Description

Established in Costa Rica in 1989, our Partner School is located on the east side of the capital city of San Jose, in the suburb of San Pedro, across from the University of Costa Rica campus and just a short 20 minute walk from downtown San Jose.

Our Partner School has developed its own classroom methodology so students communicate, comprehend and use accurate pronunciation quickly through different approaches. Instructors pay special attention to individual language needs, emphasizing active student participation. Classes are intense, yet enjoyable; challenging, yet fun.

Instructors are native Spanish speakers. Each has a degree in linguistics, literature or education with additional training and experience in language teaching. Many have further studies in various areas - all this adds up to professionalism and program excellence.

Alajuela

The school is located in La Guacima de Alajuela, a small village 18 miles northwest of San Jose, the capital of the country, and about 10 minutes from Juan Santamaria International Airport.

Our Partner School has a spacious, park-like campus with a swimming pool, which offers a relaxing atmosphere for students. Classes are often held in open-air classrooms surrounded by beautiful gardens and a wide variety of trees, flowers, birds and other animals. Students can combine classes with swimming, playing soccer, basketball or volleyball, or resting under the shade of a tree.

Coronado and Jaco Beach

Our Partner School, founded in 1986, is one of the first Spanish schools in Costa Rica and it is known by the individualized instructional organization of its seminars. This school offers a full range of Spanish courses and is an associated center of the Instituto Cervantes.

At just 6 miles from its capital city of San Jose, at the foot of the Braulio Carrillo National Park, lies the friendly, cozy and hospitable semi-rural community of Coronado. This is the ideal relaxing environment to study Spanish, travel around and get to know Costa Rica.

On the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, Jaco Beach, known as the City of Surf, offers you all the attractions of a seaside city. In the calmness of beautiful tropical gardens you will have the possibility of taking your first steps in Spanish or of perfecting the skills that you already have in this language.

Jaco also offers some of the best surfing in the country and it's just minutes away to other world class surfing spots like Playa Hermosa (5 minute drive from Jaco downtown). A costant year-round surf spot, Jaco Beach is also one of the best places to learn how to surf, or if you already know, you'll have no trouble finding a good ride.

Highlights

San Jose

* Classes are offered privately or in small groups, usually 3 or 4 students, but no more than 6 per class.
* 10 levels of instruction: Beginner I, II & III; Intermediate I, II & III; Advanced I, II, & III.
* Group lessons from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3 p.m (depending on type of course). Private lessons take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
* Specialized Spanish courses also offered for medical, legal or business professionals, Spanish teachers, etc.
* Programs available with or without homestay
* Assistance with other means of accommodation offered

Extracurricular Activities

* Conversation classes
* Student Tico exchange
* Handicraft fair
* Soccer games
* Latin American folk songs
* Weekend trips and excursions

Alajuela

* Regular group: 4 hours per day; Intensive group: 5.5 hours per day; Semi-private: regular group + 2 hours of private lessons.
* Program duration: 1 week up to as many as you desire
* No more than 4 students per group
* Levels: from beginner to proficient beginning every Monday
* Course content: develop main areas of the language such as reading, writing, speaking and comprehension.
* Group schedule: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for Regular, and Intensive continue from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
* Specialty Spanish courses available: Spanish for teachers, medical Spanish, Spanish for kids (4 to 12 years), Spanish for teens (13 to 19 years)
* Traveling with your family? Babysitting service is also available
* Housing available: Costa Rican host family (full board) or on campus rooms (single, double, triple or Cuadruple rooms including breakfast)

Extracurricular Activities

Every week the school will offer you Latino dancing classes (Salsa, Merengue and Cumbia), and you will also learn how to prepare some typical dishes in the cooking classes. Other activities you are able to do during your stay:

* Horseback riding
* Butterflies Live workshops
* Exercises in/out of the water with a professional trainer
* Art workshops
* Bowling
* Movie

Coronado and Jaco Beach

* Regular group: 20 lessons per week; Intensive group: 30 lessons per week; Individual: 10 to 30 lessons per week. Combination: 20 group lessons + 5 individual lessons per week.
* Each lesson = 50 min.
* Program duration: 1 week up to 34 weeks
* Up to 6 students per group
* Levels: 6 (Beginner to advanced)
* Course content: reading, speaking, pronunciation, listening comprehension, grammar, vocabulary expansion, Central American culture.
* Group schedule: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a 30-minute break.
* Housing available: Costa Rican host family (half board), on campus student residence, shared flat, or hotel (Jaco only)

Do you want to learn Spanish with your children? A light language course with lots of extra activities is just enough for you? Need support in preparing for your DELE exam? Have a look at our Special Courses to see if one of these fits your needs. Feel free to contact us for further details:

* DELE Preparation
* Interactive Course: Pura Vida
* Parent & Child Course
* South American Package
* Spanish and Surf (Jaco only)

Extracurricular Activities

Activities are announced a few days before they take place. A monthly calendar is also available and all students are welcome to participate, the only requirement is a desire to have fun and speak only Spanish while in it. Activities include:

* Spanish movies
* Tropical dance class twice a month
* Culinary food tasting
* Visit to the local athletic club
* Weekly excursions: San Jose city tour, Waterfall Gardens, Lancaster Botanical Gardens, theater/concert night, Ram Luna restaurant, Rafting, Los Alpes Cheese Factory Coronado, carnivals, nightlife tour, Sugar cane processing plant & and much more!

Languages

• Spanish

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• Spanish

Subject Areas

• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Please visit website for more information.

Program Fees Include:

San Jose

* Spanish classes
* Class materials
* Latin dance lessons
* Cooking lesson
* Conversation classes
* 4-week program (depending on length) includes 1 one-day excursion or 1 month gym membership; or 2 one-day excursions or 1 excursion & gym membership.

Alajuela

* Spanish workbooks and class material
* Use of the school facilities (swimming pool, sport fields, etc.)
* Internet access at the school computers and wireless connection
* Snacks and beverages (coffee, tea and water) during breaks
* Weekly cultural activities (dance lessons and Costa Rican cooking)
* Alajuela City tour
* Certificate of completion

Coronado and Jaco Beach

* Course as booked and confirmed
* Course material
* Written and oral testing on the first course morning
* Orientation kit and orientation tour on the first course day
* Certificate of attendance
* 2-3 cultural or social activities per week
* Book lending from our library
* Internet connection
* Wi-fi connection
* Individual help for tour reservations

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Phone/Video Interview
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

6 min

IMAC Spanish Language Programs's Mission Statement

IMAC Spanish Language Programs in Guadalajara, Mexico is devoted to promote international goodwill through education and the teaching of languages.

Year Founded

1977