Mount Vernon Now
Extended Articles

Practicing Spanish is easy when you are studying and living in a Spanish-speaking country. For six MVNC students, Buffy Penhorwood, Kelly McGaughey, Nicole Dickenson, Krista Metcalf, Megan Partlow, and Erin Pettit, this became a reality during the 1998 fall semester. Beautiful, warm, lush, Costa Rica was home for these students as they studied at the Spanish Language Institute. They were involved in a program that was created especially for MVNC students by Professor Judy Chesnut.

Along with professors at the Institute, Professor Chesnut designed course work and also arranged for the students to stay with host families. The course of study included literature, writing, conversation, and grammar. Practicing Spanish happened automatically because the students became immersed in the culture.

Any educational experienced is enhanced by field trips, and while in Costa Rica the students were treated to a wide variety of these. They visited a volcano and a rain forest as well as local markets, restaurants and museums. There were also shopping opportunities and cultural events that the students could enjoy.

Buffy Penhorwood, a junior Spanish education major, appreciated every minute of the semester. She developed a lasting relationship with her host family. She was welcomed into the family and treated like a daughter. "It was truly a wonderful experience," explained Buffy. One of the most memorable occasions was the fifteenth birthday celebration for her host sister. Culturally, this birthday is viewed as a milestone because it signifies that a girl has become a young woman. One of the many benefits of the students being hosted by national families is that they have the opportunity to be involved in these kinds of occasions.

Professor Chesnut is pleased with the arrangement she has with the Institute. She considers it a perfect opportunity for students to study while living in a foreign country. She already has students slated to participate in the fall of 1999 and the spring of 2000.