While in Costa Rica, I’ve been speaking a lot of Spanish. Although it wasn’t required to know and come to this program, it’s definitely helpful. When communicating with locals and trying to create new relationships, it goes a long way. Also, since all the students in this program live with host families, we’re able to learn more by immersing ourselves right in the culture. Our host families are supposed to speak in Spanish with us to help us become more fluent and improve our grammatical skills. A lot of our families don’t know English at all, so in a way, it forces us to learn the language quicker because we need it to communicate. Google Translate has been coming in very handy for a lot of people! We also take a Spanish class during the school day that we all got divided into by level during the first week of school.
I already knew a good amount of Spanish before coming to Costa Rica, but I was nervous because I hadn’t practiced since high school. However, after coming here and throwing myself right into the culture and community, I realized I remembered a lot more than I thought.
Even though there are challenges such as trying to understand people if they speak really fast or certain phrases being new to me, it’s all about overcoming the language barrier. The feeling of accomplishment when you’re able to successfully communicate is super rewarding. It’s also invaluable when other people compliment and validate the way you speak. With each day that passes, I feel more connected to the vibrant culture of Costa Rica through the language I’m able to speak. Engaging with locals has not only facilitated communication but also forged meaningful connections for me.
I’ve embraced the challenges and the opportunities of navigating daily life, engaging in conversation, and exploring the rich diversity that Costa Rica offers. I feel passionate about communicating in Spanish and find it heartwarming to have improved such a great amount in such a short amount of time.
I truly think this is the best way to learn a language because we learn a lot more at a faster pace. By being in a country where almost everyone speaks predominantly Spanish and often can’t speak much English, it helps us improve our skills expeditiously.
This constant exposure helps increase my comprehension and adapt to my environment. I’ve expanded my vocabulary and my cultural fluency which I know will go a long way even after I leave Costa Rica. Little things like ordering food or asking the price while shopping become a little way to practice the language. Learning within the context of real-life situations is unparalleled in the richness that I can take forward.
