Program Description
The Setting / El Ambiente
Situated on the Central American isthmus, Costa Rica is a small and peaceful country with unique characteristics. It is an ecological bridge for thousands of wildlife species and plant varieties from North and South America. Costa Rica shelters within its valleys, plains, and mountains a valuable part of the natural richness of the world: 205 species of mammals, 875 species of birds, 160 species of amphibians, 218 species of reptiles and 9,000 species of plants. The vast system of national parks encompasses both beautiful beaches and tropicalrain forests.
ICADS is located a short bus ride from the downtown area of San José. Our institute is located in a quiet residential neighborhood of Curridabat, just east of San Pedro and the campus of the University of Costa Rica. There is a large variety of restaurants, shops and services within these areas that are often frequented by ICADS students. ICADS provides a beautiful, clean and comfortable environment in which you will find a tropical garden, spacious terraces, a library, a computer room, as well as comfortable private study areas.
Volunteer Opportunities / Trabajo Voluntario
ICADS Spanish students have the option of working as half-day volunteers (before or after their classroom sessions) in a variety of sites within commuting distance to the Institute. We can provide placements in orphanages, educational centers, health clinics, environmental centers and many other organizations (pending availability). Volunteering is a wonderful way to learn the language and realities of Costa Rican life while making a contribution to people and groups worthy of help and support. Students should have some prior knowledge of Spanish to work as volunteers and will be evaluated to determine if their language skills are sufficient to meaningfully contribute to an organization. Those with minimum Spanish skills have the option to participate in group community service activities.
Living Arrangements / Hospedajes
Upon arrival, students are placed with Costa Rican families. As an integral part of the program, this home-stay experience facilitates language learning and active participation in the culture and society of Costa Rica. Our host families provide private rooms, breakfast, dinner, and laundry service. Family placements are supervised by a housing coordinator who makes every effort to match the needs of the student with those of the host family. Students will be advised of their tica family placement within 2 weeks of the program start date. ICADS bly recommends the home-stay experience, however, we will gladly provide information on alternative housing arrangements for you at local hotels, hostels, and/or apartments upon request (prices vary).
ICADS Spanish Students / Estudiantes de Español de ICADS
Our students come from all over the world. They represent all ages, education levels, jobs, and professions. What our students have in common is a shared sensitivity to the myriad of problems facing Central America and a desire to learn more about the region and its peoples through language training and experiential learning.
ICADS Spanish Instructors / Instructores de Español de ICADS
Our instructors are highly qualified native speakers with years of experience teaching students of all age groups and levels. All professors have relevant academic degrees and attend regular workshops which emphasize creative use of new materials and teaching techniques.
Academic Credit / Créditos Académicos
Any student who wishes to receive academic credit for work completed at ICADS should consult with the appropriate administrative office at his/her university. Academic credit is not granted by ICADS but rather by the participant's home school. Upon request, students will receive an ICADS transcript indicating the number of class hours completed and an overall grade for performance. One semester unit of credit is granted for each 15-20 hours of class time. Thus, a four - week program of 4 hours of class daily would generate 4-5 semester credits.
Cost / Costo
Total cost for the four- week intensive program for the year 2008 is $1800; for 2009 the cost will increase to $1900. This price includes airport pick-up, all classes, books, all field trips, activities, lectures, volunteer placements, community service activities, room with partial board (breakfast and dinner) and laundry service with your Costa Rican family. There is a 10% discount after the first month. Students staying for less than four weeks pay a weekly rate which is slightly higher. All deposits and tuition payments are refundable up to two weeks before classes begin (in case of January, 4 weeks notification needed). Once classes begin, no refunds will be made.
Personal Expenses / Gastos Personales
Students should budget $400-$600 per month for local and weekend travel, lunches, and other personal expenses.
Transportation / Transporte
Students must budget for their own round-trip transportation to San José. ICADS will refer students to an affiliated travel agency that can assist them in making travel arrangements at the lowest possible cost.
How to Enroll / Matricula
To enroll in our Spanish program, you must complete the ICADS Spanish enrollment form and return it with a $250 deposit at least two weeks before the date of your arrival. You may complete the registration form online. This deposit may be sent in the form of a cashier's check or a personal check in U.S. dollars payable to "ICADS Spanish." The deposit must be mailed to the ICADS address in Miami, Florida . The balance must be paid in full on the first day of the program in the form of a personal check, traveler's checks or cash. ICADS does not accept credit cards. Our address in Miami is:
ICADS
Dept. 826
Box 025216
Miami, FL 33102-5216
USA
We recommend that students apply at least two months in advance for the summer months and the month of January. Also the deadline for applying to the January session is December 1st , due to staff vacations in December. Each four-week cycle of classes begins on the first Monday of each month. Please refer to the section above "Program Dates" for exact dates. The minimum length of enrollment for the Spanish program is two weeks. You may enroll for a two, three, or four -week program, or longer if desired, but it is bly preferred that you start at the beginning of the cycle. This is because we have several Orientation activities and Spanish level placement assessments the first week of the program in which our students need to participate.
You should plan to arrive one day before classes begin. An ICADS staff member will be waiting at the airport to greet you, provided we have received your flight information in advance. Upon confirmation of your attendance we will send you a copy of "The ICADS Guide to Costa Rica. This booklet will help you in your preparations for the trip.
Schedule / Horario
Our regular schedule is as follows with classes in the mornings. In some months the schedule may be reversed.
Regular Schedule*:
8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. : Spanish classes
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. : Lunch
Students usually have lunch in many neighborhood eateries.
1:30 to 5:00 p.m. : Every afternoon except Fridays students will have the opportunity to participate in lectures, field trips, or cultural activities. Friday afternoons are free to allow weekend travelers an early start. Sometimes special activities may take place during evening hours.
*In the event of an afternoon class schedule, activities would be held in the morning and Spanish classes would run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Students would have Monday morning free to allow them extra travel time.
Lectures / Conferencias
Lectures are offered on a weekly basis. The number of lectures depends on the size and interest of each group. Some of the possible themes include:
* Environmental Issues in Costa Rica
* Sustainable Development in Costa Rica
* Regional Human Rights Issues
* Third World Debt and Debt Restructuring
* Gender Issues in Latin America
* Costa Rican Health and Health Care Systems
* Banana, Pineapple or Coffee Plantations and their Effects on Local Communities
* The Social and Economic Situation of Indigenous Groups in Central America
* National Parks and their Management in Costa Rica
* Music and Culture in Latin America
* Poverty and Housing in Costa Rica
Community Service Activities / Actividades de Servicio Comunitario
Group community service activities are offered three times per month. These activities include, but are not limited to the following:
* Projects in an immigrant refugee settlement.
* Working with kids in local schools
* Activities with the homeless or elderly
* Bed building projects
* Recycling project and community organic garden
Cultural Activities / Actividades Culturales
One each week.
* Evening trip to the theater or a concert
* Fruit festival at ICADS to sample and learn about Costa Rica 's exotic tropical fruits
* Latin dance class
* Cooking or tortilla making class
Field Trips / Paseos
One each week.
*Visit to Central Market and general orientation to street and bus routes between San José, ICADS, and students' neighborhoods.
*Museum visits.
*Trip to Cartago and area.
*Trip to the Orosi Valley and Ujarrás ruins.
*Visit to an organic herb farm.
*Trips to ICADS development project sites. Possibilities include: women's cooperative, medicinal plant farm, indigenous center, housing projects.
*Trip to a banana plantation coupled with lunch at a women's coop organic farm.
*Note: Substitutions may be made based on availability and weather conditions.
*In months with a total enrollment of five students or fewer, formal lectures may not be presented.
Holidays / Feriados
ICADS observes a number of Costa Rican national and religious holidays and will be closed on those days. No refunds will be given for days missed on the following holidays: January 1, Holy Thursday and Good Friday, May 1, August 15, and September 15. ICADS is closed the month of December to allow professors and staff an extended vacation with their families.
