Summer Program in Spain and Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• San Jose: 
San Jose
• Eastern Lowlands: 
San Pedro Montes de Oca

  Spain

• Madrid: 
Madrid

Term: Summer 
Dates: June 30-July 30

Description: A program designed for undergraduate, graduate, teachers of Spanish. Graduate and undergraduate courses in Beginning Spanish, Intermediate Spanish, conversation, composition, linguistics, culture, literature (several courses).

Spain
Students will be studying at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, where nearly 200,000 students from all over the world study in innumerable fields. The UCM is considered the most prestigious university in Spanish speaking countries. It is a cultural center which offers the curious student excellent education facilities and the maximum opportunity for intellectual development. It combines a unique academic experience with an unusual community of students and teachers from all over the world.

Placement Tests:
At the beginning of the summer program a placement test will be given to ensure that each student is placed in the level and group most suited to his/her needs and knowledge of the language. No placement test will be given to students in the graduate program. If a student is placed in the wrong level, he/she can change to a lower or higher level in the first two days. Students are not allowed to attend classes of different levels or to change sections within the same level.

Curriculum Highlights:
It provides an excellent academic and educational program. It offers courses for all levels of Spanish language.The summer program is divided into 4 different sections/groups: General, Superior, Intensivo I, and Intensivo II.

Costa Rica
Students will be studying at the Universidad de Costa Rica, which presently has over 35,000 students enrolled from all over the world, studying innumerable fields. Students can take graduate or undergraduate courses. The UCR is considered the most prestigious university in Central America. The main campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is located in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, one of the best neighborhoods of San Jose, on the east side of San Jose. The University of Costa Rica offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in all fields, divided into five main areas: Fine and Liberal Arts, General Sciences, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Health.

The MLSA/Summer program at the Universidad de Costa Rica was established by special decree of the president of the university, 15 years ago.

It is a program designed for undergraduate, graduate students, and teachers interested in taking courses toward BA. MA. Ph.D. degrees.

It provides an excellent academic and educational program. It offers courses for all levels of Spanish language: beginning, intermediate, advanced; composition, conversation, culture, civilization, linguistics, methodology in how to teach Spanish; and many courses in literature (theater, novel, poetry). Classes are with small student instructor ratio. A major in Spanish is NOT REQUIRED. All courses are taught in Spanish by full time faculty members of the Universidad de Costa Rica. Participants earn 6 credits (semester hours) toward their undergraduate or graduate degrees; with special permission there are some independent courses available to earn up to 9 credits.

Highlights: Spain:
Madrid, the capital of Spain with four million inhabitants is the largest cosmopolitan city in Spain which still keeps the flavor of Spanish culture and traditions of a little town. Located in the heart of Spain, it offers our students the ideal surroundings of historic, artistic and intellectual tradition to make our Summer Program what could be the most rewarding learning experience. Madrid is the Mecca of Spanish art with 130 museums, including the Reina Sofia, and the Prado, the best in the world in painting. It contains masterpieces by Velazquez, Goya, Murillo and El Greco.

A short distance away, within easy access, are other important cities: Aranjuez (47 kms.) with the Bourbon palaces and gardens; Alcala de Henares (30 kms.) with a Renaissance University and the House of Cervantes; El Escorial (51 kms.) with the monastery built by Felipe II, the Library and the Pantheon of the monarchs of Spain; La Granja (77 kms.) with the Bourbon Palace and gardens famous for their fountains; Segovia (88 kms.) with the Roman aqueduct, the Fortress, the Cathedral and 13 interesting churches; Toledo (70 kms.) the Museum City, with the Cathedral, El Greco's house, churches, and synagogues; Avila (113 kms.) a fortified city; Salamanca (210 kms.) with a Renaissance university, the Main Square and the Cathedral. All the cities possess enchanting medieval character in their buildings, plazas, and narrow streets.

Costa Rica:
Costa Rica is a relatively small country, half the size of the state of Kentucky, it is a natural paradise with a permanent spring climate - 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 C). If you love nature, Costa Rica is a natural paradise with 20% of the territory made up of forest reserves, dozens of national reserves, parks, rain forests, white sanded and secluded beaches on two oceans and active volcanoes. It contains close to a thousand species of birds, hundred of mammals, and over ten thousand species of plants.

The people of Costa Rica are called "Ticos" and are among the most friendly people in the world, very polite, and social. Although, San Jose is a large, densely populated city;it is just a short distance from beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, and national parks.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: 1,985.00

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American and European Participants.

Participants Travel Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Job and Internship Network

Modern Language Studies Abroad's Mission Statement: Our programs provide an excellent academic and educational opportunity for graduate, undergraduate students and Spanish teachers. It offers courses for all levels of Spanish language: beginning (2 levels), Intermediate (3 levels), advanced (4 levels); composition, conversation, culture, civilization, linguistics, methodology how to teach Spanish; many courses in literature (theater, novel, poetry), commercial Spanish, history, sociology, music, painting. Classes are with small student instructor ratio. A major in Spanish or previous knowledge of Spanish is not required. All courses are taught in Spanish by full time faculty members of the Universidad de Madrid and the Universidad de Costa Rica. Graduate courses are taught by international known scholars and language courses by experienced faculty members in pedagogy. Participants earn 5-50 credits (semester hours) toward their undergraduate or graduate degrees, teaching certification, etc.

Year Founded: 1986