Learning Spanish in Costa Rica

To speak some Spanish is an added bonus when taking a vacation in Costa Rica;
however, knowledge of the country’s mother tongue is virtually essential when
starting a business.

If you are planning to retire here, it will certainly make life much easier
and more enjoyable. Many foreigners sally forth clutching a Spanish phrasebook,
or try to chat in "Spanglish" an abomination of both languages.

Even with basic Spanish, you’ll feel more confident dealing with everyday
situations, communicating with the friendly Costa Ricans and partaking in the
country’s culture.

A multitude of language schools exist in Costa Rica that offer innumerable ways
to learn Spanish. Regardless of age, language learning aptitude and background
there is something for everybody, but make sure you choose the one that meets
your needs. Instructors are native speakers, although their qualifications and
experience can vary from school to school, as does the standard and price of tuition.

The average number of students per class ranges from two to four; nevertheless,
some schools accommodate as many as ten. Instruction hours are flexible; 4-7 hours
Monday through Friday is the norm. Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Level
Programs, private tuition, courses for business professionals, ones for tots,
another for teenagers, and many schools offer a spectrum of extra curricular activities.

Normally, Intensive Study Programs last for a month or longer and usually
include home-stays with a Costa Rican family. These total immersion programs are
excellent, if proficiency in the language is your ultimate goal. It gives you
the opportunity to assimilate the lifestyle and culture of your hosts, while combining
classroom study.

Fees fluctuate, depending on hours of tuition and the number of students in the
class. Schools can charge anything from $100-500 for 18-30 hours tuition per week,
with or without home-stays or alternative accommodation. Private classes can cost
$12-30 per hour. Teaching Spanish in Costa Rica is big business and websites list
an enormous choice of language schools throughout the country.

But beware! It is often difficult to differentiate between the website of a legitimate
school and that of a sales agent whose object is to earn commission. Exaggerated
fees, fraudulent registration charges and misinformation about the schools are
a common ruse.

123TeachMe is a recommended website which
offers a brief resume of facts, quality and value, thus helping you to select
a school that meets your criterion. After browsing through the data, make sure
you contact the school directly. Of course, if you are already in Costa Rica you
can check the school out in person.

Recommending specific schools is an awesome task, but the following have been
around a long time and their reputation is highly creditable.

Conversa: founded in 1974 offers Intensive
and Super-Intensive Programs and is accredited by the College Consortium of International
Studies. The Santa Ana campus on a breezy hilltop overlooking the Central Valley
12 km., west of San José has housing options; with a host family in the
small town of Santa Ana, or at their lodges on campus. Programs for the whole
family are popular; parents study in the Intensive Program, while the kids have
their own Spanish and play classes. A variety of programs are also offered at
their San José location, with or without home-stays.

Intensa: has been a family owed operation
since 1980 and offers the choice of two campuses. One is in a quiet residential
area of San Pedro, a busy suburb east of San José, where nightlife and
restaurants abound. The other is located in the city of Alajuela 20 km northwest
of San José. Intensive programs with or without home-stays are available
at both locations. University credits are offered and specially structured courses
cater to individual requirements. They include Spanish for business executives,
retirees, plus cultural activities.

Ilisa: also located in San
Pedro was founded in 1987. They offer home-stays or optional accommodations, a
large variety of flexible and specialized programs at all levels, and many are
tailored to meet professional requirements in the workplace.

IPED:
founded in 1984 has a good reputation and is located in the city of Heredia 11
km., north of the capital. Using the "communicative methodology" classes
concentrate primarily on conversation, basic survival skills and specialized instruction
in business, scientific and medical terminology. Home-stays are available.

Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI) founded
in 1991 is a family run, community oriented Spanish immersion school that boasts
three campuses. One near Heredia, another in Monteverde, the renowned cloud forest
destination, plus their Pacific beach campus at Playa Flamingo in the northern
province of Guanacaste. Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced level programs offer
students the opportunity to enjoy Costa Rica’s natural beauty, learn Spanish,
become an integral part of a rural community, or enjoy a beach vacation while
you study.

Our thanks to Ann Antkiw for her article. Ann Antkiw, a professional actor, director
and English teacher has made her home in Costa Rica for the last 20 years.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.