Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures    

Costa Rica 02W     

Dr. Jorge H. Cubillos

Contact Information:

At UD:   Smith 416   

831-2041     cubillos@udel.edu    

In Costa Rica:   Hotel Ave del Paraíso  011-506-253-5138  or  283-6017

 

Span 207 Syllabus

 

Course information

 

This course is an introduction to contemporary Costa Rica, its culture, its people, their way of life, and the issues confronting them.

Note: Span207 is taught in English as part of the Winter Session Program in San José, Costa Rica.

 

 

Course Description

 

Class will combine orientation meetings, readings, lectures, day trips, weekend excursions, review sessions, and exams.

 

Goals: 

 

1. To prepare and enlighten students for the experiences to come.

2. To develop the skills necessary to cope with the loss of cues and the ambiguities encountered in a foreign culture.

3. To learn about the history and culture of Costa Rica through personal interaction, classroom activities (readings, lectures), and visits to places of cultural interest.

4. To promote personal growth through self-awareness and the enhancement of interpersonal skills.

5. To enjoy the special environmental conditions of Costa Rica while learning about biodiversity and the special problems inherent to a tropical climate.

 

 

Required Text:

 

Christopher P. Baker, Costa Rica Handbook, 4th edition, Moon Travel Handbooks.

 

 

Grading and Evaluation:  

 

Grades will be calculated on the basis of the following components:

 

1. Travel log/scrap book. (35%) Students will hand in a detailed travel log with entries for all major visits and cultural excursions.  Although presentation and creativity will be taken into account (30 out of a possible 100 points), the bulk of the grade (70 points) will be based on the quality and completeness of the travel log entries.

 

2. Quizzes (3). (50%)  There will be three quizzes on the readings, presentations, and cultural excursions of the program.  Students may use their own notes during most examinations (however, no books or sharing of notes will be allowed).

 

3. Participation. (15%)  Active involvement in all lectures, visits, and class discussions is expected. 

Each unjustified absence at activities will reduce grade by 10%.  Three unjustified absences will be grounds for expulsion from program.

 

Honors Requirements:  Students taking the Honors version of this course will be asked to write two 3-page papers in Spanish on a cultural topic to be selected in consultation with the instructor (deadline for the selection of research topic: December 5, 2001).  Students will investigate this topic while in Costa Rica, by interviewing native speakers and eliciting opinions on the topic's cultural significance or social relevancy to the city, region, or country.  The students may also have to visit local sites of interest, preferably ones not visited as part of the culture course. 

Papers are due on January 29, 2001, and they will be followed by a 15-minute conference with the instructor on the results of each investigation.

 

 

Tentative Course Calendar*

 

* Note: Class schedule may be modified at the discretion of the instructor and according to the needs of the class

 

Date

Class/Lecture/Excursion

Preparation

 

11/5

 

Orientation Mtg #1

 

 

 

11/27 or 11/28

 

IP/SS All Programs Meeting

 

Trabant Multipurpose Room

 

12/3

 

Orientation meeting #2

 

Read sections on Climate (6-7), People (85-92), Health and Safety (147-156), Money (157-159), Communications (159-62), and Personal Conduct (176-77)

 

1/3

 

- Morning: Orientation--Ms. Judy Magnam on practical considerations, Dr. Meyers on the skills to achieve cultural awareness.

Tour of UCR campus

 

- Afternoon: Tour of San José; visit to Museo de Historia Nacional; lecture on Costa Rica’s history by Guillermo (Memo) Canessa

 

University of Costa Rica (200); Food and drink (120-123), History (62-74); San José (178-200)

1/7

Dance class--Lic. Norma Solano

2:00 p.m. Room 04  Facultad de Bellas Artes

 

1/8

 

Lecture on Biodiversity by Guillermo (Memo) Canessa Braulio Carrillo Cloud Forest

 

Ecosystems (8-27), Fauna (28-61), Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo (314-317)

 

1/9

 

Tour of Café Britt; The role of coffee in the economic and political development of CR

 

Leave at 1:45 p.m.

Café Britt (307-08), Coffee is King (66); Coffee, Bananas and Minor Keith (68)

 

1/10

 

- Quiz #1 (Costa Rican History, Geography, Biodiversity, Economy, Coffee)

 

Zarcero (296); Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal (451-454); Tabacón Hot Springs (450-51)

 

1/11-13

 

Excursion to Zarcero and Tabacón Hot Springs, Volcán Arenal, Cataratas Fortuna

 

Fortuna to Upala (440-42)

 

1/14

 

Lecture on the Literature of Costa Rica by Dr. Mayra Herra

 

2:00 p.m.  Audiovisuales 1, Biblioteca Carlos Monge

Arts and Culture (93-98)

1/15

Dance class  

2:00 p.m. Room 04  Facultad de Bellas Artes

 

1/16

 

Lecture on Fine Arts by Dr. Guillermo (Willie) Montero

 

2:00 p.m.  Audiovisuales 1, Biblioteca Carlos Monge

 

1/17

 

- Quiz #2 (Costa Rican Literature, Culture, Art, Volcán Arenal)

 

- Afternoon: Dance Class

 

2:00 p.m. Room 04  Facultad de Bellas Artes

 

1/18

 

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

 

Leave at 8:00 a.m.

Central Pacific (658-700);  Manuel Antonio National Park (700-703)

 

1/19

 

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

 

BBQ and dance party in the evening

 

1/20

 

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

 

2:00 p.m. Return to San José

 

1/22

 

Lecture on the Political System by Dr. Eric Hess

 

 

 

1/23

 

Excursion to Volcán Irazú, Cartago and Orosí

 

Leave at 8:00 a.m.

Cartago (320-324); Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú (324-325); Orosí-Cachí Valley (330-333)

 

1/24

 

Lecture on the Education System by Dra. López-Avendaño

 

 

 

1/29

 

Quiz # 3 (Costa Rican Government, Education, Manuel Antonio & Cartago)

 

 

 

1/30

 

Fiesta de despedida

 

Tica Linda 6:00 p.m.

 

1/31

 

Program evaluation

 

Travel log/Scrap Book due

 

2/1

 

Return to USA

 

11:30 a.m. pick-up at Biblioteca Monge