Costa Rica is located in the Central American isthmus and is one of the most developed countries in Latin America. The country has long been famous for its tradition of peaceful democracy in a region more often characterized by totalitarian regimes and civil strife.

Costa Ricans also enjoy the highest standard of living in Central America, a 95% literacy rate, and the greatest overall advancement in the social and economic spheres. Travelers appreciate the sophisticated infrastructure of the country’s transportation, communications and tourist facilities.

Our Spanish language school partner has two campuses, one located in Heredia, close to Costa Rica´s capital San José and the other one located on the beach in Samara.

Our partner school in 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. In addition, 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.

Samara is located on the northern Pacific coast in the Guanacaste region. It is 5 km long, lined with palm trees, and enjoys a calm, clear water ocean in a protected coral reef bay. You can swim, dive, snorkel, kayak and surf/ boogie board. Off shore, an island with a deserted beach is accessible by kayak or boat.

The area is also home to the indigenous Chorotega population, famous for their ceramic artwork, whose once powerful chieftains and their families gave their names to most of the towns in the area. Sámara, for example, is named for a legendary Chorotega princess. There are a wealth of National Parks and protected areas, such as Ostional Turtle Refuge, the Barra Honda Caves and Palo Verde National Park, a bird-watchers paradise.

Folkloric dance, music and local “fiestas” abound, as do opportunities for outdoor activities and ecological exploration.

Samara is a local community with a variety of activities, such as sunset football games on the beach, a disco, card games, horse-riding, and more. It has a typical Tico character, with a local art gallery on the beach, several ocean-side cafe/restaurants and bars, small supermarket, post office, medical clinic, gym, internet cafés, etc.

Samara also holds Costa Rica's prestigious 'Blue Flag' award, given only to the beaches and communities with the cleanest waters and proven environmentally sound practices. 

The primary goal of our Spanish language school partner is to teach you the Spanish language in a warm yet intellectually challenging environment. Classes at the city and beach campuses are conducted entirely in Spanish, providing students from all over the world with a complete and intensive learning experience.

The professors have advanced university degrees and teaching certification and the school is accredited through the US university system, offering university credit to those interested.

In addition, you have the opportunity to get to know Costa Rica, its traditions and its rich cultural heritage by participating in the school's daily cultural and extracurricular activities.

Heredia campus is located in a complex of three beautifully restored colonial buildings with interior patios and lush tropical gardens. The classrooms have full audio-visual equipment and provide a spacious, breezy work atmosphere. In their free time, students enjoy:

• relaxing on the lawns, garden tables and benches,
  
• doing homework in one of our comfortable study areas, 
• practicing Spanish via language exchanges with Costa Rican foreign language students, and
  
• using the Internet (free use of school computers / wireless internet available for $5 per week/ $15 per month)
  

Beautiful Sámara campus is located in brand new, beachfront facilities. Classes are held in modern, air-conditioned rooms, all with a view of the ocean: each is equipped with standard audio equipment, whiteboard, and a large communal study space, encouraging didactic activities and easy class participation. Occasionally, teachers take students outside the facilities to hold a conversation hour in our rancho, the tropical gardens or on the beach under the shade of a palm tree.

Ecological trips, community interviews and other activities help students practice Spanish "en vivo" with local Costa Ricans. Facilities also include a large open-air rancho used for dance classes and special cultural activities; a kitchen for cooking classes, several lounge, garden and study areas, hammocks, and the reception and tour services desk as well as free use of computers and WIFI at an extra charge of USD 5 per week/USD 15 per month.

In addition to formal textbooks, teachers use a wide variety of current materials: newspapers, literature, audio-cassettes, DVDs, 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 course material is varied, interesting, as well as educational!

Learning Materials : are included in the price.

Heredia: 1 lesson = 52.5 minutes / Samara: 1 lesson = 55 minutes 

• Campus: Heredia + Samara
• Minimum Duration: 1 week
• All levels, beginner through advanced
• Minimum Age: 18
• Maximum: 6 students per group
• Start Date: any Monday
• Schedule:
  
  • Heredia: 8.30am-12.30pm (morning session) or 1.30pm-5.30pm (afternoon session)
  • Samara: 8.00am-12.00pm (morning session) or 1.00pm-5.00pm (afternoon session)

Details:

• Campus: Heredia + Samara
• 1 lesson = 60 minutes
• Minimum Duration: 1 week
• All levels, beginner through advanced
• Minimum Age: 18
• Maximum: 6 students for group lessons
• Start date: any Monday from mid March to May and from September to December
• Schedule:
  
  • Heredia: 8.30am-12.30pm group lessons+ private lessons in the afternoon (1.30pm-5.30pm group lessons + private lessons in the morning may be offered in some occasions)
  • Samara: 8.00am-12.00pm group lessons+ private lessons in the afternoon (1.00pm-5.00pm group lessons + private lessons in the morning may be offered in some occasions)
    

Details

• Campus: Heredia + Samara
• 1 lesson = 60 minutes
• Minimum Duration: 1 week
• All levels, beginner through advanced
• Minimum Age: 18
• Offered as supplementary course or individual course (min. 02 lessons per week)
• Start date: any Monday from mid March to May and from September to December
• Schedule: usually afternoon lessons

Our partner school offers a volunteer program for all students who have completed a minimum of two weeks of language study with us.

If you are interested in volunteering in Costa Rica, exploring Latin American culture and local communities, and spending some of your time abroad dedicated to helping others, we can help you achieve these goals.

You can choose to stay in a city program in the Central Valley, or near our beach campus on the Pacific Coast. Our programs focus on development, education, health, social work and the environment, with volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and interests.

This unique program, where you can work helping others and at the same time rely on the infrastructure of our partner school, with our full-time, multilingual support staff. The volunteer program is a non-profit branch of our centre, and a large part of student payments are used to help fund scholarships and materials for local schools, animal rescue projects, community development initiatives, and programs for at-risk children and youth.

We invite you to participate in our programs and contribute to tolerance through global exchange, awareness, and social & environmental development in Latin America. Your experience will deepen your understanding of both your own and Costa Rican culture, and it will undoubtedly change the way you see the world and your place in it.

Program Highlights:

• Intensive Spanish Language Classes in small groups: 20 group lessons per week (Classes held with other adult students of all age groups) + 2 lessons private tutoring per week
  
• Excursions and activities introducing you to Costa Rican Culture (with other adult students of all age groups + some with older adult students only)
• Dance, Cooking, Spanish Film, Yoga, and other weekly activities
• Trips to beaches, national parks, and active volcanoes
• Lodging in Host family, single room, half board* (not incl. in the price indicated below)
  
• Transportation included
• Duration minimum: 1 week
• Star Date: any Monday at any campus

Students will study at both the Heredia and the Samara Beach campuses. The duration of program is 2 weeks with one set start date. The program is divided into two parts: one week at the city campus in Heredia, and one week and the Sámara beach campus. Lodging is with a host family in the city, and in a 3-star hotel with swimming pool and Jacuzzi.

Classes Schedule: 

• Heredia (city): 8:30am- 12:30pm or 1:30pm - 5:30pm
  
• Sámara Beach: 8:00am- 12:00pm or 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Students have two 15 minute breaks.

Examples of activities/excursions :

Heredia : walking tour of the city, latin dance classes, hiking at the Barva Volcano, San José, forest trip, etc.

Sámara Beach: art and craft class, bike trip to Carrillo, kayak trip to Choro Island, horse riding, etc.

Price per 2-week course: USD 1,995

The Spanish + Salsa course combines the 20 lessons Standard Spanish language course with 8 private dance lessons per week to learn the famous Latin dance Salsa.

The course includes group Spanish classes, accommodation in a host family, single room, half board, 8 lessons private Latin dance/week, plus 1 all-inclusive Latin dance-club outing/week, and guide to Latin club nights in the Heredia/San José area.

The course starts every Monday in Heredia and is open to any Spanish + Salsa level. However, availability is hightly limited and always has to be reconfirmed at the moment of booking.

The Spanish + Surf course combines the 20 lessons Standard Spanish language course with 5 private surf lessons per week to learn surfing in the famous surf area around Samara.

The course includes group Spanish classes, accommodation in a host family, single room, half board, 5 private surf lessons per week (1 lesson = 60 minutes), unlimited practice time and board use as well as insider tips on the best area surf spots.

The course starts every Monday in Samara and is open to any Spanish + Surf level. However, availability is hightly limited and always has to be reconfirmed at the moment of booking.

After classes and on weekends, the school offers 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.

Latin Dance Classes
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 in a fun, social atmosphere with Costa Ricans. In Heredia, at least once a month, the dance teacher brings students on outings to dance salons in San José.

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 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 the school's staff presents educational performances relevant to the occasion, in which student interaction is highly encouraged!

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.

Film Night
Once a week we show a film in Spanish, an entertaining and practical way to practice the language.

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. Intercambios are also arranged with Tico students of French and German, and we are happy to look for Costa Ricans studying other languages too.

Local Activities
Every week, weather permitting, the local band presents free open-air concerts in Heredia’s Central Park and the National University shows Spanish language films and theater presentations, open to the general public for a nominal fee. In Sámara, students can choose between the football game at low-tide, chatting with local at a beach-side café, or learning to make jewelry out of coconuts, shells and other materials with local artists.

"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.

Excursions
On weekends we host excursions to many different parts of the country: Possibilities range from relaxing on a white sand beach, studying the complex ecosystems of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, or 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! In Sámara, turtle watching, ecological hikes, dolphin watching, snorkeling and surfing replace the city activities of the Heredia campus.

• AATSP (Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese)
• ACTFL (American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages)
• CANATUR (National Chamber of Tourism) Costa Rica
• United Nations / U Peace 
• UNITED NATIONS - UN Global Compact Partner