Quechua

Quechua is a native language spoken by approximately 10 million people in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and parts of Colombia, Chile, and Argentina, as well as by diasporic communities in other South American countries, the United States, and Europe. Quechua is also known as Runa Shimi or “the people’s language.” Since the social and cultural status of Quechua is different than European languages, learning the language also requires understanding the general contexts that shape it historically, politically, socially, and culturally. Learning Quechua will provide an introduction to Andean cultures, focusing on its relevance and importance as of today.