Costa Rica - NMSU-CPI Intensive Language Program - a history
New Mexico State University (NMSU) and Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI) have been partners since 1999. Since that time, hundreds of Aggie students and students from other universities across the world have benefited from this partnership. Throughout all those years, individual students planned their intensive language trips, with the help of faculty and staff at both NMSU and CPI, to include studying Spanish, living with host families, and experiencing all the culture and adventure that Costa Rica has to offer.
In 2011, NMSU and CPI added additional opportunities for students by adding a two week super-intensive experience that that involves the intensive language courses, host family experience, PLUS, guided cultural experiences to: a working sugar/coffee/cocoa plantation called El Trapiche; volunteer service at LifeMonteverde; flying over the tops of the cloud forest canopy on zip lines at SkyTrek; visits during the day and at night to the Monteverde Cloud forest Reserve; walking tours of San Joaquín, Heredia, Monteverde, Santa Elena, and Flamingo; weekend trips to national parks of el Volcán Arenal and Rincón de la vieja; volunteer service at La Carpio, a Nicaraguan immigrant slum on the outskirts of San José; not to mention each individual experience that students take away from the trip.
In 2011, NMSU and CPI added additional opportunities for students by adding a two week super-intensive experience that that involves the intensive language courses, host family experience, PLUS, guided cultural experiences to: a working sugar/coffee/cocoa plantation called El Trapiche; volunteer service at LifeMonteverde; flying over the tops of the cloud forest canopy on zip lines at SkyTrek; visits during the day and at night to the Monteverde Cloud forest Reserve; walking tours of San Joaquín, Heredia, Monteverde, Santa Elena, and Flamingo; weekend trips to national parks of el Volcán Arenal and Rincón de la vieja; volunteer service at La Carpio, a Nicaraguan immigrant slum on the outskirts of San José; not to mention each individual experience that students take away from the trip.
NMSU Groups
See our students that have participated in the program so far. This section will be updated as more students continue to participate. If you've been on a group trip and want to share your photos, please send them to me! Enjoy!
Program Information and Itinerary for:
Summer 2025 trip - May 30 - June 14, 2025
| nmsu_costa_rica_summer_2025.pdf |
For Students Planning on Going on the Trip
Preparing to go
Here are a couple of links to help you while getting ready to go:
Here are some other essentials to bring with you:
Here are a couple of links to help you while getting ready to go:
- Dinero en Costa Rica
- Comida en Costa Rica
- Essential Information (like health recommendations, weather, and more!)
- Packing List (from TripAdvisor - we also recommend reviewing some of the pics in the different activities so you know what to bring)
- Specific information on Monteverde
- Specific information on Flamingo
- Specific information on Heredia
- How to travel to Costa Rica - a checklist - PLEASE PRINT OR DOWNLOAD THIS FILE BEFORE YOU LEAVE!
Here are some other essentials to bring with you:
- A flashlight of some type (recommended is a headlamp type, but your light on the phone will work well too).
- A rain poncho or rain gear/wind breaker - remember that it rains in Costa Rica - sometimes sideways because of the wind!
- Sunscreen/Block SPF 50 or above if you don't want to get burnt.
- Insect repellent - make sure it contains deet.
¿A cuánto está el colon ahora?
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¿Insectos y bichos?
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¿Qué hago con la ducha?
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¿Es verdad?
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¿....y tu comida tica favorita?
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Check back here frequently if you are either planning on going on one of the trips, or are actually out on one of the trips. There are things you need to do while you are away. The most important thing to do is do well at your classes while you are in Costa Rica. You are there to learn and practice Spanish, and that should be your #1 goal.
Diarios culturales
In addition to your classes, you will need to turn in cultural journals, for the two week super-intensive trip, this should be done for every week day that you are away. The journals should deal with things that are done outside of class (our volunteer opportunities, our cooking and dance classes, trips to different areas of the country, excursions, etc.). These journals should include new vocabulary and other things learned as part of the trip. If you would like, please do your journal on a BLOG or something similar (not Facebook), and include pictures to show things that interest you.
Please visit these entries before you go on the trip so won can be prepared for what will happen and what to expect.
Diario samples that you can visit
I have prepared a separate BLOG-type entry for many of the activities we did/do outside of class in Costa Rica. They are called Diario Costa Rica - then they have the subject. Check the list of Diarios by mousing over the "Intensive Language Programs" link above. For example, the entry for the cooking class is called "Diario Costa Rica - Clase de cocina" - the entry for the LifeMonteverde service is called "Diario Costa Rica - Life Monteverde." Visit these entries, use the words there for vocabulary help. Check out the activities and pics - submit some of your pics so we can continue to make it a visual experience. Check out the list of recommended items for the specific activity.
Information about your host family
The host family experience is one that impacts the lives of all students. Many of our students from previous groups maintain contact with their host families after returning from Costa Rica. As part of the group trip requirement, you will need to fill out one of the Host Family Information sheets for each host family that you have. That means if you stayed one week in Monteverde and one week in Heredia or Flamingo, you will turn in two separate entries - one for each host family. Take pictures of them, write about their jobs, hobbies, or conversations you have with them.
Diarios culturales
In addition to your classes, you will need to turn in cultural journals, for the two week super-intensive trip, this should be done for every week day that you are away. The journals should deal with things that are done outside of class (our volunteer opportunities, our cooking and dance classes, trips to different areas of the country, excursions, etc.). These journals should include new vocabulary and other things learned as part of the trip. If you would like, please do your journal on a BLOG or something similar (not Facebook), and include pictures to show things that interest you.
Please visit these entries before you go on the trip so won can be prepared for what will happen and what to expect.
Diario samples that you can visit
I have prepared a separate BLOG-type entry for many of the activities we did/do outside of class in Costa Rica. They are called Diario Costa Rica - then they have the subject. Check the list of Diarios by mousing over the "Intensive Language Programs" link above. For example, the entry for the cooking class is called "Diario Costa Rica - Clase de cocina" - the entry for the LifeMonteverde service is called "Diario Costa Rica - Life Monteverde." Visit these entries, use the words there for vocabulary help. Check out the activities and pics - submit some of your pics so we can continue to make it a visual experience. Check out the list of recommended items for the specific activity.
Information about your host family
The host family experience is one that impacts the lives of all students. Many of our students from previous groups maintain contact with their host families after returning from Costa Rica. As part of the group trip requirement, you will need to fill out one of the Host Family Information sheets for each host family that you have. That means if you stayed one week in Monteverde and one week in Heredia or Flamingo, you will turn in two separate entries - one for each host family. Take pictures of them, write about their jobs, hobbies, or conversations you have with them.
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Diario cultural file - please download and use!
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Host Family Information Sheet - please use!
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ACTFL 2017
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Volunteering
Some of the places we like to volunteer the most - La Carpio and LifeMonteverde. |
Group BLOGS
Check out some of the group BLOGS and photos from different trips! Are you in there? |
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River Rafting on Río Pacuare
One of our most favorite activities on some trips is the river rafting activity on Río Pacuare. Here's a condensed version of one of the trip. |
