Spanish Language Center in Heredia Past Review
By George (Spanish Language and Literature., New Mexico State University) for
Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI): Heredia - CPI Language Center
Yes. Definitely helped to improve my Spanish. It would have helped for CPI to have more computers available, not just for e mail but to do the required journals for NMSU. And, it was virtually impossible to attach and send these via the NMSU e mail system - I ended up using Yahoo to get this done.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Summer 2009 |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
As above, I feel I was placed appropriately and challenged in both of my classes. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was very pleased with CPI admin IN Costa Rica. My friend and I had considerable problems with their US representative, however. Had I not clarified things with NMSU rep, I might have cancelled. My friend had further problems in Flamingo with material that did not get handled properly by the US rep prior to our departure. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Apartments were very good. |
| * Food: |
|
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
| * Safety: |
Roads are narrow and young drivers extremely irresponsible- I was injured jumping away from a car on narrow road at night in Flamingo. Some streets in San Joaquin are dimly lit - students should be told to exercise caution. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | As above - transport between schools and high cost of week end tours. Radically higher than in Mexico or other Latin Am countriess. |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I am self taught so had to 'unlearn' some past bad habits while pressing on to increase my knowledge of the language. This was a great foundation - the rest is up to me! |
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Stay in a home stay to maximize continuous use of Spanish all day. After classes, most students revert to English due to varying levels of proficiency. |
