Costa Rica: Isabella Power (Final Reflections)

Studying abroad in Costa Rica has redefined my understanding of what learning truly means. My experience has taught me that learning is not just about preparing for exams but about applying what you learn to real-world situations. It’s about actively practicing what you want to improve, and this principle can be applied to any aspect of life.

Currently, I am reading a book by Cal Newport titled “So Good They Can’t Ignore You.” It emphasizes the importance of mastering a specific skill in your career and focusing on improving that skill to gain greater autonomy and enjoyment in your work. This concept of skill improvement resonates with my goal of learning Spanish. Before my time in Costa Rica, my experience with the language consisted of high school classes and some self-study. However, my time in Costa Rica has demonstrated how being fully committed to a skill accelerates the learning process significantly. Being immersed in an environment where speaking Spanish is essential—especially since my host family spoke no English—leaves no room for excuses when it comes to practice. In three short weeks, I transitioned from struggling to form a few sentences to engaging in twenty-minute conversations with Uber drivers.

It’s important to note that diving into a commitment to practice a skill is difficult without a plan for learning. The education I received at Maximo Nivel was instrumental to my growth. The focus on conversation with my teacher, who taught exclusively in Spanish, along with the enjoyable atmosphere created in every class, made learning both effective and fun. Additionally, the experiences Maximo arranged to encourage learning outside the classroom were incredibly memorable. As this program comes to an end, I am grateful for this shift in perspective and am excited to focus intently on practicing the skills I wish to enhance.

Isabella Power

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Major: Information Science and Communication Studies

Program: UW Spanish Language in Costa Rica

I chose this program because I will have the opportunity to live with a host family and immerse myself in the culture of Costa Rica through program-sponsored dance and cooking classes. My goal for this program is to improve my Spanish-speaking skills so that I can communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking individuals both personally and professionally.