Improving my Spanish at Centro Panamericano de Idiomas Past Review
By George (Spanish Language and Literature., New Mexico State University) for
Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI): Flamingo Beach - CPI Language Center
Absolutely.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Summer 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I did not like the area of Flamingo as well as Heredia. I visited Monteverde for three days aafter studying and think I would have enjoyed that area more. The school in Flamingo was fine - but many of the students treat it a bit as 'party central' ! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Apartments were excellent - but stay in a home stay to use Spanish all day long ! |
| * Food: |
Cost of meals, out, was high. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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| * Safety: |
Fell avoiding a bad driver in Flamingo- roads are narrow - and young drivers play 'chicken' with walkers ---was the only really maddening thing of the trip. Students should be cautioned to use care. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | shuttle costs between campuses. |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Stay in a home stay to enhance your language after classes end. |
