I wish to render my highest compliment to ILISA for a stellar job in our Summer Study Abroad experience of 2016. I took a group of students from St. Petersburg College, Florida, to engage in the four week Summer program. I cannot emphasize enough the level of professionalism, efficiency, organization and high level of instruction that we were fortunate to find at ILISA. Our college will revisit ILISA in the Summer of 2017 for another study abroad experience, and I am confident that we will continue to do so into the future. Our students raved about the caring nature of the teachers, and the fact that the class size was kept to a minimum (allowing for much personal attention). The perks that come with the program: dance classes, indoor soccer, tours and weekend excursions, only added to the overall positive and wonderful experience. One that will certainly have lasting effects on the participants. On a side note, yet very relevant to the issue at hand, I wish to share with you all a message that I received, just last week, from a student who participated in the program and who has been able to use the knowledge gained while in Costa Rica:
Hola!
So the craziest thing happened today, and I just had to write you! This is from my FB page:
I went to Costa Rica to learn medical Spanish so I may be more useful to my community, in case of an emergency. I thought I would never get to use it, but today was my “lucky” day, as we were directly behind a car that hit a man on a bicycle, sending him head first through the windshield. I was able to sit him down (he walk walking around in shock) and do a quick assessment on him, while passing the info to EMS on the phone. It was a scary situation, but I was able to remain calm and I remembered the Spanish I thought I had forgotten! He was taken to the hospital, but he will be ok. I am just thankful I was able to be there for him. I was even able to help calm down the woman who hit him, as neither of them spoke English.
Thanks for everything, professor Ojeda!
These are the kinds of rewards that are at your fingertips if you take advantage of a program like that of ILISA’s Summer, study abroad! I highly recommend the language institute and I applaud the wonderful work that they do!
Your’s truly,
Fernando A. Ojeda, Ph.D.
Language Professor
St. Petersburg College, Clearwater Campus