High School Language Immersion Programs in San Jose

Our high school study abroad program in Costa Rica is filled with an immersive homestay and high school experience and an unbelievable tour of this stunning land. This is your chance to make lifelong friends across cultures and become a member of the community. Costa Rica is the place of pura vida (pure life), a contagious attitude of living life to the fullest. And it shows – Costa Rica is the world's happiest country according to the Happy Planet index. Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos, and you’ll often hear them demonstrate their national pride by describing something as muy tico, or “very Costa Rican.” Ticos are generally easy-going, so you’re likely to get along with most people you meet. With its tropical climate, biodiversity, fresh food, and relaxed lifestyle, going to school in Costa Rica is an enchanting way to discover a new culture. By living with a host family and attending a local high school, you’ll get an inside look at this idyllic society.

Join us in Costa Rica for unforgettable memories and valuable service work! We will have the unique opportunity to perform 20 hours of valuable service work in two different communities. In La Fortuna we will work alongside the local association of Boy Scouts with various projects like planting trees to promote a better ecosystem, light construction, and clean-up projects. TFT feels strongly about the impact of this organization and we contribute every year to help them continue their mission in the community. In Sámara we work with another local association that provides supplemental educational, recreational, and career opportunities for youth with limited resources in the rural beach communities of the surrounding area. We will be helping run one of their many programs focusing on academic and artistic education, environmental consciousness, health, and socio-cultural development. Projects vary but our service work typically consists of working on art projects with the children, reading to them, teaching them English, and general upkeep of the school such as painting and light maintenance.

While Costa Rica has a very high literacy rate and has a very strong tourism industry, there are also quite large impoverished and at-risk communities. This project aims to send volunteers into these communities to help them achieve their goals. There are a variety of projects in different fields volunteers can choose from such as helping with women’s issues, child welfare, health care or education. The internship provides volunteers with a practical and professional experience needed for a career in social work or a similar field. To make sure that participants are meeting their goals there will be bi-weekly meetings with a supervisor and a final evaluation of their performance. This project highly encourages interns to have an intermediate level of Spanish to help enhance their internship experience.

Teens can spend their summer learning Spanish in the heart of San Jose, Costa Rica. Students take classes in a private high school in the San Pedro area (center of the city). The school is fully equipped with basketball courts, soccer fields, a cafeteria, 30 classrooms, and computer lab. Students will take classes Monday through Friday and also pursue a chosen elective program. The program offers an ideal balance of academics and culture with planned excursions on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Students are supervised at all times and have chaperones during activities including travel to and from school. HOMESTAY Students live with a Costa Rican family during the week for full immersion. During weekend and overnight trips, students stay in hotels with same gender roommates. Homestays include three meals a day. WHAT ARE CLASSES LIKE? There are 15 lessons per week each lasting one hour and all Spanish levels are welcome. Classes will take place from 2:45 to 5:45 and all materials are included. There is a maximum eight students per group class.

Explore Costa Rica’s diverse landscapes, vibrant communities, and unwavering commitment to preserving its natural treasures. Deepen your awareness and learn from local communities to take climate action back to your home community. Embark on an unforgettable journey through Costa Rica, where nature, culture, and sustainability come together. Begin in San José, exploring museums, bustling markets, and engaging in discussions on climate justice. Travel from the Los Santos Region to the remote Osa Peninsula, hiking through lush national parks, discovering breathtaking landscapes, and connecting with local communities. Immerse yourself in Costa Rican life during a 10-night homestay, participating in meaningful community projects and forging lasting connections. Experience thrilling adventures from the rainforest canopy to the Pacific Coast, and explore eco-initiatives, including sustainable farms, an active wind farm, and sea turtle nesting sites. The Biodiversity, Climate & the Environment program blends cultural immersion, conservation, and adventure in one unforgettable expedition.

Join us in Costa Rica as we experience life off the beaten path in the shadow of the Turrialba Volcano. Our 14-day teen community service and Spanish immersion program takes us through the beautiful country as we visit mountains, rainforests, and beaches. Improve your Spanish as we immerse ourselves in a rural community within the Turrialba Valley to repair family homes and work on local community projects – making time to surf, sea kayak, zip-line, and whitewater raft as well! Program Includes: Community Service, Cultural Immersion, Explore, Spanish Language Exposure, Rainforest Hike, Surf, Teach English, Whitewater Rafting Expedition, Zip Line Service Hours 24-36 Sessions Multiple session dates - Check out our website for dates and full trip details!

Experience an unforgettable adventure with fellow Girl Scouts from across the United States! Our GSUSA Destinations courses in Costa Rica and Panama will give you an opportunity to visit remote rainforest villages with family homestays, serve local communities, scuba dive among the colorful coral reefs of the Caribbean Ocean, protect the region’s fragile ecosystem, catch waves on famous warm water breaks and offers many other adventure opportunities with each course. Immerse yourself in a new language and culture while discovering your inner strengths and leadership skills. Create life-long friendships along the way. Our GSUSA Destinations courses are open to current members of Girl Scouts of the USA. Girl Scouts must apply to participate through the GSUSA Destinations program and be between 13-18 years old at the time of course. *Please note that, for the health and safety of our participants, OBCR has made program adjustments to these courses. Please visit our website to view our COVID-19 considerations.*