DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM $courses $Academic credits $Family housing $Location of the school $What is included in the cost of the program? $Who can participate? $Dates for departure and returning $Money exchange Courses : This program offers Spanish classes for all the levels from beginner to advanced. Anybody can participate with or without any previous knowledge in Spanish.  The first day the student will take a placement test. This will help the school assign the student to the best class for her/his level.   Classes will meet Monday through Friday for three hours or five (for the intensive courses).  The classes are small, maximum 4 per class, which allows for the classes to be very personalized and for the student to have the opportunity to get involved constantly, therefore helping speed up the learning process.  These courses are offered for 2, 3 or more weeks.  It is strongly recommended that the student go for at least 3 weeks because research shows that a student will retain more this way than in less time.  The method used at the school in Costa Rica emphasizes conversation and provides students the opportunity to speak Spanish from the first moment in class. The school’s teaching methodology is based on daily conversations derived from students' interests.  Conversations are guided by professors and they are supplemented with oral and written exercises as well as other activities in which the students can practice what they have learned. Academic credits : Under an agreement between the schools in Costa Rica and Emporia State University, the student may earn from 2 to 7 credits for three weeks, 2 to 5 credits for 2 weeks. For more weeks you must talk to the professor in charge of coordinating the trip.  The student will receive 4 credits for the 3 weeks of class and 3 credits more for an independent study which will be arrange by the professor.  The cost of these additional credits will not be included in the price of the trip because the student will have the option of taking any amount of credits and not all students will opt to take the 7 credits. At the schools in Costa Rica the student will be evaluated every Friday and the coordinator will transfer the grades to Emporia State University. Family housing : Most of the students choose to live with a Costa Rican family but there are other options which will be more expensive, like hotels, Bed and Breakfast, cabins and resorts.  If you are traveling with a companion or with the whole family, there are many families that are willing to accommodate all of you in one house upon request.  It is recommended that we place one student per family because students tend to learn Spanish faster when not in constant contact with friends/spouses (due to the tendency to speak in their native language). All of the families are carefully screened and are accustomed to housing foreign students. The families are very patient and go out of their way to help students learn Spanish. The families are diverse ‑ young couples without children, couples with children (of all age groups) and older couples with grown children who no longer live at home.  The school always does its best to accommodate students' wishes concerning homestay families. If  students do not state a preference, the school typically places them with couples of the same age group. The majority of the homestays are within walking distance of the school. If the homestay is more than a 25 minute walk from the school, the school will pick up the student and bring her/him to classes. In terms of the standard of living of the host families, all are middle class by Costa Rican standards. Students will find a simpler way of life than they are accustomed to, especially in Flamingo. However, Costa Rica is not a typical developing country and many homes have the same consumer items found in North America and Europe. All of the homes are clean and students have a room of their own. Often students will ask about their host family prior to their arrival. Due to our attempts to make a good match between students and families, the school does not place students with families until a few days before the student arrives. The family housing program includes two meals per day. Lunch is not included because we would like to give students the opportunity to explore the local restaurants.  Location of CPI and safety issues in San Joaquín, Monteverde and Flamingo. San Joaquín de Flores is a town just close enough to San José to enjoy the benefits of a big city, yet far enough away to maintain a  sense of serenity outside the traffic and tension of San José. This distance allows students to experience Costa Rican culture as well as full immersion in the language since only Spanish is spoken in this town. Flamingo is a quaint beach town with a distinctive rural feel. "Guanacastecos", or people from Guanacaste, are well known for their warm hospitality. Due to the fact that the school is on the beach, this location, like Monteverde, is an excellent choice for those who wish to combine language study with a vacation. What is included in the cost of the program: We have developed a package where almost everything is included so that no student will have to miss participating in any opportunities for lack of money.  Here is what is included in this package: Round Trip from Kansas City to San José, Costa Rica Board and room (includes breakfast and dinner, private room and laundry Service).  The student will be living with a Costa Rican Family.  Also other accommodations are available like hotels, resorts, cabins & apartments at an extra cost. Light breakfast at the 10:00 a.m. coffee break at the school Tuition at the school in Costa Rica (Not at ESU) plus a book (small classes, maximum of 4 student per classes) Dancing classes, movies, Theater, cooking classes, Latin music night, trips to some beaches, movies, theater, lectures that focus on issues of culture Who would you contact for more information? Dr. Luisa Perez at: perezlui@emporia.eduor Phone: 620‑341‑5827 or 785-832-9643 Who can participate? Any one can participate, students and faculty from ESU or any other University, any of the students' relatives or friends and any person from the community.  There are classes for almost any age, (you must know how to talk and walk!!!)  You can also earn college credits. (Go to Academic credits” for more information). Dates for departure and returning: Departure: June first and we will return June 21st, for the students who are going for 3 weeks.   Students who are going for two weeks, are also leaving June first but returning June 14th.  The school will take them back to the airport at no cost. Money exchange*  Once a week The school provides bank service. We collect cash or travelers checks in the morning and change them into colones. Please remember that each student should come to Costa Rica with some Costa Rican currency (this can be purchased in the airport from which the student is departing). If this is not possible, bring at least $20 in currency which can be changed with a money changer at the San José airport when the student arrives. There is access to ATM machines where the student can use a debit card or a credit card (although this machines are not very reliable), they usually offer the best exchange rate. *Only Visa is accepted in Flamingo not Master Card.