Study Abroad

 

 

The quality of our teaching is recognised internationally by the Instituto Cervantes, the world authority in the teaching and testing of Spanish as a foreign language, with our appointment to its worldwide ‘Centro Asociado’ network, the first in Costa Rica. This is a quality assurance and point of reference that students can rely on when faced with choosing a Spanish school in a foreign country. Our courses are the preferred choice of students from all over the world, often from multi-national companies, international development or aid agencies, or government departments or universities.

 

 

Costa Rica is a well-known travel destination and is a magnet for nature lovers. Our location in the tropics gives students a real alternative when choosing where to study. A comfortable climate that avoids extremes, a system of national parks that covers more than a quarter of the country, beaches on two oceans, and a friendly informal way of life make this a very attractive option for combining study and travel.

 

 

Our General Spanish courses correspond to the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF) and offer a base for language study and contact with the culture. All courses are taught in small groups or one-to-one tutorials. Students are asked to complete a brief placement test (written and oral) to determine their starting level and are awarded a certificate of level as well as a detailed progress report at the end of their courses.

 

This is an intensive course of variable length, depending on the student’s objectives. The basic course is two weeks and can be extended in multiples of one week. The timetable is four hours a day from Monday to Friday and field trips and cultural exchange activities are included in the course. New groups start every Monday. The course content focuses on language structures, functions and usage, with equal emphasis on all four communication skills (speaking, writing, reading and listening).

 

 

Course content is customised to meet students’ requirements. A needs assessment determines the length of time necessary for fulfilling the customer’s expectations. The minimum course length is 20 hours. Knowledge of basic Spanish is a pre-requisite to taking this course, which is available only to intermediate and advanced students. Students acquire contextually relevant language related to their speciality and take part in field trips and other activities.

 

 

These are 20-hour course specifically designed to help students enrolled in DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) examinations improve their chances of success in the exam. They focus on examination techniques required and cover grammar, writing, speaking, reading comprehension and listening comprehension. Courses are scheduled in accordance with DELE examination dates and are offered in March, August and September. For detailed information about DELE examinations, please see our DELE Information Sheet or visit www.diplomas.cervantes.es.

 

 

Our premises have a small café and wi-fi internet connection. We offer twenty-four hour emergency health and personal assistance. It is important that students take out a medical insurance policy before travelling. Homestay accommodation with local families can be arranged on your behalf or we can supply a list of local hotels and hostels if you prefer.

 

 

We include guided visits twice a week with classes off-site and field trips on Fridays so students can practice in real life situations the language they are acquiring. Weekends are free for travelling further afield and, as well as helping students plan excursions in line with their personal interests, we work with reliable tour operators for making reservations. To enable students to make the most of their weekends, there are no planned activities on Friday afternoons or evenings.

 

 

As an official examination centre of the Instituto Cervantes, we are able to offer world class exams in Spanish to students who wish to have a qualification with global recognition. Exams for DELE are offered three times a year (May, August and November) in all six levels that correspond to the CEF, testing all four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. For Study Abroad students on long stays that coincide with the dates defined by the Instituto Cervantes (see our website for details), we are able to provide enrolment facilities, preparation courses in exam techniques (see above) and invigilation of the exam itself. Results are communicated by email 12 weeks after the exam and certificates are sent by post 10 months later.

 

PRICES 2012

 

The fees in the above table are per student. Course prices do not include the cost of course books and CDs.

 

Availability If a student registers for a group course and there are not enough students at the same level to form a group, the student will receive a tutorial course at no additional cost: in one-to-one tutorials, 10 hours a week; in two-to-one tutorials, 15 hours a week.