... Language Institutes ...
by Infocostarica Staff

If you're planning to learn Spanish in Costa Rica, it won't be hard to find a school of your liking. However, since there are more than 24 accredited schools and many more that haven't been officially recognized, it will be difficult to choose from all of the options. It will probably be more expensive to learn Spanish in Costa Rica than in Guatemala or Mexico, but most of the time with field trips and all, you'll get your money's worth.

Most schools offer three basic levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced; a few of the schools include more specialized courses, like business Spanish. There are some tips for selecting a language school that fits your needs and your pocket. First of all, if you wish to gather general information about institutes, you may contact this Costa Rican office: Union of Spanish Language Centers (UCEEPE), phone # (506)225-24-95. You may also check out the English language newspaper of Costa Rica, called The Tico Times, since it's always advertising Spanish programs. If you prefer to find out from offices in the United States, you may reach the following institutions: Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) (212-661-1414), Global Exchange (415-255-7296), Green Tortoise Adventure Travel (415-956-7500), and Institute of International Education (212-984-5413). There are more organizations that have information on language institutes in Costa Rica, but the previous are some of the main ones. The ideal way of selecting a school of your liking is to take your time, and once you're in Costa Rica, to go and sit in various classes. Of course, this isn't possible during the high seasons (July-August and December-February), since you will need to make a reservation well in advance.

If you're looking for a lengthy stay of at least a semester or a year, you might want to investigate the programs offered by the University of Costa Rica, at their Spanish for Foreigners Program (506)207-56-43; they also offer shorter classes during breaks in the United States. The choices apart from the university, are endless. The Centro Cultural Costarricense- Norteamericano offers excellent Spanish courses, but it tends to stress the grammatical part (tel. (506)225-94-33). A private institution that offers thorough courses is Centro Linguistico Conversa (221-76-49), which also offers classes and homestays in their five-acre farm outside of San Jose. The Instituto Latinoamericano de Idiomas or ILISA, offers two to four week programs, is constituted of four hour classes from Monday to Friday (225-24-95). The Mesoamerica Language Institute also offers week day classes, but schedules are more flexible; they also teach a six-hour survival course, for just the basics (234-76-82). These are just some of the numerous options that you have as a Spanish student in Costa Rica. Most of these institutes also offer the services of a tutor, charging $10-$25 /hour. The advantage of being taught by a tutor is that it's usually faster because all of the attention is on one student; however, some people find that this system fails because they miss out on their classmates' conversational input. Before selecting an institute it's important to figure out what your needs and possibilities are, because a semester-long university program is completely different than a six-hour survival course in Spanish.

Something to keep in mind when considering studying in Costa Rica, is that just because you're enrolled in a program, it doesn't mean that you'll never get to see this country's natural assets. Most institutes offer field-trips or homestays in rural areas, as well as cultural events like dancing lessons or trips to local discos. The Tico Times advertises language schools that are starting to appear in beautiful and exotic locations, like rainforests and beaches. If you want to mix learning with traveling to rural areas, this is perfectly possible. Remember, however, to determine if you see yourself as a city-dweller or a nature-inhabitant, before you decide to learn Spanish in a remote area.

If you want to really learn Spanish or another language, you should choose the homestay option, instead of sharing an apartment with foreigners or staying by yourself. Also, since so many people speak at least basic English, you'd be better off in the countryside. The third recommendation for learning faster and better Spanish is to avoid hanging out with foreigners. Of course, this is easier if you have a job in Costa Rica, since you'll be surrounded by people who will invite you to go out with them and their friends. Learning another language is a challenge that can be lots of fun, especially because it enables you to "function" in another country and basically, in another world. Even though Costa Rica is a small country, it offers a myriad of language institutes and social and cultural events that will make learning lots of fun.