martin's is open to anyone
registered at Napa Valley College. Contact information is online at
www.napavalley.edu (click on "Study Abroad").
See the world
· History of Mexico in Mexico, June 6-June 20: Rick Donohoe, 253-3388,
rdonohoe@ napavalley.edu
· Digital Documentary Photography in Portugal, June 16-30: Ron Rogers,
253-3238, rro...@napavalley.edu
· Spanish in Salamanca, Spain, June 16 - July 7: Maria Villagomez,
253-3178, mvill...@napavalley.edu
· Art & Art History in Italy, June 18 - July 1: Amanda Badgett,
259-6050, abad...@napavalley.edu
· French in Paris, France, July 1 - Aug. 1: Anne-Marie McEligot,
224-3931
· Travel-study in the Philippines, July 8 - July 24: Noreen Martin,
253-3125, mar...@napavalley.edu