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Wish to hear from a school pupil who studied overseas in Costa Rica? We spoke to AIFS Overseas participant Ashley from Towson College, who spent her summer season learning overseas in San José.
Learn on to find how Ashley’s expertise in San José with AIFS Overseas helped form her skilled future and improved her Spanish language expertise!
Selecting a Research Overseas Program Vacation spot & Time period
Selecting a program vacation spot and time period will be troublesome for some college students (our group might help with that!). Fortunately, once you select an AIFS Overseas program, you’re in for an unimaginable life-changing expertise—irrespective of the place and once you go. Hear how Ashley selected a summer season program in San José:
“I selected the summer season time period as a result of it was essentially the most reasonably priced, and I used to be busy with my analysis throughout the spring semester of 2025… I selected this examine overseas program as a result of I used to be in love with Costa Rica’s biodiversity and wealthy tradition. I additionally needed to decide on a Spanish-speaking nation to check the language. I like to recommend college students who’re open-minded and adventurous to take part on this program.”
Teachers Overseas
Once you examine overseas, you get to immerse your self in a completely new tutorial setting—discover the services of your host college, make buddies with worldwide and native college students, and study from professors with distinctive cultural views. Hear Ashley describe her tutorial expertise in San José:
“I attended Universidad Veritas. The college was very distinctive! First, once you enter, you will note a big mango tree rising in the course of the constructing. Additionally, the roofs had been steel because it rained each afternoon. You may hear the loud raindrops hitting the roof as you walked to class. Each lunch break, I solely walked 5 minutes to both the sushi restaurant, the French cafe, or the grocery retailer.”
Throughout her summer season examine overseas program, Ashley took a specialised Spanish language course for aspiring healthcare professionals. Beneath, she supplies some extra particulars concerning the class and the place it met on campus:
“My class was on the third flooring of the college constructing. It was small and there have been solely seven of us. My class was with individuals in my program (AIFS Overseas) and different applications. The category was taught solely in Spanish and… we didn’t have any written or multiple-choice exams. All of our exams had been role-played and acted out. We needed to memorize strains from the physician’s or the affected person’s standpoint. Additionally, [some classes were held] in our regular classroom, [while others were] outdoors.”
Language Studying
Whereas many AIFS Overseas applications don’t have any language necessities, we additionally supply many applications which are designed for school college students like Ashley who wish to advance their international language expertise. Hear Ashley clarify her expertise studying Spanish in Costa Rica and speaking along with her host mom at her homestay:
“I got here to the nation with some data of Spanish, however I used to be humbled as quickly as I began speaking with my host mom. Nonetheless, the extra I paid consideration in my Spanish class and the extra I talked with natives, I seen my Spanish getting higher and higher the extra I put myself on the market.”
Not solely did this program assist her enhance her Spanish language expertise, but it surely additionally helped her determine what sort of work she desires to do sooner or later:
“I noticed that after this expertise, I wish to develop into more adept in Spanish to someday be a psychologist for individuals in marginalized teams.”
Housing
All AIFS Overseas applications embrace protected and central housing. Some applications, like Ashley’s, supply the choice to decide on a homestay, which will be an unimaginable alternative to completely immerse your self within the native tradition and language:
“I stayed [in a homestay] with [a] host mom throughout my examine overseas program. I adored her hospitality and her kindness! I had my very own room, I shared the house with two different women, and he or she cooked us breakfast and dinner each single day. She additionally cleaned our rooms and did our laundry each Tuesday. The one problem I had was language limitations, however all the pieces else was excellent. I overcame the language limitations by merely utilizing Google Translate.”
AIFS Overseas Journeys & Excursions
Each AIFS Overseas program contains journeys and excursions that take you to new locations in your host metropolis or nation. They’re glorious alternatives to study extra about your host nation and join with different AIFS Overseas program members. Hear concerning the journeys and excursions Ashley attended throughout her summer season overseas in Costa Rica:
“I went [on] the Sizzling Springs, Monteverde, La Fortuna, and Sarapiqui [trips with AIFS Abroad]. Essentially the most memorable second concerning the scorching springs was taking place the slides within the pouring rain. Monteverde had stunning surroundings, and the zip lining was by far the [biggest] adrenaline rush I’ve ever felt! Particularly the Tarzan rope that takes you down 30 toes. Sarapiqui was each enjoyable and informative. We made chocolate from scratch and took a nature hike at night time. We additionally went white water rafting within the stunning rivers of Sarapiqui… Zip lining in Monteverde and white water rafting in Sarapiqui had been experiences I’ll always remember.”
Private Development
Along with serving to you advance your diploma and develop professionally, learning overseas affords the chance to develop as an individual by increasing your worldview, studying from individuals with distinctive cultural views, and turning into extra impartial. Hear Ashley clarify how her program in Costa Rica impressed private development:
“I grew to become extra centered than I used to be earlier than I studied overseas. I are usually an individual who was at all times in my head, however by being in my host nation, I used to be in a position to get out of my bubble and work together with individuals from totally different backgrounds.”
Why AIFS Overseas?
From our trusted on-site help workers to our thrilling program locations, there are 1,000,000 causes to decide on AIFS Overseas. As Ashley explains, getting a suggestion from her tutorial advisor helped her select our program with confidence:
“I selected AIFS Overseas as a result of I’ve at all times needed to go to a tropical nation like Costa Rica, however my college didn’t present this program. My advisor prompt I apply by AIFS. She advised me nice issues about this group and that AIFS affords grants and scholarships for its college students.”
Curious about learning overseas with AIFS Overseas like Ashley did in Costa Rica? We’d love that will help you begin your journey!
Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to school college students examine overseas. Our applications include many beneficial inclusions (which actually take the stress out of planning!), akin to housing, cultural and social actions, journeys and excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency help, on-site workers, and extra. Once you select AIFS Overseas, you’ll take consolation in understanding you’ll have help all through your complete expertise.
