Study Spanish & Latin Culture for Credit

  Costa Rica

• North Western Region: 
Heredia,  Samara

Term: Throughout the year 
Dates: all year

Description: We teach not only language but culture in a country full of adventure and natural beauty! We encourage our students to become immersed in the culture by learning the language, living with a local family and participating in daily cultural activities such as Latin dance class and intercambios with the local English students. Intercultura's Spanish program uses a combination of immersion teaching methods centered on the communication and direct methods. Our aim is to enable students to really communicate in the language. Instead of a traditional grammar program, classes are designed to provide a fully balanced intensive immersion experience for our students. This means that they incorporate all aspects of language acquisition: conversation, grammar, reading, writing, general comprehension and idiomatic expressions. In addition to formal textbooks, we use a wide variety of current materials: newspapers, literature, audiocassettes, videos, advertisements, music, short stories and more.

Classes also incorporate field-trips and out-of-class learning experiences by taking students to practice their Spanish in marketplaces, museums, buses, restaurants and others areas where communication practice is a necessity. Thus classes remain interesting as well as educational! University credits are available. We offer a buddy program to our students which allow them to be paired up with a Costa Rican student of their same age and interests, someone to share their culture with and be exposed to the many sub-cultures within the larger Costa Rican culture. We also offer weekend excursion to the many national parks, volcanoes and beaches which include such activities as white water rapids, snorkeling, kayaking, bungee jumping, zip line, canal tour and more!

Highlights: * Safe beach and city locations
* Latin dance, music, film and cooking classes (no extra charge)
* Planned weekly and weekend excursions
* Small intensive group classes
* Homestays with local families
* Academic credit through an accredited US universities
* Qualified and experienced University graduate teachers
* Multilingual Student Affairs coordinators (English-Spanish-French-German)
* Buddy Program with Costa Rican locals
* Teen and specialized programs available
* Volunteer programs
* Weekly activity schedule
* Comfortable learning atmosphere and resource facilities

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Year Founded: 1993