Kate Sommers-Dawes marvels at Costa Rica as a Spanish immersion destination
Visit Costa Rica’s official tourism site and read its official slogan; “No Artificial Ingredients,” — a mantra of which you will not need reminding from the first moment you step foot in one of the country’s myriad waterfalls or stumble upon one of its one hundred plus species of brightly colored frogs. The country is of a manageable size and the bus network is extensive if somewhat slow due to rainy weather and less than perfect roads. Its two airports allow visitors to crisscross the country with speed but at greater expense (if you’ve got the time, a two peso, six-hour bus ride is hard to turn down — as is the quality time you’ll get to spend with the locals).
The country, a veritable natural amusement park, offers active volcanoes, stunning beaches (both Caribbean and Pacific), and intoxicating rain forests full of exotic flora and fauna. In the country’s center is the famed Arenal volcano, which is a hefty but picturesque hike from the small town over which it looms. The landmark also overlooks a waterfall and swimming hole as well as a luxury resort based around natural hot springs. Tortuguero National Park, on the Caribbean coast, is an epicenter for ecotourism and a hot spot for sea turtle watching and caring. For monkeys, iguanas, and sloths galore, head to Manuel Antonio National Park, clear on the other side of the country, to hike in a stunning evergreen forest that grows right up to the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. Mountainous Monteverde also offers cloud forests, canopy tours, and ziplining for the ultra-adventurous. Additionally, for the surfer-expat types, no shortage of laid back, tiny beach towns dot Costa Rica’s shores, offering prime, picturesque, beach-bumming locales.
With its diverse array of landscapes, climates, and activities on offer, Costa Rica, as a nation, could not disappoint visitors even if it tried. The main difficulty facing the language traveler with limited time will be deciding which places to visit first. Occupying a small strip of land between Panama and Nicaragua, Costa Rica is home to fifty plus Spanish schools, including:
Forester Instituto Internacional offers several exciting programs of instruction in the Spanish language. Its short immersion courses of one to four weeks are popular among students. The Institute is located in the capital city of San José, and was founded in 1979. Basic to the school’s philosophy is maintaining a cheerful, congenial atmosphere in which to learn Spanish. The school has partnered with several foreign universities as part of their study abroad Spanish programs. Lessons are offered at beginner through advanced levels in small classes so students who receive personalized attention. For those who are unable to travel and who wish to continue improving their Spanish, the Institute offers online, live, one-to-one instruction via webcam.
David D’Amore, MA, former UCLA professor and Pepperdine graduate, founded La Academia de Espanol d’Amore in 1992 and has trained thousands of students from over 30 countries in the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture. The academy offers a teaching-learning process based on the Communicative Approach through the language immersion modality of learning; courses are therefore conducted completely in Spanish. There are courses available for adult students of all levels, from zero knowledge of the language to advanced speakers. Additionally, students study Latin American culture and spend one day a week outside of the classroom on various excursions. For example, students study in the jungle learning about various ecosystems within the tropical rain forest. As an alternative choice for the regular academic program, the school offers Spanish for Specific Purposes (SSP) in four different disciplines: Medical, Business, Legal, and Education for those who want to concentrate on a specific linguistic area. Classes meet for four hours each day, Monday through Friday and are held in comfortable, ocean view classrooms. The classes are small, personal and meet in the morning or afternoons (depending on group placement), leaving enough time for exploring the surrounding area or relaxing on the famous Manuel Antonio beach.
Many of Cost Rica’s schools are in the Central Valley but, in recent years, several have sprung up on the Pacific coast. Conversa Spanish, founded in 1975 by a former Peace Corps language coordinator and linguist, sits on a six-acre mountain-side campus that is a breathtaking setting for learning to speak Spanish. The instructional staff is highly experienced and there is also a large support staff. All stand ready to assist students with their language learning. Language groups are never larger than four students and care is taken to assure that these groups are well-integrated according to age and proficiency level. Staff and students come together for breakfast and lunch in Conversa’s comedor. Activities are offered after lunch to provide out-of-classroom opportunities for practice. The campus has a mock grocery store, travel agency, infirmary, hardware store and hydroponics area. There are several walking paths marked with information on Costa Rican history, geography, flora and fauna. In addition to a well-organized and integrated host family program, Conversa offers on-campus lodging in La Casona, a lovely six-room lodge. La Casita offers two small suites for families that come with children. The school’s owners pride themselves in offering their students (guests) quality Spanish training. This year, Conversa is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
Intercultura sets itself apart from other schools with its atmosphere: students and staff interact constantly throughout the day, whether in class, in the reception and lounges, or in activities — thus, the school quickly becomes a second home for students. There are usually two or more activities per day for students to choose from, so it’s easy for them to practice Spanish, make friends, and learn new things in addition to the language. Both school sites are beautiful, fully-equipped and comfortable, with student kitchens, lounges, gardens and study areas. The beach campus is actually on the beach: students walk out the gate and onto the sands of beautiful Sámara. Lastly, Intercultura has a high percentage of professors with Master’s degrees in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language and the school provides ongoing professional development workshops for staff year-round, enabling teachers to focus on making classes dynamic and interesting while covering both grammatical and cultural topics.
Kate Sommers-Dawes is assistant editor at Language Magazine.
Daniel Ward is struck by the natural beauty
and Mayan culture of the country of Eternal Spring
Guatemala, located just south of Mexico in Central America, offers a unique blend of manmade and natural wonders. Visitors can experience glorious ancient Mayan sites nestled within beautiful, lush jungles filled with an extraordinary array of wildlife. Mayan history has been etched into the country, but theirs is a living culture which is developing and driving the economic growth of the country.
Guatemala’s documented history dates back to 10,000 B.C., and some evidence suggests even further. Today, Guatemala has 13 million inhabitants and, while the official language is Spanish, 21 recognized Mayan languages are spoken amongst its people. One of those, Quiché (K’iche’), is the second most spoken language after Spanish and some Spanish language schools offer Quiché language courses for those who want to really delve into Guatemala’s language and culture.
Guatemala is also the perfect place for anyone looking to integrate some adventure into their language studies. Whether it be climbing the ancient Mayan ruins, traversing through its jungles or national forest, exploring its mysterious volcanoes, or lazing on its Caribbean and Pacific beaches, there is something for everyone.
Antigua
Antigua, which is one of the world’s best preserved colonial cities, with its beautiful architecture, cobbled streets, and stunning setting amongst three volcanoes, is renowned for the friendliness of its people. Academia de Espanol Guatemala is endorsed by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education and the Guatemalan Tourism Commission. It offers programs for U.S. university credits and the DELE Spanish diploma. The school features a structured program, designed for each individual student. The teachers at AEG have experience working with diverse students such as families on their way to missions in Latin America, pilots, professional business people, or medical doctors and nurses. Family homestays are reliable as the school has maintained an exclusive, exceptional group of families over the years due to consistent enrollment. Immersion study with experienced families allows students at any level to speak Spanish from the very first day.
Academia de Español Sevilla offers private lessons with professional, qualified and experienced teachers. Students can study from four to eight hours daily, start any day of the year, and have their classes tailored to their own specific needs. Sevilla is authorized by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education, and is also certified by various local universities, and recommended by the Tourism Institute of Guatemala.
Sevilla offers the choice between homestay or student house accommodation where all rooms are private. Students can also participate in cultural activities, including salsa and meringue classes, volcano hikes, and horseback or bicycle tours of the city. The school also encourages students to offer their help to the community through various volunteer projects.
Also located in Antigua is Antiguena Spanish Academy which has been established for 23 years. Authorized by the Ministry of Education of Guatemala and the Tourism Institute of Guatemala, the academy offers Spanish courses for all levels or professions. Students can also combine Spanish courses with volunteer programs at hospitals, schools, or farms. The school provides all study materials as well as activities in the afternoon, such as Guatemalan cooking classes, biking, coffee and macadamia nut farm tours.
ENFOREX has schools throughout Guatemala, each with its own unique charm. The school in Antigua is housed in a renovated colonial building, with a capacity of 80 students. All schools offer private courses, intensive courses, and super-intensive courses for students of varying levels of Spanish.
The Spanish Academy Probigua offers a total immersion experience consisting of private and group courses of three or four students. The program is based on conversation, grammar review, reading analysis, and activities beyond the classroom. As a non-profit organization, the school donates its profits to establish and maintain libraries in the many rural villages with few children’s books.
Quetzaltenango, the second largest city in Guatemala, was founded in 1524 by the Spanish conquistadors. It is an active city with a population made up of 50 percent Mestizo and 50 percent indigenous Mayan. Located here is Celas Maya, a private institution with an intercultural vision, remaining ever-conscious of the economic, social, and political oppression of the Mayan population within Guatemala. It offers intensive, one-on-one Spanish or K’iche’ language classes with a member of staff certified with diplomas in the teaching of Spanish as a second language. By living with a Guatemalan family, students immerse themselves not only in Spanish language but also in cultural experiences that enrich their understanding of the country and culture. With a wide variety of cultural and educational activities, students have the opportunity to learn about Guatemalan culture and society, visit areas outside of Quetzaltenango, practice their language skills, and get to know other students, teachers, and local people. The school also offers the DELE-exam. Students can even learn Spanish through the body with the Spanish and Salsa dancing program. The academy also employs a volunteer coordinator who can advise the student in finding the best possible volunteer placements in the surrounding area.
Quetzaltenango
Also in the Mayan highland city of Quetzaltenango (or Xela “shay-la”), Miguel Angel Asturias Spanish School offers 25 hours of intensive individual Spanish instruction, numerous activities, and homestay with all meals for $150 per week, surrounded by volcanoes, with amazing scenery and hiking opportunities, as well as access to all parts of Guatemala by bus.
The teachers at Miguel Angel Asturias Spanish School have up to 20 years experience teaching one-on-one immersion Spanish, with rigorous training and certification. From absolute beginner to highly advanced, each lesson is customized precisely to the student’s needs. There’s also an extensive library of books, videos, and multimedia that students can use in the school or check out and take home.
A founding principle of their school is to give back to the community, and both of the directors have degrees in economics with a wide variety of experience working with rural communities. They offer the opportunity to share skills, interests, and enthusiasm to helping the people of Guatemala, while practicing and improving Spanish, including sustainable agriculture, photography, teaching, healthcare, agro-industrial co-operatives, rural development, and counseling.
The school also offers a Medical Spanish program which combines intensive general Spanish instruction with specialized instruction focused on medical terminology and situations and is ideal for doctors, nurses, medical school students, pre-med students, emergency medical technicians, and others in the health care fields.
Daily and weekend activities, such as visits to markets and villages, Salsa dancing, conferences and discussions with experts, cultural activities are included. There’s Internet access and Skype in the school, for keeping in touch. Students can also receive university credit for attendance.
Escuela Juan Sisay, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, offers courses which enable students to speak, read, write, and participate in conversations in Spanish with an emphasis in oral proficiency supported by a strong grammatical foundation. At the same time, students will also be introduced to the social, cultural, historical, and political realities of the country. Students participate in private courses for five hours a day, five days a week. This method of instruction allows each teacher to focus all energies on one students creating a program specifically tailored toward the needs of that students as opposed to a general curriculum for a class.
Each week, a different teacher is in charge of running the week’s extracurricular activities. Activities take place in the afternoons after classes and lunch with host families. These activities are designed to compliment the classes and include conferences, discussions, movies, hikes, and excursions.
With locations in Quetzaltenango, Jutiapa, Huehuetenango, Retalhuleu, and Guatemala City, Instituto Guatemalteco Americano has had 62 years of experience in offering English and Spanish language learning programs. IGA offers programs for children, teens, and adults, with a wide variety of programs and schedules, including daily and weekend sessions. It is also a major teacher training center offering a Teacher’s Training Course and an annual National Teacher’s Conference with the approval of Guatemala’s Department of Education.
Daniel Ward is publisher of Language Magazine.
