What inspired you to work for Tico Lingo Spanish School?
I met our Program Director, Chris, while teaching English in Alajuela. Together we tried teaching some local expats the Spanish language and we really enjoyed the experience! We introduced them to the "real" Costa Rica and brought them to local coffee shops and restaurants. I really enjoyed the experience.
When Chris launched the official Tico Lingo school in 2015, I signed up to be the first profesor de español. I wanted to be a part of Tico Lingo's growth and aid in the process of teaching new students from around the world the beauty of Costa Rica and the Spanish language.
These were two students that I absolutely loved teaching! Graduation day is always a lot of fun.
Describe a typical day at work.
I'm typically at the school from 8am to 5pm teaching Spanish to group classes and to private classes. In the afternoons, I might teach a short cooking class with students or join in on the dance class!
Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do because I truly enjoy connecting with new students from all different countries. I love helping them dive into Spanish and analyze all the aspects of the language and how it relates to English.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Meeting new people from all different cultures and countries is a pretty great part of my job! Also the atmosphere at Tico Lingo is very relaxed. Lots of great coffee.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I have to draw on different experiences I've had in the past. Whether from traveling through other parts of Latin America or from meeting students from far off places like Indonesia or Belarus, I use those experiences to relate to my students and connect with them on their level.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
Taking time for myself can be a big problem. I am a father, a brother, a friend, and a professor. I have a lot of people who need me and my time and I can struggle to dedicate time to Freddy! I've recently found a new passion for the gym and now go daily.
This was a photo we took when we were creating the Tico Lingo YouTube videos. It was a super fun project!
What makes Tico Lingo Spanish School special?
Tico Lingo is special because it's a small, personalized place to work. I've worked in offices before or in other language schools and have always hated when I begin to just feel like a mouse in a maze.
Here, I'm a part of a small dedicated organization that cares about its students and local community. I get to feel like I'm making a significant impact on the school every single day.
Why should someone choose Tico Lingo Spanish School over competitors?
A lot of big Spanish schools focus on bringing in big groups of students from universities or study-abroad agencies. Tico Lingo doesn't do that. We focus on the individual and personalize every student's experience from day one. We're located in a very non-tourist town called Hereda. Great weather and zero English! It really allows our students to immerse into the community, culture, and language.
What hopes do you have for the future for Tico Lingo Spanish School?
I hope we're able to grow slowly and organically into new fun projects. There's talk of us offering a traveling Spanish program and expanding into offering beer making classes, ceramics workshops, and running live charity events at the school to support the local homestay community.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope my students walk away with a better understanding of the Spanish language and feel a connection to Costa Rica. We've had many students come back to visit us and have had others who decide to stay and create lives here! It's always great knowing students feel at home when they visit us at Tico Lingo.
This was one of our very first students that graduation from our program in 2016
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Students typically have questions about our city and need local tips. "What's the best gym to go to?", "Where's the best coffee shop?", "What's the easier way to see a waterfall?", etc. We have answers for everything! And we actually end up taking our students personally to these local gems in the community. It's a fun experience.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Learning a new language opens you up to new life experiences. It really forces you to think differently about the world and about how we use language to communicate with one another. There are lots of ways to communicate. We can use music, light, body movements, etc., but nothing can beat connecting with someone through the language their mother used to speak to them. It's a beautiful experience.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Don't over plan! Almost all of the experience is about going and saying "yes" to something new. That could be food, or a tour, or a class... but whatever it is, do a bit of research and once it feels right just take the plunge. Put your whole self into it.
Teaching online Spanish classes at Tico Lingo
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Connecting with a local community and local people! It's the only way I travel anymore. In fact, I'm going back to Columbia in a few weeks because I made some great friends there when I visited for the first time in 2021. It's important to see how people live and view the world. That's what's meaningful.
How is your company handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?
Our Program Director has done a great job of communicating to students what our protocol is and when/if it changes. It's been a (what feels like never-ending) experience that has really changed us at Tico Lingo. I feel like it made us stronger. We survived the border closings and the various government restrictions together and are going into this new chapter more united.
