Costa Rica: The Place that Has My Heart Past Review
By Shelby B (University of Illinois Springfield / UIS) - abroad from 05/30/2014 to 07/04/2014 with
ISEP Direct: Heredia - Study Abroad at Universidad Nacional
SO MUCH! My Spanish skills improved, I learned to be comfortable with speaking the language, and I learned a lot about the culture of Costa Rica.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The staff and professors are helpful and extremely approachable, the course was challenging but not impossible, and I learned an amazing amount while there! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
With this program, it is impossible not to feel integrated through the curriculum, trips, and home stay. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any serious health issues, but some friends caught a bug while there and from what I observed, it was a little bit confusing at first to figure out exactly where to go (which could have to do with our lack of knowledge of the area just yet), but they were helped right away and got effective care. |
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| 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) |
We went out a decent amount so it was a little bit more costly than my life at home, but a student could easily avoid this and save money. Food is provided at your house, but you pay for extra trips and times out. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe $50 on average, including some weekend trips. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be conscious of what you are spending! Because of the difference in currency, it is easy to forget what handing over that 20,000 colones bill means in your currency! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Not allowed to speak your language in classes (unless absolutely necessary), and most host families don't know anything but Spanish, so the language is encouraged both in the home and school. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I completed four semesters of Spanish, ending at advanced intermediate. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Speak the language you are learning with your classmates outside of class! That was the only time I ever spoke English, and switching back and forth can be very difficult! It is best to talk to your friends in the target language as much as possible so that you can get more comfortable with it. Also, speak with the locals! That is a true test of whether your pronunciation is correct or not! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That everyone there understood that I was learning the language, so I shouldn't be nervous, because everyone understands and no one judges! |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
