Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Most insightful, adventurous summer yet Past Review

By (University of Kentucky) - abroad from 07/15/2017 to 08/19/2017 with

Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a sense of confidence in trying to speak spanish. I also got a sense of what the lifestyle is of a typical family in Costa Rica. It was definitely worthwhile, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Amazing teachers, the classes really prepared you to practice your spanish in real life

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Great coordinators, very organized and friendly

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My mama tica was the best! Even though I spoke hardly any spanish and she didn't speak any english, she made me feel at home.

* Food:

My host mom always made sure I had plenty to eat.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The university is in the city Heredia, which is a perfect location with a huge mall and stores. It's also only a short drive to San Jose. Being able to hang out at the mall and downtown made me feel more integrated into the Latin American culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Heredia felt very safe. San Jose is just like any other big city, you just need to be aware of what part of town you are in and where you are keeping your money.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

SOL was such an amazing program for the price you pay. The excursions that were planned were really fun, the classes were really helpful, and the program directors were great.

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)

All of meals during the week are provided by your host family, so all you have to pay for are some meals at the excursions, souvenirs, snacks, and other little items you might need.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $75

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The directors always encouraged us to speak spanish with each other and with them. Most of the instructions were given in spanish, but they were good about giving the super important stuff in english.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Intermediate II
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? Before coming to the country, try to learn basic phrases that you might need in your host family, for example "I'm full" or "I need to wash my clothes", etc. Once you are here, just try to speak with your host family as much as possible. Don't be afraid of saying things wrong, they can help you.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Host family
  • Classes
  • People (students, directors, teachers)
* What could be improved?
  • More activities for students staying for more than 1 session
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It's is very possible, and very likely, that your host family may not speak english. Be prepared to only speak Spanish in the house, but it is less scary than it seems. If you are staying for more than one session, all of your planned excursions are in your first session. After that, you have free days after school and you can plan your own trips on the weekends with other students.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!