Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

And now I am Tica Past Review

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API (Academic Programs International): San Joaquin de Flores - Instituto San Joaquin De Flores

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Absolutely.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I loved the Instituto San Joaquin de Flores so much! The classes were so much fun and the professors were amazing. They were always high energy and were really enthusiastic about the information they were teaching. The classes were mostly a little bit of lecture and then discussion. The atmosphere was really comfortable and I was able to focus on my goal of becoming very proficient in Spanish. The grading scale was on a 10 point scale rather than 100, but that was not hard at all to get used to. Most of my classes had either tests, papers, or presentations for what made up our grades. It was not super hard because we had plenty of notice for when papers and presentations were due, so it was not super stressful. I loved every moment while I was there!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Francy and Esteban are always there to help you with any problem, even class work! They are amazing and so helpful!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I absolutely loved my host family! They welcomed me right into their home as a daughter and I left feeling the same way. I will always have them in my heart.

* Food:

My mama tica is an amazing cook!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

I spoke Spanish every day because I lived with a familia Tica, and I spoke Spanish with my classmates as well.

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? When you go, just dive right into your family life and just live like they do. Speak in Spanish all the time and just always say yes. Go out and experience everything!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Cine
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Espanol
Comments: I loved this class because we just watched movies and then discussed them. All of them were in Spanish, with English subtitles, which was nice because if you didn't understand something you could just read what it said in English. I had never seen any of these movies, so that was really fun too!
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Gramatica
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Espanol
Comments: I learned so much about grammar in this class, so it was perfect to learn alongside of being in Costa Rica because I could use the new things I learned every day.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Introduccion a Cultura
Course Department:
Instructor: Naranjo
Instruction Language: Espanol
Comments: Loved this class. Carlos is the best professor I have ever had. You will love his enthusiasm and he literally knows EVERYTHING.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Musica
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Espanol
Comments: I learned so much about different Latin rythyms and this made going out a lot of fun because I knew a lot more about how each one came about.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Conversacion
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Espanol
Comments: For this class you have to go into the community and volunteer for a few hours a week and that was great because I volunteered in El Centro Diurno, which is where a lot of the older people from San Joaquin go during the day to have something to do. I got to know a group of people that I would have never met otherwise and I am so glad I did!
Credit Transfer Issues: