Costa Rican Experience Past Review

By (Spanish Language Teacher Education., Indiana University of Pennsylvania) for

Instituto de Lengua Española / The Spanish Language Institute: San Jose - College Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Better understanding with the language when returning to school for my major.

Review Photos

Instituto de Lengua Española / The Spanish Language Institute: San Jose - College Program Photo Instituto de Lengua Española / The Spanish Language Institute: San Jose - College Program Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My credits were looked over by my university here when my grades were complete in Costa Rica and they saw an overview of what i learned in all my classes.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program size was perfect because it was all small class sizes and made it easier to learn.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

LOVED MY HOST FAMILY.

* Food:

Didnt eat a lot of the host family's cooking because I dont care for red meat and they made a lot of soups even when it was warm out.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Field trips all over the country to experience the Costa Rican lifestyle and culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Safe as long as you stayed in groups and didnt go anywhere alone.

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
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 5 in high school
Language acquisition improvement?

Host family, friends, and I needed the language everyday because not many spoke English.

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?

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  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

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A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Great if you're a Spanish major or minor because you get thrown into the language and really learn a lot because the teachers don't speak much English and typically the host familys don't either.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Grammar and Translation

Course Department: Span200
Instructor: Lizette Guise
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: They were both wonderful courses and were taught only in Spanish.
Credit Transfer Issues: No because they sent my transcript right away after my grades were submitted.