Chapter 3: Study abroad as Community Engagement and Activism: Cultivating a Pedagogy of Place

This chapter reports on a qualitative study that examines the impact of an undergraduate international studies foreign language grant through the United States Department of Education in Puerto Rico and Ecuador. The authors explore students’ experiences and perceptions of their work with communitybased organizations during a month-long study abroad experience. Using the theoretical lens of a critical pedagogy of place and qualitative methods, the researchers examine the impact of the students’ engagement and research in farmers’ markets, sustainable agriculture, and entrepreneurship. The authors also discuss the impact of Hurricane María in the case of Puerto Rico and how the storm shaped the experiences of the students’ work and interactions on the island. Findings reveal that students engaged in place-based community development projects with a social justice orientation are exposed to potential growth of self-confidence and self-efficacy in the study-abroad setting. The authors conclude by suggesting a greater use of critical pedagogy of place in study abroad programs.