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Ayuda y Aprende

AyA is one of the experiential learning programs supported by the School of Languages and Cultures. Led by Jefferson Award recipient, Kelly Paez-Urbano since 2014, AyA is a Service-Learning Program in which Purdue students of Spanish work with local schools, and the Undergraduate Research Experience Purdue–Colombia.
 
Within these partnerships, students support Hispanic students with limited English with their schoolwork and assist teachers, facilitate Spanish conversation tables to support Spanish language and intercultural learning in the community, and do language exchanges and tutoring with Colombian students who are research interns at Purdue.
While doing service deemed necessary by the local organizations, students also practice Spanish skills, gain intercultural knowledge, and learn about local diversity and the experience of being a new community member. All SPAN 300-400 level students are invited to participate in the Ayuda y Aprende program.
 
AyA is a great opportunity to practice Spanish, help the community (Hispanic students with their schoolwork at local schools), and/or participate in a cultural learning experience through Spanish/English Tutoring Sessions with a group of undergraduate Colombian students from the UREP-C program (on-campus partnership).
Participation in the Ayuda y Aprende program allows students to earn up to 6 extra credit points that will be added to the final grade. AyA volunteers need to commit to 2 hours per week for 10 weeks (20 hours total) of school visits or tutoring sessions, attend two discussion groups throughout the semester with the AyA coordinator, and turn in two e-journals (diarios de visitas/tutorías).
 
AyA volunteers need to complete 20 hours of School Visits or Spanish-English Tutoring, attend two Discussion Groups, submit two Online Journals (for volunteers at Local Schools), and do a cultural presentation (for volunteers in AyA Spanish-English Tutoring). SPAN 301/302 students will also write an in-class Composition on their AyA Service-Learning experience and do the Final Cultural Project on a Spanish Service-Learning topic assigned by the AyA Coordinator. For more information, please contact: AyA Coordinator Kely Páez ()
 
The number of students involved in AyA varies each semester, with a good average of 70 student volunteers helping about 30 students in each of the participating local schools.