Programs: Language and Society Immersion Program
«My experience at ICADS was great. I came down to Costa Rica with a set of goals for myself established. By putting myself in the mindset that I needed to talk as much as possible in Spanish, integrate more with my family and the locals than with other "extranjeros." I feel that I learned a tremendous amount in 4 weeks.
The classes at ICADS can be used as a base, or a supplement, to 4 weeks of independent learning. Participating in ICADS in this way greatly increased the productivity of this experience for me. I found the staff at ICADS approachable and helpful. The opportunity to volunteer at a local school was a great additional aspect of the program – the volunteering sold me on the program and it was a great experience. I thought the entire experience through ICADS was great. You can learn so much in 4 weeks – but if you can stay longer, do so! Thanks to the ICADS staff!
»
Spanish Student
Immersion Program
Spring 2009.
Overview
While grammar and composition skills are fundamental to language learning, at ICADS there is much more. Here, language is a means with which to understand culture and to interact with real people in real contexts. The ICADS semester-long language immersion program provides daily practice in the development and strengthening of the four basic linguistic areas: oral comprehension, reading, oral communication and writing. This occurs both during class-time with a highly qualified professor, as well as in a real-world practicum experience in the Costa Rican context.
The Language and Society Immersion Program is divided into three blocks:
- Block I: 5 weeks – Spanish course and Latin American Perspectives on Justice and Sustainable Development Course
- Block II: 8 weeks – Spanish courses and Practicum experience in local organizations
- Block III: 1 week – Written work and oral presentations in Spanish, final evaluations and reentry presentation/discussion
sub navigation
PROGRAMS:
- Mini ICADS with Parents
- Internship Program
- Field Program
- Language and Society Immersion Program
- Summer Internship Program
- Spanish Intensive Program
- Customized Short-term Programs
testimonials
«If you want to become bilingual and bicultural ICADS is the program for you. They provide you with quality structure and support. They cater to every Spanish speaking ability and provide numerous adventurous, eye-opening experiences. Learning should be a fun experience. ICADS will do that and more- a lifetime change.»
-Allison
Spring 2006
CONTACT US
viewbook
Program Description
Block I (5 weeks): Spanish and Latin American Perspectives on Justice and Sustainable Development Semester Course
Study in San Jose and the Central Valley. Students live in San Jose with Costa Rican families, and study Spanish for four hours daily in the morning. In the afternoon students learn about different topics pertinent to the Central American context such as globalization, health care systems, environmental issues, and history, among others. A constantly evolving reading anthology, expert guest speakers and local field trips are the tools used in getting at these topical issues. One week in Block I is spent in Nicaragua where students are able to see first hand the current economic and political conditions in Nicaragua, and are challenged to compare and contrast its reality with neighboring Costa Rica. Students prepare for their practicum experience during this first month by choosing the organization in which they will work and by planning their particular practicum in consultation with faculty advisors who are experts in the culture of the Costa Rica and in the students’ areas of interest.
Block II (8 weeks): Spanish courses and Practicum experience
In Block II, participants in this program continue to take formal language classes four hours each day, but also commence with a structured and personalized language-related practicum during the afternoons.
Practicum experiences include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Doing translation work to help organizations promote their mission
- Assisting at any of a number of human rights organizations in the San Jose area
- Working at a soup kitchen in a shanty town: serving food and spending time with children
- Assisting teachers at local public schools
- Supporting the work of doctors and nurses at local clinics
Block III (1 week): Written work and Oral presentation in Spanish
Upon completion of the eight-week practicum, students spend a week at ICADS completing written work and oral presentations in Spanish, while processing their experiences as a group and together with their faculty advisors (including a reentry workshop).
More Info
To request additional information please use our contact form. To APPLY for this program click HERE.
