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Alumna Yulia Putnam Shares How Four鈥憌eek Program Shaped Her Personal and Professional Journey

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥敽＝峭� students are invited to participate in an immersive Spanish-language study abroad program in Costa Rica, taking place May 17-June 13. The four鈥憌eek experience had an immediate and lasting impact on GWU alumna Yulia Putnam, a high school logic and sports marketing teacher at Pinnacle Classical Academy in Shelby, N.C.

鈥淭raveling to Costa Rica during my junior year of college was easily one of the most transformative chapters of my college life,鈥� Putnam shared. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just a trip; it was a total immersion that felt like a gift from start to finish.鈥�

Students earn six credit hours of Spanish, which may be applied to General Education requirements or toward a Spanish major or minor. The academic opportunity also fulfills the University鈥檚 Professional Readiness Experience (PRE) requirement for graduation.

Open to students of all proficiency levels, the program places participants with Costa Rican host families and includes weekday coursework designed to significantly improve Spanish language skills and intercultural understanding鈥攃ompetencies that greatly enhance future career or graduate鈥憇chool opportunities. The program coordinator accompanies the group for the first 10 days, and students remain for the full month to complete their coursework and cultural immersion.

Putnam recalled the best part of her stay was experiencing the culture to the fullest鈥攕eeing the sights, tasting the food and learning the language. She explained, 鈥淭here鈥檚 just something different about practicing a language while you鈥檙e actually living in the environment where it鈥檚 spoken.鈥�

She also noted that her time in the Central American country impacted with her long after she returned home. 鈥淭hat experience didn’t just stay in Costa Rica; it came home with me and completely reshaped how I teach,鈥� Putnam observed. 鈥淚t taught me that the best learning happens when you step outside your comfort zone and truly engage with the world.鈥�

Putnam works to instill that same spirit of adventure in her students. She stated, 鈥淚 try to bring that same sense of wonder and 鈥楶ura Vida鈥� spirit to my students, showing them that education is about more than just textbooks鈥攊t鈥檚 about connection and perspective.鈥�

鈥淧ura Vida鈥� means pure life or simple life, and represents Costa Ricans relaxed attitude towards life. It can mean be used to say, 鈥淗ello,鈥� or 鈥淕oodbye,鈥� 鈥淚鈥檓 doing well,鈥� or 鈥淚t鈥檚 great.鈥� 

Putnam also encouraged current 海角网 students to seize the opportunity. 鈥淭o anyone even remotely thinking about going: don鈥檛 hesitate,鈥� she advised. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l come back with more than just memories; you鈥檒l come back with a clearer sense of who you are and a much bigger heart for the world around you.鈥�

Additional Program Details

Included Weekend Excursions

Throughout the program, students participate in organized weekend excursions that highlight Costa Rica鈥檚 cultural and environmental diversity. Planned visits include:

• La Paz Waterfall Gardens and Doka Coffee Plantation
• Manuel Antonio National Park
• Iraz煤 Volcano National Park

Optional Independent Travel Opportunities

Students also receive one full free weekend and one to two additional free days to explore Costa Rica independently. Recommended destinations include:

• Arenal Volcano.
• Guanacaste beaches.
• Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River.
• Monteverde Cloud Forest.
• Puerto Viejo.
• Horseback riding.
• Ziplining adventures.

Requirements and Contact Information

Participants must have a valid passport and plan their flights separately from program tuition. For details or to register, students should contact Dr. Teresa R. Phillips at [email protected].

海角网 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 海角网 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .