STUDY ABROAD FOR CREDIT AT THE CEC

WHAT DOES THE STUDY ABROAD INTERNSHIP LOOK LIKE?
The CEC, in conjunction with Swarthmore College, has developed a study abroad program for university students to earn credit as teacher’s assistants in the classroom. Over the years, our internship program has grown to welcome students from a long list of well-respected North American and European universities, and we take great pride not only in the quality of our interns, but in the quality of the program we offer them. This internship is designed to assist university students interested in education to reach their full potential as classroom educators while simultaneously experiencing the unique atmosphere of a progressive, bilingual school in the cloud forest of Costa Rica.

At the CEC, our experienced, motivated mentor teachers double as textbooks and our 106-acre campus/conservation site doubles as a classroom. The internship is largely field-based—study abroad interns act as full-time classroom assistants for a minimum of three months. Each intern is carefully matched with a mentor teacher who will oversee the intern in one of our classrooms and personally guide them in this hands-on learning experience. Mentors and interns work together to develop lesson plans, deliver lessons, evaluate student performance, and learn our school’s progressive philosophies of child-centered education, positive discipline, and environmental education. In addition, interns often work on supervised independent projects to support their own studies.

The administrative staff at the CEC aids interns in completing their coursework and academic requirements in order to earn credits from their home institution. In addition to the classroom experience, the CEC also organizes a month of intensive Spanish study at the local language school prior to starting and another week-long intensive Spanish study mid-way through the semester. We also provide bi-weekly professional development workshops hosted by CEC staff and local biologists, artists, and educators in order to gain a stronger insight of our school and the surrounding community of Monteverde. During their stay, interns live with one of our hand-selected homestay families, all of which have experience hosting interns and have children currently enrolled in the CEC.

WHAT CREDITS CAN I EARN?
The credit-earning study abroad internships are structured to meet the needs of the sponsoring university. In most cases, interns receive Spanish credits through our local language school, Education credits for their classroom assistantship, and independent study credits for an independent research project completed outside of the internship under supervision of the CEC administration and the Program Coordinator. Examples of past independent projects have included extensive studies of biology, health programs, classroom discipline, and curriculum development.
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WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
University students in good standing with their home institutions who are over 18 years of age and have the academic and financial support of their institution are eligible to apply. Applicants should consult their registrar and departmental distribution requirements to ensure that their proposed course of study will be awarded credit. Potential interns should also collaborate with their Study Abroad advisors to ensure that their institution will provide sufficient financial support for their semester abroad.  Applicants do not have to be Educational Studies majors, but they must have experience and proven interest in working with children. Applicants must have health insurance or temporary travel insurance, and be native English speakers. As the CEC is an English-immersion school, Spanish language abilities are not a requirement for this internship, although they are very helpful.