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Program & Admission Information - San Jose, Costa Rica
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Our Spanish immersion programs are for people who desire to speak and read Spanish, and aim to do so in a reasonably short period of time. With this objective in mind, our programs emphasize intensive conversation practice as the most effective and rapid way of learning to converse and read in Spanish.
Students arrive in San Jose with different language backgrounds. Consequently placement tests are given on the first day of classes to place students into small groups which match their conversational level. The groups range from complete beginner to advanced. Students will be moved to different groups as their Spanish improves to ensure they are always receiving the best instruction for their current language level. Under certain circumstances there may not be a group which matches the students current level. When this occurs the student will be given 3 hours of individual (one-on-one) lessons instead of 4 lessons in a group. This ensures that students should never feel like they are being over/under whelmed by the course content. Small groups classes (and individual lessons) ensure you will receive the attention and extensive oral practice so essential to developing your language ability.
Custom text materials have been developed and are given to each student attending classes. The customized material uses a well-established language acquisition program, providing live, meaningful situations in which students can acquire communicative competence in speaking and reading Spanish. Performance objectives for language structures, culture, and pronunciation are clearly delineated as well as functional conversational goals.
Students who start later than Monday will not be able to make up missed hours. Lessons are not held on national holidays.
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Basic Spanish Programs
Group 20 or 30 hours per week & Tutor 30 hours per week. These programs include 2, 3, 4 or more weeks of study consisting of 4 to 6 lessons per day, Monday through Friday. Each lesson averages 53 minutes in length in a group setting or a tutorial. All programs stress maximum practice in conversation, under the direct guidance of a staff teacher.
Tutor program not available during peek dates in summer.
These programs are offered in both San Jose and Alajuela.
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20 hours per week Spanish plus 2 weeks of fieldtrips, museum visits, theaters, cooking, etc. This program is designed for those students who wish to study Spanish while enjoying the arts Costa Rican style. The program includes 4 hours of Spanish classes daily Monday - Friday combined with a myriad of fine arts events available in San Jose. Events include visits to museums, art and craft centers, theaters, dance lessons, cooking lessons and dining out.
Fine Art Events:
* One day tour to Tortuga Island, this Island is on the Gulf of Nicoya, on the Pacific Ocean.
* A night at Melico Salazar Theater: Popular Music or Dance.
* An evening out in the mountains overlooking San José, with dinner of typical Costa Rican foods and drinks, and folkloric dance groups.
* Four popular Latin dance steps practiced for one hour each week.
* One cooking session per week preparing typical Costa Rican recipes.
* Half a day tour to a Coffee Plantation including a show.
* A tour of the Costa Rican Gold Museum and National Theater.
* A tour of the Costa Rican Jade Museum
* A tour of Costa Rican Art Museum
* A tour of the National Museum.
* A tour of the Children Museum.
* A visit to craft shops in the Town of Moravia.
* A night of Theater-in-the-round (as replacement alternative for other night events for the participants who speak Spanish fairly well)
* Transportation from the school to all events and back as well as guide included..
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Group + Adventure
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Four days of immersion Spanish language lessons followed by three days Adventure
Classes are from Monday thru Thursday and Adventure Friday thru Sunday.
Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park, on the ocean where you can put into practice what you have learned. Among the many additional adventure activities available there, you might consider these:
* Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park
* Horseback riding on the beach or in the mountains
* White water rafting (there are several rivers to choose from)
* Ocean, river or mangrove forest kayaking
* Canopy touring
ARENAL VOLCANO AND THE TOWN OF LA FORTUNA
Does an active volcano stir your adrenaline? You might want to choose some of the following additional activities:
* Spending time in a hot springs resort
* Canopy touring
* Touring the volcano on an ATV
* Swimming at La Fortuna Waterfalls
* Rappelling
PLAYA TAMARINDO, GUANACASTE
Strike out for the northern Pacific coast, an area of dry tropical forest, cattle ranches and dusty roads ideal for additional activities:
* Surfing
* Scuba diving
* Recreational biking
* Sport fishing
* Horseback riding
PUERTO VIEJO, LIMÓN
If you can, don´t miss the magical Caribbean Coast marked by beautiful white sand beaches and exuberant jungle. When you´re not on one of our suggested additional adventure activities below, enjoy the typical Caribbean cuisine or just lie back and relax in the sea breeze.
* Surfing
* Reef diving
* Recreational biking
* Sea and river kayaking
* Horseback riding
For more adventure, check out:
Touring Tortuga Island * The Coffee Britt tour * Lancaster Gardens * Museums * Inbio Park * Aerial Tram Rides * Train Rides to the Pacifir Coast * Zoo Ave * Butterfly farms * More volcanoes * Guayabo Reserve * Ziplines in San José
If we have missed an adventure that you have in mind, let us know. If it is available, we will arrange to include it in your Spanish language lessons and adventure course.
(Additional activities are NOT included.)
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20 hours per week Spanish plus 15-20 hours per week of Volunteer activities. An ideal experience for social workers, psychologists, preschool and physical education teachers, medical personnel and youth workers. Spend two or more weeks improving Spanish conversation skills while doing volunteer work.
Volunteer work is done in conjunction with Spanish study: 20 hours per week Spanish plus 15-20 hours per week of volunteer. Some programs require a 4 week commitment.
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Day - At - A - Glance
Your first day of classes will be similar to one of the following:
Group 20 hrs/wk
07:30 Final registration details, placement interview, and group assignment
08:00 Welcome Orientation
08:45 Classes Begin
09:30 Break
09:45 Classes
11:00 Break
11:10 Classes
12:00 Lunch and free time
Group 30 hrs/wk
07:30 - 12:00 Same as Group 20 hrs/wk
13:00 Classes
13:50 Break
14:00 Classes
15:30 Free time (On Friday classes are over at noon)
* Day-At-A-Glance is a sample day and will vary depending on enrollment, time of year, lodging, etc. It is designed to show content rather than precise scheduling.
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Admissions & Academic Credit
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Students age 17 years and older are welcomed regardless of educational background, occupation or nationality. Students under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult. No previous knowledge of Spanish is required except where otherwise indicated.
Students desiring credit for their study programs should contact their home school or request the NRCSA Credit Fact Sheet. Generally, U.S. universities consider 15
hours of study to be equal to 1 semester credit.
For more information about academic credit in Spanish speaking countries, please click here.
For general information on academic credit, please click here.
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