…an interactive program that offers high school students an opportunity to come to Costa Rica , immerse themselves in a Spanish speaking culture, share experiences and get to know the people.

Introduction
Comunicare is a Latin verb which means to send, share and exchange ideas with others . Our Center is dedicated to excellence in the instruction of Spanish, while providing enriching opportunities for service and cultural exchange benefiting both the student and the Costa Rican community


The purpose of our program is to expose our students to the rich traditions and history of Costa Rica's multi-ethnic society. Living with a local family gives the students the opportunity to exchange ideas and share values while getting an intimate view of the details of daily life here in Costa Rica.

Students visit different areas, urban, rural, and suburban, where they observe and participate in community life. They do volunteer work with local public schools and attend cultural activities like dance classes, concerts, museum trips and lectures.

Our program is flexible and variable depending on availability , interest and needs of the particular group. Teacher input is an important part of this process.


Why Costa Rica ?

Costa Rica has a history of economic, social and political stability. The Spanish spoken hear is recognized abroad as International Spanish . Costa Rica's proximity to North America and its reasonable cost of living make it a much more feasible option for students than studying in Spain.

Costa Rica is known for its hospitality and high living standards. Safe drinking water, a good communications system and excellent medical services are evidences of the most advanced infrastructure in Central America.


Due to its cultural richness and diversity, Central America is extremely complex. Its economic, political, and social trends have definitive impacts on North America. Students who wish to learn about Central Americans need to see them in their own environment, and the receptiveness of Costa Ricans to foreign students makes this deeper appreciation of their culture possible.

The Study and Share Program is designed exclusively for high school students who want to immerse themselves in Spanish both in and out of the classroom, by participating in volunteer activities, living with a Costa Rican family and making occasional trips to the countryside.

Spanish Classes

Our programs have been carefully structured, combining practices of speech with grammar and laboratory time. This allows students to use Spanish while gradually understanding the cultural underpinnings of the language .Our pedagogy, stimulating classroom environment, didactic materials and the knowledge base of our teachers are the ingredients of the Spanish classes .

Comunicare begins by evaluating each student's proficiency in Spanish through a private interview. The evaluation also takes into consideration special needs and interests of the student. Students are then grouped according to their appropriate levels .

Homestays

Comunicare believes that living with a Costa Rican family is one of the most important parts of its program. Careful placement of students helps to ensure a positive experience. Families are chosen based on their commitment to hospitality.

Cleanliness is a priority. Student rooms must be private and well illuminated, with a closet, bed and small desk. Students have the right to seek alternative accommodations if after a few nights the family selected is not a harmonious fit.

Comunicare seeks outgoing families, who are sensitive to student needs and enjoy the role of substitute family. We maintain a diverse register of families offering a variety of options to students. Homes must be located within walking distance or a ten-minute bus ride from our center .

Field Trips Atlantic Coast

Three-day Weekend Fieldtrip

The Limon Province , on the Atlantic Coast , is a natural museum of forests, beaches and coral reefs. The people, the indigenous cultures, folklore and legends make this coastal region a special place to visit.

The trip begins with the passage through the virgin rain forest, Braulio Carrillo National Park . Students will see the exuberant jungle vegetation of this park, founded in 1978 by environmentalists to protect 80,000 acres from the highway under construction between San Jose and Guapiles.

Students will stop next at a banana plantation, where they will observe the production process from tree care to packing fruit for shipment. They will get to talk with workers at the plantation and learn about the conditions first hand. Later they will go to the port where the bananas are shipped and then on to Limon, the principal port on the Atlantic Coast. They will eat lunch in the port and continue on to Puerto Viejo, where they will spend the night in a hotel.

Puerto Viejo is set between lush tropical forests and beautiful beaches. It attracts immigrants from nearby countries and tourists from abroad. In the past its diverse community of indigenous peoples, Spanish speaking Costa Ricans, and descendants from Nicaragua, Jamaica, and Panama lived together peacefully . However, recently some friction has developed due to the influx of tourists, the demarcation of the indigenous reservation, disease in the cacao plantations and stricter regulations by town planners.

The students will have the opportunity to discuss with its residents the ways tourism and other factors have impacted the community.

On Saturday morning, the group will visit an indigenous community where they will enjoy a two-hour walk through the reserve and a lunch in the community center, situated in the hills of the indigenous community. On Saturday night, the students will participate in several of the typical activities, like dancing and eating with a local family. On the last day in Puerto Viejo, the students will travel to one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, Punta Uva, where they will enjoy a quiet sea, white sand, blue water and shining sun. The students will enjoy their last Caribbean meal, and get back to San José on Sunday afternoon.

Monte Verde

Three-day Weekend Fieldtrip
The Monteverde Cloud Forest, established as a biological reserve in 1972, is dedicated to the complete conservation of the myriad array of flora and fauna that inhabit its four life zones, all of which are in their original conditions . Unfortunately, many of these species are in danger of extinction. Located in the Tilaran Mountain Range, the cloud forest offers many benefits to humanity. It is a water recharge area, coal reserve , and biological conservation and environmental education center.

Students will learn to walk silently through the forest, honing their senses to encounter the rare species that live and grow in this unique piece of our planet. Knowledgeable guides will conduct them through the cloud forest pointing out the specimens and habitats. The trip includes the following activities:

• Visit to the Monteverde Reserve
  
• Visit to the community, including a cooperation of women dedicated to the production of typical crafts
  
• A cooperation of women dedicated to the production of typical crafts.
  
• Cheese Factory
  
• A Two -hour walk to the San Luis waterfall
  
• The Monteverde Sky Walk

Optional Activities: Sky Trek, Serpentarium Museum, horseback riding.

Volunteer work

A group activity with an elementary or secondary school in San José is the kind of volunteer work included in the Study and Share program. This experience stimulates personal contact with Costa Ricans in their own environment. Common projects include are:

• Painting a classroom
  
• Preparing a garden

• Leading activities with students
  
• Facilitating recycling projects
  
• Assisting an English teacher
  
• Leading a drama production

The volunteer program offers an excellent opportunity for the students to interact with the Costa Rican children and/or teenagers, understand the limitations and benefits of the Costa Rican public schools and provide a service to the Costa Rican community.

Visiting San Jose City

The visit to the capital city, San José , offers the students an opportunity to observe the architecture, central square, cathedral , market and the government buildings, places which represent the center of the political power of the Ancient Colony. The visit includes : Museo Nacional, Central Market, Central Avenue , Art craft market.
The visit to the Central Market allows the students to witness a typical Costa Rica market, where they can see the typical fruits and vegetables of Costa Rica, and how the Costa Ricans interact with one another. It also allows the students an opportunity to observe the cultural and social diversity of San José.

This fieldtrip includes a bus tour of different areas of San José, where the students can observe the great social and economic diversity shown in the land distribution, the squatter settlements and general living conditions. The students will witness the radical changes from houses of luxury to cardboard houses.

Cartago,Orosí,Ujarras

Saturday Fieldtrip

The Province of Cartago , founded in 1563 by Juan Vasquez de Coronado, has a great agricultural tradition. Many of Costa Rica 's export crops like coffee, sugar cane, potato, macadamia nuts and chayote are grown here. It contains many National Parks and religious and historic sites, including the ruins of Ujarras, the Church of Orosi , and the Cathedral of the Virgin Of los Angeles , Costa Rica 's patron saint. Students will visit selected sites to get a glimpse of how Costa Ricans lived in the past.

Lectures around Afro-Costa Rican women, music and tradition

This lecture provides a broad history of the immigrants to the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. It describes their cultures, influences and participation in society up to the present. Typical foods of the region and Calypso music also complement the talk.

Dance Class

Study and Share also includes several hours of dance instruction in Salsa, Merengue, Reggae, Swing and Cumbia.

Schedule Options

This program is offered during the months of February and March for high schools that are available at this time. Taking into account that many high schools are on vacation in the summer (June, July, and August) , we have reserved these months for the Study and Share Program as well .

In addition , Comunicare is willing to design a program to fit the specific needs and interests of your high school.

Cost of the Program

The cost will be discussed with the Coordinator or Teacher responsible for the group, and it will depend on the number of students. We suggest that the group has a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 20 students.