Great language program, and would love to come back one day! Past Review
By Jordi P (Global Health, Quest University Canada / Outbound) - abroad from 01/02/2013 to 01/25/2013 with
Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica
Very worthwhile. I wanted to improve my Spanish, first and foremost, and I am sure that I did so. I gained invaluable speaking experience, being immersed in Latin American culture on a daily basis.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I took classes at Intercultura during my time in Heredia, as there were not enough students to fill out classes at Universidad Latina. That being said, I really enjoyed Intercultura, as I thought the smaller, more personal classes were great. Though we were in class for 4 hours a day, I thought the homework load could have been a little heavier. On average, I probably spent 30 minutes to 1 hour on homework every night, but maybe that is the norm here? From what I am used to at university, it is definitely less. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
This was very well done. My on-site coordinator was great, and was always there if we ever needed anything, or had any questions. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My family was wonderful, and my living arrangements were very comfortable. I really hope I stay in touch with my familia tica! |
| * Food: |
The food was great during my stay in Heredia. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I think it adds so much to any study abroad program to stay with a host family. That will help any student experience any culture in a much more meaningful way. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Did not experience any health issues. |
| * Safety: |
In my location, I felt very safe walking to school and walking around Heredia during my study abroad experience. I think my biggest advice for future students is to try your best not to draw attention to yourself. There was one incident with one of the other students during my study abroad program, largely because she had electronics out in public during her walk to school. While this may seem commonplace in the states, it is a major attention grabber to any potential thief. |
| 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) |
I think this is very dependent on the student's interests and activities. Some students in my group liked to go out most nights, and, consequently, that will add up in costs. However, if you find a balance, I think it is very manageable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe around $30.00? |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eating out in Costa Rica is expensive. If your family offers you 3 meals a day, I would recommend taking full advantage of that. Lots of times, students liked to go out for lunch or dinner when they did not have to. So I think finding that balance for fun outings is very important. |
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 |
Though there were students with all different levels of Spanish experience, I thought the program did a good job of encouraging students to speak Spanish whenever we were together. |
| 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? | AP Spanish 4 |
| 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? | Talk to your host family! Also, though it is very tempting to revert back to English with your friends, challenge yourselves, and speak as much Spanish as you can. |
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? | I wish I knew about the chance to go to Samara for classes when I was there in Heredia. I would have definitely liked to check out how classes were on the beach! |
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. |
