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ABOUT STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM
• In regular terms, Spanish courses are taught always in the morning and each level takes 4 weeks. In the other hand, elective courses are taught in the afternoon for 12 weeks.
Most part of students have a program of four courses total per semester, including Spanish and elective courses. So, the options could be:
- 3 SPN / 1 Elec (ie, 101 in January, 102 in February, 201 in March and Tropical Ecology) - 2 SPN / 2 Elec (ie, 101 in January, 102 in February + Tropical Ecology and Classical Philosophy. No Spanish in March)
- 1 SPN / 2 Elec (ie, 101 in January + Tropical Ecology + Classical Philosophy + International Business, No Spanish in February and March)
- 4 Electives (ie, Tropical Ecology + Classical Philosophy + International Business + Lecturas Selectas, No Spanish courses at all) - It is not possible to take 4 Spanish courses in 3 months.
ABOUT SCHOOL POLICIES
Universidad VERITAS has a strong attendance policy, as follows:
Spanish Language Courses
• More than one absence per month will not be allowed.
• If it is an unjustified absence, you will lose two points of the final grade.
• If you miss two days of classes, YOU WILL FAIL AND NOT RECEIVE
CREDIT for that particular course and will not be allowed to continue in class.
• Three late arrivals to class will be treated as one absence. ELECTIVE COURSES
• More than two absences per month will not be allowed.
• If they are unjustified absences, the student will lose two points of the final grade.
• If you miss more than three days of class total, YOU WILL FAIL
AND NOT RECEIVE CREDIT for that particular course and will not be allowed to continue in class.
• Three late arrivals to class will be treated as one absence.
ABOUT THE PLACEMENT TEST
It is required for all students to take the on-line placement test before arrival. This exam will determine which morning Spanish Language courses you will be able to take. We cannot guarantee that you will place into the Spanish level you desire in order to fulfill academic credit requirements. If the exam indicates that your language level is not advanced you might not be able to take the Spanish taught electives so you must choose other optional courses taught in English just in case. Remember this is just a placement exam. It is not for a grade.
ABOUT CREDITS
Universidad VERITAS is fully accredited by the Ministry of Education of Costa Rica, code No 060-94-CONESUP as a degree granting university. Architecture, Interior Design and Advertising Design are also accredited by SINAES.
VERITAS is also an active member and part of the Board of Directors for the College Consortium for International Studies, Washington, D.C.; NAFSA and the European League of Institutes of Art.
Students who wish to earn credits should contact the study abroad office or Spanish language department at their home university prior starting the program. It is important to get courses pre approved in order to earn academic credit for the language and elective courses. Digital syllabi could be sent to academic advisors.
ABOUT HOST FAMILIES
• Family provides two meals (breakfast and dinner).
• Students will have their own room.
• All our families are within walking distance far from the university. ABOUT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
• Free tropical dance lessons twice a week
• Soccer, Basketball and Volleyball Team games
• Conversation Partner program with Costa Rican Students
• Typical Costa Rican food cooking lessons (month or trimester fee)
• Museum, Artisans Market and other visits
• Free Self defense classes twice a week
• Christian Youth group
• Volunteer work with underprivileged children in the afternoons
• Day and Weekend trips to beaches, mountains and volcanoes (not included in tuition fees) FAQGeneral:
1) What time are the Spanish classes held during the day?
Intensive Spanish classes are held Monday - Friday from 8am-12pm. If you are taking electives they will be held in the afternoons Monday - Thursday. 2) Where do I send mail?
You will send mail from the Tico Viajero Expresso Office at Veritas. You can also purchase stamps at the office. 3) How will I call my family from Costa Rica without it costing too much?
You can buy phone cards from the office at Veritas or nearby stores or call collect by dialing the U.S. Canada country code of 001. You could also use Skype online calling. 4) Can I use American dollars and travelers checks in Costa Rica?
Many places accept American dollars and some accept travelers checks. The exchange rate between dollars and Costa Rican colones is about 570 colones to 1 American dollar, though this tends to fluctuate. Weather:
5) What is the climate like in San Jose?
Costa Rica is a tropical country and thus gets a lot of rain. You can expect to get rained on every afternoon if you come during the rainy season between May and November, so bring an umbrella. The weather is quite moderate at around 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit in the capital and slightly hotter near the coasts. 6) Will I need warm clothes?
Yes, it is better to bring one or two sweaters because the climate can change from one day to another.
Home Life:
7) Do I do my own laundry at my house?
No, this is provided by your Tica family once a week. 8) Am I expected to clean house/do dishes, etc?
No, your Tica family takes care of the housework. Only common courtesy is expected of you as a guest of the family. 9) I have never taken Spanish before or I can barely speak Spanish. How am I going to communicate with my family?
Since you are surrounded by Spanish speakers every day you will improve very rapidly. Some suggestions for speeding up the process and being able to communicate more easily in less time are:
- Talk to your Tica family as much as you can. They understand that you are not a native speaker and will love to spend time with you even with your limited Spanish.
- Watch Spanish TV. It will improve your listening and understanding skills.
- Get movies from the large collection of DVD's that Veritas offers at the library. There are many in Spanish and in English and the majority are subtitled in both languages. Safety:
10) Can I drink the water?
Drinking water is safe in the majority of the country including San Jose. Just be more careful when you are out in the country where the water might not be quite as safe. 11) What if I get sick?
The bilingual clinic Hospital Clínica Biblica is close and a good place to go. You can also purchase health insurance from the school. 12) Should I carry my passport with me while I'm in Costa Rica?
No, you should only carry a copy of your passport with you because you don't want the original to be stolen. 13) If I have an emergency, whom do I call?
Director Alejandra Barahona 8912-8554
Executive Assistant Esteban Adams 8848-1947
Housing Coordinator Marielos Rodríguez 8931-4244
Logistics Coordinator Luis González 88510660
14) Will I get robbed?
If you are smart and don't walk around with your ipod, laptop, expensive cell phone, and large jewelry exposed you will probably be okay. When walking around town stay in groups and try not to talk too loudly in English or act too much like a gringo as thieves target Americans. To thieves people from the U.S. are rich and worth stealing from.
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