Spanish Language in Costa Rica was an adventure. Past Review
By Carissa B (Environmental Studies and Third World Studies, Bethel University & Seminary) for
Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI): Monteverde - CPI Language Center
This was a much better way to receive Spanish credits towards my minor.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I feel like they didn't place me in the right level of spanish at first and then they didn't realize it over the month. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administrative side of this program was amazing they are really good at getting things done and taken care of and very accommodating. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The host family was really nice I got a room all to myself and two meals and laundry, but the family was used to having foreigners stay with them and thus the host mom was the only one out of a family of 6 to talk to me. |
| * Food: |
My only complaints are no dessert, I love my sweets and too much food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There are events almost every night through the school and they can help plan activities throughout the town that are more touristy. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe, Costa Rica is a very touristy country and most of their source of revenue, they don't want to harm their business. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
All classes included spanish conversation with the teachers which was very helpful and they highly encouraged us to live with host families , which gave another opportunity to improve spanish skills. Monteverde is a very touristy town and in many of the cafes where I wanted to practice my Spanish they would talk to me in English. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It is very easy to make friends through CPI so don't worry about studying alone. Also this is a way better option for obtaining Spanish credit. |
