Looking for a meaningful Spanish adventure in Costa Rica? Check out our blog The Pura Vida Experience.

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Where can I find Spanish classes in the summer?

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Summer vacation is a great time to explore the globe and learn Spanish in a short time! But how do you find the best country to study abroad and the best Spanish immersion programs? 

Costa Rica is known to be one of the top countries for Spanish study thanks to: the quality of Spanish spoken, safety, bio-diversity and close proximity to North America. 

Spanish immersion programs with room and board included offer study abroad programs for as short as two weeks (but also up to various months).

Important considerations when investigating Spanish immersion options are:  

Are there Spanish classes for both kids and adults?

What types of accommodations are available? In the case of homestays, is there room for couples or the entire family? 

Is it possible to hybrid the weeks between homestay and apartments?

Can the program help you to earn college or academic credits?

Is this a serious, established program? 

Does the program receive professional or university groups in addition to the individual student population?

With this Spanish program, can I hybrid my options by combining group and private classes?  Or specialized professional programs?

Is there the option to visit more than one location with this Spanish immersion program, for instance the beach, the forest and/or the city?

Does the Spanish school have sightseeing tours, as well?  Are these activities for individual travelers or all the family?

Does the Spanish program have airport pick up included?

Established in 1991, with a maximum class size of 4 students, catering to 10 linguistic levels as established by ACTFL, with CPI Spanish immersion in Costa Rica the answer to all the above is YES!  LIVE CHAT with our Admission’s office for more information.

It is not too late to sign up for Spanish classes for this summer!

Through CPI Spanish Costa Rica you can access all this and have a most authentic experience by learning the language and staying with a Costa Rican family or a locally owned accommodation to immerse yourself fully in the Guanacaste culture.

Explore Guanacaste with CPI Spanish at FLAMINGO BEACH!

Whether for leisure, work, to recharge, or personal enhancement, traveling always inspires a myriad of feelings and sensations, albeit for the long-term, culturally curious traveler or a short-term vacation tourist -- the experience remains with you forever. There are thousands of destinations from which to choose, planning includes comparing attractions, available experiences, and other personally related factors that help you decide one destination over another. It is of little surprise that Costa Rica makes many a MUST-VISIT travel list.

Numerous travel & leisure magazines and blogs include the Guanacaste province in Costa Rica as a top destination, and with the pristine beaches of Guanacaste, how could it not? With 70 spectacular beaches, some well-visited, others considered “hidden paradises” where you feel like you are enjoying your own private beach, you can snorkel into diving coves or catch a glimpse of dolphins & whales while sea gazing. This province also affords a chance to visit one of the main regions in the world for turtle spawning.

Why not opt for a ½ day catamaran tour to enjoy the vistas as the tropical breeze surrounds you; or, if you prefer, you can spend a full day relaxing at the hot springs near the bubbling mud pools close to Rincon de la Vieja Volcano. If you want a deep connection with nature, go for a hike in one of the many tropical dry forests & reserves or take a flat boat tour to observe monkeys, a variety of water birds, crocodiles and other reptiles – imagine iguanas & Jesus Christ Lizards.

Guanacaste is also a cradle of Costa Rican culture and history, a center that honors and seeks to maintain its traditional roots and practices. In Guanacaste you can observe how pottery pieces are crafted in a pre-Colombian fashion or enjoy a typical dance troupe display the cultural dances important to this part of the country.

As you can see, this province has it all! It is the perfect combination of beaches, savannah flat lands, dry tropical forests, volcanoes, and culture. Furthermore, as a bonus you can fly direct, arriving into its own international airport, LIR (“Daniel Oduber”), located in the town of Liberia (only 1 hour from CPI Flamingo).

The best of all, through CPI Spanish Costa Rica you can access all this and have a most authentic experience by learning the language and staying with a Costa Rican family or a locally owned accommodation to immerse yourself fully in the Guanacaste culture. Strategically located in Flamingo Beach, the CPI Flamingo campus is right on the coast, with access to numerous beaches. You can maximize the experience by combining intensive Spanish classes with a diving course or surf combo, or even take a specialized Medical/Social Work/Law Enforcement Spanish course with the afternoons free to explore. This is one of the main advantages of CPI – flexibility coupled with quality affords a win-win scenario!

Don’t let 2024 close out without planning to see one the top 50 destinations in the world and where you can, too, learn one of the most spoken languages of the world!

Pura Vida is practically synonymous with Costa Rica, but another word very close to the Costa Rican identity is how its inhabitants are called: Ticos and Ticas.

Tico and Tica: two terms with a lot of meaning

“Tico” and “Tica” is a nice way of calling Costa Ricans and in association with the unforgettable “Pura Vida”. The origen is very interesting

Pura Vida is practically synonymous with Costa Rica, but another word very close to the Costa Rican identity is how its inhabitants are called and also call themselves: Ticos and Ticas.

The origin arises from the ancient custom of adding the diminutive “tico” or “tica” to adjectives. For example, instead of “chiquito” (small), “chiquitico”.

This happened during the Central American War against William Walker's filibusters or invaders (1856-1857), when combatants from Costa Rica's allied countries noticed that Costa Rican soldiers had the peculiarity of using the diminutive.

At that time, Costa Ricans referred to their compatriots as hermaniticos, which was an affectionate form of little brothers. And, in this case, for a noun too.

Hence, this diminutive is also used in Costa Rican speech as a way of giving emotional value, also in a country that has been described many times as the happiest in the world.

The nickname Tico and Tica became widespread and even gave rise to the term Tiquicia, with which Costa Ricans colloquially designate their country.

So, it is no coincidence that Tico and Tica are the way to call and recognize the inhabitants of the country, both individually and for the country as a whole.

For example, for the Olympics G ames, the Costa Rica National Team is called the Tico National Team.

Likewise, the term is used to refer to its traditional food, its culture and any manifestation, activity or term that refers to the country.

And that, also, reflects a lot of what it means to be a small population in a small country as well, where it was common for everyone to know each other.

Even nowadays, someone always somehow knows someone or has heard of someone.

That way of speaking in diminutive is no longer used, but “Tico” and “Tica” remained as a nice way of calling Costa Ricans and in association, of course, with the unforgettable “Pura Vida”.

Learn more about the Ticos and Ticas and their friendly and unique way of being while learning Spanish Online or Onsite with Tico Professors at CPI Spanish Immersion School and its three campuses in Heredia, Monteverde and Flamingo. More information at: www.cpi-edu.com

The CPI Spanish HEREDIA campus offers the unique opportunity to visit hospitals and clinics as part of our Medical Spanish & Observation Program.

Learn MEDICAL SPANISH with OBSERVATION in Costa Rica

Are you a medical student or health professional open to advancing your career by learning Spanish? Costa Rica is the place -- and for good reason!

Medical Observation includes 5 hours daily of visits to private and public hospitals & clinics in the Central Valley. On some occasions, subject to availability, students have the opportunity to observe surgeries and other procedures.

The medical observation component also involves participation in health fairs and, depending on the doctors’ availability, rotations between two or more medical centers. Normal schedule: 7am- 12pm, Monday through Friday.

The Medical Spanish component is scheduled M-F in the afternoons, after observations, for a minimum of 10-hours of classes weekly. Classes are centered on your medical area of interest, with dedicated space to clarify doubts around the Spanish language encountered during the observations, as well as details related to the Costa Rica’s health care system.

The total cost for the Medical Spanish & Observation is $890 per student per week.

San Joaquin de Flores, where CPI Heredia is located, affords an authentic cultural experience in the Central Valley where 66% of the Ticos live. It is an easily manageable, walkable town, close to San Jose, with friendly locals, surrounding volcanic vistas and traditions such as country fairs, religious processions, parades and farmer’s markets.

Learn more about our programs at: www.cpi-edu.com 

Learn Spanish in Costa Rica, one of the best accents in Latin America. You will not be disappointed.

Which country speaks the best Spanish?

Costa Rica is the perfect place to learn Spanish because of its accent and much more.

Clearly each Spanish speaking country would proudly argue the point that the Spanish spoken in their homeland is the best!  And who would expect otherwise?  Culture and language are intricately linked and each country has much to offer visitors from a culinary, historic, artistic, and linguistic perspective. 

Spanish can be classified into countries with clear diction and a certain level of linguistic standardization.

Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru, for example, with a rich tapestry of indigenous cultures and languages, demonstrate dialectical influences in their locally spoken Spanish; while the opportunities to hear firsthand indigenous languages is a special experience, if your goal is to learn Spanish, it could be that your Spanish learning opportunities are reduced. 

Two countries which are recognized for a clearly spoken, standardized accent are Colombia and Costa Rica; while there are indigenous languages spoken by some citizens, the primary language is Spanish.  Curiously, both these countries have a similar accent and common manners of expression, along with a warm, friendly citizenry; in fact, visitors list the feeling of being welcomed as one of their top favorite reasons for loving their time in these countries. 

Of the two, Costa Rica, however, is more experienced in receiving tourists of all budgets, from backpackers to luxury accommodations, at the most popular in-country nature destinations. Costa Rica also has experienced hospitality staff to receive visitors from North American and Europe.

In terms of established Spanish immersion schools, Costa Rica is an industry leader with almost 45 years since the first immersion school opened, and currently there is a plethora of options for all travel styles and linguistic goals. 

When seeking out the best option for you, take into consideration:

Years of experience: this provides an indication of industry knowledge.

Maximum class size: smaller is better, of course, with fewer students translating to increased personalized attention and support in achieving individual goals.

Is the institute a locally owned company? Schools with local roots have a comprehensive understanding of the culture, along with a greater level of interest in community and sustainable development.

Supplementary services: is the ambience welcoming and set up for a successful student experience?

Are there support staff available to assist with any & all questions? Does the school help with logistical planning for in-country transportation and tours?

A quick tip: be cognizant of the pre-travel experience; is engagement with the Sales & Admission’s staff positive? Are your questions being answered in a timely fashion & are you being well prepared for this experience?

If Costa Rica is on your radar as a study travel destination, do not hesitate for a minute – it does not disappoint! 

CPI Spanish Immersion School, with 30+ years of experience and three stunning locations at Flamingo Beach, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Heredia city, is the perfect place.

Find out more about our tailor-made Spanish onsite and online programs at: https://www.cpi-edu.com/

Looking for a meaningful Spanish adventure in Costa Rica? Check out our blog The Pura Vida Experience

The Pura Vida Experience Blog

Where can I find Spanish classes in the summer?

Explore Guanacaste with CPI Spanish at FLAMINGO BEACH!

Tico and Tica: two terms with a lot of meaning

Learn MEDICAL SPANISH with OBSERVATION in Costa Rica

Which country speaks the best Spanish?

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