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Costa Rica Teenager Study Abroad
Alajuela Junior Immersion
Known as the Switzerland of Central America, Costa Rica has an abundance of natural beauty and is populated by a friendly, well-educated people. Costa Rica has obtained the highest standard of living in Central America by embracing democracy and disbanding its army. This small country is a paradise for nature lovers with national parks, jungles, volcanoes, beaches, and more water per square mile than any other country in the world, excluding New Zealand. However, the small pre-Columbian indigenous population was wiped out by diseases brought to the new world by the conquistadors.
Alajuela, a sizable city with a population of around 100,000, is Costa Rica’s third largest city. However, Alajuela offers language travelers of all ages a relaxed and more traditional “tico” (native Costa Rican) way of life. The combination of pleasant temperatures (average of 74-80 degrees), a more rural setting with a lush backdrop of citrus trees and flora and easy access to San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital (15 miles east of Alajuela) makes Alajuela a wonderful destination.
School Facilities: The school campus is located a short bus ride outside the city of Alajuela and is contained on a large property on a hill surrounded by tropical flowers and fruit trees. The school has mainly outdoor and semi-outdoor classrooms, an auditorium and cafeteria. Although teens participating in this program will share the same facilities as adult participants, all language classes are grouped by age and language ability. Capacity is 160 students/day. Students stay in a homestay with 2 meals/day included.
Activities/Excursions: Organized morning/afternoon activities are available for all program participants (adult and teens). A staff member is always present during organized activities which may include: dance or cooking classes, Spanish movies or lectures, trips to museums, theatres, the bird zoo, snake farm, and to Los Chorros Waterfalls as some examples. All activities are conducted in Spanish. Supervised weekend excursions specific for teenagers are available at an additional cost.
Lodging & Meals: Homestay with 2 meals/day
Supervision: Teen participants will receive group language classes with other teens only. All teens are placed in group classes according to their language ability. During class time, participants are monitored by their language instructor and both the administration and academic directors of the language school. An administrative staff of five is always available for the students while at school. Each day teens will have free time. During this time teen participants may use email at school, explore Alajuela, go to the mall, participate in sports with friends, or spend time with their host family. All teen participants are responsible for getting themselves to and from school/activities to their homestay each day. Outside of the school and homestay teen participants are independent and responsible for making curfew. Curfew is 10:00pm on both weekdays and weekends and is strictly enforced by the host family. The school directors will be contacted if curfew is broken by teen participants. A key to the home will not be given to teen participants. Students who do not abide by school or host family rules will be dismissed from the program.
To/From School: The first day of classes a member of the host family will accompany participants to the school. After first day, participants travel unaccompanied either via walk or public transportation.
Other: This program integrates audio, visual, and dynamic exercises into a highly conversational teaching method, “the natural approach.”
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Program (included in tuition):
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- 4 hrs/day classes (20 hrs/wk)
- Group classes (max 4)
- Private room with host family
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- Laundry service
- Daily organized activities
- City tours of Alajuela & San Jose
- Travel assistance program
- Emergency message service
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Possible Options (extra cost):
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- Supervised Weekend tours/exursions
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Sample Program & Activity Schedules:
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Prices/Dates (for 2009):
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1
Week |
2
Weeks |
3
Weeks |
4
Weeks |
Add'l
Weeks |
Add'l 2
Weeks |
Start Dates |
| Junior Immersion |
580
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1150
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1700
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2180
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455
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n/a
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7/11
Program ends: 8/15
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Airport Pickup: Included. At the time of arrival, the assigned host family will be waiting in the airport arrivals hall and will be holding a sign with student's name/program name. All students are then taken directly to the homestay. Departing participants are escorted to airline check-in. Beyond passport control, teen participants may only be looked after by airport staff. Please give sufficient notice to the airline if your teen will need to be accompanied from passport control to the gate
All teen participants must arrive before 10pm on the Saturday before the first day of class. Otherwise, if arriving past 10pm must go to hotel and host family will meet the participant at their hotel the next morning at 10am.
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Program Notes:
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- Saturday arrival and Saturday departure to/from homestay accommodation.
- Extra homestay nights: $18/night.
- Private classes: $25/hour
- Individual tours/exursions are to be purchased on-site only.
- Closed dates - 2009: 7/25, 8/2, 8/15
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