WHILE SOME Ateneans spend their summers in the beach, others opt to study—in Europe.

The Summer Study Tour is a program that gives Ateneans the opportunity to explore Spain, France, or Germany — while learning the language and absorbing European culture. The tour, which lasts for three to four weeks, is organized by the Modern Languages Department.

The program for each country is standardized, says Department Chair Christa Velasco. On weekdays, students attend class in the morning, then sightsee and participate in cultural programs in the afternoon. On weekends, students take excursions to different parts of each country.

Velasco was the chaperone for the Germany tour while her fellow Foreign Language Instructors Heide Aquino and Evelyn Soriano were the chaperones for the Spain and France tours, respectively.

Last April, 10 students participated in the Germany tour, while 22 students went with Aquino to Spain. Twenty students accompanied Soriano, meanwhile, to France.

A taste of independence

One of the objectives of the program is for students to become more independent, mature, and confident.

Carissa Dawn Villanueva (IV AB Hum), who went to Spain, says the study tour was a very enjoyable experience that helped her grow in three ways—as a student, person, and world traveler. “I think being set up in an unfamiliar place, without your family to look out for you, really allows you to discover your strengths and limitations,” she says.

“We weren’t waited on,” says another participant, Janelle Monique Estrada (II AB Eu), who went to Germany. She learned to become more responsible, since she had to take care of herself and do her own laundry.

Aquino says that students become more confident with themselves during the study tour. “It’s really different when you travel, your horizons are broadened, and then you become more responsible,” she says. “I think [the students] grow [and] mature in such a short time.”

Bonjour! Hallo! Hola!

Villanueva shares that their group spent a few days in Madrid and Barcelona, before going to Salamanca in Spain.

“In this tour, we were given the freedom to see the sites, and visit the museums at our own time,” she adds.

Villanueva and her companions visited several places in Spain such as the Museo del Prado, Reina Sofia, and Montjuic (or Mountain of the Jews). They also engaged in several activities such as taking salsa classes, and trying out native delicacies like the different kinds of tapas in Salamanca.

The participants of the France tour went to Montpellier and Paris.

“I really couldn’t believe I was in France, until I saw with my very own eyes the Eiffel Tower,” says Ayesa Kamille Idquival (IV AB MEco). “The view was nothing short of spectacular.”

The group also visited the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palace of Versailles, and the Louvre Museum.

Meanwhile, the Germany group explored Berlin and Hamburg.

Minor mishaps

Both Estrada and Villanueva agree that, despite the foreign language classes they had taken before the trip, language was still a barrier.

“My [foster mother] knew little English so it was difficult. When I wanted to go out, it was hard to ask permission because sometimes she couldn’t understand me,” says Estrada, who had only studied German I.

“Even though I already took two classes in Spanish, it was still a challenge communicating and understanding to the Spanish — who were more comfortable speaking in their own language than English,” says Villanueva.

While the chaperones didn’t have difficulties with language, they had problems elsewhere.

All three say that they did not worry about the paperwork for the study tour since they’ve all had experiences in being chaperones before. However, Aquino says she initially had problems booking for rooms in Barcelona since everywhere was full.

At one point, Aquino found herself with double bookings. “I had to pay for both… Sayang yung pera (It was a waste of money), but now we know better.”

Meanwhile, Soriano had two students whose luggage went beyond the prescribed weight requirement.

One student brought several bottles of water and canned goods while another brought a rice cooker. Soriano says she had to deal with dispersing the overweight items among the rest of the participants, because they couldn’t just leave the items at the airport.

Next stop

The Summer Study Tour was formerly under the European Studies Department, but was transferred to the Modern Languages Department. “We have the language. The teachers here speak German. They speak Portuguese. We have the language adapted,” says Aquino.

This year, Aquino says that they are going to start the preparations for the tour as early as October.

“The summer course was actually testing the water,” says Aquino. “We hope that the school…will finally approve it [and] include it in the curriculum.”

The Summer Study Tour consumes six units of credit which Aquino says students could use for their electives.

“It’s very attractive to the students,” Aquino adds. “We ask them for €3,000, and that includes everything—airfare, the subways, trains, merienda (snacks), meals, lodging, tuition, buses.”

There is no QPI requirement for students to participate in the tour, says Aquino. However, the slots would be on a first-come, first-served basis. Each tour is composed of ideally 16 to 20 students, she says.

Soriano expresses hope that someday, there would be scholarships for students who cannot afford the tour.

Next year, the study tour will expand to include Italy.