Summer Advanced Spanish for Medical Professions in Costa Rica

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What's Included

Students in this study abroad program will complete two courses and earn a total of six semester credits. The core course, entitled “Communication for Medical Professions,” is designed to help students to communicate more effectively with Spanish speakers requiring medical attention and to learn how cultural norms can influence interactions between medical professionals and their patients. Students will extensively study the Costa Rican healthcare system. In addition to the core course, students will complete a standard advanced Spanish grammar course. Students who have already completed advanced grammar courses at their home university are welcome to select a culture course from the Intensive Language and Culture Program. Students are advised, however, that the “Communication for Medical Professions” course is very time-intensive and culture course options may be limited due to scheduling conflicts.

What's Included?

Highlights

Pre Departure Services

Advising

@api Online System

Orientation Materials and Resources

Access to International Phone Plans

API Alumni Network

Social Networking

Scholarships

On Site Services

Airport Reception

API Center

On-Site Orientation

Tuition

Medical and Life Insurance

Excursions (overnight, day)

Resident Directors

Social and Cultural Activities

Welcome and Farewell Group Meals

Volunteer Opportunities

Tutoring

Housing (including meals and laundry)

Language and Culture Tools

Re-Entry Services

Re-Entry Materials and Support

Post-Program Evaluation

Transcript

Alumni Network and Global Leadership Academy
View all opportunities and amenities

Application Requirements

  • Minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
  • Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors
  • Open to students with four semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
  • Completed API application
  • University Approval Form
  • One letter of recommendation
  • One official transcript
  • Entry requirement: valid passport with supporting documents
  • Applicants who are not U.S. citizens are encouraged to contact API prior to applying for more specific information about entry requirements.
Dates & Fees
Session Program Dates Program Cost Application Deadline Payment Deadline
Summer 1 May 19, 2020 - Jul 4, 2020 $5,580 Apr 1, 2020 Apr 15, 2020
Excursions

API students participate in several excursions per session designed to help familiarize them with areas of their host city, country, and surrounding region. The following is a listing of all excursions for API San Joaquín de Flores programs. All excursions are subject to change.

  • Cartago

    Cartago was Costa Rica’s first capital until 1823 and is home to Costa Rica’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Angels “Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles” or “La Negrita.” Students visit the most important sites in the city, as well as the Orosi Valley, founded by the Franciscan monks in 1561. It is home to the country’s oldest church still in continuous use, built in 1735.

  • Lankester Gardens

    Internationally recognized for its outstanding collections of epiphytes (air plants), the Jardín Botánico Lankester was established in 1973 as a center for the display, education, conservation and research of tropical plants. Almost 3,000 species of plants live in its 27 acres of gardens.

  • Monteverde

    The area around this world-famous cloud forest is idyllically pastoral, with emerald green mountain pastures grazed by black-and-white Holstein cattle. Students will hike through the rainforest during the day and will also take a night walk in order to see the fauna that only comes out at night. Lying at 1500 meters above the sea level and with a population of around 5,000 people, Monteverde is recognized worldwide for its ecological contribution in the production of oxygen and for sheltering one of the richest and more fragile ecosystems: the cloud forest. This Cloud Forest Preserve has more than 400 species of birds and more than 3000 species of plants.

  • Rio Celeste & Guanacaste

    The beautiful river “Rio Celeste” is named for the light blue waters caused by the presence of sulfur and calcium carbonates. The river winds through the rainforest of Tenorio Volcano National Park, where students will enjoy incredible views and a wide variety of flora and fauna.

  • San José

    Students will spend one night in the historic capital of San José and will visit local attractions such as the Museo Nacional, the Museo de Oro Precolombino, and the Museo de Jade.

Program Details

What You’ll Study

TOTAL CREDITS - 6 semester credits

Students in this study abroad program will complete two courses and earn a total of six semester credits. The core course, entitled “Communication for Medical Professions,” is designed to help students to communicate more effectively with Spanish speakers requiring medical attention and to learn how cultural norms can influence interactions between medical professionals and their patients. Students will extensively study the Costa Rican healthcare system. In addition to the core course, students will complete a standard advanced Spanish grammar course. Students who have already completed advanced grammar courses at their home university are welcome to select a culture course from the Intensive Language and Culture Program. Students are advised, however, that the “Communication for Medical Professions” course is very time-intensive and culture course options may be limited due to scheduling conflicts.

TRANSCRIPTS

API students will receive a transcript from U.S. accredited Fairfield University upon completion of the program.

Staff & Coordinators

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    Esteban Lopez

    Esteban Lopez will be your Resident Director in San Joaquin de Flores and a resource for you on-site.

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    Gabi Perches

    Gabi Perches will be your Program Coordinator and prepare you to go abroad!

    Email - gabriela.perches@apiabroad.com

Courses

COURSE OFFERINGS

CREDIT INFORMATION

The Instituto San Joaquín de Flores operates on the contact hour system; the number of credits earned depends on the time spent in class with a professor. To determine the conversion of Costa Rican contact hours to U.S. credits, divide the contact hours per course by 15. Almost all courses at the Instituto are the equivalent of 3 U.S. semester credits.

Comunicación para las profesiones médicas (Communication for Medical Professions)

This is an intensive Spanish course intended for professionals in different medical areas. The course will provide students with effective communication tools for Spanish speaking patients or people in general. Conversational subjects will be related to different health aspects and most of the vocabulary will be used in contexts of hospital and clinical admission, consultation, diagnosis, treatment, etc.

Language of Instruction: Spanish    Language Level Required: Advanced  

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

View Syllabus   

Advanced Spanish Grammar

The purpose of this course is to help students improve their style and skills writing in Spanish. Grammatical topics covered vary based on the student’s level, as demonstrated by completion of an on-site placement test.

Language of Instruction: Spanish    Language Level Required: Advanced  

Recommended US semester credits: 3  

View Syllabus   

Highlights
  • Classes taught in Spanish
  • Transcript from U.S. accredited institution (Fairfield University)
  • Great option for pre-med/nursing students
Housing

Students in San Joaquín de Flores live with local host families. Host families serve as a unique introduction into Costa Rican culture and may be made up of a married couple with children, a divorced or widowed woman with children still at home, or a family with some members living at home and others living outside of the city during the work week. As API places one student per family, all students have a private bedroom. Students are provided with 2-3 meals per day, as well as laundry service once per week.

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