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Program Description
Intensa Study Abroad Program - Intensive Learning Programs
Ratings and Reviews
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Work Abroad In England
30%Overall
Rating
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Intensa: great for disciplined students
90%Overall
Rating
I went to Intensa to learn Spanish, and the intensive schooling combined with practice in the real world at home and on the streets definitely did the job. Everyone I interacted with outside of school on a daily basis was blown away with the progress I made in such a short time.
I was already living in Costa Rica when I started this program and chose it based on 2 factors: reputation among the locals as a good school and cost. They gave me a great discount because I had friends that were alumni and I was making a typical Costa Rican salary, which is basically nothing. Plus, I planned to go through the whole course and not just a week or two. I went through a total of 10 levels, taking about 3 months.
The teachers were dedicated and really cared about teaching. We did a lot of repetitive work with grammar structures, but we also had free conversation time everyday. For me, it was the perfect mix of technical and practical.
I didn't have 1st hand experience with living situations, but the other students in class seemed to be satisfied. The class sizes were very small - the most students in a class ever were 5, and that was only for 1 week. I usually had the teacher to myself or just another student and me.
I attended the school in San Jose as well as Alajuela. Both urban locations, but there were trips to other towns and the beach. Plus cultural activities, e.g. I learned how to cook some typical Costa Rican dishes. :)
While England was amazing to see and explore, I count myself as incredibly lucky to meet a few good people that looked after me. The program I applied for through Aide Abroad was expensive ($1500) and I feel like I paid for absolutely nothing. I paid them to supply me with: a job that would last at least one full year, health insurance, a contact in England that I could reach in case of emergency and failing that, a 24 hour hotline I could call in emergency.
When I arrived I found out from my employer that she only wanted me for the summer and that after that I would have to find my own employment until next summer where she would be willing to take me on again.
When I had a medical emergency I could not get a hold of ANYONE over the course of 24 hours, I resulted to sending an e-mail in the hopes someone would get back to me--and they did, almost 5 days later. Thankfully when I got the country I had registered with a GP and I didnt require the insurance--its not like the hospital accepted it anyways.
I found out from some Australians that they paid only $750 for the same program and they were actually GIVEN an in country contact (something I only recieved months ago when, having been jobless and needing a job badly, I e-mailed my program co-ordinator and she e-mailed someone over here who eventually contacted me--AFTER I had to call around and luckily a friend had been able to get me a job, otherwise its back home I would have had to go).
I would like to say that I was the only one with these problems but my friend went through the program with me (at my recommendation which I regret) and she has had the exact same if not worse problems that I have had.
Another issue with the program: I paid my deposit in November and was expecting a job for May 1st. My friend paid the deposit for the program in February and wasnt sure about a take-off date--needless to say SHE was offered a job first. Not only that, but she was offered a job close to London (which, when you read the program they promise to place you close to London or in London) while my job (which I believe I was offered ONLY because I sent an e-mail complaining that my friend recieved a job offer first when I had paid months prior and the program is a first come first served basis) was in the middle of nowhere, hours away from London in a village with under 200 people, the closest city being at least 1 and a half hours away on public transport.