PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Did you know that Spanish is the second most-spoken language by native speakers in the world? The best way to improve your skills is to be immersed in the language and culture on a daily basis. Come spend 4 weeks studying in the colonial town of San Joaquín de Flores where you will live with a host family and study at a local institute. Costa Rica is known for its hospitality and natural beauty so whether you are looking to complete General Education requirements or are a Spanish major or minor, this program will help you to learn Spanish in an engaging way different from a traditional classroom.

Each component of the curriculum will involve a number of excursions outside of San Joaquín. We will explore both small and large towns in the Central Valley, and visit a coffee plantation, an eco-theme park, and a nearby waterfall, among other excursions.

You will also have the opportunity to travel independently on two separate weekends to a variety of sites across the country: you can relax on the beach, hike around a volcano, go white water rafting, or even travel on a zip-line through the rain forest. The excitement awaits you!

Excursion to Tortuguero:
The first weekend in Costa Rica we will go on an excursion to Tortuguero National Park on the Northern Caribbean coast. This region is one of the country’s most diverse, and as the park’s name hints (Land of Turtles), is also a very important nesting site for a variety of endangered sea turtles. Since there are no roads to the park, we will travel by boat through the canals that lead to the village of Tortuguero. We will spend the weekend observing the wildlife in the surrounding rainforests and marshes as well as take a night hike on the beach in search of nesting hawksbill, leatherback and loggerhead turtles. It is certain to be an adventure like no other.

Program Dates: May 11—June 6, 2009 (Tentative)

CURRICULUM:
Students will receive a total of 5 credit hours for courses they complete on the program. All students will register for one credit hour of Spanish 300, one credit of either Spanish 350 or FL 943 and three credits of SPA205, SPA206, or SPA331 (Latin American Film).

Spanish 205, 206, OR 331 (These will be taught by faculty from the local institute.)

SPA 205 or 206 - 3 credits:
Spanish 205 and 206 are intermediate Spanish classes that focus on building upon the speaking, listening, reading, writing and culture skills learned in beginning level classes. The course in Costa Rica will cover language topics covered at Meredith, while taking advantage of the local environment in San Joaquín.

SPA 331 Latin American Film - 3 credits:
This course is designed to help students improve oral and written communication in Spanish and to become familiar with major Latin American films, directors, and actors and their contributions to cinematic art. Through the medium of film, students will develop a deeper awareness of Latin American culture and of global affairs. Students will be evaluated through class participation, written film analyses, oral presentations, and written exams. Spanish 331 will count as a literature elective for the Spanish major or minor.

Prerequisites: SPA206 or the equivalent.

SPA 300 Life and Study Abroad

All students will earn one credit for four weeks of intensive study and home stay with a Costa Rican family. Pass/Fail grading only.

SPA 350 or FL943 - 1 credit, Seminar (Service Learning)

This seminar will focus on the culture of Costa Rica and involve in-depth readings, reflections, excursions, service learning and journal writing. Throughout the program students will participate in a service learning project that will involve reforesting rural areas just outside of San Joaquín de Flores. Our group will be working in collaboration with one of the local high schools and will participate in the national campaign, sponsored by the federal government, to plant more than 7 million trees in Costa Rica in one year.

Those at the 300 level will be required to complete all assignments in Spanish, while students at the 200 level will have the option of writing in Spanish or English. Pass/Fail grading may be elected by the non-major.

Professor: Callie K. DeBellis

Prerequisites:
SPA350 – take SPA-205 & SPA-206 or SPA-305 & SPA-306 or equivalent.
FL943 – SPA102, 103, 205 or the equivalent

Optional Program Extension

Students may want to consider participating in the Costa Rica Tropical Ecosystems program to receive an additional 4 credits in Biology.  Details on this program can be found at http://www.meredith.edu/abroad/summer-costa-rica.htm

 

Program Cost: $3,500
Includes, tuition, room, meals, program-related travel and excursions.

Additional costs include round-trip airfare $750-$850, passport $125, independent travel and miscellaneous expenses estimated at $500-700.

Scholarships and financial assistance are available. Contact the office of Study Abroad for further information

Eligibility:
Students must be in good academic standing (2.0 minimum GPA)

Application Deadline:
February 2, 2009

For more information, contact:
Callie K. DeBellis
Foreign Languages & Literatures

 

Meredith reserves the right to make changes to the program itinerary, schedule, cost, academic program, etc., as necessary.