UNC Chapel Hill: APPLES Service-Learning Program: For Students

Guadalajara, Mexico
FAQ's

What is Global Service-Learning?
Global service-Learning provides an opportunity for students to unite rigorous academic learning with substantive volunteer service to the community. By integrating formal study with service to the local community in an international setting, students find their learning takes on greater depth and meaning. Working among the community brings classroom learning to life, while the formal study broadens the students’ understanding of their cultural surroundings.

This program offers UNC undergraduate students a unique opportunity to work with global and local immigrant communities. Students travel to, study in and work with sending communities where social, economic, or political conditions are pushing residents to immigrate to North Carolina and other regions in the United States.

Who sponsors this program?
This program is offered by APPLES in collaboration with UNC Study Abroad and the International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership.

How long is the program?
Participants spend nine weeks during the summer months in Guadalajara. In addition, there is an opportunity to travel to the mountains, the coast and Mexico City.

How many students are selected for the program?
Currently, ten students are accepted each summer.

Where do participants take language and culture classes? Participants take courses about 20 hours a week at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara (UAG) in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Are language skills required to participate?
A minimum of two semesters of Spanish is required.

Do participants receive academic credit for this program?
Yes, students receive academic credit for their participation in this program. This credit may be used to satisfy elective, perspective and major/minor requirements. The way in which the credit is assigned for a particular course depends on the course content as well as remaining degree requirements. Students will receive 16 academic credit hours for work successfully completed while abroad in the fall semester, and one credit hour for participation in the APPLES Reflection Seminar in the spring semester following the abroad experience.

Where do participants live while in Guadalajara, Mexico?
They live with a Mexican family for the duration of the trip. Participants eat most meals with their host families, providing opportunities for deeper cultural and language-learner experiences.

What types of service opportunities exist for students? How much time is spent volunteering?
See our list of direct and indirect service opportunities with Guadalajara Service Agencies. Participants perform 12-15 hours of service each week.

How am I placed in my service experience?
Participants are placed based on an application form that assesses a student's interests, skills and language proficiency. The particular needs of the organization and/or community are considered as well.

Is credit awarded for the service experience?
You will not receive credit for the service, but rather the course your service is grounded in and the learning you demonstrate as a result of the experience.

Are there program staff available in Mexico?
Yes, permanent staff are on-site who coordinate your housing, service, academic and travel needs.

Are there additional APPLES requirements for this program?
This program has three integral components: a Pre-Departure Workshop in the spring, the global experience in the fall semester, and the spring Reflection Seminar. In the spring, APPLES prepares students for their experience through a full-day Orientation focusing on issues related to cultural awareness, cross-cultural service, travel logistics, teamwork and communication. The Orientation highlights the importance of linking the global experience with local service-learning, application and reflection after returning to North Carolina. In addition to the Orientation, students participate in a half-day Ropes Course and reflection experience prior to departure.

On returning to Carolina, students enroll in “Connections”, a 1-credit reflection seminar that compares the lives of new immigrants in their origin countries with those in North Carolina. The seminar explores concerns for health, education and social justice through selected readings, class discussion and reflection. Returning students engage in local service-learning with newly arrived immigrants. As mentors, they provide assistance with activities supporting school achievement and facilitation of bilingual fluency for middle or high school immigrant youth.

May I contact someone who has completed this program?
Yes. Please contact the APPLES Office at 962-0902 to request contact information for past participants.

To obtain contact information for the current GSL Chair, please refer to the APPLES' Organizers directory.


	Guadalajara, Mexico FAQ's Program Destinations \| Application Process \| Funding Photos \| Reflection Seminar \| Local Service Global Service-Learning Homepage What is Global Service-Learning? Who sponsors this program? How long is the program? How many students are selected for the program? Where do participants take language and culture classes? Are language skills required to participate? Do participants receive academic credit for this program? Where do participants live while in Guadalajara, Mexico? What types of service opportunities exist for students? How much time is spent volunteering? How am I placed in my service experience? Is credit awarded for the service experience? Are there program staff available in Mexico? Are there additional APPLES requirements for this program? May I contact someone who has completed this program? What is Global Service-Learning? Global service-Learning provides an opportunity for students to unite rigorous academic learning with substantive volunteer service to the community. By integrating formal study with service to the local community in an international setting, students find their learning takes on greater depth and meaning. Working among the community brings classroom learning to life, while the formal study broadens the students’ understanding of their cultural surroundings. This program offers UNC undergraduate students a unique opportunity to work with global and local immigrant communities. Students travel to, study in and work with sending communities where social, economic, or political conditions are pushing residents to immigrate to North Carolina and other regions in the United States. Who sponsors this program? This program is offered by APPLES in collaboration with UNC Study Abroad and the International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership. How long is the program? Participants spend nine weeks during the summer months in Guadalajara. In addition, there is an opportunity to travel to the mountains, the coast and Mexico City. How many students are selected for the program? Currently, ten students are accepted each summer. Where do participants take language and culture classes? Participants take courses about 20 hours a week at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara (UAG) in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico. Are language skills required to participate? A minimum of two semesters of Spanish is required. Do participants receive academic credit for this program? Yes, students receive academic credit for their participation in this program. This credit may be used to satisfy elective, perspective and major/minor requirements. The way in which the credit is assigned for a particular course depends on the course content as well as remaining degree requirements. Students will receive 16 academic credit hours for work successfully completed while abroad in the fall semester, and one credit hour for participation in the APPLES Reflection Seminar in the spring semester following the abroad experience. Where do participants live while in Guadalajara, Mexico? They live with a Mexican family for the duration of the trip. Participants eat most meals with their host families, providing opportunities for deeper cultural and language-learner experiences. What types of service opportunities exist for students? How much time is spent volunteering? See our list of direct and indirect service opportunities with Guadalajara Service Agencies. Participants perform 12-15 hours of service each week. How am I placed in my service experience? Participants are placed based on an application form that assesses a student's interests, skills and language proficiency. The particular needs of the organization and/or community are considered as well. Is credit awarded for the service experience? You will not receive credit for the service, but rather the course your service is grounded in and the learning you demonstrate as a result of the experience. Are there program staff available in Mexico? Yes, permanent staff are on-site who coordinate your housing, service, academic and travel needs. Are there additional APPLES requirements for this program? This program has three integral components: a Pre-Departure Workshop in the spring, the global experience in the fall semester, and the spring Reflection Seminar. In the spring, APPLES prepares students for their experience through a full-day Orientation focusing on issues related to cultural awareness, cross-cultural service, travel logistics, teamwork and communication. The Orientation highlights the importance of linking the global experience with local service-learning, application and reflection after returning to North Carolina. In addition to the Orientation, students participate in a half-day Ropes Course and reflection experience prior to departure. On returning to Carolina, students enroll in “Connections”, a 1-credit reflection seminar that compares the lives of new immigrants in their origin countries with those in North Carolina. The seminar explores concerns for health, education and social justice through selected readings, class discussion and reflection. Returning students engage in local service-learning with newly arrived immigrants. As mentors, they provide assistance with activities supporting school achievement and facilitation of bilingual fluency for middle or high school immigrant youth. May I contact someone who has completed this program? Yes. Please contact the APPLES Office at 962-0902 to request contact information for past participants. To obtain contact information for the current GSL Chair, please refer to the APPLES' Organizers directory.