Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world due to the number of speakers who claim it as their native tongue (after Mandarin Chinese). It is spoken as a first and second language amongst 450 and 500 million people. It is the third most spoken language as a first or second language after Mandarin Chinese and English combined, and is the mother tongue to 400 million people worldwide... Read more

Come to Costa Rica and experience "La Pura Vida" ("the pure life"), as the locals call it. The country attracts many tourists year round. The dry season during the summer (December through April) is high season, although Costa Rica is worth the trip even during the "green season." Costa Rica is deemed a very progressive and safe country, full of culture and breathtaking nature.

Our language school is located close to the center of Santo Domingo de Heredia, a mere two-minute walk from the bus stop from which you can take a bus to San José and Heredia. Our modern and nicely furnished building has 15 bright and spacious classrooms on three floors, offering a comfortable learning environment. Students can enjoy the gardens surrounding the school facilities during breaks.

Language courses begin every Monday for all language levels; absolute beginners can start every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month. The lessons are 60 minutes in length. In addition to small group and private instruction, we also offer combination courses. There is a maximum of 5 students per group and there is a program of 20 hrs per week, other of 30 hrs per week and a combination of both group and individual classes. There is an online level test available which students (with the exception of absolute beginners) should take before arrival to Heredia.

We offer Spanish courses for all levels (beginners, beginners with limited knowledge, low intermediate, intermediate, advanced, and superior). Our courses and teaching standards meet the requirements of the joint European Curriculum, which is important for recognition at many universities.

The below mentioned proficiency levels are divided into further sub-levels to ensure optimal uniformity within each class. If a student is ever dissatisfied with the class into which he has been assigned, he can of course change groups after consulting with the teacher and school directors.

Our educational materials are up-to-date and mostly come from Spanish universities or the Instituto Cervantes. They are specially developed to enable fast and effective learning of Spanish as a foreign language. In order to guarantee you top quality, we use a wide variety of materials. The educational materials are made available to you free of charge for the duration of your course. All of our students receive a certificate of successful completion at the end of their courses.

We use varied and modern learning strategies and learning materials to teach various aspects of the language (speaking, reading, writing, listening, grammar, and vocabulary). This includes printed media (books, newspapers, journals, etc.) as well as audio media (radio, CD, video, TV, movies, documentaries, etc.). In addition we use games to promote communication skills, which at the same time encourage creativity, association, reflection, and understanding of the culture.

All our instructors are native speakers and have extensive experience in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Continual training ensures a teaching staff whose lessons satisfy the highest criteria.

It is possible to do volunteer work after your Spanish course. This is a great opportunity to further get to know the local Costa Rican culture and to practise your Spanish. bear in mind that you need to take at least 4 weeks of Spanish followed by minimum 2 weeks of volunteer work. Please check with us for possible volunteer projects through which you can offer the locals a helping hand.

We arrange internships in Costa Rica year round for all fields of study. Take advantage of our cooperation with numerous renowned Costa Rican and international businesses and organisations. You can begin an internship on every week of the year. You determine the duration of your internship together with your employer; however, the internship should be at least eight weeks long.

 An internship in Costa Rica accords you a unique opportunity to experience every day work life in a Central American business. Here you will learn other ways of thinking and doing business which might prove to be invaluable for your further professional career.

Host family
Our students and interns reside with selected host families who live near the school (at most 30 minutes walk). The families provide furnished single rooms with half or full board as well as laundry service. Living with a host family accords you an excellent opportunity to utilize and improve your acquired Spanish skills and learn more about the local culture. Students often form close friendships with their host families that endure long after the student's stay has come to an end.
Please note any special dietary needs (if you are a vegetarian, for example) and allergies when you register, so that your host family can accommodate these.

Shared Apartments
These spacious apartments each have two to four bedrooms, a kitchen, and one to two bathrooms. You can choose between single and double room. The kitchen is fully furnished (incl. washing machine) and will allow you to be completely self-sufficient during your stay. Apartments are cleaned once per week and fresh bedding is provided at the same time. Students are required to bring their own bath towels. As a special highlight each apartment comes with a TV and some apartments even have a garden. The apartments are a approx. a 20-25 minutes walking distance from the language school.

Every week, the school offers a comprehensive recreational program. You can learn more about Heredia, San José and Costa Rica during dance classes, city tours, cooking classes, and fiestas. The school also organizes interesting excursions around Costa Rica, for example to Tortugero, Pacific coast and vulcano.

The following activities are offered regularly (selection):

• Dance classes - Together with our dance instructor, students will discover Latin American rhythm (salsa and merengue, for example) and immerse themselves in the Latin American temperament.


• City tour - On the first day of classes, all "new" students go on a tour of the city together. The most important aspects of daily life in their respective course location will be shown (how to use the local bus, how to withdraw money from the bank, shopping locations, and internet cafés, among others), so that they can find their way around from the first day on.


• Lectures - At our panel lectures, lessons and documentaries on historical and current topics of Latin America will help students learn more about the country, culture, and history of their course location. The lectures' themes and vocabulary will be prepared accordingly in class lessons, depending on the proficiency level of the students.


• Cooking classes - Our students participate with the instructor in cooking and enjoying the culinary specialties of the country.


• Fiestas - Occassionnaly, our students enjoy a typical Latin American celebration at school, including traditional food, cocktails, and dancing.


• Visit of a museum - Learn more about the culture of Costa Rica and Central America at these fascinating parks.


• Movie nights - Enjoy a relaxing movie with other students near the school.

Christopher Columbus termed the land "the rich coast" when he arrived there centuries ago. But this country, situated between Panama and Nicaragua, has much more to offer in addition to an enchanting coastline. Despite its relatively small size about 31,000 square miles, it is approximately as big as Switzerland, it is one of the most multifaceted countries in the world. Costa Rica offers especially ideal conditions for nature lovers and adventurers.

A third of the land is federally protected, and the bulk of the area consists of (partially unexplored) national parks, where you can experience up close unique animal and plant life with numerous species of birds, monkeys, crocodiles, turtles, tapirs, and jaguars. Take a day or overnight tour to one of the 72 volcanoes, ride a mountain bike through the mountains of Valle Central, marvel at the many waterfalls while rafting, or take advantage of the perfect conditions for surfing, wave riding, and diving in the crystal clear waters of the almost 1,500-kilometer-long (over 900-mile-long) Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

Santo Domingo is a beautiful city located almost equidistant between Heredia and San José in the heart of Central America. The city's 60,000 inhabitants are known for their friendliness and hospitality, so you will quickly feel at home here. Many families with children live in the pleasant surroundings, which include a park, charming churches, and quiet neighborhoods. In the evenings there is much to do, as there is always something happening in the bars, restaurants, and pubs. Using the excellent public transportation system, you can reach Heredia and San José in only ten minutes.

Student life dominates the university city of Heredia of 180,000 inhabitants. There are many bars, restaurants, pubs, and dance clubs as well as great shops around the university quarter. Nevertheless, the city remains manageable and is in no way hectic.

San José, the cosmopolitan capital of Costa Rica (500,000 inhabitants), is situated in the heart of the country, in the middle of Valle Central (Central Valley). From this picturesque valley, you can enjoy an exquisite view of countless mountain peaks that frame San José and its surroundings. Numerous museums, theaters, bars, and restaurants as well as the vibrant nightlife of the "Ticos," the inhabitants of Costa Rica, ensure exciting diversion in the city.

The following excursions are offered regularly (selection):

• Vulcano Arenal - This weekend excursion takes us to the active Arenal Volcano. For more than 10 years, the Arenal Volcano has been active every day. In the evening, we make a trip to the volcano, where you can see glowing, red lava and even eruptions from close proximity but a safe distance away. This is a breathtaking natural spectacle that will surely stay in your memory for the rest of your life. Later, we round off the excursion with a visit to a hot spring.


• Rafting - Another early morning trip, this excursion heads in the direction of the Carribean coast. In the Braulio Carillo National Park we turn towards the Rio Pacuare, famous for its rapids. Here we'll embark on our boat trip full of anticipation for the class 3 and 4 rapids. After two and a half hours on the water it will be time for a substantial lunch of tacos and fruits. The excitement continues with another 2 hours in the boats before we arrive at our goal destination in the afternoon.


• Tortuguero (National park) - On this weekend you will marvel at the Tortuguero National Park. This unique national park is found in northern Costa Rica on the coast of the Carribean. We begin with a bus drive from Santo Domingo through the Braulio Carillo National Park, followed by a two hour boat trip to Tortuguero. While on the boat trip, you can see the beautiful fauna of Costa Rica, including monkeys, turtles, caimans, tucans, parrots, and several other types of birds. From a distance you can witness the nesting areas of giant turtles as they lay their eggs during the months of September and October in Tortuguero. The next morning we make a canoe trip, on which participants can observe animals like monkeys, frogs, and caimans up close. In the afternoon, students make the return boat and bus trips back to Heredia.