Costa Rica in January: Culture+ Spanish

• overview
• academics
• field studies
• housing
• fees

Academics

Based at La Universidad de Veritas in San José, you'll study a customized program that combines 20 hours of Spanish language study with 25 hours of Intercultural Competence study (ICC). The language instruction will emphasize the specific type of Spanish spoken by native Costa Ricans so that you can comfortably and effectively communicate with the locals in everyday situations. The Intercultural Competence portion of the curriculum will include topics such as intercultural communications, cultural self-awareness, ICC in the workplace, and Costa Rican cultural traditions. With 45 total hours of classroom learning, the academic program is designed to earn up to 3 transfer credits at your college or university.

You'll put your classroom skills to practical use during a final service learning experience at Nacientes Palmichal. Based in the mountainous region of Palmichal de Acosta, this community enterprise uses tourism and sustainable development practices to improve quality of life for the local people while protecting the Negro and Tabarcia Rivers that supply water to the region. During the day, you can use your new Spanish and Intercultural Competence skills while you assist the Nacientes Palmichal workers with a variety of projects. And in the evenings a local host family will graciously introduce you to the tranquility and challenges of their rural Costa Rican lifestyle.

• Costa Rica
• China
• Argentina
• Peru
• India
• Japan