Pura Vida in Costa Rica Past Review

By (Business Admin, The Citadel) for

ISA Study Abroad in San José, Costa Rica

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes.

Review Photos

International Studies Abroad (ISA): San Jose - Spanish Language & Electives, Trimester Photo International Studies Abroad (ISA): San Jose - Spanish Language & Electives, Trimester Photo International Studies Abroad (ISA): San Jose - Spanish Language & Electives, Trimester Photo International Studies Abroad (ISA): San Jose - Spanish Language & Electives, Trimester Photo

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.

Workload was moderate and appropriate considering amount of free time desired outside of class. Grading system was standard/fair. Teaching methods that I appreciated: hands on approach (biology), rigourous tutoring sessions(spanish). Methods that were unhelpful: too much use of powerpoint slides (need to condense pwpnt information), no particular agenda/syllabus for a few classes. Main difference between host and home universities: Much better/higher teacher to student ratio at host university.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Todo bien.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

quantity of food provided was insufficient

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

field trips with environmental/biology classes

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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
Language acquisition improvement?

Classmates/roomate. Yes, which was good motivation to learn the language.

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?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? A student who is committed to learning about a different culture and comprehend the spanish language is fit for the abroad program in Costa Rica.