Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
WebSite: http://languages.astate.edu – E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
CRN 31805
SPAN 3503
Advanced Spanish Seminar (Contemporary Costa Rican Culture)
Costa Rica Study Abroad Program
Instructor:
Name: Dr. Ruth Owens
Phone: 011-506-2265-6306
Office: “el Rancho” in CPI
E-mail: rsupko@astate.edu
Office Hours: Dr. Owens will meet frequently with all students several times a day in Costa Rica
Required Text
Biesanz, Mavis Hiltunen; Biesanz, Richard; Biesanz, Karen Zubris, The Ticos: Culture and Social Change in
Costa Rica, London: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 1999.
Course Description:
SPAN 3503. Advanced Spanish Seminar. Focused study in a particular area of literature, culture or language. Topic varies. May be repeated when topic changes. Prerequisites, SPAN 2023 or consent of instructor
Assessed Program Goals:
 Oral Proficiency: Converse in the target language on topics pertinent to personal, academic, and professional life (in present and past time and across modes) and topics related to the analysis of social and cultural issues with sufficient grammatical, lexical, and phonetic accuracy to be understood by a monolingual native speaker.
 Writing Proficiency: Write on topics pertinent to personal, academic, and professional life in multiple-paragraph format (in present and past time and across modes) as well as topics related to the analysis of social and cultural issues
 Reading Proficiency: Read and understand the main ideas of authentic materials such as magazine articles and books related to social and cultural issues;
 Critical Thinking: Identify, analyze, evaluate, and compare themes, ideas, and perspectives related to the cultural products of speakers of the target language.
Course Learning Outcomes – At the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the following skills:
 Oral Communication Proficiency: Understand and converse with interlocutors who are unaccustomed to dealing with non-native speakers on topics pertinent to personal, academic, and professional life (in present and past time and across modes) as well as on social and cultural topics.
 Listening and Reading Comprehension: Understand the main ideas and significant details of authentic Costa Rican materials in Spanish (in present and past time and across modes)
 Writing Proficiency: Write on topics pertinent to personal, academic, and professional life in multiple-paragraph format (in present and past time and across modes); write about social and cultural issues of importance in current-day Costa Rica.

Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
WebSite: http://languages.astate.edu – E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
Study Abroad Program Features:
Students enrolled in the summer study abroad program in Costa Rica, during the Summer I session of
2013, will live with host families in the town of San Joaquín de Flores, approximately 30 minutes from the capital city of San José and just on the outskirts of the Heredia, capital of the province of Heredia. Each student will study for at least 20 hours a week at the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI) in immersion
Spanish language classes designed to raise each individual’s level of oral and written proficiency. The instructor-to-student ratio in the language classes will be no greater than 1:4, and this will allow for a significant amount of interaction among students and with their teachers. Each student will have a different teacher each week.
In addition, each student will participate in culture-oriented activities included in the program. These include, but are not limited to, Costa Rican cooking classes and demonstrations, instruction in popular and folkloric dance, and soccer games with local youth. The students will visit la Catedral de Heredia, la
Catedral Metropolitana, el Museo Nacional and el Teatro Nacional in San José during guided excursions.
They may also visit la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles in Cartago and el Museo de Cultura
Popular and la Casa de la Cultura in Heredia.
These students also will meet with Dr. Owens in Costa Rica as needed, will read the text and will use it to organize their thoughts and information, as guided by the instructor.
Components of Course Grade
Spanish Language Class Performance Evaluations
Observation/Reflection Journal
Cultural Blog Entry
Interview Paper
Grading Scale
Full participation in program activities
90-100 = A Outstanding achievement
80-89 = B Very good
70-79 = C Satisfactory (average)
60-69 = D Poor
< 60 = F Failure
40%
20%
10%
20%
10%
Descriptions of Course Components
Spanish Language Class (CPI) Performance Evaluations (40%): Each student will be evaluated each week by his or her Costa Rican teacher at CPI. He or she will receive a detailed form pointing out areas of strength and weakness with regard to Spanish proficiency, and Dr. Owens will help each student to identify goals for the following week.
Observation/Reflection Journal (20%): Students will keep a journal, with at least two one-page entries per week, writing in Spanish about the elements of culture that they have observed and discussed. Within

Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
WebSite: http://languages.astate.edu – E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro each entry, the student will reflect on the observation and will explore in writing its significance in terms of cultural perspectives, practices, and products. Journal entries for each week will be due on the following Monday. The final entries will be due at the farewell dinner on June 29.
Interviews (as part of interview paper, below): Students will conduct (in Spanish) at least two interviews of approximately 15-20 minutes each with members of the host culture. These individuals could be host family members, neighbors or relatives of the host families, CPI instructors or staff, or anyone with whom the students come into contact. The focus of these interviews should be specific elements of Costa Rican culture about which the students have read or heard while in the country. During the second week of the program, each student will turn in to the instructor a list of possible interview questions (written in Spanish) with areas of focus specified.
Interview Paper (20%): The student will produce a 3-5-page paper (written in Spanish) organizing, describing, analyzing, and commenting upon the information gathered through the interviews. The paper may be turned in (submitted electronically) after the conclusion of the program, but no later than July 22.
Cultural Blog Entry (10%): The student will write a blog entry in English to be posted to the ASU in
Costa Rica 2013 program blog. The entry could focus on any aspect of culture that has been observed in
Costa Rica, including aspects of daily life, elements of larger themes such as religion, education, culture or leisure activities, sightseeing visits, holidays, festivals, or other activities. The blog entry should be written in a way that it would be enhanced by photographs taken and provided either by the same student or by other students in the group. Dr. Owens will help to facilitate finding photos and will upload the entry as well as the photos onto the program blog.
Full participation in program activities (10%): Each student is expected to arrive on time and to participate actively in all planned program activities. This includes classes, planned excursions, group meetings and all cultural activities.
Attendance Policy
Class attendance is required for successful completion of the course. Students should attend every class session, excursion and cultural event. Any absences will be discussed with the student. In the case of any absence, the student should make up the work missed as quickly as possible. Due to the nature of the study abroad program, there may be extenuating circumstances. In such cases, Dr. Owens will be available to facilitate the learning process. You are expected to arrive to class on time every day.
Disabilities Policy
If you have a disability which makes it difficult for you to succeed in this course, please contact me as soon as possible. Your privacy will be respected and every effort will be made to meet your needs. All students requesting accommodations for disabilities should be registered through ASU’s Disability Services (870
972 3964).
Cell-phones and Other Communication Devices
Cell-phones and other communication devices must be turned off and out of sight for the duration of each class. These devices may not be utilized at any point during class sessions.

Department of World Languages and Cultures
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Arkansas State University, Wilson Hall 220
P.O. Box 2400, State University, AR 72467, Phone: (870) 972-3887
WebSite: http://languages.astate.edu – E-Mail: languages@astate.edu
Visit us on Facebook: World Languages and Cultures @ ASU-Jonesboro
Code of Conduct
In order to participate in this program, you signed a form stating that you must adhere to the Code of
Conduct, as described in the Student Handbook. This refers to academic conduct as well as other conduct.
Please see the Student Handbook for details.