Study Abroad Program Coastal Carolina University 2008

On 11th of May we welcomed this year’s students from the Coastal Carolina University from Conway, South Carolina!

The group of 28 students experience the total immersion program at IECR from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. In the afternoons they participate in cultural activities in order to learn more about the Latin American culture. We included Salsa dance lessons as well as tropical fruits sessions. We are curious to see how they will follow the salsa rhythm!!

The Rainforest aerial tram is included in this year´s program – without doubt as a positive feedback of last year’s students who had great fun during the trip through the tropical forest!

This year’s weekend excursions will lead us to the famous national park Manual Antonio with its beautiful white sand beaches as well as to national park volcano Arenal. At Areanal we will experience the adventure of observing one of the active volcanoes of Latin American and after the trip relax in the hot springs of the baldi Springs. We will make sure to post the documentary when it comes out …

National Museum

On their last day in Costa Rica, before they are flying back home, this years students from the Coastal Carolina University’s study abroad program are visiting the National Museum in San José.

The building itself is a highlight as the museum is located in an old fort. It encloses an open courtyard from which our students can enjoy beautiful views overlooking downtown San José and the mountains beyond.

The museum features pre-Columbian art with displays of gold, jade, stone and pottery. There are other pre-Columbian artifacts from indigenous cultures dating back more than 12,000 years.

Rainforest Aerial Tram

This is truly an original Costa Rican adventure: take a ride on an aerial tramway and glide pleasantly through the treetops. Experience the rain forest in comfort and safety and from a totally different dimension.

Located 50 minutes from San José, the aerial tram takes you over an expansive private nature preserve which shelters an incredible eco-tourism and research park which is full of both known and unknown plant and animal species. You will be able to see wildlife close-up for the first time.

You will see all the different layers of the rainforest, from the floor to the treetops. The rainforest is home to an enormous amount of flora and fauna. Colorful tropical flowers, fascinating plants and trees are quite common, and you will learn how they work together to form a complete ecosystem.

…fall in love with nature’s wonders, natural melodies, hidden eyes and the sweet company of the forest’s inhabitants…!

Pura Vida

“Pura Vida” means literally “Pure Life” and is Costa Rica’s most unique and popular phrase and one of the most important phrases, which is used as a positive response in all type of situations.
Here are a few examples of how this expression is used:

Hello = Pura Vida
Good-bye = Pura Vida
Thank you = Pura Vida
Sounds good = Pura Vida
How are you? – Reply: Pura Vida (= fine, good, great, content)
How do I look? – Reply: You look Pura Vida (= You look very well)
How was it? – Reply: Pura Vida
Can you please do that for me? – Reply: Pura Vida (= sure, ok)

This phrase has also come to signify the way of life of the typical Costa Rican. A Pura Vida lifestyle is worry-free. Ticos are less concerned about a life of luxury than they are about a life of few concerns. They prefer to have a relaxed outlook on life and enjoy it as much as they can.
You will find the Ticos do not sweat the small stuff, do not rush, and spend quality time with family. Ticos are famous for their hospitality, and are quite happy to live up to their reputation.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Park

When you think about Costa Rica, you probably imagine lush tropical Rain Forests, flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies and flowers. At La Paz Waterfall Gardens, you will have the possibility to see all that.

The splendid gardens of La Paz are located on the slopes of the Poas volcano, just an hour from San Jose, in the central highlands. This area is rich in bio diversity thanks to an altitude that varies between 4,000 and 5,000 feet, allowing for both cloud forest and rain forest to co-exist. Be prepared for a truly magical experience. Here, visitors will find the largest butterfly observatory in the world, hummingbird and bromeliad gardens, a serpentarium,frog pond, hiking trails and 5 striking waterfalls.

2008 – International Year of Languages “Languages Matter!”

This year 2008 was declared the INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF LANGUAGES by the United Nations.
Their objective is to ensure that the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingualism in educational, administrative and legal systems, cultural expressions and the media, cyberspace and trade, is recognized at the national, regional and international levels.
On average, a language ceases to be spoken every two weeks. Within the space of a few generations, more than half of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world may disappear, and according to experts, 96% of languages are spoken by only 4% of the population. Thousands of languages – though mastered by those populations for whom it is the daily means of expression – are absent from education systems, the media, publishing and the public domain in general.

To celebrate the International Year of Languages, UNESCO invites governments, United Nations organizations, civil society organizations, educational institutions, professional associations and all other stakeholders to increase their own activities to promote and protect all languages, particularly endangered languages, in all individual and collective contexts.

By encouraging and developing language policies that enable each linguistic community to use its first language, or mother tongue, as widely and as often as possible, including in education, while also mastering a national or regional language and an international language. Also by encouraging speakers of a dominant language to master another national or regional language and one or two international languages. Only if multilingualism is fully accepted can all languages find their place in our globalized world.

Why Learn Spanish?

Learning Spanish is a popular and one of the easiest languages to learn if you are an English speaker. If you have ever considered learning another language why not give Spanish a try? There are over 400 million Spanish speakers spanning across 28 countries worldwide.

Learning Spanish can open up a whole new world of cultural experiences. Obviously one of the main reasons for learning the Spanish language is too enhance any overseas travel you may be considering. Not only would you be able effectively communicate with native Spanish speakers you will also have a lot more fun. However travel is certainly not the only reason why learning Spanish is a good idea. Spanish is a highly phonetic language which is one of the reasons why it is so easy to learn.

Once you have mastered Spanish at a proficient level learning other languages, especially from European countries will be very easy by comparison. This is due to the fact the Spanish is based on the roman language of Latin and has many common recognizable elements of other languages such as French and German. It is far easier to understand fundamental ideas due to the similar nature and structure of these other languages.

Also learning Spanish will also give you a true insight into Spanish culture and you will learn to appreciate Spanish day to day life on all levels, providing you with a cultural rich experience.

If you are considering learning a new language, there are a lot of resources to help you to make a start. One resource is provided by IECR.