Great school to learn Spanish in Costa Rica!! Past Review
By Kit (University of Pennsylvania) - abroad from 03/20/2017 to 04/21/2017 with
Tico Lingo: Heredia - Spanish Language Program
Incredibly worthwhile. I can now speak Spanish confidently at work in Philadelphia!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Living with a family and getting to know the community at the school was amazing! I learned so much more Spanish that I thought I would over four weeks and made some really great friends in the process. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking to really PUSH their speaking skills and advance in Spanish conversation quickly. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Well organized, great homestay experience, very genuine living experience. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Loved my family! Got to practice my Spanish daily with them and get to know all their extended family as well as their neighbors. Costa Rican families are the best. |
| * Food: |
The food can get a little dull in Costa Rica, but overall I loved it. Big heaping piles of food every meal, never a moment hungry. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt truly amongst the locals in Heredia and made a lot of really good friends in the process that I still stay in touch with |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Never felt concerned for my safety in Heredia - a very safe, walkable city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved the staff, the small vibe at the school, and the flexibility they gave each student to focus on the material they most needed. The school location was great. It was close to everything you could want; shops, cafés, bars, soccer stadium, gyms, a university, beautiful parks and churches. I loved every part of the experience. Pura Vida! :) |
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 probably got by on an additional $50/week that mainly went to lunch and drinks. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | cook at the school or save leftovers from the homestay! |
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 |
Everyday. I spoke spanish every-single-day! :) |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | Don't be scared to walk into random shops and try to talk to people. Those were the best experiences I had! |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
