UW’s Roberts Leads Group in Costa Rica Program

Amy Roberts, an associate professor in the University of Wyoming’s School of Teacher Education, is one of the leaders of a group of 14 UW students, alumni and staff members on an eight-week Spanish language and culture program in Costa Rica.

Roberts and a colleague are recipients of a prestigious Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) grant for the program, which is designed to enhance participants’ language proficiency and promote knowledge and understanding of Central America.

Participants are studying the Spanish language and culture in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and immersing themselves in the local culture through interaction with local citizens and service projects. Participants also travel some weekends to learn more about coastal Costa Rican culture, geography and history.

“We are honored to receive this multiyear Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad grant, which enables us not only to support future educators and provide participants with a transformative opportunity, but also to carry out meaningful research on their learning and experiences,” Roberts says. “Focusing on intercultural and experiential education, our research will explore how immersion in global contexts shapes teaching practices and personal growth.”

The goal of the Fulbright-Hays grant is to empower Wyoming teachers -- and others who use Spanish in their work -- to bring fresh global perspectives, culturally responsive practices and innovative curriculum ideas back to their classrooms and communities.

Program-associated costs paid through the GPA grant -- sponsored by the International and Foreign Language Education Office in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education -- include international travel to and from San Jose, Costa Rica; tuition and home-stay accommodations during the duration of the program; weekend study tours; and program-related transportation in Costa Rica. The program also sponsors lunches for participants to meet with other faculty and co-directors for assessment and research purposes to advance the field with those participants who provide their consent.

To be selected for the GPA summer program, applicants from different UW departments and universities in the Mountain West submitted various materials, including indicating interest in the project or location and describing how it would help reach their professional goals; a summary of coursework in Spanish and any demonstrated research or additional projects in the Spanish language; an outlined proposal for a Spanish-English, field-based study project of choice; a copy of a recent Spanish language test taken or a paper written in Spanish; and two letters of reference.

Roberts has completed two 11-month Fulbright award programs in Taiwan and Myanmar, along with an 11-month U.S. Department of State fellowship at Mandalay University in Myanmar. She has led several delegations and groups abroad.

Other UW-affiliated participants in the program in Costa Rica include: Liberty Bassett, a secondary social studies student from Burlington; Sierra Clark, Julian Delgadillo-Lovato and Shaney Kruse, Spanish graduate assistants; Jorge Luis Garcia and Jonathan Jensen, Laramie High School Spanish teachers; Carissa Post, a teacher and UW student from Alpine; and elementary education students Francie Scott, of Cheyenne, and Marilee Williams, of Saratoga.