Long and slender, Chile stretches for some 2,700 miles down the south-west coast of South America. The country is no more than 150 miles wide in places, sandwiched between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Its unique geography explains Chile’s broad range of climates; as you travel south, vineyards and farmland give way to forests, volcanoes, and lakes, and eventually to icebergs.

Chile is a Spanish-speaking country, having been settled by the Spanish, but is also home to communities of Italians, German, Irish, French, British, Swiss, and Croatian immigrants, as well as  a small indigenous population. The country gained its independence from Spain in 1818. Under General Augusto Jose Ramon Pinochet, Chile endured a military dictatorship that lasted from 1973 until the late 1980s. Today, however, and despite a major earthquake in February 2010, it is one of South America’s most prosperous and stable nations. In addition to the mainland, Chile controls Easter Island and a number of other South Pacific islands.

Chile’s second most important city, Valparaiso, has been called “the San Francisco of South America” on account of its ocean-side location, steeply rising streets, and distinctive funiculars (cable railways). The city’s importance as a port decreased after the opening of the Panama Canal—ships sailing between the Pacific and the Atlantic had previously traveled via the Straits of Magellan—but the city has retained much of its former glory. Buildings of note include Latin America’s oldest stock exchange and Chile’s first public library. From the mid-1990s, Valparaiso underwent a cultural renaissance. Today it hosts jazz, ethnic music, and opera festivals; it also boasts a new metro system.


The city is the birthplace of both Salvador Allende and Augusto Pinochet; poets Pablo Neruda and Rubén Darío lived here too. For nightlife, the harbor sector and the neighborhood around Plaza Sotomayor are popular—both have a range of bars and clubs. Should you get the urge to feel some sand between your toes, head for the resort of Viña del Mar, five miles north of Valparaiso.

Program Description

Perfect for students who want to learn Spanish, the Language in Context program in Valparaiso is run by CIEE (the Council on International Educational Exchange), which is the foremost U.S. non-governmental international education organization. Its mission is to “help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.”

You will be taking classes at the CIEE Study Center and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV). The program is ideal for students who are eager to experience academic life at a Chilean university, but may not be ready to take courses instructed in Spanish.  PUCV has campuses in both Valparaíso (just a few blocks away from the Chilean Congress building) and Viña del Mar. A high proportion of its 13,000 students come from overseas to study in Valparaíso.   Housing, coursework, excursions, and student services are specifically tailored to students with beginner and intermediate Spanish language skills.

Information at a Glance

• Academics

• Academic Calendar

• Accommodations and Meals

• Excursions

• Program Costs

• Scholarships

• Travel Brochure

For more information about this program, please visit the Valparaiso: Language in Context website.