| To find a language school, start with the list of the
list below. Also, check with foreigners who have studied here,
visit the school and observe its classes. Perhaps this reader's
experience can help you narrow down your choice. I have found
a great school that I am planning on attending this fall.
It's called IPED and it is located right in downtown Heredia.
What originally attracted me to this school is the great
reviews it received from its former students that I found
in various places.The prices are reasonable compared to other
similar schools, and they provide home-stays with Tico
families.
Conversa is One of Costa Rica's
Apparently, they will even have someone pick you up at the
airport and take you to your tico family's house. I
plan to get an apartment in Heredia instead of doing a home
stay for various reasons including lower costs but, I can
see how home-stays can have some great advantages.
What really cemented my decision is when I e-mailed some
questions to the school. They responded to my message within
a couple of hours and really took the time to explain things
to me. I guess the big advantage to this school is that they
have smaller class sizes and give you more personalized attention.
They e-mailed me pictures of the school as well any
school with a hammock out back is right up my alley.
This list should start you on your way. Private, individualized
language classes are also available. For listings, look in
the classified section of The Tico Times.
Centro Lingüístico Conversa has an excellent
conversational program at the main school in San José
and another campus west of town in a rural setting. See their
display ad in this book. Write to Apdo. 17-1007, Centro Colón,
San José, Costa Rica.Tel: 221-7649,Fax: 2332418, E-mail:
conversa@racsa.co.cr, Web:http://www.conversa.co.cr.
IPED has an excellent program and is located in the beautiful
city of Heredia. Tel: 238-3608 Tel:/Fax: 237-1801 Toll-free
from the United States (888)-Si Hablo or 888 744-2256, E-mail:
info@ learnspanishcostarica.com or ipedcr@racsa.co.cr .
Intercultura is also located in the city of Heredia. P.O
Box 19523000, Heredia Costa Rica. Tel/Fax: 260- 8480 or 656-
0127. Toll-free number from the United States or Canada: 1-866-363-5421.
E-mail: info@interculturacostarica.com.
Instituto de la Lengua Española offers excellent intensive
program. Six hours daily for 15 weeks for $635. Terms begin
in January, May and September. Apdo. 100-2350, San José,
Costa Rica. Tel: 227-7366, Fax: 227-0211.
Forester Institute International offers a variety of classes.
Prices range from $600 to $1150 depending on the program.
Apdo. 69451000, San José, Costa Rica. Tel: 225-1649,
Fax: 225-9236, E-mail: forester@racsa.co.cr.
Intensa has two-, three-, and four-week programs with home-
stays available. Prices range from $260 to $545. Apdo. 8110-1000,
San José. Tel: 281-1818, Fax: 253-4337, E-mail: intensa@racsa.co.cr,
Web: http://www.intensa.com.
Academia de Español Intercultura has an excellent
reputation and is located in Heredia. Tel: 260-8480, Fax:
260-9243, Web: www. interculturacostarica.com.
Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano has eight schools
in different parts of the country. Apdo. 1489-1000, San José,
Costa Rica. Tel: 207-7500, Fax: 224-1480, Web: http://www.cccncr.com.
Instituto Universal de Idiomas has various programs . Apdo.
751-2150, San Pedro, Moravia, Costa Rica. Ave. 2, Calle 9
Tel: 2239917, Fax: 223-9917, E-mail: info@universal-edu.com,
Web: http://www. universaledu.com.
Institute for Central American Development Studies offers
onemonth programs, five hours a day, for $892, includes classes,
lectures, field trips, and home-stay with a Costa Rican family.
Apdo. 3-2070 Sabanilla, San José, Costa Rica. Tel:
234-1381 Fax: 234-1337,
E-mail: icads@netbox.com.
Centro Panamericano de Idiomas is a new school in a beautiful
rural setting. The cost is about $1000 monthly and covers
instruction, home-stay and excursions. Apdo. 151-3007, Heredia,
Costa Rica. Tel: 265-6866, Fax: 265-6213.
Mesoamerica Language Institute gives four hours of instruction
each day for $80 a week. Apdo. 1524-2050, San Pedro, Costa
Rica. Tel: 234-7682, E-mail: mesoamer@racsa.co.cr.
Lisa Tec: Tel: 239-2225, Fax: 293-2894, E-mail: mkcarney@
itspanish.com, Web: http://www.itspanish.com.
IPEE Spanish Language School: Tel: 283-7731, Fax: 506-225-7860,
E-mail: ipee@gate.net, Web: http://www.ipee.com.
Academia Tica's various courses and home-stays cost between
$120 and $180 for 20 hours of instruction. Apdo. 1294-2100,
Guadalupe, San José, Costa Rica. Tel: 229-0013, E-mail:
toyopan@intercentro. net.
ILISA, Instituto Latinoamericano de Idiomas: Apdo. 1011,
2050 San Pedro, Costa Rica or Dept. 1420, P. O. Box 25216,
Miami, FL 33102-5216. Tel: 225-2495 Fax: 225-4665. In United
States and Canada: (800)-454-7248, E-mail: spanish@ilisa.com.
Centro Lingüístico Latinoamericano teaches intensive
courses, five hours per day for four weeks, including home-stay
for $295 weekly. Apdo. 425-4005, San Antonio de Belen, Costa
Rica. Tel: 293--0128, Fax: 239-1869.
Central American Institute of International Affairs (ICAI)
specializes in workshops and conferences, all levels of Spanish
and also offers deluxe tours and college credits. Apdo. 10302,
San José, Costa Rica. Tel: 233-8571, Fax: 221-5238,
E-mail: icai@expreso.co.cr,
Web: http://www.expreso.co.cr/icai/index.htm.
University of Costa Rica now offers Spanish courses as a
foreign language through the School of Philology, Linguistics
and Literature. This program lasts four months and space is
limited. The cost is about $450. Tel: 207-5634, Fax: 207-5089,
E-mail: espanucr@cariari.ucr. ac.cr.
Berlitz offers different language programs to meet all of
your needs. Tel:(506)-204-7555, (506)-253-9191 Fax: 204-7444,
253-1115, Web: http://www.berlitz.com.
There is a Spanish conversational club for foreigners wanting
to improve their Spanish skills. Call 254-1433 or 235-7026
for details. The Instituto Universal de Idiomas (Avenida 2,
Calles 7/9) has an exchange club where you can practice Spanish
with a native speaker in exchange for help with English (257-0441).
Centro Cultural also has free Spanish social- conversation
classes through a program called Simply Spanish.
You
can now combine language study with one of Christopher Howard's
Relocation/Retirement Tours. Please call 800 365-2342
toll free for details.
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