Test Results- End of Language School

I mentioned on the last blog that I had 2 big tests coming up soon. Well, the first one was last Friday, and was a 30-minute oral exam. You can't really prepare for the test, because you just have a conversation with a teacher.In order to pass the oral test, I needed to achieve an 'advance' rating on my speaking abilities. (A teacher told a friend of mine that an 'advanced' level is when a Spanish speaker who has never talked to a gringo (English Speaker) before can walk up to me and hold a conversation, and I can understand and make myself understood.) Considering that I came to Costa Rica to study Spanish only 10 months ago, and that I knew absolutely no Spanish at the time, getting an advanced rating would be pretty huge.

The second test was last Tuesday, and was a comprehensive, 3 hour, 300 point written exam. It covered everything: present tense, past tense, future tense, subjunctives, parifrases, comparatives, quoting people... everything! In order to pass the written test, I need at least a 70% as a final score. Most students take both exams after their third semester at the school, but since I am leaving  this coming Monday, I decided to take them now. 

Well, thank you for all the prayers and encouraging notes. I did pass both tests so now I can focus on getting ready for the start of the school year in Shell, Ecuador!

The End of Some Times and The Beginning of Some Times

So its that time again. Time to start packing and looking forward to getting settled in a new place! That's right. I leave Costa Rica on Monday, August 6. I am very excited about this next step, but I am sure going to   miss my life here in Costa Rica as well.

Coming up this week: Exams Exams Exams... I will be taking the Final Exams for the Language School. On Friday, July 27 I will be taking the Oral Exam and the following Tuesday, July 31 I will be taking the 3 hour long Grammar test.

School starts August 23. I will be teaching 1st and 2nd grade this year, and I am beyond excited. So far, I will have 2 first graders and 2 second graders. I have been having fun thinking and planning for the new school year.

Below are some pictures of my apartment and the school. I don't have pictures of my actual classroom yet but you will get the idea below. :) These pictures are of the kindergarten classroom a few years ago.

The Front View of My House

The Patio

*Summer* In Costa Rica

The last two months have been packed but wonderful. I have said good bye to friends and hello to many new friends. I have definitely learned more Spanish. I have traveled to Panama, and all around enjoyed the many friendships that I have made here in Costa Rica. Although technically it is summertime, it doesn't seem much different to me, except for the fact that May is the start of rainy season here. I am still in school everyday and except for the rain the climate didn't change much.

We had a week break in between semesters. I ended up not going out of town, and just used the extra time to study and and catch up on some sleep. However, one day some friends and I set out to find the oldest Catholic church here in Costa Rica. After 2 buses and over 3 hours being lost in downtown trying to find the correct bus stop we made it to the church. And would you believe it, after all of that we didn't even go inside the church!

Church in Coronado, Costa Rica

This year the Spanish Language Institute celebrates its 70th anniversary! The school first started out in Columbia but moved to Costa Rica later on. It has been a wonderful time of learning and growth for hundreds of missionaries to Latin America.We had a grand party. Here is a short video of the band that came and surprised all of us. As you can see the children enjoyed dancing with characters. The only mishap is the band brought a devil like character with them. He was not so exciting.

70th aniversary movie from Jennifer Kendrick on Vimeo.

I have gone to 2 concerts with my Tica sister Mariela. I have really enjoyed getting to know her better. She is very patient with me! The concert is in Spanish of course. The first concert I did not understand anything. So for the next concert I printed out the lyrics to the songs and read the songs as they played them. That helped a ton.

Mariela and I at the concert