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Location |
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Instituto Intercultura Costa Rica is located
in the colonial city of Heredia, approximately 20 minutes
by bus from the capital city of San José. Known as
the "City of Flowers," (reputedly more for its beautiful
women than for its vegetation!) Heredia and its surrounding
areas provide all the conveniences of a medium-sized city
in an environment which has escaped, to a large extent, the
normal urban problems affecting the capital. It is home to
the National University, and an important cultural center
for Costa Rica. Furthermore, much of Heredia has managed to
retain a typical Latin American "pueblo" feel despite
increasing modernization. The colonial church and it's plaza
are still a favorite meeting place for Heredia's inhabitants,
old and young.
The school's central location within the city gives students
easy access to transportation, shops and entertainment. At
the same time, the tranquility and natural beauty of the mountains
is only a few minutes away by taxi or bus. In the downtown
area students are usually no more than a 5 minute walk from
a variety of services, including: sports center and olympic-size
swimming pool, Internet cafés, gyms, bars, restaurants,
discotheques, the National University's theatre and grounds,
the International telephone office, clinics and travel agencies. |
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The province of Heredia is the coffee-growing
capital of Costa Rica, where one can still see loaded ox-carts
bringing in the beans from the coffee plantations characteristic
of the green mountainsides. In the rural villages you will witness
a way of life very different to that of the cities, and see
vestiges of the old colonial architecture once typical in the
entire central valley. |
| Heredia's proximity to transportation
hubs such as the airport and the central bus stations in San
José make it an ideal base for your stay here. Easily
accessible from the city are the nearby Poás and Barva
volcanoes, and Costa Rica's numerous beaches and national parks.
Thus, in addition to learning the Spanish language, you may
thoroughly explore the country's natural wonders, world renowned
for their beauty and biodiversity. The province of Heredia is
the coffee-growing capital of Costa Rica, where one can still
see loaded ox-carts bringing in the beans from the coffee plantations
characteristic of the green mountainsides. In the rural villages
you will witness a way of life very different to that of the
cities, and see vestiges of the old colonial architecture once
typical in the entire central valley. |
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School |
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The primary goal
of our institute is to teach you the Spanish language in a
warm yet intellectually challenging environment. Classes at
our city and beach campuses are conducted entirely in Spanish,
providing students from all over the world with a complete
and intensive learning experience. Our professors have advanced
university degrees and teaching certification, and the school
is accredited through the US university system, offering undergraduate
credit to those interested. In addition, you have the
opportunity to come to know Costa Rica, its traditions and
its rich cultural heritage by participating in our daily cultural
and extracurricular activities.
On a larger scale, we hope to promote global awareness and
tolerance through this sharing of cultures. We believe that
participation in programs such as this one teach not only
a new language, but also effective tools for communication
and understanding in the constantly evolving world culture
in which we live. Check out the Volunteer
Work opportunities we offer.
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Intercultura's Spanish program uses
a combination of immersion teaching methods centered around
the Communicative Approach. Our aim is to enable students to
really express themselves in the language. Instead of a traditional
grammar program, classes are designed to provide balance between
theory and practice. The course incorporates all aspects of
language acquisition: conversation, grammar, reading, listening,
writing, general comprehension and idiomatic expressions. In
addition to formal textbooks, we use a wide variety of current
materials: newspapers, literature, audio-cassettes, videos,
advertisements, music, short stories and more. Classes also
incorporate field-trips and out-of-class learning experiences
by taking students to practice their Spanish in marketplaces,
museums, buses, restaurants, and other areas where communication
practice is a necessity. Thus classes remain interesting as
well as educational! |
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Text and method used? SCHOOL OWN LANGUAGE BOOKS, Y ‘EL PUNTO EN CUESTION’ PLUS REALIA, CURRENT EVENTS MATERIALS,
NEWSPAPERS, FILMS, NEWS PROGRAMS, LITERATURE, ETC.
What countries are most students from? USA, HOLLAND,
SWITZERLAND, CANADA, JAPAN, AND OTHER (IN THAT ORDER).
Age (mostly university students, independent travelers,
professionals, older/retired)? 65% ARE FROM 20-35, 35% FROM 35
TO 65. IN SUMMER, MORE UNIVERSITY AGE STUDENTS.
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Courses |
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1. Standard
Course (20 lessons per week) |
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| Our core Spanish program
consists of twelve different levels, from complete beginner
through advanced. After these have been completed, students
continue with six additional levels of high-advanced to superior
level Spanish, which develop upon the literature used in lower
levels and intensify work towards full proficiency in the various
areas of language acquisition. Also covered at these levels
are complex field projects, current events, linguistics, regional
language usages and Costa Rican history. In addition, we have
specialized courses for those who wish to study specific topics
such as business, medical or media Spanish. Classes are given
in open-air ranchos, terraces, balconies, or in air conditioned
rooms. Courses follow the Heredia program, with emphasis on
conversational aspects and didactic activities. Every Friday,
workshops are offered on political, social and cultural themes;
students attend according to preference. |
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 Upon
arrival you will be given a placement exam and oral interview
to determine which level is most suitable for you. These exams
are given every Monday at 7:45 am before classes begin; students
need to be punctual in order to be assigned a level for that
week. The exams ensure an effective learning environment in
a class appropriate to your knowledge of Spanish. The Spanish
Director is always available for consultations and to reevaluate
your placement should you feel that you have been placed in
an unsuitable level. Private lessons are available in the
afternoons. Classes consist of groups ranging
from 1 to 6 students, the average group size being 3
to 4 for most of the year, except during high season (June to August), when 5 to
6 is the norm. Classes run from
8:30 am to 12:30 pm in the morning session or 1:30 to 5:30
pm in the afternoon sessions (usually only in high season).
Students will be informed of their placement (morning or afternoon) after
their entrance exams.
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2.
Teen Summer Course (20 lessons per week)
 Teen
Summer Immersion Spanish Camp
Every summer our
partner offers a Spanish immersion program for Teens which allows adolescents to
learn Spanish and immerse themselves in Costa Rican culture. In addition to
Spanish classes, the summer program offers a variety of fun, chaperoned
adventure activities which will immerse teen students in the local culture and
expose them to the amazing variety of natural life in Costa Rica. Students may
study at the beach or in the city and may begin any Monday between June 11th-
August 13th.
START DATES 2007
(The program ends on
August 19th)
Schedule:
Student’s have two 15
minute breaks.
Details:
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20 Spanish lessons
per week
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Minimum duration: 1
week
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Ages: 13-17 years
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Activities +
excursions included in the program
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Behaviour contract
needs to be signed by parents and teens before course start
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Teen Coordinator
working in close contact with host families
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24-hour emergency
help line for parents + students
The price includes:
Price per week per
student: USD 695.
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Dates |
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| Starting dates can
usually be arranged and are flexible. However ideally you arrive
on a weekend so you can start the courses on a Monday.
Group Classes: Courses consist of four hours per day intensive
language study from Monday to Friday, in the mornings or
afternoons.
Holiday and Vacations when the school will be closed
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JANUARY 1:
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New Years Day |
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APRIL
11: |
Juan Santamaría Day (Costa
Rica's national hero) |
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MARCH/APRIL (rolling): |
Easter
Week (Semana Santa) |
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MAY 1: |
Costa Rican Labor Day |
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JULY 25: |
Annexation
of Guanacaste |
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AUGUST 15: |
Maria Ascensión |
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SEPTEMBER 15: |
Costa Rican Independence Day |
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OCTOBER 12: |
"Día de la Raza" Indigenous
Peoples' Day |
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DECEMBER 10-31 (last 3 weeks in Dec): |
Christmas Vacations |
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Activities
+ Excursions |
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After classes and
on weekends we offer a wide selection of activities, conducted
in Spanish (the majority involve no extra charge). Students
should check the notice boards in reception daily for times,
sign-up sheets and specific information. We encourage all students
to participate in as many activities as possible, as you will
find they greatly enhance your understanding of, and connection
to, the culture.
If you are interested you can do
Volunteer
Work within the community!! |
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Latin Dance
Classes |
 From Monday through Thursday you have the opportunity to participate
in classes where you will learn salsa, merengue, cumbia and
marcado, the most popular dances in Costa Rica.
This enables
you to go out to discos and dances with confidence and interact
on a fun social level with Ticos. |
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Monthly Activities
Calendar |
| Each month we have
a new activity plan of special events, national holiday activities,
and a variety of fun excursions which are accompanied by a school
teacher or staff member and in which we encourage English students
to participate so as to promote social interaction with the
locals. These activities include football (soccer) games, trips
to the bowling alley or roller-skating rink, special dance or
theater shows, discussion groups, live music discos and more.
For some of the more important national holidays Intercultura's
staff presents educational performances relevant to the occasion,
in which student interaction is highly encouraged! |
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Costa Rican
Cooking Class |
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| Once a week we teach
students how to make typical Costa Rican dishes, a nice skill
to take home and share with friends and family! |
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Latin Music
Class |
| In this weekly class
students learn traditional and modern songs from different Spanish-speaking
countries, analyzing their meaning and cultural significance.
This helps greatly in overall comprehension. Feel free to join
in and bring your own instrument! |
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Lectures |
| We hold periodic talks
and informal gatherings which cover a diverse range of subjects
and inform students about topics such as the ecology and environment
of Costa Rica, Latin-American literature, politics, women's
studies and other socially and culturally related themes. |
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Film Night |
| Once a week we show
a film in Spanish, an entertaining and practical way to practice
the language. |
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Intercambios |
| During these cultural
exchanges Spanish students meet with Tico English students at
the school to practice conversation skills (in both languages)
in a relaxed atmosphere, and to make new friends from the local
community. |
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Local Activities |
| Every Thursday evening
and Sunday morning, weather permitting, the local band presents
free open-air concerts in Heredia's central park. Also every
Thursday afternoon the National University shows primarily Spanish
language films, open to the general public for a nominal fee.
The school maintains a list of suggested day trips in the
area for other after- school activities. |
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"Fiestas
Patronales" |
| These local celebrations
are held in all Costa Rican cities and villages every year,
usually over a weekend. They are advertised throughout the country
and are an excellent source of cultural entertainment. You can
watch bullfights "Tico" style, where the bull is not
harmed in any way, participate in traditional games and try
out a variety of local fare. |
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Excursions |
On weekends we host
excursions to many different parts of the country: Possibilities
range from relaxing on a white sand beach, to studying the complex
ecosystems of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, to watching the eruptions
of a live volcano! During the week we take students to theaters,
museums, nearby parks, the capital city of San José,
discotheques, soccer games, concerts and more!
Read about the Beach
Campus !!! |
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TRANSPORTATION
UPON ARRIVAL:
HEREDIA
The students are picked up at
the airport by their Heredia host families. If they decide to
arrive on their own, they can take a taxi from the airport to
their host families in Heredia.
SAMARA
You have several options for your
transportation to Playa Sámara, which we can help you arrange.
Note: For the taxi option, up to 4 students can share the
taxi--you may contact us for students arriving at similar
times if you prefer to ride-share.
1. Liberia
International Airport arrivals:
a) Standard taxi option costs $60 one way, and will take you
directly to your homestay in Sámara (1.5 hour drive).
b) Car rentals are available at the airport, and are available
for $45-$70 for a one-day rental with drop off in Sámara.
2. Juan Santamaría
International Airport arrivals (San José):
a) Standard taxi option costs $130 one way, and will take you
directly to your homestay in Sámara (4 hour drive).
b) Car rentals are available at the airport, and are available
for $45-$70 for a one day rental with drop off in Sámara.
3. Stopover in
Heredia/San José:
c) If you prefer to stay overnight in the Central Valley, one
night of homestay with airport pick costs $26. The family will
call you a taxi the next day to catch the local bus to Sámara
from San José ($6 one way), or the private bus service Interbus
($30 one way), or if there is a shuttle leaving the school, you
may catch that ($15 one way).
d) Alternately, we can provide a pre-arranged one night homestay
including airport pickup, pre-paid public bus ticket, and taxi
to the bus station the next day, for $55
e) You may stay overnight at a local hotel in Heredia or near
the airport (prices range from $30-$80 per night) and catch a
bus the next day (see above for bus options).
f) If you prefer not to take the bus, you may fly from San José
to Sámara-Carrillo local airport, 7 kms from Sámara Centro, for
$75 one way.
WEATHER How much rain during rainy season (afternoon,
evening)? RAINY IN AFTERNOONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER. LIGHT RAINS
FROM MAY TO AUGUST, HEAVIER FROM AUGUST TO NOVEMBER. USUALLY
RAINS IN AFTERNOONS, BUT CLIMATE IS STILL WARM AND SUNNY IN
MORNINGS. When is the weather the best? FROM LATE NOVEMBER TO
EARLY MAY. What are the temperature fluctuations throughout the
year? AROUND 88-93 DEGREES, CONCORDANT WITH RAINY SEASONS. |
You still
have questions? Go to
FAQs ,
PDF BROCHURE COSTA RICA
,
PDF BROCHURE SAMARA BEACH
More about Costa
Rica
, Volunteer
Work
, Beach
Campus |
ACCREDITATIONS OF OUR PARTNER SCHOOL:
- AATSP (Association of Teachers of Spanish and
Portuguese)
- Instituto Cervantes (Spanish Cultural and
Linguistic Association)
- ACTFL (American Council for the Teaching of Foreign
Languages)
- CALE (Council of Latin American Language Academies)
- NACLA (North American Congress on Latin America)
- NAFSA (Association of International Educators)
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LEARN
SPANISH IN COSTA RICA - LANGUAGE SCHOOL HEREDIA
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