It was in 2012 when CALL and MidAmerica Nazarene University partnered to provide an immersion student teaching experience with emphasis on the Spanish language. At last count, 18 student teachers have come through the program.

Tyler

Three MNU student teachers arrived in April 2016 to complete their student teaching at a local private school, study Spanish and travel the country. Jordan, a Math and Elementary Education teacher, Jared a Secondary Math teacher, and Tyler, a Secondary Social Studies teacher, all worked at International Christian School during their one-month stay in Costa Rica.

The students not only worked each day in their classrooms, but they also took 24 hours of Spanish class with the CALL professor. This basic study helped them to communicate more with their students outside the classroom and with Spanish speakers as they traveled the country.

MNU_CALL2016

They enjoyed trips to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Poas Volcano, Samara Beach, and a zipline tour near Poas. They learned how to use the public buses, buy their food at the local market and enjoyed cultural sites in the center of San Jose.

MNU Surf Lesson

This partnership has been a blessing for both parties. We look forward to receiving more student teachers from MNU as well as other universities in the future.