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Spanish Conversation Groups Start Tuesday, January 25 via Zoom

1/16/2022

 
Our first session of 2022 of the CAA Spanish Conversation groups will begin on Tuesday, January 25 and will continue through Tuesday, March 15, with each class being 1 hour. The cost is 15,000 colones for the 8-week session. 

Three levels will be offered. If, during the first day of class, you or the instructor feel you are misplaced, then we will change you as long as we don’t exceed 8 students in one class.

Level I—These students are total “newbies” to the Spanish language. Basically you will learn present tenses, pronouns, “be” verbs, and basic vocabulary for grocery shopping, vet care, etc.  IF you have taken this level before but feel you might want/need to repeat it, don’t worry, that is fine.

Level II—These students need to know some present tense verbs and some basic vocabulary, but they will not have yet ventured into the deeper waters of past or future.

Level III—Students in this higher level group need to have had formal lessons for at least a  year and be conversant in present, past, and future tenses.


REGISTRATION:  Is open until Friday, January 21 at http://www.actionalliancecr.com/spanish-conversation-registration.html

On Thursday, January 20th, Terry Handler will be collecting tuition at Cafe Delicias between 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. at the Thursday morning coffee get-together. If, for some reason, you can’t come on this day, please try to have a friend come pay for you as we need a firm idea of paid students.

For other payment options email spanishconversation@caacr.org
 
Proceeds from the Spanish Conversation Classes benefit the CAA Education Scholarship Program.


The English Conversation Club is set to restart in February 2022

1/16/2022

 
 Spurred on by in-person leaders, ECC made the pivot to virtual meetings. What started as an experiment has actually blossomed and has converted ECC into a fully flexible in-person and virtual program.

Some of the benefits to this pivot are:
  • Leaders/participants can participate from all over the world.
  • Registration done completely online and asynchronous.
  • Sessions and registration schedule can be made up to a year in advance.
  • Standardization and flexibility for group leaders to lead on their schedule. Can plan knowing the yearly schedule.

Turns out, the popularity of these pivots allowed us to crush last year's projections and we are only looking up in 2022. ECC's new partnership with XploreAmericas to provide native English student teachers with practicum opportunities will also provide more opportunities for ticos to learn and practice and especially allow us to promote to BEGINNER students which were previously limited as they required a more structured class.

If YOU would like to lead a group session, we'd LOVE to add you to our database of available leaders. At the moment we are mostly online, however pandemic permitting we'll add in person throughout the year.

To be a leader the requirements are:
  • Native English speaker
  • Talkative and outgoing
  • Internet access with computer capable of audio and video transmission over Google Meet. (virtual groups)
  • Tech savvy enough to handle video conferencing. (virtual groups)
  • Have a gmail account. (virtual groups)
  • Available to host two 1-hour sessions per week for 5 weeks (1-2 hours during the week and/or two hour Saturday mornings).
  • Attend a practice meeting.
  • You do not need to speak Spanish to participate.
Now that ECC is hybrid, leaders and students are welcome from all over.  We need YOU to share this opportunity as we are not known outside the zona occidente and our advertising is limited to word of mouth and social media posts. Thanks to everyone for their support of this program!

If you are interested in leading a group, please contact Dustin or Ricardo at info.eccsr@gmail.com

Please direct interested students to bit.ly/eccvirtual

¡Pura vida!

TAMALE CHRISTMAS

1/4/2022

 
One of CAA’s alliances in San Ramón is with The Faithful Servant Missions in Bajo Tejares, an exceptionally poor area of San Ramón. Each December, the village women of Bajo Tejares celebrate a much-loved Christmas tradition by making hundreds of tamales to share with their families and neighbors. For the past eight years, CAA has helped by purchasing the tamale ingredients and helping make these special treats. Unfortunately, we have not been able to provide volunteers for two years because of the pandemic, but this year Mary Huber and Terry Handler presented Nicole Byker, a social worker with the church and community center, c304,000 from CAA to provide supplies and the labor to make them. This annual event is a line item in CAA’s budget.
The Mission is expanding its outreach in 2022 to include a parenting program and an English institute.
(Photo is from the 2019 event.)
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CAA SUPPORTS HOGARCITO WITH "BIRTHDAY BUDDIES" PARTIES

1/4/2022

 
CAA has renewed its support for the Hogarcito, San Ramón’s orphanage that currently houses 20 children. It is located in Santiago, just west of San Ramón. Donations from CAA members provide a birthday party for each child. The party consists of cake (donated by La Duquesa), ice cream, candy, and punch for the kids; and a present for the birthday child. We also donate party plates, cups, balloons, streamers, and candles.
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CAA PRESENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2022-24

1/4/2022

 
Left to Right: Jeff Barnes, Treasurer; Scott McAnally, Vocal; Mary Lou Hofmann, Vocal; Terry Handler, President; Janice Brown, Vice President; Martin Rojas, Secretary, and Vocal 3. Not pictured: Wagner Galo, Fiscal.
Your Board is preparing CAA for a much more active and engaging year for all of us. Now is the time to recharge ourselves with volunteer opportunities and activities in and around San Ramon. Keep checking this page for updates on all that's happening!
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​EDUCATION COMMITTEE UPDATE

1/4/2022

 
CAA was selected as one of seven local organizations to receive donations in 2022 from the Women's Club of Costa Rica (WCCR), a group that has served the community with distinction for 80 years. CAA asked to be selected for a $2,000 donation to support our scholarship program and instead received a $10,000 donation.
This was a direct result of Judy Kerr talking to Laraine Altun, who is on the board of WCCR. The Club was impressed by four things about our program:
1. CAA gives students vouchers instead of cash for purchasing uniforms and supplies.
2. We incorporate university interns that help run the program.
3. A social worker provides a support structure for students’ families.
4. CAA has a significant cash reserve to ensure we will be able to get the 28 student participants through their high school careers.
At the December Board of Directors meeting, the CAA Board formally accepted the offered donation. We will do everything we can to continue to live up to their legacy of service in our adopted community.
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