ASA: Academic Study Associates 2009 Programs

The ASA Spanish language immersion and community service program in Costa Rica offers you a summer you'll never forget. Costa Rica is a small country that boasts an incredibly rich natural diversity, featuring dense jungle, volcanoes, pristine beaches, rainforests and as many as 12 distinct microclimates; each is a unique ecosystem, home to a tremendous biodiversity of plants and animals. This is the setting for a true Spanish language immersion adventure, the program is a unique opportunity to live, study, volunteer and experience Costa Rica in its real-life context.

Your carefully selected Costa Rican family will welcome you into the community and include you in their daily routine. Your home will be in Heredia, just north of San Jos??. One of Costa Rica's most historical cities, Heredia is known as the "City of Flowers" because of its beautiful gardens and flora set amongst a landscape of coffee plantations and lush greenery.

Costa Rica is an exciting place to live and study and you will leave with new friends, special memories and a deep understanding of its colorful culture. Enjoy the challenge of a full schedule of classes, activities and excursions and work on community service projects to expand your view of the world, develop lasting friendships, improve your Spanish, and enhance your language skills in real-life everyday situations.

Language Immersion & Community Service Program

The Spanish language immersion and community service program offered by ASA in Costa Rica, is a uniquely memorable homestay program for you to experience the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture.

In Costa Rica, ASA's 25-year-old reputation for academic excellence and small classes is reinforced by our careful selection of native teachers associated with the Costa Rica Spanish Institute (COSI), one of Costa Rica's most respected language schools. Course work stresses communicative skills to improve spoken language skills so you can get the most out of daily interactions with natives.

The community service element immerses you further into the language and culture. You will have the opportunity to. You will receive official certification of completion of 35 hours of community service.

Many exciting activities and excursions are planned so you can make the most of your time. For example, you can:

* Visit the Arenal volcano

* visit a butterfly farm and a coffee farm

* take cooking classes to prepare traditional Costa Rican dishes

* go whitewater rafting; swim and sun at the Guanacaste beach resort

* visit the Tortuguero reserve and its turtles, monkeys, parrots and crocodiles