Language Institutes

If you plan on learning Spanish in Costa Rica , it shouldn't be hard to find a school that suits your needs but 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. One recommendation, if you really want to learn Spanish or any other language, is that you should choose the home stay option if offered other than staying with foreigners or by yourself. Staying with a family will give you the opportunity to practice the conversational material you learn in your classes and hear the language spoken by locals.

Another thing to keep in mind when considering studying in Costa Rica, is that being enrolled in a program does not mean that you won't have time to see the country. Most of these institutes offer field-trips as well as cultural events like dancing lessons or trips to local discos.

Some language schools advertise classes at the beaches and rainforests, but you should determine if you are a city-dweller or a nature-inhabitant before you decide to learn Spanish in a remote area.

Most schools offer three basic levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced; a few of the schools include more specialized courses, like business Spanish. If you would like 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.

If you're looking for a lengthy stay of at least a semester or a year, you might want to look into the programs offered by the University of Costa Rica at their Spanish for Foreigners Program (506) 207-5643. There are many choices apart from the universities though: The Centro Cultural Costarricense- Norteamericano offers excellent Spanish courses, but it tends to stress the grammatical part (506) 225-9433. Centro Linguistico Conversa (506) 221-7649, is a private company which offers classes and homestays in their five-acre farm outside of San Jose . The Mesoamerica Language Institute offers week day classes, but the schedules are more flexible; they also teach a six-hour survival course, just for the basics (506) 234-7682.