TESTIMONIALS

What people say about ICADS

«I feel that my ICADS experience was a unique character-building opportunity that has equipped me with the open-mindedness and interest in foreign cultures that I will need for future opportunities. I still stay in touch with fellow students and I loved representing ICADS at my school's study abroad fair. ICADS is an amazing program that bolstered my undergraduate education and personal development. I am honored to call ICADS somewhere I have studied, and its faculty friends of mine.»

«The spirited nature of ICADS and its community has enabled me, for the first time in my life, to gain a sense of duty I have for others. Every day I spent there remains imprinted in my memory; ICADS has motivated me to do something with myself and have a purpose beyond me. My professor, Karina, had mentioned to my class of three that we, "shouldn't feel guilty about the things we see in Rio Azul." Rio Azul is a community of about 400 children and single women escaping domestic violence. ICADS is more than an academic avenue, it's a rounding experience. They took my class to the community and had us meet the people there; a saying I heard which has stayed with me throughout the years is, "Help starts at home." I now am in the process of shipping clothing and toys to the community while filing a 501(c)3 for non-profit status. ICADS remains a sort of emotional home for me. When the phone number I used to contact the Costa Rican founded and based NGO La Casa San Lazaro there expired, ICADS personally took time out of their day to obtain the new number for me, someone over 3,000 miles away.
On top of the commitment to education, friendship, and peace, ICADS has provided me with role models and the only true professors to teach a language in a way that clicks with me and that I could grasp. I have studied five languages and I am on my way to a sixth, so I have seen many professors not nearly as qualified or adept as those at ICADS. The words of veneration I have for ICADS are too abstract for me to place into any language, because I have a feeling I would not be able to do it the justice ICADS deserves.
I am honored to call ICADS somewhere I have studied, and its faculty friends of mine.»

«My experience at ICADS was great. I came down to Costa Rica with a set of goals for myself established. By putting myself in the mindset that I needed to talk as much as possible in Spanish, integrate more with my family and the locals than with other extranjeros. I feel that I learned a tremendous amount in 4 weeks. The classes at ICADS can be used as a base, or a supplement, to 4 weeks of independent learning. Participating in ICADS in this way greatly increased the productivity of this experience for me. I found the staff at ICADS approachable and helpful. The opportunity to volunteer at a local school was a great additional aspect of the program – the volunteering sold me on the program and it was a great experience. I thought the entire experience through ICADS was great. You can learn so much in 4 weeks – but if you can stay longer, do so! Thanks to the ICADS staff!»

«If you want to become bilingual and bicultural ICADS is the program for you. They provide you with quality structure and support. They cater to every Spanish speaking ability and provide numerous adventuresome, eye-opening experiences. Learning should be a fun experience. ICADS will do that and more- a lifetime change.»

«I would definitely recommend this program even though I want to keep it for myself. I would say that the experience, not only changed my life for the short time I was here but, it will continually change me and I honestly couldn't ask for more.»

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