Costa Rica trip is on tap for 1997

Costa Rica is again the destination of a group of students who will spend six weeks immersing themselves in the Spanish language and culture.

Dr. Mariano Lopez, professor of foreign languages and resident director of the program, will lead the students. He said the course gives students a greater understanding of the culture than they could ever acquire in the classroom alone.

"The responses we get from the students who go to Costa Rica are very encouraging," Lopez said. "Speaking the language with the natives and living in their homes help in our effort to promote global understanding, and students' comments range from 'life-changing' to 'adventuresome' to 'unrivaled.'"

Dr. Mariano Lopez, left, with one of last year's teachers, Carlos Navarro of UCR

The 1997 visit to Costa Rica, the program's seventh year, is set for June 28-Aug. 9. The six-week tour offers four program options: Study-Internship, Internship, Study, and Graduate.

The Study-Internship program is especially recommended for foreign languages majors, international business double-degree majors, double majors and minors. Participants will take two upper-division courses-advanced Spanish and business Spanish-at the University of Costa Rica in the morning. The courses are taught specifically for Mississippi State students by the UCR faculty. Each course will carry three transferable hours.

In the afternoon, participants will serve internships in businesses selected and supervised by the Chamber of Commerce in San Jose. Three hours of credit will be given by MSU for a project on the internship, so the total number of possible credit hours is nine. Cost is $2,500.

The Internship program allows participants to work full time in San Jose. They will not attend classes at UCR, but will receive three hours credit from Mississippi State for a project on the internship. Cost is $2,250.

The Study program allows participants to take both advanced Spanish and business Spanish, receiving six transferable hours of credit from UCR and one from MSU. The cost is $2,334.

Finally, Graduate program participants take two graduate courses-Spanish stylistics and special problems. They will receive three transferable credits from UCR and three from MSU at a cost of $2,350.

The programs are limited to those who have at least 17 hours in Spanish (or the equivalent), although special cases will be considered. The requirements must be completed prior to departure.

Participants will live with Costa Rican families carefully screened by the Office of International Affairs at UCR and approved by MSU officials.

Preference will be given to Mississippi State students, with an early application deadline of Dec. 15. Application fee is $50, with the balance due by April 1, 1997. After the Dec. 15 early deadline, applications from other institutions will be accepted until March 31.

The maximum number of participants in all programs is 15.

For more information or for application forms, contact Lopez at the Department of Foreign Languages, 300 Lee Hall, Mail Stop 9517, 325-3480.