Location:

San Jose, Costa Rica; Panama, Panama

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

Georgia State offers many summer and maymester programs led and taught by Georgia State professors. These programs tend to be focused on a particular topic or theme and range from 10 to 20 participants, though some are larger. Students participate in lectures, site visits, excursions, and tours as part of the program. These programs usually last between two and six weeks. Students find these programs a great way to really get to know their professors and other GSU students while earning GSU credits and grades. Students do not have to study on a program related to their major, but they certainly can. Financial aid and scholarships are available.

The Georgia State University program of Spanish Studies in San José, Costa Rica, and Panama City, Panama, is an exciting six-week program in two vibrant Central American capital cities. While immersed in the language and culture of Costa Rica, participants will study at the Universidad Veritas in San José. This portion of the program lasts five weeks. Participants will take two courses, each with a language or content component taught by Veritas instructors, plus a culture component taught by GSU program directors. The culture component will include optional field trips, excursions and visits to historical sites. The language or content components will vary according to students' needs and proficiency levels (e.g., Intermediate Spanish, Advanced Grammar, Advanced Conversation, Latin American Cultural Heritage, etc.). The final phase of the program includes a five-day excursion to Panama, where participants will visit: • Panama City • Canal Zone • The ruins of Old Panama City • Taboga Island • Altos de Chiriquí Universidad Veritas will serve as Host University for a five-week academic program for Georgia State. The tentative program dates at Veritas are set for June 4 thru July 7, 2012. Students may participate in two different Veritas courses or GSU faculty-led courses. Intensive language courses run from 8 until 12 m.d. (76 contact hours). Veritas will also offer a choice of two electives chosen by GSU for the program and Veritas will provide a classroom for the group. Another group of students will take a Veritas elective, 40-contact hour course. This course will be scheduled Monday thru Thursday so students can take advantage of weekend excursions. Students may participate in all free campus extracurricular activities such as tropical dance lessons, intramural soccer games, martial arts classes, Bible youth group, cooking or artisan classes (fees apply) and yoga classes (fees apply). Students may also participate in optional weekend excursions and day trips as part of the program. Veritas will provide a guide for these excursions.

Setting Description:

Students will be placed with selected Costa Rican homestays. Students will be provided a private room and breakfast and dinner with the host family, seven days per week. Laundry service is provided once a week. Veritas has many families with whom it has worked for several semesters. The Veritas staff personally interviews eachhomestay family and visits their home to ensure that the accommodations meet high standards. Criteria that are evaluated include: location in relation to the university and the general neighborhood environment, the overall appearance, cleanliness, and size of the home, and student accommodations and living space. Most importantly, the family's motivation for wanting to host foreign students is onsidered. GSU students will be placed in groups of two (or three) with Costa Rican families. All families live within walking distance from campus, but students may also take the shuttle system that goes back and forth to the neighborhood.

Cost:

Please contact for program costs