Mission
To be an academically excellent international program where students live in community, engage the
challenges of the world, and learn to respond with a biblical Christian worldview.
Goals
- To capture the excitement of cross-cultural learning.
- To challenge individuals to see the world as God sees it.
- To provide real life opportunities for cross-cultural ministry.
- To enjoy, learn from, and value the riches of the Ecuadorian culture and people.
Students, while living in Ecuador:
- Enroll in 12-18 credit hours to be completed during the semester. Of those credits, 3-8 will be college level Spanish taught by native Spanish speakers.
- Engage and participate in orientation, debrief, and leadership development.
- Complete an internship practicum for credit or engage in service-learning opportunities across the city
and country.
- Live with an Ecuadorian family for one month to experience culture and build relationships.
- Participate in academic guided tours of the Amazon Jungle, Galapagos Islands, and Machu Picchu.
- Live in Christian community
REQUIRED COURSES
Spanish – 3-8 credit hours
Students will take a placement test and will be enrolled in the courses that correspond with their level of proficiency.
- Spanish 101/102: Elementary I & II
- Spanish 201: Intermediate I
- Spanish 250: Readings & Writings
- Spanish 310: Conversation & Advanced Grammar
- Spanish 320: Advanced Grammar & Composition
- Spanish 400: Visión General de Literatura Latinoamericana
Ecuador 250/350: History, Art & Culture (Art & History Option) – 1-3 credit hours
Community Development 100 & Service-Learning/Internship – 1-3 credit hours
Additional Course Offerings
Christian Spiritual Formation & Transformation 320 – 3 credit hours
Worldview & Global Religions 340 – 3 credit hours
Intercultural Communication 300 – 3 credit hours
Biological Principles 100 – 3 credit hours + 1 credit hour (Biological Principles Lab) = 4 credit hours
Social Entrepreneurship & Leadership 360 – 3 credit hours
Old Testament Survey 110 – 3 credit hours
Students will have the opportunity to participate in a homestay experience during their time in Ecuador. Living with an Ecuadorian homestay family is one of the most interesting and rewarding aspects of
the L&LI experience. All homes are carefully screened for suitability and are inspected regularly by our
staff. During a semester, students will have the privilege of living with a family for 4-5 weeks.
L&LI has relationships with a network of families who are interested in hosting international students.
We call this our “homestay” program because when students participate in this program, they are not
only renting a room in somebody’s house; students are welcomed into a home as if they were a
member of a family. The homestay weeks gives students the opportunity for additional practice
speaking Spanish outside of the classroom, as well as the opportunity to experience some of the
cultural aspects of Ecuadorian life, such as food, family outings, and holidays. L&LI attempts to match
students and families with personality, needs, history and characteristics. The families with which we
are affiliated have experience in hosting international students. A host family provides a single room,
internet service, two to three meals per day (depending on schedule) and laundry services.
Traditionally, students are paired for safety and language learning methodology.
Engaging and seeing the beauty and culture in Ecuador is an important value of the program. Both day and overnight trips are a part of offerings for semester students in addition to homestays and experiential outings provided in classes; most costs are covered by the program, while some are out of pocket expenses for students:
In-Class
- Tour one Gothic and one Baroque-style church in Colonial Quito (Experiential Outing)
- Tour the Presidential Palace
Day Trips
- Orientation Session(s) at a Retreat Facility and/or City Park
- Equator Visit & Ziplining in the Cloud Forest
- Hike Rucu Volcano with a summit of 15,696ft (higher than any Summit in the Continental US)
- Explore Otavalo Market (largest open air market in South America) or Hike to the Refuge of the Cotopaxi Volcano (15,748ft)
Overnight Trips
- 5-day service trip to the Amazon Region of Ecuador (Puerto Misahualli)
- 2-day trip to the mountain adventure town of Baños (Swing at the End of the World)
- 5-day trip to the Galapagos Islands (Santa Cruz)
- 5-day trip to Cusco, Peru and one of the Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu
- 4-day trip to the Coast of Ecuador for Debrief (Same)
- Engaging and seeing the beauty and culture in Ecuador is an important value of the program.
Internship/Service-learning: Cultural exposure and learning experiences in Ecuador will offer a complement to classroom experience and lecture. Opportunities to see and be involved in ministry will challenge students to “put into practice” all they are seeing and learning. Every student will perform an internship (for credit or service-learning) with partner ministries, foundations and organizations in and around Quito. Practicum/ Internship credit should be earned (according to departmental instructions, oversight, details and hour requirements).
It is our goal as a program to place students in an internship that is best suited to their skills, background, future interests, and major. In some cases, students have a good idea of future careers and we can be very specific in their placements. In other cases, internships will provide an opportunity to serve, learn and “try on” a field or job with the desire to see how it fits. Practical ministry internships are also one of the most rewarding parts of this program. Learning to serve and love in another setting, language and culture is rewarding. We will design an internship with your skills in mind as well as your ability to speak the national language. Over the course of the semester you will have the opportunity to serve weekly at a local site.
NOTE: If you have specific hour-requirements to accomplish, please notify L&LI staff ASAP as to those requirements, particularly the Director of Community Impact.
Communications, Information Technologies, Graphic Design & Digital Media
Within communications, there are a variety of corporate, non-profit and public roles. Cross-cultural communication exposes students to training in a variety of media outlets such as writing, programming, broadcasting, blogging, and even television and/or radio production. A communications internship prepares students for work in media industries, businesses, non-profit organizations and ministries requiring excellent written, interpersonal,
organizational, oral and media production skills. Opportunities include HCJB, a local healthcare and media mission, and Control Z, a youth-focused radio station.
Business
Business students study communication skills, financial modeling, statistical theory as it applies in business settings, recreational opportunities in the private sector, business law and business ethics. Seeing how business runs internationally equips students to succeed. A business internship deepens students’ involvement in the global marketplace by gaining practical hands-on and field experience. Business partners and connections constitute these internship opportunities.
Intercultural Studies
Intercultural internships seek to help students examine culture from a biblical perspective and guide the student in the use of basic tools for grasping the content and application of God’s Word in a global context. Internships are offered at church partners and humanitarian organizations.
Education
Educational internships prepare students to teach in public, private, or Christian schools. Teaching in a multi-cultural society, and even teaching in a different language prepares teachers well to enter into the educational community. Opportunities include teaching English in high schools (international and national) elementary/middle schools, and after-school programs.
Outdoor Leadership
Knowing your way through the wilderness is important. Being able to guide others through their journey of faith in an outdoor context is even better. Outdoor Leadership students develop the necessary knowledge and skills in experiential education. Internships in this area are realized at El Refugio, an outdoor training and leadership center (requires 1-2 hours of travel).
Youth & Worship Ministries
Youth & Worship Ministry opportunities seek to help each student examine the scriptural basis for the faith and to guide the student in the use of basic tools for grasping the content and application of God’s Word. International ministry helps students acquire and develop their skills in ministry through involvement in other hands-on experience opportunities; through service projects, campus ministries and volunteer programs. Opportunities include high schools, youth groups, and church worship ministries.
Social Work, Family Studies, Sociology & Psychology
Pulling from the historical roots of the profession, such opportunities emphasize that community well-being is essential to a common good, that each community has gifts and assets, and we are called to participate in the life of a community. Opportunities for students to fulfill their callings to Christ-like service are present through numerous service learning and field education experiences, including high schools, orphanages, old-folks homes, prison ministries, and community outreach partners.
NOTE: L&LI can accommodate a Social Work practicum (400 hours), including MSW oversight. Pre-Med, Nursing & Physical Therapy
Physical well-being and access to healthcare are essential to a healthy life, particularly in a developing country. Pre-Med and nursing opportunities give students hands-on experience in an international medical context; in clinics, emergency rooms, out and in-patient procedures, all to gain an understanding of international medicine and medical practices. Internships include clinics, hospitals, and hospice ministries.
Other(s)
Other internship opportunities may be available (for specific major requirements), but may not be due to changes in national volunteer laws and procedures, as well as the students’ Spanish language level. Other non-major internships include work at orphanages, old-folks homes, prisons, coaching, soup kitchens, a daycare for children at the city dump, and other ministry partners connected with L&LI.
