 Costa Rica, land of many natural wonders: Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, luscious rainforests, abundant animal and plant life, and volcanoes.
Students immerse themselves in language and culture while surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty and the warm, welcoming people of Costa Rica.
The Costa Ricans are dedicated to promoting harmony between nature, community development, and economic growth.
They have made a major commitment to protecting the nation's natural resources and beauty while preserving its long tradition of political democracy and stability.
Costa Rica offers students a safe and accessible place to study and to explore the peaceful beauty of her natural treasures.
It offers reliable public transportation, the highest literacy rate in Central America and an excellent health care system.
Whether studying Spanish or researching rainforest ecosystems, the congeniality of the people, the steaming volcanoes, pristine beaches, virgin forests, and the unique birds, mammals and ocean life all combine to make Costa Rica an idyllic place to live and study.
Site
Students live and study in beautiful Alajuela, located just 30 minutes from the capital, San Jose. Alajuela is a small town surrounded by coffee and sugar plantations.
Courses are held at the Instituto de Cultura y Lengua Costarricense (ICLC), Costa Rica's premier language institute.
ICLC language school is set on a hillside surrounded with tropical flowers and fruits in the outskirts of Alajuela.
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 Courses
Spanish Language Classes
Students have the option to take 10 or 5 credits of Spanish at ICLC. Classes are taught by qualified ICLC instructors.
Spanish classes meet for 4 hours per day and have generally no more than 4 students per class, allowing plenty of time to improve speaking and listening skills.
Students who take 10 credits of Spanish register for 5 additional credits in coursework taught by WCCCSA faculty. Students enrolled for only 5 credits of Spanish take 10 additional credits of coursework taught by WCCCSA faculty.
Modern Latin America: Human 230
(5 credits)
Students will become acquainted with the cultures and histories of Latin America and its peoples. Consideration will be given to the artistic, intellectual, social, and political trends in Latin America from pre-Columbian times to the present. An interdisciplinary and thematic approach is used to explore the major topics, events, and processes that have shaped, and continue to shape, contemporary Latin American societies. Special consideration will be given to the study of Costa Rica. Whenever possible, the course will incorporate guest speakers and class fieldtrips to local historical sites, museums, performances, and cultural events.
Intro. to Latin American Literature (5 credits)
Students will be introduced to some of the most distinguished contemporary authors of Latin American literature. The course focuses on the reading, discussion, and analysis of short literary works, i.e. short stories and poems. Special consideration will be given to the study of Costa Rican writers. Whenever possible, the course will incorporate guest speakers/writers and class fieldtrips to literary readings and/or cultural events, and performances.
Excursions/Activities
Orientation Tour
Enjoy a familiarization tour of both Alajuela and San Jose. The tour will include visits to the National Theater, the Cultural Plaza, the Jade Museum and the University of Costa Rica.
Cultural Activities: There will be special cultural activities offered each month, by ICLC and CAPA’s My Education program, in addition to activities and mini-courses that will take place during the afternoon from Monday through Friday.
Activities vary (entrance fees not included) and may include the following: a Costa Rican Art Museum, the National Museum, the La Salle Museum of Natural Sciences, the Juan Santamaria Historical Museum, the Tropical Bird Zoo, San Juan de Poas, and the train to Puntarenas, among other destinations
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Mini-courses include: Costa Rican Art, Topics in Spanish Grammar, Central American Issues, the Diversity of Costa Rica’s Forests and Costa Rican Folk Music.
Independent Travel: Use your free weekends to explore Costa Rica’s many attractions. Student favorites include rainforests, Jaco Beach and the Caribbean Coast. There will be a travel coordinator at ICLC to assist you with travel plans. Some ICLC run trips include: Arenal Volcano and Baldí Hot Springs, Tortuga Island Pacific Cruise, Rafting Pacuare, Coffee tours, Butterfly farms, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve among other locations.
Housing 
Students live in Homestays with local Costa Rican families. Each student will have a private, furnished room and two meals per day, breakfast and dinner. Lunch is not included.
Homestays are located within a 30 minute bus ride from ICLC. Students are encouraged to interact with homestay families as much as possible to facilitate learning the Spanish language and culture, and to get to know the host family.
Students are expected to respect the norms and customs of their host family.
Program Dates and Deadlines
Dates: January 2-March 13, 2010
Application and deposit deadline: November 15, 2009
Deposit: $300 ($250 non-refundable)
Cost: - $5,999 due November 15, 2009
Orientation: Dec.5, 2009 at Highline Community College from 9-3pm
INCLUDED:
- Single home stay
- Daily breakfasts/dinners 7 days/week
- Pre-departure and arrival orientations
- My Education: weekly cultural activitie
- Tortuguero excursion 2 days/1 night, escorted visit
NOT INCLUDED:
- Roundtrip airfare
- College tuition and fees (paid to student’s home campus)
- Passport fees (and visa fees, if applicable)
- Costa Rican departure tax of approximately $27
- Lunches
- Spending money
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