Description

The intensive language program "Spanish for Development Studies" is suitable for international students with a high intermediate or advanced level of proficiency in the Spanish language and whose majors and career interests in the field of international development studies will require them to develop language skills (oral, auditory, reading, writing) that will permit them to perform appropriately in a Spanish-speaking environment and to make the best out of their academic, cultural, personal and later, professional experiences within the Latin American culture. In addition, this program is also an excellent fit for exchange students participating in extended programs in Spanish-speaking countries.

The program consists of two components, linguistic and topical. The objectives are to train students to speak fluently in Spanish, preparing them to read texts of social, political, economic, and cultural relevance effectively, and teaching them to write different types of text cohesively and coherently so that they can communicate effectively in Spanish. The program is complemented with conferences and exercises on the topic of the week, and with a three-hour film forum weekly.

Homestays are one of the most important parts of a student's experience, facilitating immersion in and adaptation to the new culture and language, and helping students to integrate into local society. In order to assure students will have a great experience with their host families, ICDS has a Homestay Coordinator with a great deal of experience in the selection of host families and the placement of students with an appropriate host family, according to what the student has indicated as his/her preferences in the housing application.

ICDS also offers many service-learning, volunteer, internship and research opportunities to give ICDS students the chance to put into practice what they learn in the classroom and to use their Spanish skills, to be involved with leading practitioners in the field, and to contribute to the efforts for sustainable human development in Costa Rica. To learn more about these opportunities, please download the attached PDF!

ICDS student services include on-site orientation, arrival and departure transportation, a counselor on staff, assistance with student visas, healthcare recommendations, and a PO box mailing address. ICDS is a very small organization and is therefore able to provide students with personalized attention for anything that comes up!