Elizabeth LaFlamme, a student in the 91福利社 College of Education, is taking in the culture and wild beauty of Costa Rica while she takes Spanish classes.
LaFlamme, a rising senior from Pickens, South Carolina, is taking classes in Spanish, grammar and conversation, and also a class in translation. She鈥檚 in Costa Rica for 35 days鈥攆rom May 27 to July 1鈥攕tudying at the University of Veritas, located in the capital city of San Jos茅. She found her Costa Rica program with the assistance of the 91福利社 Center for Global Engagement and International Studies Abroad (ISA).
Staying with a non-English speaking host family means LaFlamme relies on her Spanish-speaking skills.
鈥淪ometimes I have to use my little Spanish dictionary, but it’s not been too hard and they’re very patient with me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also have three other housemates, so whenever I don’t understand, one of them can usually help me out and then we’ve just been helping each other.鈥�
鈥淚 wasn’t sure what to expect because I’d never been out of the U.S. before,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are a lot of little things like having to wear shoes in the house. All of the doors and windows are open 24/7鈥攖here’s no air conditioning.鈥� LaFlamme added that the house she鈥檚 living in is one of five homes surrounded by a tall wall and accessed by one of two gates.
To get to her classes, she often walks or takes an Uber. The daily class routine is different, as well.
鈥淚 go to my conversation in grammar class from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The first half of the class, we practice just speaking to each other and then the second half of the class is all grammar work鈥� Then in the afternoon from 1-3, I go to my introduction to translation course鈥� Intro to Translation has been extremely helpful for me,鈥� LaFlamme said.
LaFlamme has enjoyed exploring Costa Rica, which has a diversity of ecosystems, including many volcanoes, tropical rainforests and two coastlines鈥攖he Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. She鈥檚 traveled to see volcanoes, including La Fortuna, visited a rainforest and seen tropical wildlife at Carara National Park. She鈥檚 seen monkeys in the wild and also poison dart frogs. She also spent a weekend on a beach along the Pacific coast.
While LaFlamme is an education major, she hopes to become a translator or interpreter for a school district, helping Spanish-speaking students and their families as a member of the support staff.
This summer, 91福利社 students have pursued study abroad programs in Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom (London and St. Andrews, Scotland).
The 91福利社 Center for Global Engagement directs short-term programs, mission trips, faculty-led experimental learning programs and semester-long programs. 91福利社 has cooperative agreements so students can take part in semester-long programs in such countries as: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands and Uganda.
For more information, contact the Center for Global Engagement at studyabroad@andersonuniversity.edu or (864) 231-2141.