What inspired you to go abroad?
I wanted to learn Spanish from a native Spanish speaker and also learn about the Spanish culture.
My teacher Ana and I.
Why did you choose Instituto Bilingue?
First, I knew that I learned best in an environment where I could work one-on-one with a teacher, and have lots of variety. I was initially interested in online classes. I decided to take the Spanish assessment on their website, and after completing it, the director of Estelar, Bethany, emailed me.
We ended up emailing back and forth several times, and her willingness to answer my (dozens of) questions about the types and costs of programs that were offered, available housing, transportation, safety, etc., really helped to put me at ease and I decided to travel to Costa Rica. She was great! And she arranged the exact type of study environment that I needed, and I was able to have private classes for six hours a day. She even arranged transportation for me from the airport in Liberia to the hotel.
What was your favorite part about Liberia, Costa Rica?
Just being in Costa Rica, because it is a beautiful country and the people are very warm.
What made your experience abroad unique?
This was the first time that I traveled alone to Latin America.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The front desk staff was great and very helpful and I always felt safe and secure.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
If it would have been possible, I would have liked to stayed longer.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
I had been speaking Spanish for a few years, but was really struggling. My teacher, Ana, was terrific. She developed a curriculum for me based on the parts of Spanish that I needed to improve, including the Subjunctive which I didn't know very well at all. Each day, she used several different teaching methods including oral and written exercises, videos, etc., to help me understand the material, and I got to speak a lot and practice everything I was learning.
She kept me busy and engaged the whole time and I loved it! There was a lot of variety. One day, Ana and I took a walking trip around town and she showed me several places that were important to Costa Ricans, and explained much of the culture. One of the most important things I would say about Ana, was that she was kind, and super patient, which were two things that really helped me to relax and be able to learn.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
I walked around town, looked at the parks and the buildings, and watched the people. And I tried different local food specialties for dinner every night.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
I stayed at the Hotel Cerro Liberia Guanacaste and it was spotless clean. And safe. I highly recommend it. The hotel manager, Luis, was wonderful. He was very helpful and made sure that I had what I needed. Every morning, Luis' wife made a delicious homemade breakfast. Luis explained a lot about the culture and arranged for transportation for me when I needed it.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
That you will really enjoy the school and the teachers and the culture. There is so much to learn and the teachers make learning fun.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
I came back home really energized and wanting to reach out and speak to other Spanish speakers here (in Washington state) because I was able to speak much better than I had been, before I went to Estelar.
Would you recommend Instituto Estelar Bilingue to others? Why?
Absolutely. I would highly recommend Estelar Bilingue to anyone who wants to improve their Spanish. After a week of studying there, I felt much more confident in my ability to communicate, than I when I arrived. I was completely pleased with my entire experience at Estelar. I learned so much in a week.
