This program consists of instruction in Spanish at a level appropriate to your ability in the language (a placement test administered during the first week of the program will determine that level) for four hours per day, five days per week in groups of no more than five students. Classes are at Escuela De Idiomas, in Desamparados (a near suburb of San Jose) and are offered at six different levels of ability (Beginning I and II, Intermediate I and II and Advanced I and II).
Tutorials are offered as three-credit courses in a variety of Hispanic studies such as:
SPN 460-Spanish Phonetics, etc.
Tutorials can be arranged individually for participants. These course-specific tutorials require 40 hours of contact with the instructor. Language tutorials also are intended to help students advance more rapidly in their acquisition of the language. Tutorials are taught by experts in the field.
Prior to departure, each participant must have developed, in coordination with the stateside Academic Director [Dr. Rose McEwen] and/or stateside Director of International Internships [Dr. Walter Borowiec], a specific plan for tutorials, language courses and/or an internship (full or part time).
3. The Internship Program:
A full-time internship will require the intern to work at the internship for eight hours of work per day, four days a week. A part-time internship will typically require the intern to work three hours a day, for four or five days a week. A part-time internship can usually be combined with the intensive Spanish program throughout the semester, or a short [i.e., summer five week] full time internship may be done after the participant has completed an intensive Spanish program at Escuela De Idiomas (see below, the "half & half" option).
Most full time internships are done for the entire duration of the program, however students who wish to brush up their Spanish language skills before the internship placement will (at their request) be enrolled in the "half & half" Spanish language/internship placement option.
Part-time internship placements can be arranged for:
a. The duration of the semester: In this instance, the participant will combine language study at Escuela De Idiomas (mornings) with a part time internship (afternoons) for the entire program.
b. A portion of the semester: In this instance, the participant would be placed in a part-time internship for only a portion of the program. The minimum duration of such a placement is five weeks (the sole and unique exception of this rule is a three-week placement at the Monteverde Rain Forest. This specific internship is ony three weeks duration (and is available at an additional cost). This stipulation of a maximum duration of three weeks is that of the provider of this internship, not Brockport's Office of International Education).
Language Proficiency:
Although most internships arranged by Brockport's Office of International Education require a relatively high degree of proficiency in Spanish, arrangements can be made for internships that require a lesser degree of proficiency. The placement director will make these decisions.
The Process of Internship Placement in the Brockport Costa Rica Program:
Participants who wish to be placed in an internship (either full or part time) in Costa Rica must request such a placement on their applications. This should be done in the Study Statement portion of the application. In this Study Statement the candidate must outline the sort of internship placement s/he is seeking and the qualifications s/he possesses for such a placement.
At the time of application, s/he will be asked to prepare a resume and cover lette which will be sent to our Placement Director in San Jose to secure the placement. Shortly afterwards the Office of International Education at Brockport will advise the participant ofthe placement that has been made. This advice will provide the details of the internship placement, its start and end dates and other pertinent information about it. The participant will be asked to acknowledge that s/he agrees to be placed in this internship at this time.
Notes About Internship Placements:
1. Because internship placements are made according to the skills the participant brings to the program, they are very individual-specific. Your internship will be arranged for you by our internship director in Cosat Rica, Don Eugenio Borel. He will bring you to your placement at the start of the internship, introduce you to your workplace supervisor, and help you with transportation arrangements to and from your place of work.
2. All arrangements for internship placements must be made and agreed prior to the start of the program.
Credits:
Prior to departure, each participant in the Costa Rica Program will have developed a specific plan fifteen (15) credits (for a fall or spring semester long program) of tutorials, language courses and/or a full or part-time internship.
Participants in the Brockport Costa Rica Summer Program can earn 6 or 12 credits depending on their length of stay.
Internships Available:
Internship placements vary widely, they are made in both the private and public sectors. Many of the organizations with which we place our interns offer a variety of roles for a variety of majors. It is also possible to arrange a "custom-designed" site with sufficient notice. Some of the more typical organizations in Costa Rica with which we have placed interns in previous semesters are listed below:
Fundacion Neotropica: A non-profit organization dealing with environmental issues. We have been able to place two students at any time for any length of time. Interns do translations, they work with databases, they work on editing written materials in English and in Spanish, and they do general clerical work. Any major, advanced level of Spanish is required.
Empresa Dos Pinos: The largest dairy products exporting company in Costa Rica. They can place two students any time for any length of time. Preferred majors: International Business and Economics. Participants manage data-bases, assist with exporting procedures, edit labels, and other written materials in English and Spanish. Advanced level of Spanish is required.
Canal 7:
The most popular and powerful T.V. enterprise in Costa Rica. They can place one student any time for any length of time. Preferred majors: Communications, International Studies, Spanish. Participants edit written materials, assist managers and reporters. Participants must be highly bilingual, very advanced Spanish is required.
Empresa Tam:
A very solid travel agency dealing with national and international tourism. They can place one student any time for any length of time. Participants work as office assistants, as editors of publicity, and they manage telephone stations. Any major, but participants must be highly bilingual.
La Reserva Monteverde:
Located in the cloud forest region of Santa Elena and Monteverde. They have placements for students majoring in environmental sciences, biology, communication, and languages.
Hotel Herradura:
One of the most prestigious hotels and conference centers in Costa Rica. They can place two students at any time for any length of time. Preferred majors are: International Business and Economics, Computer Science, and International Studies. Participants must be highly bilingual.
Fundacion Guilombe:
Placements in San Jose and Puerto Viejo, Limon (Atlantic region). This foundation carries out research in environmental sciences, soil preservation, organic agriculture and related areas. They have placements for students majoring in Environmental Sciences, Biology, Earth Sciences, and Business Administration.
Hospital de Ninos (Children's Hospital) in San Jose:
They have placements for students majoring in Nursing, Business Administration, Social Work, and Health Science.
ILUNAD (Instituto Latinoamericano de Naciones Unidas para la Prevencion del Delito y Tratamiento del Delincuente): This is a United Nations-sponsored institute for the prevention and treatment of delinquency in Latin America. They have placements for students majoring in Criminal Justice.
IMAS (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social del Estado):
This is an agency of the government devoted to helping low income people. They have placements for students majoring in Nursing, Social Work, and Communications.
Radio Reloj:
A community oriented radio station. They have placements for students majoring in Communications.
Fundacion Arias:
Located in San Jose, the Arias Foundation is named after ex-president Oscar Arias, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Arias Foundation works on projects related to international peace and demilitarization, as well as on projects related to gender equality, and environment preservation. Placements are available to students with advanced levels of Spanish who are majoring in any liberal arts field. Preference is given to students who know Spanish, English, and other languages.
La Pacifica Hotel and Resort:
Located in Guanacasie, La Pacifica offers placements for students with advanced levels of Spanish who are interested in working in the field of Ecological Tourism. Preference is given to students with majors in Hotel Management, Tourism, Communications, and Physical Education.
Orange Tennis Academy:
Located in San Antonio de Desamparados, San Jose, this sports facility has placements for students with intermediate levels of Spanish, whose academic majors are in Sports Management and Physical Education.
Parque Bolivar:
Parque Bolivar is the national zoo. It is located outside of the city in San Jose, and it offers placements for students with intermediate levels of Spanish who enjoy studying and assisting with the care of animals. Preferred academic majors are Biologoy, Zoology, and Environmental Sciences.
Other internships available include Radio Dos in San Jose, Meteorological Station in San Jose, assistant for first aids with the Red Cross team. Special internships may be possible as assistant in tourist adventures: white water rafting, sea sports: surf, diving, life guard and others. Internships may also be possible on ecological activities: butterfly gardents, tropical botanical gardents, research in biological stations. Also as a guide for a tourist travel agency, coach on training in body building private clubs. And as assistant in National Parks working with animal protection and care, paths management and maintenance of log cabins, etc.
Courses Available
SPN 111 Beginning Spanish I
SPN 112 Beginning Spanish II
SPN 211 Intermediate Spanish I
SPN 212 Intermediate Spanish II
SPN 301 Spanish Grammar Review
SPN 322 Spanish Conversation and Composition
SPN 323 Intermediate Spanish Conversation and Composition
SPN 351 Composition and Grammar Review
SPN 352 Hispanic World Today
SPN 353 Literature and Cultures of Spain I
SPN 354 Literature and Cultures of Spanish America I
SPN 363 Literature and Cultures of Spain II
SPN 364 Literature and Cultures of Spanish America II
SPN 453 Spanish-American Women Writers
SPN 456 Literature and Cultures of the Caribbean
SPN 457 Contemporary Spanish Writers
SPN 458 Contemporary Spanish-American Writers
SPN 460 Spanish Phonetics
SPN 461 Advanced Spanish Grammar
NOTE: 300-level literature and culture courses are offered on demand. ALL courses are NOT offered every semester.
Social Work Program
Social work majors can participate in the social work program during the spring semester only which would include SWO internship placement.
