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Testimonials and Videos: High School Spanish Immersion Program
Read the testimonials and watch the videos below. We hope you can join us on our next program!
Student Comments:
A month in Costa Rica was unlike any experience I’ve ever had before. The first day, using my rough Spanish, I accidentally asked my Tican mother for a baby instead of a drink. Several awkward moments, a few laughs and some more uneasy Spanish later, I had my drink and my family couldn’t stop laughing at my mistake, fully trusting me before they had gotten to know who I was. Even better, after that experience, I never made that mistake again, improving my Spanish every day. Talking went from a slow methodical process of verb conjugation and sentence structures to a steady flow that came as I talked. Pronunciation improved even though I barley seemed to notice it. Learning vocab went from a studious task to using a word over and over again in conversations with others around me.
However, not all of my time in Costa Rica was spent dabbling in Spanish. Going to one of Costa Rica’s most pristine beaches was a blast, even though a warm rain began to wash our towels into the sea. That moment was also when the special tense for verb commands finally clicked in my brain, as the beach life guard was commanding us to get out of the water, and I was frantically chasing after my other sandal. Nothing that I did during my time was just for fun, or just for Spanish, it was all intermixed. I finally remembered the word mojado (wet) after walking a mile in a giant down pour with a rain jacket that was made for light city showers and not the Costa Rican rainy season. Numbers became easy to say and understand after trying to buy ice cream every day from a bakery. When the trip was over and a sad cloud loomed over our departure, I still had my memories, my greatly improved Spanish, and over 2,000 pictures.
This year my Spanish class has become something I never worry about, (or study for) due to my time in Costa Rica, and just the other day another student told me that I am really the only one in the class who can actually speak Spanish, (other than the teacher and the kid who spends the summer in Panama every year.) My time in Costa Rica taught me more than any Spanish class I have ever taken did. I am now not only able to speak Spanish well, but confident in using it. It was an experience that I will never forget.
R. Larsen, Colorado
My experience in Costa Rica was amazing. Even before we left, I felt very welcomed by the group. All of the students bonded in the airport, and were pretty close before even landing in Costa Rica. I absolutely loved the Spanish School where we had our classes. It was so beautiful, and the teachers were amazing. Everyone was so nice and patient as we got use to speaking only in Spanish. My teacher took us on walks down the river, and to a house that had a zoo in the back yard to help us talk in Spanish; we also played games like Scrabble, which was so much fun, and so helpful. The family I stayed with was also extremely nice. If I ever had a question on my homework, my Mama Tica would help me out and explain it to me. My Papa Tico told me about the country and sports. Almost every night we watched a soccer game together. I only had one little brother who was 2 years old. I had so much fun playing with him.
In my Spanish class now, I have no problems understanding my teacher, who only speaks in Spanish, and am more confident when speaking in class. I still use the notes I took in Costa Rica on a daily basis. If I had the chance to go to Costa Rica again, I definitely would. It was an amazing experience!
M. Kepler, Colorado
The Common Ground International trip to Costa Rica was one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of my entire life. Full immersion is a great way to learn a language, and the trip improved my Spanish skills tremendously. We studied each weekday morning at the language school ELEC. The classes each contained only 3 or 4 students, which facilitated helpful interaction between each student and the teacher, and also among students. The host families were extremely friendly and hospitable. I really enjoyed talking with my family about Costa Rican current events and their perceptions of American culture.
The most fun element of the trip for me was the travel. We visited a surprising amount of Costa Rica, and I felt like I learned just as much about the culture while on the move as I did in San Isidro. The trip was even more fun because we had an awesome group of students and chaperones. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to go on such a trip, and I made memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
B. Jackson, Colorado
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Costa Rica. Going on that trip was truly a once in a lifetime experience! It is much easier to form Spanish sentences and understand the language now than before I went. It was great to see the culture of another country as well.
M. Brandt, Colorado
The immersion program for high school students was a life-changing experience for me!! Not only did I get to live in the home and befriend real Ticos, I got to learn about their daily routine, their food, their environment, their music and partake in all of it! In Costa Rica, school was something I looked forward to! My classes were the Perfect level for me, and I learned so much more than I thought I could in a few weeks. It is knowledge I have now taken to college with me. Our program directors (Rory, Leslie, and Percy) did an amazing job of designing a program of learning AND of fun!! The balance was quite perfect. Plus, they are the kindest people and really make the effort to get to know you. I knew if I would ever have a problem, they would be there for me without a doubt! I have endless memories of my Costa Rican experience and think of them often. I returned home with new friends (other students AND ticos), a new vocabulary, and a new outlook on life. Now, as Leslie once told me, I try to "sacar el jugo" or make the most of every opportunity in my life.
C. Ficke, Nebraska
I got to do things that I never thought I would have a chance too and my Spanish improved greatly! This was definitely a trip of a lifetime!
A. Larsen, Nebraska
My time in Costa Rica was awesome. I got to bungee jump off a bridge. I got to ride a horse, zip line through a jungle canopy. I saw a volcano erupt. I went to a coco farm. Along the way I learned to speak Spanish. So like I said, it was an awesome trip.
P. Montine, Washington
Costa Rica for me defined what I need to be achieving in IB. I achieved international mindedness because I had to interact with people from a completely different culture and even speak a different language. It also tied in quite nicely with the CAS program because I achieved creativity, action, and service from my trip to Costa Rica. I was creative in that I had to figure out how to interact with different people and speak with them; if I didn't know how to say a phrase or word I would have to figure out how to somehow still get my point across. I also had to be creative by learning new things about the Costa Rican culture. For action, we did many hikes, we zip lined, and we swam. For service, we helped out a few Costa Rican schools by presenting science projects and also donating school supplies. I feel like I learned a lot on my trip...not just about the Spanish language but also about how to interact with people that are different from me.
J. Elisberg, Colorado
This summer, I had the opportunity to experience an amazing adventure. Traveling with Leslie and Rory Foster, Robin Kazmier, and 14 other high school students, I went to live and study Spanish in Costa Rica for 4 weeks. I stayed with a host family that spoke no English and attended language school with the other students. We traveled into the large cities to do volunteer work and on the weekends, made excursions across Costa Rica. I made great friends and saw some of the most beautiful and exciting places in Costa Rica. Living with a host family was difficult at first, but after the first week or so, living with them felt natural. Conversing with non-English speakers, both at my home stay and in language school greatly improved my Spanish and my confidence with using the language. Common Ground International ( the program I went through) was organized and fun. Leslie, Rory, and Robin were always around to help and answer questions and they worked hard to make sure we were comfortable and happy. Every activity we did with them, and with Percy Piedra, our guide, was entertaining and often exciting. We did everything from painting school murals to rappelling down waterfalls. I would recommend this program to any student without hesitation, so long as the student was willing to work hard, try new things, and have a great summer.
K. Kitz, Idaho
Parent Comments:
Our 17-year-old son traveled to Costa Rica with Common Ground International (CGI) for two weeks in June 2011, during the summer between his junior and senior years of the Lakewood High School IB program. He learned about CGI from a friend who had signed up to go to Costa Rica with CGI in hopes of improving her Spanish skills through a language immersion trip. From our initial meeting with Rory Foster, throughout the planning phase, through the two travel-weeks, and the post-trip follow up, CGI consistently performed with top-notch professionalism. As parents, we especially appreciated the email updates from the chaperones every few days during the trip and the photos they posted online. These periodic updates gave us great confidence that our son was well supervised, safe and thriving, even when he elected not to contact us directly in his effort to make the most of his growing sense of independence through foreign travel without parental interaction (or, in his view, parental interference).
The extraordinary value our son gained from this CGI trip was best captured by his first comment to us upon returning to DIA: “That was about the best experience of my entire life.” Though he is not prone to hyperbole, and despite landing in the wee hours of the morning after a full travel day, our usually stoic son spent the next 2 hours regaling us non-stop with stories of his wonderful adventures with his host family, in his daily Spanish classes, through community service projects in San Isidro, and on weekend excursions with the CGI group. Every element of the program resonated with him and added to the overall tremendous personal benefits resulting from the trip. In addition to returning with heightened senses of independence and confidence (great skills to develop in preparation for college), our son came back with an expanded view of global interconnections, a big boost in his Spanish verbal skills, and new friendships. He currently maintains an “A” in 12th grade IB Spanish and recently earned a high score on the Spanish SAT subject test – both academic successes traceable in significant part to his fun summer experience with CGI.
S. Naylor, Colorado
Thank you for providing this invaluable experience for our daughter. She has grown leaps and bounds in her self confidence and in her Spanish skills. Mariah returned to school this fall with a more positive attitude about her Spanish class and the upcoming IB examinations. She feels the immersion trip solidified and strengthened her Spanish language skills in ways that school could not do. Her Spanish grades are better than before the trip as well!
L. Kepler, Colorado
I just wanted to let you know our perspective on our son’s Costa Rican Immersion experience. After more than a month at home, he still frequently talks about his adventure in Costa Rica. He still communicates with his Tican family through e-mail and facebook. And now after a week back in school, he is really surprised at how easy it is to speak Spanish in class and he is always trying to get a turn (they must raise hands and be called on) to talk. This experience wa so special for him and thought he enjoyed everything and everyone, La Iguana is talked about regularly.
When we first saw Common Ground’s presentation of the program at school, my thought was, “That would be great for him in a year or so, but I think four weeks would be better than a two week experience.” His thought was “I want to go NOW!” After much negotiation, the deal was struck. Though he did experience a bit of a letdown when the two-weekers left (because he was going to miss all the other kids), he also admitted that it was a bit of a turning point for him in his Spanish. Those last two weeks really helped cement a confidence in his speaking that is still with him. And of course, he got to go work at the chocolate farm.
We also want to thank Common Ground for all the timely communication and posting of photos. Though we only ever spoke with our son twice in the four weeks, we were completely in the loop. We would definitely recommend this program to other students and their parents.
L. Larsen, Colorado
My daughter had an incredible experience with Common Ground. She loved all the adventure stuff, including the bungee jumping, and she really enjoyed the time with her "family". Her Spanish definitely improved, and most importantly, she feels very comfortable using it. She also seems more grown up, which I think travel does for you. I can't think of any way for you to improve the program for the parents. We felt very comfortable sending her off with you. And definitely, use us as references. We will be enthusiastic supporters!
D. English, Colorado
Our daughter had a fantastic time. It was a very good experience for her and for us as parents. This is reinforced by the fact that our younger daughter will more than likely go next summer for a 3 week session with Common Ground Intl. She liked her host family, the new friends that she made, the excursions, the community service and the classroom. She really spoke positively about every aspect of the trip. As a parent I am used to my kids going to camp and being away. We have even had her in several other countries. We felt very secure in her being with you in Costa Rica. You have a very nice company that creates a great experience for all involved. Please feel free to use this note as a testimonial to any parent considering Common Ground Intl. Thank you very much,
K. Gordman, Nebraska
We felt the Costa Rica experience for our daughter was all and more than we expected. She absolutely loved everything about it. It was hard as a parent sending her off but I felt you did an excellent job of keeping us posted. She often talks about missing you guys and the people she met and stayed with in Costa Rica. I really feel that she grew from the experience.
J. Larsen, Nebraska
The experience was an extremely positive one for our children and I am an enthusiastic advocate for the program. Both my daughter (Denver School of the Arts grad, 2007) and son (George Washington HS senior this year) made the trip in the summer of 2008. Both still speak often of their experiences with great fondness, and my daughter is convinced she would like to move to CR after college. Both have remained in contact with Rory and Leslie, corresponding in e-mail and Facebook.
Although there are lots of great reasons to travel to Costa Rica, increased fluency from Spanish immersion was the outcome my wife and I were most looking for. Our daughter, in particular, gained confidence in her Spanish speaking skills during and following the trip.
Both kids loved their host families-the characteristic warmth and affection that one associates with Latin American culture is evident in the many photographs and stories that came back. Likewise, the school visits and interactions with other children were purposeful and well-organized for the benefit of all participants. Maybe I should not have been surprised, but the volunteer service aspects of the trip made as great an impression with our kids as the more tourist-y aspects of the trip.
The excursions must have been breathtaking--black sand beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls, jungle canopy zip lines. The best part is that the Fosters are Costa Rica veterans and have long-established, reliable and trustworthy contacts there to facilitate travel. Our daughter remarked she always felt safe and comfortable while traveling--the driver inspired trust and drove safely. Overall, it was a great experience for our children, and I am grateful to have been able to fund the opportunity for them.
P. Leece, Colorado
I am writing to recommend to you (for future reference, and other IB students) the Common Ground International Costa Rica "immersion" program for high school students. We heard about this program in an LHS IBPA newsletter a couple years ago and decided to send our oldest, (an IB senior this year), on the program. The program gives the students an opportunity to study Spanish, live with a Costa Rican "host family," perform service work within the local elementary schools, and tour the natural highlights of Costa Rica (the rainforest, national park, volcano area, etc.) Nicholas was within a small group, including three students from Colorado Springs, a student from East High, and a physician’s assistant in training. The group leaders included Leslie Foster, co-owner of Common Ground, and an IB Spanish Teacher from CO Springs.
Nicholas really enjoyed the experience and, per the group leaders, really improved his "speaking" Spanish over the course of the 15-day trip. We felt that for all he gained, the cost of the trip was a very good value, and we would recommend this to other IB students interested in improving their Spanish skills and learning more about this colorful country.
A. Walker, Colorado
Our family researched multiple language immersion programs abroad, and we are happy that our daughter participated in the Common Ground International summer program. Leslie and Rory Foster’s enthusiasm and professionalism are evident in every detail. Communication about the program’s structure, goals, schedule, and safety were superb. We had ample opportunity to ask questions and always received timely responses. When it was time for our daughter to leave for the summer, we felt very confident putting her on the plane! Rory kept us updated throughout the four-week program about what the students were doing and how they were coping. When we spoke or emailed with our daughter, she spoke very highly about Rory, Leslie, and Robin and her fellow students. The Common Ground experience exceeded our expectations, we appreciate the opportunity Leslie and Rory have created for students, and we love listening to our daughter’s Spanish!
S. Bender-Kitz, Idaho
Common Ground is the type of summer experience that all high school parents should consider for their teenager. The program provides students with the opportunity to adventure in a beautiful, foreign country while finding a great balance between education and summer fun. The Program offers a wide variety of interesting and exciting experiences from rappelling down a waterfall to visiting a coffee farm to snorkeling with tropical fish to living on a cocoa farm. The Program is extremely well organized; its leaders care deeply that the students have a valuable and memorable experience; and for our daughter, they fully achieved those objectives.
P Gordon, Colorado