Learn Spanish in Costa Rica San Jose, Costa Rica, February 24, 2007
Costa Rica's currently reigns as the hotspot to learn Spanish, according to the 2005 study from the Institute of International Education. This a nice fit as the country continues to grow in popularity for its eco-travel as well. Costa Rica leads Central America in tourism, according to the Latin Business Chronicle. It beckons visitors with its pristine beaches, awe-inspiring forests and lively city life.
In their off time, study abroad students like to explore the country's biological diversity by snorkeling, hiking through the rainforests, or surfing. In city centers, like San Jose, vendors and performers enliven the streets, and rural culture mixes with modern.
A Spanish course abroad opens students to experiential learning.
Using the learning pyramid of the National Training Laboratories as a
reference, percentage of information absorbed from practice by doing
is more than double of almost all other standard teaching methods such
as lecture and reading.
In a Spanish language course in Costa Rica, opportunities for practice are infinitesimal. David Mira, a 35-year old business consultant, stated
after his trip, "The opportunities for practice helped the most. Just
going to the market or taking a bus played a huge part in becoming
fluent."
Whether the motivation to learn Spanish is for university credit,
cultural understanding, or simply an educational holiday, these
everyday experiences promote a quality learning experience for
students.
Volunteer opportunities offer additional language immersion giving
insight into the country and contact with locals. Working in senior
centers, helping with park preservation, or connecting with artisan
vendors give invaluable memories and satisfaction to students.
Brett Santamaria, a 21-year old university student from London,
agreed: "I figured that volunteering was a great way to give back and
get more out of my trip to learn Spanish in Costa Rica."
The far-reaching usefulness of Spanish as the Western world's
second-most spoken language attracts students to Spanish immersion courses, which are far more affective than learning the language at home.
In particular, people working in the industries of medicine,
education, business and media want to learn Spanish. In the United
States, for example, the growing Spanish-speaking population of 40
million commands a strong presence, and often anyone lacking Spanish
skills or insight into Hispanic cultures is lost in the sea of job
applicants who do possess these qualifications.
Janice McDougal, a 26-year old elementary school teacher from Phoenix,
Arizona, said in her post-program feedback to study abroad organization First Step World™
"These days it's tough for us teachers to secure a job…after I went to learn
Spanish in Costa Rica, I felt I had a lot more to offer to my
students."
