29 reviews
4.37 / 5 based on 29 reviews
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Alex C
Overall
I wish I had known...
The cost of living was a bit higher than I expected, so i blew my budget.
I should have done a bit of spanish study before i left, it would have made life a lot easier in the first couple of weeks.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I dont look at it in relation to the University, i look at the class i took-First level spanish.
If you want easy credits and to learn just the basics, this course is for you.
However if you want to study seriously and get the most out of 4 months here, i suggest the program in Heredia (just outside San Jose) because the teach is organised focused and will push you!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Costa Rica is a easy place to travel in and 5 hours on a bus will get you just about anywhere. There are some great places to visit, some full of tourists and others with no people at all. But for me the best thing about CR is the countries around it. Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatamala, Honduras ect ect...
All within easy reach of CR, and for me, these countries were a lot more interesting than CR. So if you do a course in Puntarenas you can visit all these places and still get good grades.
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lvmac
Overall
I wish I had known...
I wish that I had known how much money, realistically, I would have needed. had some kind of introduction to my family before being dumped into their hands--some/any info would have been great.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
If you are in early Spanish courses and you want to learn a lot and study hard-pick Heredia. If you want to learn, but aren't overly concered pick the Punt. Even though Puntarenas is by the ocean it's not paradise--it is nice, but not paradise.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Travel, travel, travel! Drink the water, it's just fine. talk to as many people as you can, watch TV and "read" papers in your host country's language. Go to events (sports, concerts, etc), it's a great place to learn foul language and get riled up. And try to enjoy the experiece not matter what, beacuse eventually you'll be home again.
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murphy3
Simpson College, Redding, United States
Education, Undergraduate, Independent
Academic
Course recommendations
I wish I had been forewarned about some of my professors. One professor absolutely hated Americans, and he made my life miserable. I only needed a few core course requirements to complete my program, and they fell into the category of general studies. I took one class in Art because it was required. The professor expected everyone in his class to be an artist and have an insatiable love for art. I didn't, and I came very close to failing.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
I failed every single one of my economics exams, and the teacher never once suggested a tutor to me. I asked for his help in understanding the course, and he told me to read the book. Also, I was unable to use my Spanish/English dictionary on the tests, which at times, made it difficult for me to understand the questions. I enjoyed the final projects, though.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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lvmac
Academic
Course recommendations
The lower level Spanish courses were not very challenging and should have been, for our benefit as students and visitors to a foreign country. The tropical ecology course was great though--we covered a lot of topics and I came away much more informed about the CR, its environment and people. Many of the toics in this course impacted me--I am much more sensitive and fired up about deforestation and pollution. Take dance. It is such an integral part of Costa Rican socialization.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
Make the Spanish 1 & 2 courses more challenging. It is so important to have a good working knowledge of a country's language.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
Useful |
0
lvmac
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Personal savings
Other sources of funding:
Family
Work opportunities:
Personal spending habits
Food was paid for with my host family, only extras did I have to pay for.
Phone is extremely expensive in CR. One pays each time a local call is placed.
The nightlife was cheaper than at home, but not worth what they charged. But since in Puntarenas there is not much to do in the evenings--I had to pay.
Travel was quite cheap-especially transportation. The room accomadations were inexpensive, but still more than I expected.
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Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Housing:
was the same price as at home.
Food, Travel, Nightlife, Overall:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
CR is a lot more expensive than I expected. Food was comparable to the States and motel rooms were much more than I expected.
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Jeffrey C
Overall
I wish I had known...
JUST WISH I HAD MORE MONEY.
tHere are things I want to experiance but dont have the resourses to do them.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Most students come to study spanish.
I found that in this program it depends on the teacher if the quailty of the course will be high. I was lucky.
I enjoyed my time and my Spanish is much better but if you have a choice chosse you teacher carefully.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Curu is a cool place. Uvita. Cauita.
Females should be prepared for the latin males.
Crime aganist tourists is rife in CR.
DO NOT walk at night in SAN JOSE.
And always try to take you bags inside the bus.
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