Studying in Costa Rica while having fun with American friends. Past Review

By (Spanish, The University of Texas at Austin) for

Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I wish I would have been more exposed to Ticos my own age rather than only Americans. I did not know I was going to be placed in a school of Americans.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Costa Rica was beautiful, but I felt the program wasn't very well organized. My family didn't have any questions to ask me after the first day or so because they were so used to having American students, so I didn't practice as much Spanish as I would have liked.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Strengths was that the faculty was very friendly and helpful, weakness is that they don't require you to speak only spanish, which makes it harder to be submersed in the language to be able to practice it more

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was very clean and cozy, my room was extremely small, and the food was the same rice and beans every day which got very old very quick. it took me 10 minutes to walk to school which wasn't so bad, and the neighbors was family of my host mom who didn't want anything to do with me (except the daughter who would come visit every so often to help her grandma make food)

* Food:

food is very bland but i wanted to save money so i ate with my host mom as often as possible instead of going out to eat

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

don't leave items unattended, they WILL be stolen

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? hotels

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? spanish advanced grammar
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

All students spoke English, professors and my host family spoke only Spanish, but my host mom was the only one around, and she never gave me a chance to speak, she would only speak the whole time.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Try your best to practice Speaking as much Spanish as you can because when you are with the students (who are all American) it is hard to practice and if your goal is to come back fluent, it won't happen unless you take the initiative.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary Hispanic Literature

Course Department:
Instructor: Erica Calderon Rojas
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Interesting and enjoyable
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Advanced Spanish Grammar

Course Department:
Instructor: Gabriella Murillo
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Not very well taught
Credit Transfer Issues: I had already taken this course, this was my second time taking it so I didn't need the credit.