Five University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff students returned from a month-long study abroad program in the Central American country of Costa Rica, according to John Peterson, instructor of Spanish at UAPB.
Organized by the UAPB Office of International Programs and Studies and the Department of English, Humanities and Foreign Languages, the session was designed to complement the university’s new Spanish language minor program.
Student participants were Makaila Riedel, Mari’Neisha Hardrick, Naiyestlie Ware, Heidi Price and Aaron Dixon.
During the program, the students attended Spanish language and cultural lessons. Rather than staying in a hotel, they were placed with host families, which allowed them to strengthen their Spanish language communications skills while developing cross-cultural friendships with Costa Ricans.
“Our inaugural trip to Costa Rica was designed to allow UAPB’s Spanish minor students to achieve fluency in the language as well as experience a Hispanic culture firsthand,” Peterson said. “The program gives an immersive exposure to Spanish and allowed them to experience another culture, thereby giving them cross-cultural competency.”
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Peterson said the program will be offered every summer. He hopes all students pursuing a minor in Spanish will be required to take part in the program for its many benefits.
“I myself went to Costa Rica as an undergraduate student and returned home a different man,” he said. “The experience you gain is unparalleled and life-altering. First off, the gains in one’s fluency of the Spanish language will be prodigious. Additionally, participation in programs like this makes students more attractive to potential employers and increases their starting salaries. This also applies to students who are not pursuing a minor in Spanish.”
Dixon, a senior major of English, said he enjoyed the program’s exciting activities, which included water rafting, horseback riding and ziplining. Most of all, he appreciated the chance to expand his knowledge on Latin America and increase his Spanish speaking skills.
Hardrick, a senior mass communications major, was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship by the U.S. Department of State, which allowed her to take part in the program at no cost. To Hardrick, receiving the scholarship represented more than financial assistance — it was the affirmation of the hard work she has put into her education ever since her first Spanish language class in eighth grade.
Hardrick admits she experienced a bit of culture shock once she landed in a new country. Costa Rica’s tropical insects and a lack of air-conditioning in her accommodations seemed overwhelming at first. However, she soon found herself feeling both grateful for her life in the U.S. and open to learning the realities of a different country.
“Studying abroad exposed me to another world beyond my own,” she said. “Having the chance to live somewhere else made me want to experience more. As we learned more about Costa Rica and Hispanic culture as a whole, I realized that we all face similar issues around the world. By bridging gaps and being able to participate in study abroad opportunities, we have a chance to make the world a better place and build relations between nations.”
Price, a junior animal science major, said her biggest takeaway from the program was that language learning through immersion in a new country is effective.
“Every day when I went out into the country, I gained confidence by speaking outside the classroom and communicating in real-life situations,” she said. “I had the chance to talk to business owners, fellow gym-goers and many other Costa Ricans who graciously helped me strengthen my Spanish skills through conversation.”
She said staying with a host family, exploring the city and connecting with locals guaranteed a strong cultural experience.
“I am so grateful for this program and would recommend it to other UAPB students because it is the best way to truly experience the language and culture,” Price said. “Experiences like this make all the knowledge gained in the classroom feel worthwhile.”
Riedel, a senior psychology major, said befriending her host family was one of the best aspects of the program. She also enjoyed the chance to travel the country and immerse herself in its culture.
“Thanks to this program, I was able to fully utilize my Spanish skills through reading, writing and speaking daily,” she said. “This experience not only shaped my Spanish skills but also the woman I am becoming. Joining the Spanish minor program and studying abroad have been some of the best experiences of my collegiate career. I look forward to making history along with my classmates and graduating with a Spanish minor from UAPB.”
Ware, a senior major of biology, said the study abroad trip is an impactful culmination of UAPB’s minor program in Spanish. Her goals for signing up for the trip were cultural immersion, as well as improving reading, writing, comprehension and speaking skills in Spanish.
“I already had a basic command of Spanish, but going to Costa Rica taught me how to express myself and communicate with more native speakers,” she said. “I hope the program will be offered every summer because it perfectly complements all we learned as part of the minor program. I encourage other students to participate — even those who aren’t minoring in Spanish.”
Ware said another takeaway from the trip was understanding how people live in other countries, especially those that are not labeled as “first world” countries.
“I really enjoyed exploring the country, especially the markets,” she said. “I love shopping, so being in a spot that had everything from souvenirs to culturally significant clothing really enhanced my experience. I recommend other UAPB students participate because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that allows you to immerse yourself in a culture outside the one you grew up in.”
For more information on UAPB’s Spanish minor program, contact Peterson at petersonj@uapb.edu. For information on study abroad programs, contact Pamela Moore, associate dean for global engagement at UAPB, at moorep@uapb.edu.
Will Hehemann is an extension specialist of communications at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences.
