Programas de Español EN

Spanish Program

The Spanish Program at Universidad Latina of Costa Rica was born in 2006 to promote learning of Spanish in linguistic and cultural immersion's context. The center is in the facilities of the University in Heredia. Each year we welcome more than 400 students of different nationalities in our classrooms, especially from the United States.

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Spanish

Courses

Our program offers both face-to-face and virtual courses. We use the TEAMS platform for the online courses, which is completely free for the students. Before any course, students will take an online placement test with the Program Coordinator.

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Language

We apply the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to define the levels of Spanish in this program; according to this, we offer A1, A2, B1, and B2. The duration of each level is one month, with 60 contact hours (180 minutes per class). We distribute the levels in the following modules:

Beginner

Prepares you to understand and use frequently used expressions related to your immediate environment: family, shopping, activities, and places of interest, occupations, etc. Besides, you will be able to communicate in simple and direct exchanges of information. You will be able to talk about aspects of your past and immediate needs.

1: Beginner A1

2: Beginner A2

Intermediate

Prepares you to communicate at an independent level in everyday interactions related to vacation, work, and study. Also, you will be able to deal with most situations that may arise during a trip; therefore, you will be able to describe experiences, desires, aspirations, and give your opinions or explain your plans.

1: Intermediate B1.1

2: Intermediate B1.2

Advanced

Prepares you to understand complicated texts, also technical if they are related to your specialty. Besides, you will be able to communicate with native Spanish speakers quite fluently and naturally, so communication will be effortless. You will be able to produce cleared texts on different topics and defend a point of view on a problem.

1: Advanced B2.1

2: Advanced B2.2

Course offer:

  • Face-to-face / online
  • Intensive Courses: 60 hours, 4 weeks.
  • Regular Courses: 60 hours, 12 weeks.
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Cultural and Linguistic Electives

To continue learning Spanish and to have a broader command of the language, our program offers cultural and linguistic electives in Spanish. These courses are 45 hours long.

Intermediate Electives

To take the following courses, you would need an intermediate level of Spanish (B1).

Spanish Phonetics and Phonology

Spanish Phonetics and Phonology

This course will help students improve aspects of their pronunciation and intonation so that there is no interference or misunderstanding during their interactions. Besides, you will be able to learn about the linguistic varieties of Spanish and understand the diversity of the Spanish language.

Conversation And Culture

Conversation And Culture

It focuses on the study of common and idiomatic expressions of Costa Rican culture to allow an understanding of the different contexts where language is produced: social, economic, cultural and political. Besides, students will be able to learn about Costa Rica's geography, history, education, health and issues.

Advanced Electives

For students with an advanced level of Spanish (B2), they can deepen their knowledge of the language through the following courses:

Latin American Literature

Latin American Literature

This course aims to give the student an approach to the literary proposals of Latin American authors, to give him/her a panoramic vision of the aesthetic diversity developed in the region. The analysis will include discussion of the texts, and the relation with the economic, social and political contexts. The study of texts from the Modernist movement to Contemporary Literature will be carried out.

Advanced Oral And Written Expression

Advanced Oral And Written Expression

This course is designed for the student to develop communication skills through the study of oral and written communication. The aim is for the student to acquire strategies and techniques to speak and write concisely and effectively so that he or she can manage in different communicative situations.

Advanced Grammar

Advanced Grammar

This course will help students deepen and perfect their knowledge of Spanish grammar so that they become familiar with complex structures that will allow them to communicate more effectively.

Course offer:

  • Face-to-face/ online
  • Intensive Courses: 45 hours, 3 weeks.
  • Regular Courses: 45 hours, 12 weeks.
  • September 13th 2021 to December 3rd 2021.
 
Programa de Español | Universidad Latina de Costa Rica

Correo electrónico: internacional@ulatina.cr