Direct exposure to the language, people, and culture of Costa Rica. The course is designed to improve grammar and vocabulary of the advanced student through intensive training in Spanish with special emphasis on oral proficiency. The program includes an on-campus portion (one week) which offers an overview of the culture of Costa Rica and as well as extensive pre-departure oral language training.
The site portion includes five weeks of supervised academic work at the Instituto Guanacasteco in Nicoya, Costa Rica. Nicoya is the cultural capital of the Guanacaste province, situated between the Pacific to the west and mountains to the east, along with the Nicaraguan border to the north (see map of Nicoyan peninsula and map of Costa Rica).
In addition to the language classes at the Instituto Guanacasteco, a community-based service learning component allows students to test their language skills as a volunteer at the local hospital, primary school, law firm, court house, or local businesses, among others. The program also promotes cultural awareness through lectures by native authorities as well as excursions to local and national sites of interest. Following the course, students may wish to remain and travel to any of Costa Rica's sites of interest.
