Regular Courses (General Info)

The usual length of time needed to complete each course is one trimester. Depending on the experience, age and natural ability of the student, more than one trimester or less than one trimester may be required to complete each course.

SPAN 101 Pronunciation. Taught in Spanish. Analysis of the production of all of the sounds of Spanish, phrasing patterns, and proper intonation of sentences. Methodology is very oriented towards pattern drilling. Bilingual book with CD provided. Students must have access to a computer or a CD player.

SPAN 102 Basic Grammar. Taught mostly in Spanish, translation to English provided in specific situations. Includes main topics of grammar, seen in general. Methodology is very visual, but includes the drilling of patterns and creative production. Books and hand-outs provided.

SPAN 103 Oral Expression. Taught in Spanish. Vocabulary and basic structures intended to enable the speaker to communicate simply in routine business and survival situations. Methodology is very eclectic, including communicative competencies, and visual and kinesthetic activities. Booklet and hand-outs provided.

SPAN 202 Intermediate Grammar. Taught in Spanish. In-depth study of main topics of grammar, with exceptions included. Methodology is very visual, but also includes pattern drills and creative production. Books and hand-outs provided.

SPAN 203 Conversation. Taught in Spanish. Vocabulary needed for detailed descriptions of people and things. Narration and comparisons are introduced, as well as Bible studies and presentations. Methodology is eclectic. Correction of pronunciation is also given as needed. Hand-outs provided. Bible is needed.

SPAN 204 FARO I. Taught in Spanish and English. May be substituted for SPAN 203. Introduces the same linguistic functions, using the FARO method of community language learning. (See description of FARO below*.)

SPAN 302 Advanced Grammar. Taught in Spanish. Exhaustive study of all grammar topics aimed at helping the speaker sound more native-like. Methodology is visual, but includes oral drilling and creative production. Books and hand-outs provided.

SPAN 303 Advanced Conversation. Continuation of SPAN 203, now aiming at more complex structures and better functionality. Opportunity to improve narration and be exposed to more abstract and hypothetical situations. Learners are encouraged to find ways to express their ideas and opinions using circumlocution. Methodology is very eclectic. Hand-outs provided. Bible is needed.

SPAN 304 FARO II. May be substituted for SPAN 303. Covers the same linguistic functions, using the FARO method of community language learning. (See description of FARO below*.)

*FARO takes the place of the conversation class and introduces the participant to a methodology of life-long language learning that utilizes the resources of the language community. These resources are: (F) the facilitator, a staff member of the Institute who lends direction, encouragement and accountability to the process; (A) the helper ("ayudante"), a native speaker with some knowledge of English who assists the learner in preparing and practicing texts to be memorized, frequently in exchange for help with English; and (R) the route, which consists of 10-15 people in the community (store owners, neighbors, etc) whom the learner visits twice a week; and (O) listen and observe ("oir" and "observar"), two important responsibilities of the learner.

FARO participants meet three times a week with their facilitator: once individually and twice with their small group. They are expected to spend six hours per week on their route or in a planned activity and two hours a week with their helper. In addition to being a creative, learner-directed way of practicing Spanish, FARO has proven to be an effective means of sharing the gospel and forming lasting relationships with Latins.

For students who are already very fluent in Spanish and wish to study more of the language, options include: Translation, Advanced Grammar, Public Speaking, Latin American Literature, Latin American Culture, or Creative Writing. Each of these courses, or a combination of two or more, will be tailored to the needs and interests of the students. A minimum of three students is needed to form a group.

SPAN 401 Latin American Culture. Concepts of culture (definition and cultural expressions); human behavior (concepts of reality, time and space, sex and gender, race and racism), cultural changes (adaptation, culture shock), and culture and society (social class, social stratification and how it applies to Latin America), to the end that students grow in God´s love toward other cultures by means of practical activities and classroom discussion. This course may include field trips, in which case it would require a minimum of six students in the group.

SPAN 402 Community service. Opportunities for hands on participation in Costa Rican culture and society by means of volunteer service (six hours per week) to the community, under the supervision of Institute staff and an associated ministry. Active participation and written reports are required.

SPAN 403 Translation. This course aims at promoting awareness of the complexities involved in producing a translation that is faithful to the original and sensitive to the reader, or listener, of the target language. Students will be provided with written, oral and listening exercises that allow them to apply and practice the basic translation guidelines, principles and theoretical concepts they have studied.

SPAN 404 Latin American Literature. This course aims at enhancing comprehension skills and extending vocabulary. Students will be asked to read at home and also read out loud in class, discuss new vocabulary, and summarize what they read. Samples of poetry, short stories, novels and dramas will be chosen. Also, the student will learn to understand newspapers and current magazines.

SPAN 405 Creative Writing. This course aims to develop the writing skills, and also at perfecting the spelling of Spanish words. Students will learn and practice all the spelling rules. They will also learn to write different types of writings, such as memos, newspaper ads, comments, summaries, poetry, curriculums, and so forth.

SPAN 406 Spanish for Health Staff. This course aims to increase relevant vocabulary for students that are or will be involved in a medical career or service. It aims also at helping the communication skills of students through role - playing and reading.

SPAN 407 Spanish for Business Administration. This course aims to acquire vocabulary in this specific area. Students investigate, expose and discuss issues related to the world of business and business administration. They will also learn technological vocabulary and learn to write business documents in general.

SPAN 408 Spanish for “Second Career” Students. We now offer a customized language learning program for "second career" students who might be concerned that learning a language may not be as easy as it was back in college. This course aims to teach our students basic Spanish vocabulary and Grammar structure to help them communicate around the city and for use in every day life.  Special learning methods and visual aids are used.

Intensive Courses. See Intensive Courses from the "Courses" drop-down menu button above.

How to obtain college credit

Many students have received college credit for studies completed at the Spanish
Language Institute. You will need to give your university a copy of your transcript
and a description of the courses that you took. Both of these can be obtained from the
Institute’s Academic Director. (Transcripts cost $10.) If possible, check with your
university’s Spanish department chairperson before coming to the Institute. If they
have any questions about the program, invite them to contact the Institute’s Academic
Director, who will be happy to respond.

Tracks

Students in the classroom track receive four periods of class time per day (50 min. each). Listening, reading, written and oral exercises, role plays, games, and oral presentations are some of the activities used in class. Those in the FARO track receive two hours of grammar classes per day, plus FARO meetings and activities. A person may change from one track to the other between trimesters, but not in the middle of the trimester.

Adjusted Course Loads

Recognizing that students come with a variety of personal needs and objectives, the Institute allows for some variation from the normal schedule and curriculum described above. These need to be discussed with the Academic Director personally.

Classroom Environment

A person may enter the Spanish Language Institute at the beginning of any of the three terms.  The majority of the students are missionaries preparing for service in Spanish-speaking communities as church planters, pilots, nurses, seminary professors, administrators, etc.

Enrollment for the Regular Course is open to all evangelical missionaries whether affiliated with a sending agency or independent.

Non-missionary, or "special" students come with a full realization of the missionary nature and focus of the Spanish Language Institute and are expected to abide by the same high ethical and moral standards for which Institute students have been known through the years.  Students must be 21 years of age and must include a letter of recommendation from their pastor with their application form.

2011

January 11 - April 20
May 4 - August 12
August 30 - December 9

2012

January 10 - April 25
May 2 - August 10
September 4 - December 14

Adult Missionary Students Pre-registration: $150 (one-time)
Tuition & Fees: $1530 (per trimester)
Books: $75 (paid only in first trimester)
Student Council fee: $25 (per trimester)

Adult Non-Missionary Students Pre-registration:  $170 (one-time)
Tuition & Fees: $1715 (per trimester)
Books: $75 (paid only in first trimester)
Student Council fee: $25 (per trimester)

All students enrolled full-time at The Spanish Language Institute have full access to all on-campus services, such as housing coordination, maid coordination, counseling services, medical consultations, and student activities (local field trips and weekend excursions, workout classes, basketball leagues, ministry opportunities, etc.) at free or reduced rates.