Working Spanish Inmersión en Costa Rica

Working Spanish
Inmersión en
Costa Rica
Del 2 al 11 de marzo, 2008
Programa Organizado por UNC-CIBER en
K e n a n F l a g l e r B u si n e s s S c h o o l
Chapel Hill, NC en colaboracion con la
Escuela de Lenguas Intercutura en
Heredia, Costa Rica
General Information
Should you have any last-minute change in your arrival plans, please let us know here at
school, or call Susannah Kenley directly at 011-506-888-8443 or Barbara Miller at
506-836-9888. Once in Costa Rica, if you have an emergency outside of school hours you
may contact us at the following numbers:
Adelita Jiménez: 265- 8258 / 393- 8707 / 643-3070
Marcelo Arroyo: 811-9834 / 260-3960
If you don’t see anyone waiting for you, please do the following:
• Call the homestay family from a public phone. You can call collect by dialing 110.
You may also ask to borrow a cel phone from the tour agencies at the exit.
• If you cannot contact your family, contact Adelita Jiménez at 393-8707. Let them
know you are part of the UNC/DUKE group of Profesora Rodriguez.
• If you are unable to contact anyone, please take a taxi (legal taxis are Red or
Orange cabs) to the Hotel América (tel: 260-9292) or the Hotel Ceos (tel: 2622628) in Heredia Centro, where you may stay until you are able to talk to a school
representative.
CLIMATE:
Summer in Costa Rica runs from December to April, with temperatures in Heredia around 7580 °F (24-27 °C), due to its elevation.
DRESS CODE:
Be sure to bring long pants or skirts as shorts and sneakers are not permitted in some museums, nightclubs and various other establishments. T-shirts and tank tops are worn in the Central Valley (not cut-off tops, though these are accepted at the beach). A light sweater /
jacket is recommended for the evenings when the temperature drops a bit. Since the pavement is uneven and at times non-existent, we strongly recommend avoiding high heels and
favoring flat shoes or sandals. Bring some shoes that fit well and slide moderately on hardwood floors for the dance class.
USEFUL THINGS TO BRING:
Dictionary, notebook, swim wear, towel, photos of your family and friends, gifts for your
family, slippers or flip-flops for the house, comfortable shoes or sneakers, items of a personal nature, prescriptions, etc. Do include insect repellent with deet and sunscreen as you
might not find the same items you are used to here for our trips to Volcan Arenal and Punta
Leonq.
SPECIAL NOTES:
Some people experience difficulties adjusting to a normal sleeping rhythm due to the proximity to the Equator and different cultural attitudes towards noise. The lack of sleep tends to
increase the effect of culture shock and the overall frustration level. If you can anticipate
such reactions or if you prefer to be on the safe side, you might want to bring over-thecounter or herbal remedies such as melatonin to counteract them naturally.
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, you should take into account the possible variations in
mold, dust and pollen levels and bring appropriate medication. Also, if you are allergic to
PAGE 2
pesticides, make sure you advise us so that we can ask your assigned homestay family not to
use any in your room.
CLASSES:
Classes will run according to the schedule outlined in the Working Spanish itinerary. On
Monday you will be given an oral proficiency interview, which will determine your class
placement. If you would like to request a re-evaluation of your level, you must see Marcelo
Arroyo on your first day of classes. If you have any problems with your teacher, class or any
aspect of the program, we strongly encourage you to speak to your Working Spanish group
leaders, so that we have a chance to fix the problem, thereby improving the quality of your
experience in Costa Rica.
HOMESTAY INFORMATION:
We provide specific guidelines and suggestions aimed at facilitating your homestay
experience with your new family and helping the transition to be as smooth as possible.
Here is an excerpt that will help you prepare for your trip and have a positive first
impression with your Costa Rican family.
Do not expect the same standard of living as that which exists in your own country.
Families are generally middle-class, which means that you might be sharing a bathroom with several people, sleeping on a bed which has a foam mattress, and you
will probably see your fair share of insects! Most households are typically noisier
than what you might be accustomed to, as is the street and traffic activity outside,
and TV's are often on throughout the day. Costa Rica is also different from other
Latin American countries; for example it does not have the spacious colonial architecture common in parts of Mexico and Guatemala. In short, try to come without a
preconceived notion of what you think it "should" be like. The more open you are to
adapting to a different way of life, the more fulfilling your stay will be.
It is a nice gesture to give the family a small welcome gift as a token of your appreciation,
e.g. wine, a box of chocolates or flowers, picture frame. Also bring photos of friends and
family from back home. This is a good icebreaker and way for your hosts to get to know you
better. You may also want to share music, magazines and typical recipes.
There may sometimes be other students in your family, but you will always have your own
room unless requested otherwise. In general there should not be more than one other,
occasionally two, non-Spanish speakers in your home.
Whenever you have concerns about your family, you may bring it up with them directly, or
talk to Rene Malina confidentially. She will advise you on the best course of action,
but we will always respect your position in regards to communicating your comments to the
families. Often, small issues may be resolved with very little trouble, and doing so will make
your stay far more pleasurable than it would be if you choose to ignore the problem. You
will not "get the family in trouble" by talking to us about your concerns!
COMMUNICATIONS:
Students may receive mail, emails, faxes and emergency telephone calls (English and Spanish spoken) as follows.
MAIL: Intercultura Heredia, P.O. Box 1952-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica. Central America.
FAX: +(506) 260-9243
PHONE: +(506) 260-8480
EMAIL: students@spanish-intercultura.com (write student's name in subject box).
Regular calls should be made to the student's homestay telephone. Email
accounts may also be set up at the nearby Internet café.
We look forward to seeing you in Costa Rica!
PAGE 3
Itinerary
Sunday 3/02
• Arrival to Juan Santa María Airport. Transfer from the airport to
homestay.
Monday 3/03
• 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Breakfast with family
• 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Meet at Intercultura (our partner school in Heredia)
- Meet with Rene Molina and Marilupe.
• 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Student Orientation and Placement Test
• 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. Spanish classes
• 12:30 p.m. - Lunch at local restaurant walking tour of Heredia
Mini-Mision Activities
Dinner with family
Tuesday 3/04
• 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. Breakfast with family
• 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. Spanish Class
• 12:15 p.m. Business School visit: INCAE (Instituto Centroamericano de
Administración de Empresas). Students will eat lunch with some students and staff of the institute.
• 2:30 p.m. Depart INCAE for company visit: Atlas (fábrica de
refrigeradoras, cocinas, etc.), - cerca de INCAE
• Dinner with family
Wednesday 3/05
• 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Breakfast with family
• 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Meet with Rene and Marilupe (Get things ready for
Orphanage visit)
• 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Spanish Class
• 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Participation in dance class with Enrique
(required activity)
• 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Lunch at local restaurant (La Candelaria)
• 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Community Outreach visit with local orphanage
• Dinner with family
PAGE 4
Thursday 3/06
•
•
•
•
•
7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Breakfast with family
8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Meet with Rene and Marilupe
8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Spanish Class conference room)
11:30 a.m. Depart for 2nd company visit: Café Britt
2:30 p.m. Depart for next company visit: Salada al Fabrica La Mundial (ellos hacen siropes y refrescos)
• 7:00 p.m. Meet at The Inca Grill Restaurante for a group dinner
Friday 3/07
• 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. Breakfast with family
• 9:00 - 12:00 p.m. Spanish Class (3 hours)
• 12.00 p.m. Graduation and Mission Impossible presentations
Fiesta with families (in the school, refreshments served)
Saturday 3/08 – All inclusive tour to Arenal
• 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. Breakfast with family
• 9:00 a.m. Pick up at Intercultura for trip to Volcan Arenal
Along the way, stop at Zarcero y Sarchi
• 1:00 -1:30 p.m. Arrival at Arenal Lodge, lunch
Free time to rest and arrange tour for following
morning (students will have a choice of tours: Canopy
tours, Horseback riding, Rappel etc.)
• 5:00 p.m. Meet in hotel lobby and depart for Tabacon.
• 8:00 p.m. Buffet dinner
• 10:00 p.m. Return to hotel
Sunday 3/09
• 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. Breakfast at hotel
Check times for individual chosen tours
• 2:00 p.m. Depart to La Fortuna - Lunch on your own
• 3:00 p.m. Depart for Heredia
• Noche de Fútbol – (optional)
• Dinner with family
Monday 3/10
• 7:00 a.m. Pick up at Intercultura for trip to Punta Leona Beach
(Breakfast and lunch included)
• Dinner with family
Tuesday 3/11
• Depart for U.S. (Departure fee to be paid at airport)
PAGE 5
Intercultura Costa Rica Staff
Adelita Jimenez, Founding Director
Adelita is a native Costa Rican. She co-founded the
school after working for several years as Spanish
professor and later as administrative director in a San
José language school. She has a degree in education,
and studied business with an emphasis in public relations
at the Universidad Interamericana in Heredia. She has
attended numerous seminars in the area of business
administration and second language acquisition
Barbara Miller, Sub. Director
Barbara is originally from California, but has lived in
Costa Rica since 1999. She has a double Bachelors
degree in Psychology and Multicultural & Gender
Studies from Chico State University in Northern
California. She is the Student Advisor for Foreign
students. She also co-organizes Intercultura's Cultural
Events Calendar, and she runs the Spanish-English
Student Interchange Program.
Annia Delgado,
Customer Service & Cultural Activities
Annia Delgado is a native of Costa Rica and started
with Intercultura in 2006. She works as a receptionist
and in student support services. She lived in the US for
several years, which helped give her an increased
understanding of, and the desire to share with, people
from different cultures. She has a lot of experience in
the customer service field, and is the first person
students meet when they begin classes. She is known for
her sweet and patient disposition, which helps students
feel more comfortable throughout their stay here. She is
currently completing her BA in education and continues
to perfect her excellent English at Intercultura.
PAGE 6
Marcelo Arroyo, Executive Director
Native Costa Rican who started as a Spanish professor
and is now the department head and school's executive
director. Marcelo is in charge of teacher training and
organizing Intercultura's ongoing professional
development series. He has a BA and Licenciatura in
Literature, Linguistics and Education from the
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Costa Rica, where
he went on to obtain a MEd. in Teaching Spanish as a
Second Language. He has also completed coursework
towards a PhD in linguistics, specializing in Central
American Spanish dialects and Mayan and Chibcha
indigenous languages. In addition, Marcelo organizes
Intercultura's Cultural Events Calendar, and is himself a
performer of National Folkloric Dance and Music.
Susannah Kenley,
Student Affairs & Marketing Coordinator
A San Francisco native, Susannah came to Costa Rica
after receiving a bachelors degree in Sociology,
graduating with honors from Loyola University, New
Orleans, in May of 2005. After teaching English at
Intercultura, she began assisting in Student Services until
she was promoted to Student Services and Marketing
Coordinator in 2007. Susannah is the first to contact
many students have with the school and is on campus to
assist students with anything they may need though out
their studies. Susannah helps write and manage the
school’s News and Events pace, and Intercultura
newsletters. In her free time she enjoys listening to live
music, traveling, and writing. Her article, “Gift From my
Sister,” was published in California Deaf-Blind Services
Nresletter (Fall 2002). She is fluent in Spanish and will
soon be studying Portuguese.
Enrique Valerio, Dance Teacher
Enrique is a dance teacher who has helped students
overcome their 'two left feet' to dance Salsa and
Merengue! He is a performer himself and gives
workshops nationally to foreign and local students.
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
PAGE 9
Volcán Arenal
The Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal lies
within a 204,000-hectare Arenal
Conservation Area. It is located between
Guanacaste and the Tilarán mountain ranges
including Lake Arenal. The park has two
volcanoes: Chato, whose collapsed crater
contains an emerald lagoon surrounded by
forest, and the Arenal.
In July 1968, it awakened from its long time
sleep by a grand earthquake, it’s said that the
massive explosion was felt as far away as
Boulder, Colorado.
PAGE 10
The Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de
Empresas has as its overall mission to actively
promote the integral development of the region they
serve, improving practices, attitudes and values
through
•
•
•
Research, teaching, and dissemination of
modern management techniques
Strengthening of analytical ability and the
understanding of economic, political, and
social phenomena
Facilitating dialogue, understanding and
collaboration between individuals, sectors,
and countries
PAGE 11
Mission Impossible Activities
Individual groups are responsible for
purchasing the assigned items to make a
“Fiesta” for 30 girls ages 3-16 from the
“Hogar del Niño con Cariño”. This is a
community service in the local orphanage.
Items include: Piñatas, cake, candies, paper
goods, drinks, little treats
PAGE 12
Café Britt
The company was founded in 1985, and is
recognized as the first gourmet coffee roaster
in Costa Rica. Our facilities and headquarters
are located on a five-acre finca, high in the
mountains of Costa Rica and near the historic
city of Barva.
The highest quality of our
products is available anywhere around the world including the U.S., Canada,
Europe, Israel, Japan, the
Caribbean, and Latin
America.
In addition to producing coffee, Café Britt designed and created the world’s only multimedia “Coffeetour”.
PAGE 13
Atlas Industrial
Atlas Industrial is a ISO900 certified
company that makes electric ranges, gas
ranges, and refrigerators for the Latin
American market. Located out of Heredia, Costa Rica, Atlas makes approximately 350,000 refrigerators and
250,000 ranges per year.
PAGE 14
Punta Leona
Enjoy the private
beach resort and
tropical rain forest
located in the southwest Pacific Coast of
Costa Rica. You will
be able to rest in the
white sand beach surrounded by natural
beauty.
Futbol Nacional
Herediano - Saprissa 09-03-08
Enjoy the opportunity of watching the
most popular sport in
Latin America, “el
fútbol” with two of
the most rival teams.
PAGE 15
Costa Rican Jargon
1. agüevarse: entristecerse, aburrirse
2. a la por: enseguida, cerca de...
3. birra: cerveza
4. cañas: colones
5. carajillo: niño
6. chancecito: momento
7. chapulín: ladrón joven, niño ratero
8. chinear: dar cariño, mimar, tratar bien
9. chingo: desnudo
10. chingue: cosa divertida
11. chiquito(a): niño, niña
12. con mucho gusto: “with pleasure”
13. de la par: enseguida, cerca de….
14. despiche: desorden
15. echar el cuento: cortejar a una persona
16. fregar: molestar, fastidiar
17. fresco: bebida echo con agua, fruta, y azúcar
18. gallo, gallito: porción pequeña de comida envuelta en
tortilla
19. goma: malestar posterior a una excessive ingesta de bebidas alcoholicas
PAGE 16
20. guachimán: guardia
21. guaro: licor hecho de caña de azúcar
22. güilas: niño, niña
23. jalar: andar de novio
24. jama: comida
25. juma: borrachera
26. limpio: sin dinero
27. macho(a), machito(a): persona de piel y cabello claro
(blonde, light skin)
28. maría: taxímetro
29. me pone la maría por favor:
30. nica: nicaragüense
31. pinche: tacaño, avaro
32. plata: dinero
33. ¡por dicha!: Lo bueno es que….
34. porfa: por favor
35. pulpería: tienda de comestibles
36. pura vida: “everything’s great; doing well”
37. rojo, rojito: 1 billete de 100 colones, un taxi
38. teja: billete de 100 colones
PAGE 17
© 2008 Center for International Business Education and Research