Intensive Spanish Immersion Program in Heredia, Costa Rica

Name: Intensive Spanish Immersion Program in Heredia, Costa Rica
Brand: Tico Lingo
SKU: 120800
Rating: 4.98 (96 reviews)

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4.98 Rating

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Location

Costa Rica
- Heredia

Length

1 to 24 weeks

Language

Spanish

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Program Details

Language Level

BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

Immersion Level

Intensive Standard

Class Size

Private Lessons Small Class (1-7)

Weekly Classroom Hours

Housing

Host Family Hostel Hotel

Age Min.

Pricing

Starting Price

350

Price Details

Included in each program:
• Written and oral exam to assess Spanish level
• Airport pickup from SJO (Juan Santamaría International Airport)
• Orientation tour with map of Heredia and surrounding area
• 24/7 support and local contact in Heredia
• All necessary class materials: pencils, notebooks, etc.
• Wifi internet access both at school and in homestays
• Fresh coffee and tea throughout the day at school
• Dance and yoga classes as well as conversational “intercambios” with locals
• Official certificate of course completion

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Classes Some Meals Wifi

What's Included (Extra)

Written and oral Spanish exam
Airport pickup from SJO Airport
Orientation tour with map of Heredia
All necessary class materials
Free internet access at school and in homestays
Fresh coffee and tea each morning
Conversational classes with locals
Official certificate of course completion

What's Not Included

Airfare Domestic Airfare Some Meals

Last Updated: Jan 24, 2024

Last Reviewed: Apr 25, 2024

Wish List

88 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Tico Lingo offers the most personalized and immersive Spanish programs in Costa Rica. We offer students a relaxed learning environment with small classrooms, free coffee, and good vibes.

Our Intensive Spanish Immersion Program aims to give students linguistic fluency through cultural immersion and an intensive Spanish curriculum. We emphasize oral communication and application by connecting students directly to the local community through conversational classes and homestay accommodation.

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Video and Photos

Adult Spanish Immersion Program in Costa Rica

Private Class Graduation at Tico Lingo Spanish School

Private Spanish classes at Tico Lingo in Heredia, Costa Rica

Enjoying the patio after class at Tico Lingo

Group photo at Tico Lingo Spanish School in Heredia, Costa Rica

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Program Highlights

Flexible start dates; pick any Monday to start your classes
All levels welcome; start as a complete beginner or an advanced speaker
Airport pickup from SJO included
Free cultural activities like dance class and yoga
Free walking tour of the local city Heredia

Program Reviews

4.98 Rating

based on 96 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Language

5 rating 98.96%
4 rating 0%
3 rating 1.04%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Instruction 4.95
Support 4.95
Fun 4.85
Housing 4.85
Value 4.95

Good for Students, Solo Travelers, Retirees

Showing 49 - 56 of 96 reviews

I initially planned to do one week of Spanish and homestay at Tico Lingo, but I enjoyed it so much I ended up staying for four!

For me, this was an ideal introduction to my trip to Central America. I was able to improve my Spanish, learn about Costa Rica from my homestay family and hang out with other students from the school.

I was in the middle class in the school, Kevin was a great teacher helping us to improve our conversational Spanish, learning grammar, expressing past and present tenses and some handy Tico phrases! Staying in a homestay was great, feeling like part of the family and practicing your Spanish outside of school.

We also organised some trips with other students from the school which was great fun, visiting La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, also catching up with the guys again in Santa Theresa after we'd finished studying for some time chilling on the beach

Thanks for everything Chris, Yennifer, Maritiza, Kevin and Freddie!

What was your funniest moment?

I told my homestay dad I'd seen bears in the trees in Manuel Antonio. Sloth in Spanish is Oso Perezoso (literally Lazy Bear). I tried to just shorten it to Oso, which is bear. They don't even have bears here. He was very confused!

I studied with Tico Lingo for three weeks in January of 2021. I learned a ton of Spanish and am absolutely way more conversational now, and have a lot of tools to continue to teach myself. I stayed with a host family and was able to continue to learn and practice every night when I went home, and experience authentic Costa Rican culture. My host family was very sweet and genuinely cared about my success in Costa Rica. The school staff was very helpful to any questions I had about Costa Rica, Spanish, and anything else that came up. All around, a great experience.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

I wish I had explored the public transit a bit more! I was a bit scared at first to take a bus and just explore, but when I tried that, I had a really great time and saw some very cool things.

I’ve tried emersion Spanish school before but this one worked. ( more of a science than language person) Why did Tico Lingo work for me?
1. Program and small classes tailored to my goals.
2. Made learning fun - I m now studying/ reviewing nearly every day on my own due my experience.
3. Supportive social environment- positive and ecouraging feedback from teachers, staff that was echoed by my host family and even townsfolk- Ticos, especially away from resort towns are more likely to tolerate my broken Spanish so I get to speak more and practice.
4. Extra activities like yoga and intercambio with local English speakers.
5. Gave me usage and details that were hard to find online and absent from my previous in person classes.

A great place to learn - I’m on the road now and sufficiently functional gain momentum.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

I got to try several tropical fruits, including some varieties of citrus fruits that I have never seen before. Also the pineapples were very flavorful.

I loved my experience with Tico Lingo. They make it easy to learn spanish in a comfortable environment. From offering transportation directly from the airport to our homestay, to giving a tour of Heredia, I felt great attending classes. The best part of my three week experience was learning from Freddy, a teacher there. He provided tailored instruction that was incredibly well-organized. He made it fun as well and gave us a lot of advice about our travels around the country of Costa Rica. The Tico Lingo facilities were clean and modern, with fresh coffee every morning. Another activity that was surprisingly great was the Intercambio nights on Thursdays, when Ticos would come to practice their English while we practiced our Spanish.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

We got our rental car stuck on a giant hill! Whoops!

I went from zero to 10 in 4 weeks!

I loved absolutely everything about my time in Costa Rica. It is difficult to put in to words all the extra benefits I experienced from what I imagined was just another Spanish immersion program in Latin America. I was so wrong! The biggest take away from Tico Lingo was that I felt that my language leaning goal mattered to all the staff as much as it did to me. It appeared that everything was carefully designed to support me to where I wanted to be. I can now say that I am confidently communicating in Spanish!

This school is hands down the best place on earth to learn Spanish! I had never had so much fun learning a new language, they have an amazing program and everyone treats you like they've known you since forever, its a super welcoming place. AGAIN... when I say hands down I mean way down... I can't recommend TicoLingo enough I loved the entire experience, all the way from the airport pickup, to my home-stay family welcoming me in their home, to the actual Spanish classes, to the amazing tours I was able to do in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is an amazing Country and TicoLingo has certainly picked a great and centric spot to be in. If you are looking for a Spanish immersion program like no other TicoLingo has you covered!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?

The only thing I'd change is actually staying longer, that's the one thing I regret, I went for 1-month and it just was not enough! I wanted more, and did not want to leave. Right now I'm saving up to be able to go again!

Being a student at Tico Lingo and living in Heredia for 10 weeks was the best decision I ever made. I had two amazing teachers - both were quickly able to analyze my level of Spanish and adapt to teaching me what I needed to know in order to get better. You build relationships with everyone at the school, not just your teacher and classmates. It's like a family and everyone is so supportive.

My host family and I became real family. From day 1 they treated me like a son and I knew I could depend on them for anything.

Heredia is a cool small city that is very walkable. It's a great place to stay and attend school. If you're feeling adventurous on the weekend your a short drive away to awesome nature or San Jose, the capital city.

My advice to you is if you are thinking about becoming a student at Tico Lingo.. Do it!! You will not regret it.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

My first day was my most nerve-racking moment. Moving into a home with a family that doesn't speak my native language. The sudden realization that I'm far away from home. It's a natural moment of nerves that quickly passes.

Choosing Tico Lingo is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My Spanish improved immensely and I found a home away from home.

My experience with Tico Lingo is multidimensional. I’ve taken group and independent classes both in person and online and had the pleasure of working with 2 different teachers. Though I planned on living in Costa Rica for 1 month, I love my Costa Riccan host family so much I decided to quarantine with them for the foreseeable future. Today is my 6 week anniversary.

Tico Lingo classes (both online and in-person) made my high school and university Spanish classes look bad. Humans can not learn a language by memorizing vocabulary and “fill in the blank” worksheets. Why? We need to develop an ear for the language and we need context in order for the language to actually stick. At Tico Lingo, students are expected to speak, listen and interact. This participation based curriculum propelled my Spanish from an elementary to intermediate level in just 4 weeks. Hell yeah!

Tico Lingo is a rarity, a collection of genuine people who run a remarkable business. The teachers, administrators and staff... there are no words. #puravida

Questions & Answers

What is the process like for booking this program?

Great question! Once you send a message or press Apply Now, the provider of this program will receive your message or application, and guide you to the next step. All you have to do is fill out a few details! The entire process should only take a few days and every message will appear in your personal inbox.

By Brittany Murphy on March 12, 2019

How long will it take to be accepted?

You will know within the next few days.

By Brittany Murphy on March 12, 2019

What happens after I press "send a message" on the right side of the page?

Answer this question

What do I do after I apply to this program?

Wait for the provider of this program to accept you! You will receive an email to your personal inbox as well as your Inbox here on Go Overseas within 48 hours.

By Brittany Murphy on March 11, 2019

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I researched many Latin American programs and chose this one on the basis of its flexibility of curriculum, its location in a temperate climate (I don’t do well in extreme heat) in the country I know and trust, and on the basis of many positive reviews.

I had no personal knowledge of the school or of the individuals who created it prior to showing up.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

All I had to do was let the extremely capable staff know my preferences and certain uncertainties in my schedule and they took care of everything. I really wanted a private bathroom at my homestay, I wanted to be sure that certain dietary preferences were not a problem, and I wanted the ability to add private lessons to my group curriculum after establishing just how much energy I would have in a given day of school.

View Entire Interview

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would advise other students who want to have private lessons, to arrange for them as soon as possible so that they have no schedule conflicts with other students.

This is a small school which is a great part of it’s charm, but there is a limit to the number of private lessons available at the times desired.

Having said that, I must add that I was able to get all the private lessons I wanted at the last minute. I just needed to be a tiny bit flexible with the times. Yenifer Who is the main person in the front office is a magician with schedules.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Each weekday has a four hour group class tailored to the level of expertise of each student group. I can only speak for myself, but my instruction with Freddy was spot on as far as what I needed to learn. For me, he was absolutely amazing.

I must add that the classes are flexible and in my experience adjust to the immediate needs of the student on any given day. These classes are not rigid with set milestones and specific examinations. Rather they are tailored to the individual needs of those attending each class.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I had no fears going into this, but I was apprehensive about my own ability to learn a great deal in six weeks. A combination of their extremely competent instructors, their broad curriculum, and my own personal interest made for a very successful experience.

My long-term goal is to be able to understand local speakers in the street. I am not there yet. Six weeks is not enough for 64-year-old man to get that fluent.

However, I am now 100% certain that that goal is within my reach over the next year.

What makes this program special?

The school establishes a culture of camaraderie, positivity, and just plain fun.

Everyone who works there and, quite frankly, every student I met, contributed to an atmosphere of Community and a sense of progress.

I specifically recommend Freddy, the head of curriculum, as a marvelous instructor in Spanish grammar. This is largely because he has a deep understanding of both English and Spanish and is able to clarify confusion unlike any Spanish instructor I have ever worked with. He is a gem.

I am making this recommendation as a beginner who needed to understand the grammatical structure of this language in order to infill that infrastructure with vocabulary and experience.

My experience was 100% successful in this regard.

I shall miss this place and I plan to return.

John L. Corso

2020 Alum

Vanessa Chen

2020 Alum

Leila Ginsberg

2016 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Yóbeth Cabalceta

Program

Intensive Spanish Immersion Program in Heredia, Costa Rica

Job Title

Spanish Professor

Born and raised in the beautiful and sunny province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Yobeth started working as a facilitator in a Spanish school during her college days. She developed a fond passion for teaching and quickly had an opportunity to work as a university professor after graduating college with a triple major in education, literature, and linguistics. As her interest in working with foreign students grew later in her career, she began seeking smaller, private schools that focused on intensive Spanish. Thus, she found Tico Lingo and continues to teach students from around the world.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I don't travel too often, I like to be close to family here in Costa Rica. Occasionally we take trips together out to the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. I think that my favorite experience was observing closely the whales and dolphins on the coast of the south of Costa Rica. Incredibly beautiful animals!

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

In the world? Hmmm …I think that the whole rural zone is very underestimated in Centroamérica, Suramerica. There are still some indigenous peoples that live there!

View Entire Interview

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Education is at the core of everything we do here. Definitively, it is necessary to allow for creativity in the classroom and social interaction between the students and the teachers. Learning between walls and cubicles as well as using unnecessary technology that distances students is really not our goal. We want all of our students to connect with our community personally and walk away with a comprehensive educational experience.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I feel that here at Tico Lingo I can apply and experiment with all the teaching techniques I've learned over my 30+ years of teaching Spanish. Normally large language institutes keep a very strict and authoritative program where students are inside a classroom all day reading textbooks and filling out worksheets. If I've learned anything over the years, it's that each student learns differently and a level of flexibility is necessary to truly connect with each student. Tico Lingo allows that! They let me experiment with new ideas in the classroom, take students out into the community, and teach in a format that is fun, cultural, and informative.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Warmth towards students and teachers! We get to know each on an individual level that allows them to relax in a new place, soak up the good weather, and study their brains out while they are here.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Whenever I find out that they use what I've taught them. It's always fantastic to hear students students applying what they learn in the real world, especially when it came from me!

Freddy Fariñas

Education Director

Chris Reidy

Program Director

About Tico Lingo

Welcome to Tico Lingo, the ultimate destination for mastering Spanish and immersing yourself in Costa Rican culture. Our expert native Spanish professors have curated immersive and fun Spanish programs that have students speaking like natives in no time. Located in the heart of Costa Rica's Central Valley, in the vibrant city of Heredia, Tico Lingo...