Special Programs

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Healthcare Program

We see an increasing need in North America for physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers to communicate with Spanish speaking patients and medical colleagues. With this in mind, Personalized Spanish has designed a special program to meet this need in the healthcare profession.

The course is designed to provide healthcare practitioners with effective language skills so that they can communicate effectively and confidently with their patients and/or their caretakers in Spanish. Emphasis will be on oral communications.

The course starts with a week long classroom language instructions at Personalized Spanish with specialized vocabulary for the profession. Starting from the second week of class, the students may elect to conduct interviews with their Costa Rican peers and to visit local clinics and hospitals to experience first hand how the language is used in their profession. The school will be able to arrange such interviews and visits for the students.

For this program, we recommend a minimum of 2 weeks Spanish study.

Spanish for Business and Law

If you have little time available and want to maximize it, you may choose our special program for business and law. Before your arrival to Costa Rica, we will assess your needs and tailor a personalized program to meet them.

The program includes classes designed to concentrate on the language used by international workers, MBA students, managers and the like. Visits to business institutions that are of interest to the class can also be organized. For instance, students interested in the legal system may have an interview with a local lawyer or attend a court session with the teacher as part of the class. Such visits can also provide the students with excellent sources of local contacts in their profession. The materials used in this class can be readily applied in the work place. In addition to language acquisition, the students will also learn a great deal about the Costa Rican legal and economic systems.

Weekly classes normally begin on a Monday. For this program, students may also opt to start classes any day of the week or study for a weekend provided they come with a group or they choose the private lessons.

Spanish for Children

If you are planning to travel with your children, you are welcome to have them attend the school and learn Spanish at the same time as you. The program is specially tailored for children between 6 and 13 year old whose parents are studying at Personalized Spanish.

The program includes:

• Airport transportation
• Lodging with their parents in a host family
• 2 meals a day and laundry services
• Spanish classes and special materials
• Supervised recreational activities in Spanish such as coloring, puzzles, videos, sports

Educational outings to places of interest: The Children’s Museum, The San Jose Zoo, Bird Museum, Insect Museum, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Theatre, Visits to local schools, entertainment parks, participation in activities with Costa Rican children, INBIO Park (bio-diversity park), roller-skating, public libraries

Spanish Internship Program

Internship programs run all year long and last 10 weeks each. They are aimed for:

• High school graduates who would like a rigorous internship experience before entering college
• College students and college graduates who wish to experience possible international career options before beginning graduate or professional schools
• Students needing assistance with placements and logistical support to complete an undergraduate or graduate thesis
• Professionals who are seeking experience to advance their careers or would like to explore other career options
• Most importantly, all those who would like to offer their time, energy and expertise to help with organizations that work on promoting social justice, especially for the socially oppressed groups

The flexibility of the program allows our staff to identify, and where necessary, to create opportunities that meet the needs of individuals with widely differing experiences and interests. Structured internships are readily available. Most internships are linked to well-established activities or organizations in community development, environmental conservation, healthcare, women's issues, suitable agriculture, wildlife conservation or social services such as childcare, education, and public health. In agreement with the fundamental Personalized Spanish philosophy, the goal of the program is to benefit the host community and organization, as well as the intern.

The Program includes:

Stage 1: Intensive Spanish Classes (4 weeks, 80 hours)

The objectives of the Spanish classes are consistent with the philosophy and goals of Personalized Spanish. Teaching is done with emphasis on political and social conditions and environmental issues in Central America. Teachers supplement intensive conversation, grammar and practice with guest lectures and discussions on the environment, culture, political processes, women’s issues, and development.

Participants attend Spanish classes 5 days a week, 4 hours a day with a 20 minute break. Classes gear toward the individual abilities and needs of each student. Class size is limited to a maximum of 3 students.

Upon arrival, students are tested and placed in classes according to their level of language skill. This assures active participation of each student in an atmosphere which is stimulating, supportive and conducive for learning.

In addition to classes, students will have the opportunity to participate in a series of afternoon lectures, activities, and excursion, with an emphasis on social and environmental topics.

Stage 2: Structured Internship (5 weeks)

On the first day, the Spanish instructor will accompany the participants to the Organization and introduce them to the program director and supervisor.

In the first week, the participants will have an orientation to gain a thorough understanding of the organization where the internship will take place. The participants will meet with the program supervisor to discuss and to plan the activities for the internship. The program director, supervisor and the participants will work together to ensure that the goals of the internship are in line with the objectives of the program.

During the subsequent four weeks, the participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a Latino working environment and interact closely with their fellow Latino colleagues. This shall give the participants a real flavor of how the society functions in this part of the world.

At this stage, the participants will prepare a weekly report. The program director will meet with the participants once a week to review the report and to discuss the progress of the internship.

Stage 3: Compile Final Report and Oral Presentation (1 week)

Upon completion of the five week internship, the participants will return to the institute for a week to compile a final written report (in Spanish) and prepare to present their report to their peers and teachers. This will conclude the 10 week internship program.

This internship program is designed for participants who have at least 1 year of college Spanish or its equivalent. The four week intensive Spanish classes at the first stage of the program expect that the participants arrive with a good working knowledge of Spanish. This is so structured to ensure that the participants will have sufficient Spanish language skills to carry out meaningful work in the field.

No previous work experience is required to participate in this program. Upon successful completion of the internship program, the participant will receive:

• A Certificate of Participation issued by the Organization where the internship takes place.
• A Certificate from Personalized Spanish for attending the Intensive Spanish Classes.

Prices
Total tuition and program fees are US$3,600. These fees cover:

• 4 weeks of intensive Spanish instructions
• 5 weeks of structured internship
• 1 week of supervised preparation of the final report and oral presentation
• Room and half board (breakfast & dinner) with a Costa Rican family
• A donation to the host Organization for the internship
• Class materials
• Laundry services
• Airport pick-up

A non-refundable deposit of US$500 is due upon acceptance to the program to guarantee placement. The balance is due at the beginning of the program. After the program begins, we regret that no refunds may be made.

Personal Expenses

Depending on personal habits, on the average, students should budget $400-600 per month for personal expenses such as local and weekend travels, lunches, visa-related fees and so on.

Healthcare professional, Adam,
visiting a local clinic

Bethany Works for Red Cross

Costa Rica's Supreme Court

Kids are the fastest learners of a second language, they're naturals!