Brent OttawayDirectorbottaway@francis.edu814-472-3124
Saint Francis University's Spanish in Costa Rica Program features an immersion approach in conjunction with Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI), living with host families while spending a week at each of the three CPI campuses in small classes (2-4 students). Students become familiar with the Costa Rican culture, travel to new and interesting places and live within the land of the “Switzerland of the Americas.”
Students are required to take a minimum of six credits during the program. Spanish majors and minors may earn all six credits in the language, while others can choose that route or choose to take three credits in Spanish along with additional credits in Public Speaking or Biology 322 (Field Biology in Costa Rica). One credit will also be offered in Physical Therapy Seminar I.
Limited to two to four students per instructor, the Spanish classes are tailored to students at any level - from those who are nearing fluency to those who don't know Word Uno of the language. The public speaking (taught by Mr. Brent Ottaway), biology (taught by Dr. Gail Drus) and PT seminar (taught by Dr. Bill Stodart) courses are designed to take advantage of this country's enchanting natural beauty.
What makes this study abroad program so unique is the fact that you’ll have the opportunity to study Spanish at three very different campus settings, all of which have experienced, professional faculty and air-conditioned classrooms. Each of these campuses has been custom designed and built to serve as a Spanish Immersion School.
The first part of the program will take place in San Joaquin de Flores, a typical Costa Rican town in the lush green mountains of the central highlands, where the average yearly temperature is 75 degrees. The middle week of the program will be at the lovely "Cloud Campus" in Monteverde, nearly 5,000 feet above seal level. The program will end on the Pacific coast at the beautiful campus on Flamingo beach.
You’ll live with a middle-class host family which will give you a total immersion experience. During your stay with your host family, you will have two meals daily along with open conversation and participation in family life. Lunch will either be on campus or included on excursions.
Costa Rica is famous for its ecotourism so everywhere you go you’ll notice how “Ticos” care for their environment in so many creative ways at the same time offering visitors to their country adventures of a lifetime.
The excursions will include a tour of Café Britt (coffee plantation); a visit to Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall garden; tour and volunteer at Life Monteverde, a sustainable farming NGO; a night hike through the cloud forest; excursions to Sky Trek for Hanging Bridges canopy tour or a zip-line experience; a day at Tamarindo Beach with potential surf classes and a Snorkel catamaran cruise.
Spanish in Costa Rica Student Handbook
Spanish in Costa Rica Application
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