Dec. 7 deadline to spend spring semester in London

By: Jamie Stueve

Posted: 11/25/09

Castles, famous museums, ancient architecture, foreign food and unfamiliar faces make for an incredible journey across the globe.

The Des Moines Area Community College Study Abroad Program gives the opportunity for 10 weeks abroad in London in spring 2010. The number of students who participate is around 15 or 16 and live with host families. They attend the University of London, which is in the heart of the city.

The only required class students take is on British Culture to familiarize themselves on the culture and history of their current residence. Other classes that are available for the upcoming trip will be taught by lead English professor Michael Hubbard. Students also have the opportunity to take Humanities 116, Literature 142, English 106, English 221, Speech 126 and Speech 101.

A professor accompanies the trip to teach and guide the students through the experience. "I think most of the faculty who have participated would agree that it's an incredible teaching opportunity," said Randy Jedele, DMACC study abroad professor for 2005 and 2009. "I love taking students to London so much; I wish it were my permanent spring job. London is such a wonderful city to live in, and the teaching moments, especially in literature and the humanities are unlimited."

Classes meet Monday through Thursday and fill up to nine humanities requirements in the DMACC curriculum. A four-day class week, gives students a three-day weekend and many opportunities to make mini three-day vacations. "My students last spring went to Italy, Greece, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, to name a few. I also took the students to Paris for a four-day field trip of our own," said Jedele. This year a mini trip is planned for Scotland.

London is a big city with a lot to encounter. It becomes difficult to give a wide array of activities to keep students intrigued. "My biggest challenge is always to make sure that I am integrating the assignments between classes, so that everything seems to fit together in a seamless fashion," said Jedele. "The experience is like teaching in a one-room school-house, so we spend quite a bit of time together, and I am challenged to create a variety of teaching/learning experiences."

The estimated cost of the spring 2010 trip is $12,050. Additional loans are available to students interested in more funding, which can be found on the DMACC homepage as well as scholarships that pertain to international studies. A scholarship through DMACC is the Benjamin A. Gilman international scholarship available for students on the London trip.

Jedele encourages students who consider this opportunity to start planning a year in advance, but that it is completely worth all the planning and money involved. "Although the program is expensive, none of my students regretted taking out loans and borrowing money to go. Also, this program is cheaper than the study abroad programs at four-year institutions."

Contact Maria Cochran, the study abroad coordinator for any further questions to acquire information in regard to the spring 2010 trip abroad in London at mecochran@dmacc.edu.

The deadline to participate in the program is now Dec. 7 due to a lack in numbers participating, six, when they need ten to continue on with plans.

The financial aid coordinator is Barb Badger who will also be able to provide additional information on funding for the trip at bjbadger@dmacc.edu.