Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Villarrica

The Middlebury School in Chile's Sustainability and Society Track offers students the opportunity to explore environmental and social sustainability through immersive study in the Araucanía Region, one of Chile's most ecologically and culturally significant landscapes. Designed for students with advanced Spanish language proficiency, the program combines rigorous academic study with direct engagement in local communities, allowing participants to examine the complex relationships among society, culture, and the environment while strengthening their Spanish through the Middlebury Language Pledge.

Students study at the Villarrica Campus of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, a center dedicated to advancing sustainable development through interdisciplinary teaching, research, and community engagement. Located on the shores of Lago Villarrica and surrounded by forests, volcanoes, rivers, and national parks, the campus offers an exceptional setting for examining issues such as socio-ecological resilience, environmental stewardship, rural development, and Indigenous perspectives on sustainability.

The town of Villarrica provides an ideal environment for experiential learning, with abundant opportunities to connect classroom study to the region's unique natural and cultural landscapes. Through field-based learning, collaboration with local organizations, and meaningful engagement with surrounding communities, students gain firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges of sustainable development in southern Chile. Combining academic rigor with complete linguistic and cultural immersion, the Villarrica program prepares students to think critically about sustainability in both local and global contexts.