Oaxaca

This trip offers Spanish language students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and language of Oaxaca, Mexico. Students will develop their conversational fluency and understanding of daily life in Mexico by living with Oaxacan families. They will also hone their language skills through daily language classes at the Universidad Autonoma de Oaxaca and weekly conversation exchanges with local university students. To learn about the depth and richness of Oaxacan culture, students will take art, cooking, and dance classes, and visit several cultural sites including artisan villages, pre-columbian ruins, and art museums. We will also enjoy the spectacular beauty of southern Mexico on excursions to the Monte Alban Pyramids, natural hot springs, and the mountains surrounding the city. Students will also enjoy Oaxaca’s exquisite food, including world-famous moles, refreshing aguas frescas, and for the more adventurous, crunchy and spicy chapulines. After their time immersed in Mexico, students return home with an appreciation for the culture and history of Mexico and greater confidence in their command of the Spanish language.

The trip is open to all current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students with a preference towards those currently enrolled in Spanish III or above and who plan to continue to study Spanish at Deerfield after our return. Students must commit to using Spanish as their primary language of communication for the duration of the trip. All interested students are encouraged to apply by November 4. Financial aid is available for all trips with priority for students who have not previously received aid for a Deerfield trip.