Aleeya Hess Studies Spanish In Costa Rica

2016 Sep 28

When Aleeya Hess, second year student at Northland Pioneer College (NPC) decided to try NPC's study abroad program in Costa Rica, she knew her Spanish would improve but never considered how life-changing the experience would be.

Hess strongly recommends the study abroad program to all who are interested. The program, provided through NPC, allows students to live in Costa Rica, receive college credit from Costa Rica University and experience the culture by exploring the country and living with a homestay family.

Living in Costa Rica from June 30 to July 30, Hess took a language-intensive Spanish course at the public university. She credits being immersed in the language as a great help to improving her Spanish. Students earn 2 semesters of Spanish in one month by being totally immersed in the language.

"It's one thing to learn a language in a classroom or from a book" comments Richard Harris, NPC's Study Abroad Coordinator, "but it's another to experience it. You learn the meaning of the language when you experience the culture."

NPC's Costa Rica study abroad program is open to everyone, including the public, each summer semester. For more information go to www.npc.edu/costa_rica or contact Richard Harris at (928) 532-6145.