My name is Tara Warren and I recently had the opportunity to go to Costa Rica where Arizona State University West, offered a six-credit intermission class.  During the two weeks we were there we completed an intensive Spanish class and Central American Culture Class with the Comunicare, Linguistic Cultural an Community Service Center.

The latter involved lectures on the history and the current state of the society , museum visits, dance and music classes, and field trips.I came away from this trip with a knowledge of a culture and history that I had formally known nothing about. When I first heard about a trip to Costa Rica, I had to look up where it was in the Atlas. One of the lecturers said she hoped rather than to give us answers to the history of the area, that she would raise questions and curiosity about Central America instead.

I certainly feel that this is what happened in my case.There is so much more I would like to know and understand with regard to the state of government, social services, lifestyles of those that live there, and how the different elements of history came together to create the diversity that exists in Central America today.The field trips gave me a wider view of life in the country of Costa Rica and brought much of what we had learned about in the lectures to life.

Jenni Beaudrot
Arizona State University West

First, I would like to say that I had an absolutely amazing time in Costa Rica, and I would like to thank everyone who sponsored the scholarship.

I would never have been able to go without your help. In Costa Rica, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time learning the native Spanish Language and the unique culture. Every experience gave me a new perspective on my life and life outside of the United States. I found I learned the language faster when immersed in the language completely.

Amanda Graham
Arizona State University west

The study abroad program with Comunicare was a great experience that I will never forget. Before I went to Costa Rica, I only knew a few Spanish words and I returned home being able to have simple conversations in Spanish.

I learned more by visiting the country and being immersed into the culture than I could have learned by sitting in a class or reading a book.

Sarah Howell

On May 9, 2002, a group of 10 students and our Professor from ASU West went to Comunicare Program in Costa Rica. For the next 2 ½ weeks we each stayed with a local host family in San Pedro, a suburb of San José. In the morning we attended school, and we explored the country in the afternoons and weekends.

My goal was to learn and improve my Spanish speaking, while living in a Central American Country. Staying with my host family, who spoke mostly Spanish, strengthened my Spanish.

Jamie Lugo

I am amazed at how much I have learned this trip. I definitely learned much more than I would have learned by simply sitting in a classroom. Through my Spanish classes, I learned over 300 verbs, as well as verb conjugation and simple dialogue.

I came to Costa Rica knowing very little Spanish, and I left being able to communicate with Spanish speaking people.

Catherine Cunningham
Needham High School

I found the Spanish Classes to be very beneficial because we mostly had conversations and we did a brief overview of grammar. I liked how the class was very relaxed and everyone had an equal opportunity to speak and learn.