College Study Abroad in Chile Video

Watch a video of our College Study Abroad (CSA) program in Vina del Mar, Chile. This semester, summer, or year-long program is held at the Universidad de Vina del Mar. Click for more information about our CSA program in Chile.

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Homestay Tidbits from Alajuela Costa Rica

Alajela, Costa Rica is home to one of our best and most successful study abroad programs. One of our study abroad coordinators recently took a trip there and now shares with us first-hand what the homestay families were like:

I visited 4 homestays. The first family has been
working with the school for many many years and the host mother told me she
thinks she has hosted over 100 students in her time. Since she started hosting
students, her grown children have also become host families. They all live on
the same gated property. There were 5 houses there that could hold students. 

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Win a Free or Discounted Program! Insider Tip Contest

AmeriSpan’s latest contest. Enter to win a free or discounted study abroad program.

What You Need to Do

Create a top 5 list for ONE the Following (Humorous or
Serious):

  • Top 5 Tips When Studying Abroad
  • Top 5 Tips When in [city or country]
  • Top 5 Travel Tips
  • Top 5 Tips When Learning a Language

Send your top 5 list via email (contest@amerispan.com) or
fax (+1-215-751-1986).  We must receive
this by January 15, 2010 for your entry to be considered.  Send in as many different entries as you
want.

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Study Abroad in Costa Rica: Pura Vida!

By Joey F., Guest Video Blogger: Heredia, Costa Rica

Watch a video blog by our newest guest video blogger, Joey. Joey is studying Spanish in Heredia, Costa Rica. In today’s post, Joey takes us to the beach in Porto Viejo, Costa Rica. Want to be a guest blogger? Click here for details.

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Learn Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish on the go!

Since we are constantly searching for new ways to help study
abroad students learn languages before, during, and after their trips, we were
delighted to find a new, extremely portable way to do so. Not only is PlaySay
handy and portable, it is available in Japanese and Chinese as well as Spanish! The system consists of audio image flashcards that are available in
audio files to learn each word pair in either language direction. You can put
these on your iPod or cell phone to easily review vocabulary anywhere you
happen to be.

A really cool aspect of the PlaySay program is what is offered: 

  • Chinese offers preparation for the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) levels 1-4, as well as the Integrated Chinese textbooks, and the New Practical Chinese Reader series. While studying Chinese recently, my class used the Integrated Chinese textbooks and I painstakingly made hundreds of flashcards by hand… I wish I had known about PlaySay!
  • For Japanese, you can get vocabulary for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test
    (JLPT), grammar dictionaries, common phrase books, and several others such as
    Japanese for Busy People.
  • For Spanish learners, flashcards are available for learning and
    practicing verbs, as well as vocabulary and textbooks too.

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A Day in the Life of Joey, Studying Abroad in Costa Rica

By Joey F., Guest Video Blogger: Heredia, Costa Rica

Watch a video blog by our newest guest video blogger, Joey. Joey is studying Spanish in Heredia, Costa Rica. He takes us on a tour of his homestay, his walk to school, and his Spanish class in Heredia. Want to be a guest blogger? Click here for details.

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Budgeting for Study Abroad

There are many things to consider when budgeting for study
abroad. Make a list of everything you can think of that you will need to pay
for on a daily basis. Don’t forget to include lodging and meals that aren’t
included with your program; personal items, such as toiletries, clothing,
nights out, and souvenirs; additional travel, excursions, and daily local
transportation; and some extra money in case of emergency. Here is a handy list
of important things to consider when budgeting for study abroad. For more tips
on budgeting and other important pre-departure information, download our free
e-report, Guide to Pre-Departure.

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Spanish School in Alajuela Costa Rica Tidbits

Alajuela, Costa Rica is the location of one of our best Spanish programs. Read about a recent visit made by one of our study abroad coordinators: 

The school director met me at the airport and drove me to the school when I arrived in the morning. It was about 30 or so minutes from the airport to the school. On our way we drove through Alajuela town. The school in not really located in Alajuela, but in Carillos about 10 or 15 minutes from Alajuela. Alajuela town looked nice and students could get everything they needed there. Buses run from town to the school often and there is a bus stop at the school.

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Don’t Make Common Study Abroad Mistakes!

Study abroad mistakes can plague your time overseas. Don’t let
them! We’ve compiled a list of the 19 Biggest Study Abroad Mistakes, with ways
to avoid them. For example:

Biggest Mistake #3 – Taking Too Many Class Hours

If your goal is to learn a language as quickly as possible,
you’ll notice that the majority of standard programs only offer three, four or
five hours a day of classes. Can’t you learn faster if you take six or even
eight hours per day of class? There are many reasons that most programs only
offer about half a day of classes:

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Budget-Friendly Spanish School in Salamanca Spain Video

Watch a video of our Budget-Friendly Spanish school in Salamanca, Spain. AmeriSpan offers Budget-Friendly locations in Barcelona, Madrid, and Salamanca, Spain. 


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