ICDS, in coordination with Hospital Clínica Bíblica and Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, offers students the opportunity to explore health care in a developing country while improving their Spanish speaking skills. This four-week program gives students and health care professionals the necessary language proficiency to work and interact with Spanish speaking patients, their families, as well as future colleagues. Through courses taught at Hospital Clínica Bíblica and Universidad Latina, participants learn about the unique health care model in Costa Rica and the way global public health issues unfold in the region.

Clinical rotations at Hospital Biblica for advanced Spanish speakers or community service in social welfare services for lower to intermediate level Spanish speakers are eye-opening, experiential learning components of the Spanish and Health in Latin America program. Spanish classes before, during, and after these hands-on experiences are designed to provide students with an on-the-job Spanish skill set specifically for careers in the health care industry.

Students’ understanding of the course themes are enhanced through the ongoing, dynamic experience of cultural immersion. First, the ICDS homestay program allows students to live with a local family and learn the culture and values of daily life. It’s an integral part of the process to quickly understand many of the in’s and out’s of life in the tropics. ICDS also provides several opportunities for students to meet, relax, and explore unique aspects of Costa Rican culture through planned group activities and field trips. These, combined with the on-site rotations and community work, give students ample opportunity to interact with locals, engage with the culture, and learn from one of Latin America’s most beautiful countries.