Our language school, reflecting its "intensive” language programs, was founded in 1980. The length of study program can be as short as one week or as long as a year. The school has three school sites, two in the capital of San José, San Pedro and Escazú, and the other in Alajuela, the country's second largest town near the international airport. All sites provide easy access to restaurants, stores, theaters and malls.
At our school we believe that relaxation through recreation is an important ingredient of any immersion study program. Therefore, we have supplemented the instruction program with a cultural program, which includes home stay with a Costa Rican family, field trips, Latin American dance lessons, cooking lessons and tours through the lush, green picturesque countryside to breathtaking tropical beaches.
Your experience at our school will long be remembered, not only for providing you with your new language proficiency, but also for the unforgettable, pleasant experiences and new friends that were yours in Costa Rica, an extra dividend of your immersion program.
Our student body:
Over the past two decades, students have come from all over the world to study at the school, principally from North America and Europe. They are college students, teachers, business people, missionaries, military personnel, and diplomats among others.
Study Programs:
The programs include 1,2,3,4 or more weeks of study consisting of 4 to 6 lessons per day. Each lesson averages 53 minutes in length, either in a small group or on a tutorial basis. Text materials are usually included.
Placement:
Students arrive at our school with different language backgrounds: some have no experience with Spanish at all; others have studied extensively but have limited conversation abilities, while others are fluent but want to improve their interaction with native speakers. There is a place for you whatever level you may be at.
On the first day of classes students are tested and placed in small groups, which match their conversational level from complete beginner to advance. Students who progress at a different rate may be moved to another group which better suits their abilities.
Methodology:
Students at a basic level begin communicating using simple questions and answers. These question/answer exchanges gradually build up into brief interactions, which eventually lead to extended conversations about various topics. In the step by step process students will role play practical situations in the classroom such as talking about themselves, ordering a meal, taking a cab, buying tickets, filling a prescription, giving directions, and changing money. Further, they will practice Spanish grammar using guided oral exercises. Students will also discuss readings on Costa Rica, its people, climate, culture and geography.
Small groups insure you that you will receive the attention and extensive oral practice so essential to developing language ability in speaking and comprehension.
Text Materials:
Our school uses text materials, which represent well established language acquisition programs providing live, meaningful situations in which students can acquire communicative competence in speaking, understanding and reading Spanish. Performance objectives for language structures, culture and pronunciation are clearly delineated as well as functional conversational goals.
College Credits:
Students working for college credits should clear their university's acceptance of credits issued by the school. The student will receive a transcript and a certification of the number of contact hours received. Calculate three credit hours based on forty-five hours of teacher-directed practice on the semester system or 4.5 credit hours for forty-five hours of teacher-directed-practice on the quarter system.
Scheduling:
Programs start every Monday year round. Students will be assigned to either a morning or afternoon session. Sessions run from 8:00 to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Scheduling will depend on the student's program, the number of students in the school, classroom availability and other factors.
Home Stays:
Families participating in the home stay program have been carefully chosen for their friendliness and willingness to help the students practice Spanish and acquaint themselves with the Costa Rican way of life. The home stay includes a clean private room, shared bath, laundry service plus a good breakfast and main meal. Homes are within walking or easy commuting distance of the school.
The home stay will provide the student with experience in handling real situations and will help the student acquire insights into local culture. You should expect to encounter cultural differences and customs, all of which add meaning to the language learning process. Normally home stays begin on the Saturday or Sunday prior to starting classes.
Faculty Information:
The school's dynamic approach to teaching Spanish through constant conversation practice is made possible by the advanced training and experience of its teaching staff. Teachers have university degrees and are selected on the basis of their experience, motivation to teach others, energy levels and interactive personalities.
Other Activities:
The Country and the Weather:
Tiny peaceful Costa Rica, situated in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, with coasts on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, provides an ideal setting for learning Spanish: consider its balmy climate - temperatures range in the mid 20° C's (70° F) all year round on the central plateau which is at 1200 meters above sea level, -its beautiful, friendly and well-educated people and its refreshing, deep-rooted democratic traditions- the country has no army. All these elements create a unique, if not essential, atmosphere for language study.
Free time is easily spent on visits to the National Parks and natural reserves, which constitute over 25% of the country's territory -active volcanoes, rain and cloud forests rich in flora and fauna, whitewater rivers, coral reefs, or on the beaches of the Caribbean Sea or the Pacific Ocean. All these sites are accessible by car or public transportation just a couple of hours from our school. Costa Rica enjoys one of the highest literacy rates and health standards in the world.
A sweater or jacket is recommended for the evenings and remember that May through November is the green season-when rain forests are at their best so bring an umbrella or a light raincoat. Over the years, tourists and business people enchanted by the country have returned to live permanently and today represent roughly 10% of the country's total population.
Tours:
Costa Rica is a small country with a reasonably good road system and inexpensive bus transportation. Most natural attractions such as beaches, volcanoes, and rain forests are within a few hours driving distance of the school. A qualified staff member will aid students to plan their excursions, make reservations, and obtain discounts whenever possible. If you are looking for adventure, you may try a tropical diving safari, whitewater rafting, hot air ballooning, bungee jumping, cavern exploration, and kayaking.
Sightseeing and Hiking:
Will take you to Arenal Volcano's firework-like eruptions and glowing lava flows, to Monteverde Cloud Forest, to the Tortuguero Canals and beach--nesting area for the green sea turtle--through the canopy of Braulio Carrillo Rain Forest by aerial tram and more.
Facility Information:
Currently our school has three teaching centers, one in San José (Barrio Escalante), another one in the city of Alajuela and the other one in the Trilogía Complex in front of PriceSmart in Escazú, all of them located in convenient, safe and easily accessible places.
Classrooms have good ventilation (natural and/or mechanical), good lighting, large white boards and comfortable chairs. (We do not use desks, since almost all activities are oral.) Every center also has its own video and multimedia room. All three learning centers have a regular public transportation service. Our school offers comfortable facilities and a suitable environment for studying, including green areas, cafeteria and parking.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
The minimum cost is for a program of 4 hours a day Monday through Friday lesson only for 1 week, the maximum cost refers to a 6 hours a day Monday through Friday lesson with home stay for 4 weeks, cost per week will be reduced after the forth week of study to $185 1 week 4 hour a day and $402 for a 6 hours a day program with home stay. All programs include airport pick up and return on the day of departure, besides other activities like dancing and cooking lessons and a chance to get together with local Costa Rican for cultural exchange and language practice.
Supplier Information
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Location: Costa Rica
Joined InfoHub: Feb 2008
Client Request Served: 0
M17696, reflecting its "intensive” language programs, was founded in 1980. The length of study program can be as short as one week or as long as a year. M17696 has three school sites, two in the capital of San José, San Pedro and Escazú, and the other in Alajuela, the country's second largest town near...
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