Intercultura Language School and Cultural Center
Intercultura Language School and Cultural Center
Intercultura Language School and Cultural Center
5
About
Intercultura Spanish Language School in Costa Rica offers a series of 18 courses designed by curriculum specialists, using interactive small groups in an environment of total immersion in Latin American culture. Classes are 4 hours per day, Monday to Friday. Our professors are university trained and credentialed to teach Spanish as a second language. Academic credit through several accredited US university programs is available (e.g. Brookhaven, Austin College, and Duke University).Cultural activities include Latin dance classes, cooking typical Costa Rican foods, Spanish-language films, weekend sightseeing tours, cultural orientation and city tour and special holiday celebrations.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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nostep2
Lyons, Colorado3 contributions
Nov 2022
My wife and I attended Spanish language school at Intercultura in November, 2022; 2 weeks at the campus in Heredia and 2 weeks at the campus on Playa Sámara. Intercultura is an excellent, professionally run language school, staffed by friendly, helpful, and welcoming people. We worked hard and learned a ton. I cannot imagine a more positive experience than the one we had. If you are going to take the time and expense to attend a language school in a Spanish speaking country, this is the one. Pick your scene; urban in Heredia or on the beach in Sámara. Either way, you will be in a top notch school in one of the nicest places on earth - Costa Rica. Tambien, gracias a todos en Intercultura. !Los extrañamos!
Written December 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel4Joy
Burlington, VT253 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
For the most part, the school is thoughtful in all that they do and make available to you.
The people
Most of the students here are from Switzerland, Germany and French Canada. I am American and there are other American students here as well. The majority of the students seem to be in their 20’s with enough in their 30’s through 60’s so that everyone feels comfortable. The older people I have met are all friendly and open to meeting others, sharing of themselves and well, the type of person who comes to learn a language on their free time when no one is making them do it. Interesting people. The younger set, for the most part, barely notice we older folks are here and when they do they often look at us with some admiration – after all, it is cool that their parents are here.
Those in their 20’s enjoy bonfire, beach and all that.
The teachers and office staff are ALL kind, welcoming and a pleasure.
The school Facilities
This place really is right on the beach. You could not get any closer. During class break or at any time out of class, feel free to hang out in the fenced-in open grounds which include Wi-Fi, refrigerator, coffee, hammocks, tables, cloth line for bathing suits and beach towels, outdoor exposed showers, and signs reminding you to ‘Habla solo en espanol”. Or go out the fence and speak any language you choose, find a spot under the coconut trees, string a hammock between them or go in the warm water. The beach is almost clean and not crowded. During break time there is a bakery truck that comes by twice a week, a woman with fresh cut fruit, home made empanadas and muffins. Lunchtime go into town or again, purchase from a local woman who sets up a table from her car trunk. Good inexpensive food. (figure $4. For lunch here or in town.)
The classrooms
are small with white boards and are adequate. They are mildly air-conditioned. In one class the teacher kept turning off the a/c to hear the soft-spoken students which would cause a meltdown for me. The a/c is not great but bearable
Classes
Can be a bit of a problem.
If you are young, or speak French you will have no problem from what I see and from others with whom I converse say. If you are at any level other than very beginner all should go well for you. If you are a true true beginner, you will need to self advocate and make sure of your placement. You should familiarize yourself with some basic words and phrases such as: How do I say in Spanish…..? What does that mean? Como, Que, Donde, Please repeat what you just said, Homework, I do not understand…. Those who speak French generally advance faster than those who do not. In addition, I strongly suggest familiarizing yourself with a bit of Spanish by using the Duolingo App on your smartphone....
Also, you may want to request that the non-French speakers are not outnumbered by French speakers in your class. Similarly if you are older, you will want to request to not be alone or outnumbered by the younger set. This, however, the school does seem to try to take into consideration at when they place you.
HomeStay
This is certainly the best way to go offering you practice, insight into culture and helping to support the local community. Homestays are not all created equal so do speak up about preferences. What is important to you in your homestay? Hot shower? Wifi? Private bathroom? Proximity to the school? (many students rent bikes for $25 for a week). --- You cannot have it all. All ages stay at the homestays and I have observed that those students shared homes seem to be matched by age range. Another thoughtful touch.
What to bring
You can buy anything you need here but the basics that you will possibly need include: beach towel, hat, sunscreen, dictionary, notebook, pen, highlighter, daypack, insect repellent, host gift, shampoo :& conditioner. --- I only see some of the younger students with mascara or liner. The weather here is so humid and hot that any make-up will slide off. repeat: you can buy whatever you need or forgot in town.
How long to stay?
Do not bother for less than two weeks is my opinion. There are people who do come for several months. For a beginner like myself, Things begin to click at the two week mark so, three weeks would seem better than two. That said, While I thought I made a mistake coming for two and not three, two is all I could handle. Another friend I made here quit before the end of the second and another canceled her planned third week. In both instances the people were older and here for themselves. So when it gets too frustrating or no longer fun – when the frustrations of not learning fast enough is combined with cold showers, It can get a bit tough.
My thoughts for the school:
For older beginning students, consider cramming less information into the week After all, we are here because we want to be. Some challenge is good but... Perhaps a slower track? Also, consider allowing some English instruction for the first week. It made me crazy to discover how often my definitions were wrong because the word was explained with other words I did not understand or a Xerox of an image that was not clear (eg- an arrow to the bed is referring to the blanket or the mattresss?) Lastly, Send us some information before we arrive with some basic words to get aquainted with, and an outline of what we will be covering each week.
Lastly, with all the offerings for volunteerism, I have no clue why the school doesn't arrange for a weekly beach clean-up by the students. Hand us some rakes and garbage bags and let us have an hour of camaraderie and do-goodedness. We will feel good, make friends and the beach area will be cleaner. (During our stay there was a French Canadian Woman doing this all on her own. When I asked her she said that the beach gives her so much pleasure, she wants to give back and take care of it.)
In summary
This is a very special place and I do highly recommend it at ANY age!!
The people
Most of the students here are from Switzerland, Germany and French Canada. I am American and there are other American students here as well. The majority of the students seem to be in their 20’s with enough in their 30’s through 60’s so that everyone feels comfortable. The older people I have met are all friendly and open to meeting others, sharing of themselves and well, the type of person who comes to learn a language on their free time when no one is making them do it. Interesting people. The younger set, for the most part, barely notice we older folks are here and when they do they often look at us with some admiration – after all, it is cool that their parents are here.
Those in their 20’s enjoy bonfire, beach and all that.
The teachers and office staff are ALL kind, welcoming and a pleasure.
The school Facilities
This place really is right on the beach. You could not get any closer. During class break or at any time out of class, feel free to hang out in the fenced-in open grounds which include Wi-Fi, refrigerator, coffee, hammocks, tables, cloth line for bathing suits and beach towels, outdoor exposed showers, and signs reminding you to ‘Habla solo en espanol”. Or go out the fence and speak any language you choose, find a spot under the coconut trees, string a hammock between them or go in the warm water. The beach is almost clean and not crowded. During break time there is a bakery truck that comes by twice a week, a woman with fresh cut fruit, home made empanadas and muffins. Lunchtime go into town or again, purchase from a local woman who sets up a table from her car trunk. Good inexpensive food. (figure $4. For lunch here or in town.)
The classrooms
are small with white boards and are adequate. They are mildly air-conditioned. In one class the teacher kept turning off the a/c to hear the soft-spoken students which would cause a meltdown for me. The a/c is not great but bearable
Classes
Can be a bit of a problem.
If you are young, or speak French you will have no problem from what I see and from others with whom I converse say. If you are at any level other than very beginner all should go well for you. If you are a true true beginner, you will need to self advocate and make sure of your placement. You should familiarize yourself with some basic words and phrases such as: How do I say in Spanish…..? What does that mean? Como, Que, Donde, Please repeat what you just said, Homework, I do not understand…. Those who speak French generally advance faster than those who do not. In addition, I strongly suggest familiarizing yourself with a bit of Spanish by using the Duolingo App on your smartphone....
Also, you may want to request that the non-French speakers are not outnumbered by French speakers in your class. Similarly if you are older, you will want to request to not be alone or outnumbered by the younger set. This, however, the school does seem to try to take into consideration at when they place you.
HomeStay
This is certainly the best way to go offering you practice, insight into culture and helping to support the local community. Homestays are not all created equal so do speak up about preferences. What is important to you in your homestay? Hot shower? Wifi? Private bathroom? Proximity to the school? (many students rent bikes for $25 for a week). --- You cannot have it all. All ages stay at the homestays and I have observed that those students shared homes seem to be matched by age range. Another thoughtful touch.
What to bring
You can buy anything you need here but the basics that you will possibly need include: beach towel, hat, sunscreen, dictionary, notebook, pen, highlighter, daypack, insect repellent, host gift, shampoo :& conditioner. --- I only see some of the younger students with mascara or liner. The weather here is so humid and hot that any make-up will slide off. repeat: you can buy whatever you need or forgot in town.
How long to stay?
Do not bother for less than two weeks is my opinion. There are people who do come for several months. For a beginner like myself, Things begin to click at the two week mark so, three weeks would seem better than two. That said, While I thought I made a mistake coming for two and not three, two is all I could handle. Another friend I made here quit before the end of the second and another canceled her planned third week. In both instances the people were older and here for themselves. So when it gets too frustrating or no longer fun – when the frustrations of not learning fast enough is combined with cold showers, It can get a bit tough.
My thoughts for the school:
For older beginning students, consider cramming less information into the week After all, we are here because we want to be. Some challenge is good but... Perhaps a slower track? Also, consider allowing some English instruction for the first week. It made me crazy to discover how often my definitions were wrong because the word was explained with other words I did not understand or a Xerox of an image that was not clear (eg- an arrow to the bed is referring to the blanket or the mattresss?) Lastly, Send us some information before we arrive with some basic words to get aquainted with, and an outline of what we will be covering each week.
Lastly, with all the offerings for volunteerism, I have no clue why the school doesn't arrange for a weekly beach clean-up by the students. Hand us some rakes and garbage bags and let us have an hour of camaraderie and do-goodedness. We will feel good, make friends and the beach area will be cleaner. (During our stay there was a French Canadian Woman doing this all on her own. When I asked her she said that the beach gives her so much pleasure, she wants to give back and take care of it.)
In summary
This is a very special place and I do highly recommend it at ANY age!!
Written April 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seize16
Halifax47 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
I spent 5 weeks at Intercultura in Samara and loved it.
I wasn't sure where to learn Spanish, I had heard that Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia were the best places for language tourism but I finally decided to go to Costa Rica upon a friend's referral of Intercultura and was not disappointed.
I did group and private classes and liked both. My teacher Katherine (for private) was fantastic, going to school was fun and rewarding. The courses structure was great, the curriculum rich, the classrooms very modern and clean. The campus is literally on the beach. The girls at the reception were very helpful and there are many activities everyday free of charge (salsa, cooking, prononciation) and weekend trips (Arenal, Montezuma etc.).
I am a solo female traveller in my thirties and there were people from all ages and backgrounds at the school.
I also spent 4 weeks in 2 host families and was very pleased with the experience. Some people had nightmares stays so check before you sign-up. I learned a lot of Spanish after 5 weeks going from Beginner 1 (not able to say a word) to Intermediate 1 (I can communicate with most people pretty well).
I would definitely recommend this school for learning Spanish in a great environment.
I wasn't sure where to learn Spanish, I had heard that Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia were the best places for language tourism but I finally decided to go to Costa Rica upon a friend's referral of Intercultura and was not disappointed.
I did group and private classes and liked both. My teacher Katherine (for private) was fantastic, going to school was fun and rewarding. The courses structure was great, the curriculum rich, the classrooms very modern and clean. The campus is literally on the beach. The girls at the reception were very helpful and there are many activities everyday free of charge (salsa, cooking, prononciation) and weekend trips (Arenal, Montezuma etc.).
I am a solo female traveller in my thirties and there were people from all ages and backgrounds at the school.
I also spent 4 weeks in 2 host families and was very pleased with the experience. Some people had nightmares stays so check before you sign-up. I learned a lot of Spanish after 5 weeks going from Beginner 1 (not able to say a word) to Intermediate 1 (I can communicate with most people pretty well).
I would definitely recommend this school for learning Spanish in a great environment.
Written October 14, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex A
3 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
I studied at Intercultura for 5 weeks in the Spring of 2016. I attended class at both the Heredia and Samara locations. The facilities at both schools were nicer than I would have expected. The school in Heredia has a beautiful courtyard that will make you want to spend all day on campus. There is complimentary coffee and tea all day, a clean kitchen to use, a dance studio, and plenty of good study areas for after class. The staff was competent, pleasant, and always eager to help in any way they could. They even helped me find a reputable physical therapist. Even the door man will brighten your day with his good humor. I learned more Spanish in the 5 weeks of classes than I ever could have imagined was possible. Although I'd like to take all the credit, I would have never had the opportunity to learn as much as I did without the clear instruction and patience of the professors. Class sizes were always small and there was lots of personal attention. Now that I am back in the United States, I still review my work books and pick up new vocabulary. Marcelo, the director, was very accommodating and always approachable to talk about any issues. Aside from being an excellent teacher, he keeps the school running like a well oiled machine. I always felt like both the students and professors were happy to be on campus and eager to learn or teach.
Heredia is a perfect setting for a language school. It is safe enough to walk around, there are excellent restaurants(and a central market), and plenty of opportunities to make friends with Costa Rican university students. Also, because Intercultura is an English and Spanish school, there are opportunities to do extremely helpful intercambios every day.
Samara is a different world than Heredia. In my opinion, it is one of the best beach towns in Costa Rica. It is still preserved from tourists and all of the negative externalities they bring to a small beach town. Everyone knows everyone, and the community is diverse in Samara. Intercultura quite literally could not be any closer to the beach. The campus is gorgeous with hammocks, outdoor showers, and lots of wildlife. The classrooms are the same as you will find in Heredia.
I did not have a host family in Heredia, but Intercultura provided me with a family in Samara. As if I didn't already feel at home on campus, my mama and papa tica went beyond the call of duty to open up their home to me. I ate a balanced breakfast and dinner everyday which was nourishing and healthy. The house was always clean. My mama tica did laundry everyday and changed the sheets often which is very important in Samara's hot and humid climate. Never once, did my family get frustrated at me for trying to speak Spanish. They supported me, corrected me, and were always willing to practice for as long as I wanted.
I wrote this thorough review for Intercultura because I want to give back something for all I learned at their schools. Furthermore, I hope others will choose Intercultura instead of making the mistake I did by registering for a different program; which cost me more and ultimately turned me over to Intercultura once I arrived because they couldn't place me at their school. Intercultura will accomodate their students, even if they have to run a group class with only one student. Pura vida!
Heredia is a perfect setting for a language school. It is safe enough to walk around, there are excellent restaurants(and a central market), and plenty of opportunities to make friends with Costa Rican university students. Also, because Intercultura is an English and Spanish school, there are opportunities to do extremely helpful intercambios every day.
Samara is a different world than Heredia. In my opinion, it is one of the best beach towns in Costa Rica. It is still preserved from tourists and all of the negative externalities they bring to a small beach town. Everyone knows everyone, and the community is diverse in Samara. Intercultura quite literally could not be any closer to the beach. The campus is gorgeous with hammocks, outdoor showers, and lots of wildlife. The classrooms are the same as you will find in Heredia.
I did not have a host family in Heredia, but Intercultura provided me with a family in Samara. As if I didn't already feel at home on campus, my mama and papa tica went beyond the call of duty to open up their home to me. I ate a balanced breakfast and dinner everyday which was nourishing and healthy. The house was always clean. My mama tica did laundry everyday and changed the sheets often which is very important in Samara's hot and humid climate. Never once, did my family get frustrated at me for trying to speak Spanish. They supported me, corrected me, and were always willing to practice for as long as I wanted.
I wrote this thorough review for Intercultura because I want to give back something for all I learned at their schools. Furthermore, I hope others will choose Intercultura instead of making the mistake I did by registering for a different program; which cost me more and ultimately turned me over to Intercultura once I arrived because they couldn't place me at their school. Intercultura will accomodate their students, even if they have to run a group class with only one student. Pura vida!
Written April 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola Alex,
Thanks so much for taking the time to review us and let us know about your experience. We're thrilled that you had such a positive experience and it would be our pleasure to have you come visit us again. ¡Pura vida!
Written May 2, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
restlesstraveler2
Erfurt, Germany33 contributions
Sep 2016 • Solo
As a language teacher myself, I am really critical of other language programs. I selected this school based on other reviews and the fact that they are very involved in the Heredia community. Initially, I had signed up for a one-week course in Heredia, followed by a two-week course in Sámara because I wanted some beach time. Regrettably I had a stomach virus on the first weekend and then simply stayed on at Heredia for the full three weeksl. I had heard that Sámara was very hot (30C /85F+) and that the students were not as focused as they were here in Heredia. I am glad I made that decision.
COST: Language course............3 weeks for the price of two.
HOURS: 4 hours / day.......20 hrs / week
HOMESTAY: breakfast and dinner included. I heard really only good comments
from the other students. The school is selective and most of the families
have been doing the homestay program for years. Most are located
within 20 min walking from the school.
INSTRUCTION: I was quite impressed with their methods and use of the
intelligent board (more so than I have seen even in German universities,
much less high schools). The school has invested in developing their
own materials (booklets according to one's language level) and have
then integrated those materials with support exercises/activities.
EXCELLENT!
EXTRA ACTIVITIES:
every day there are at least two other afternoon (free) activities, such as
dance class (M-Thurs), cooking class (every Wed), yoga, film and
tertulia / Stammtisch/ English-Spanish tandem conversation hour
(2x/week). In addition, there is an afternoon trip out, such as to one of
the neighboring villages or local museum. One simply signs up for the
activities of interest.
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES: there is a travel/trip coordinator who offers trips and also
sees what students are interested in. Last weekend four of us went with
Gerry, the guide/driver to Monteverde and Puntarenal. Friday-Sat trip.
Tomorrow students are going spelunking in cave, which is about 2.5 hours
away (and are leaving at 4am).
HEREDIA: the city is not really anything to write home about. It can be quite loud,
but that is due to the heavy traffic from 8am - 6.30pm. The roads are
really congested, as is San Jose. Public transportation is incredibly cheap,
but do not really plan to be somewhere at a specific time.
TRANSPORT: bus is cheap, but takes forever due to the traffic. TRAIN is great from
Heredia to San Jose, but regrettably only at 7.30, 8 and 8am.........and then
returning at 3.30, 4 and 5. 60cents. What a steal! But I wonder why there
is no train running every hour at least, and this is a reason why I have a
problem with a country that calls itself environmentally-oriented, but does
very little to improve public transport. MORE CARS are not the answer.
If you are here for only a few weeks, then it is better to do the organized trips because bus travel is not always easy..........and it always seems to take longer than one thinks. In addition, the road conditions are such that renting a car and going on your own is more than just adventureous. Could also be a bit dangerous because the roads have so many potholes in them, even ones called national roads.
(Gas prices all over the country are the same, so that is one thing you never have to consider).
This school also teaches English with native speakers to the local school children, who come in late mornings, all afternoon and even evenings. Most of the English classes in the evening are for adults. Therefore, the school has an atmosphere of activity from 8am to 9pm. The front desk even has two shifts for this situation. Geovanna and crew doing a really great job of answering questions (in Spanish) and directing you to the right person with the right answers.
All in all, a great experience at the school.
COST: Language course............3 weeks for the price of two.
HOURS: 4 hours / day.......20 hrs / week
HOMESTAY: breakfast and dinner included. I heard really only good comments
from the other students. The school is selective and most of the families
have been doing the homestay program for years. Most are located
within 20 min walking from the school.
INSTRUCTION: I was quite impressed with their methods and use of the
intelligent board (more so than I have seen even in German universities,
much less high schools). The school has invested in developing their
own materials (booklets according to one's language level) and have
then integrated those materials with support exercises/activities.
EXCELLENT!
EXTRA ACTIVITIES:
every day there are at least two other afternoon (free) activities, such as
dance class (M-Thurs), cooking class (every Wed), yoga, film and
tertulia / Stammtisch/ English-Spanish tandem conversation hour
(2x/week). In addition, there is an afternoon trip out, such as to one of
the neighboring villages or local museum. One simply signs up for the
activities of interest.
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES: there is a travel/trip coordinator who offers trips and also
sees what students are interested in. Last weekend four of us went with
Gerry, the guide/driver to Monteverde and Puntarenal. Friday-Sat trip.
Tomorrow students are going spelunking in cave, which is about 2.5 hours
away (and are leaving at 4am).
HEREDIA: the city is not really anything to write home about. It can be quite loud,
but that is due to the heavy traffic from 8am - 6.30pm. The roads are
really congested, as is San Jose. Public transportation is incredibly cheap,
but do not really plan to be somewhere at a specific time.
TRANSPORT: bus is cheap, but takes forever due to the traffic. TRAIN is great from
Heredia to San Jose, but regrettably only at 7.30, 8 and 8am.........and then
returning at 3.30, 4 and 5. 60cents. What a steal! But I wonder why there
is no train running every hour at least, and this is a reason why I have a
problem with a country that calls itself environmentally-oriented, but does
very little to improve public transport. MORE CARS are not the answer.
If you are here for only a few weeks, then it is better to do the organized trips because bus travel is not always easy..........and it always seems to take longer than one thinks. In addition, the road conditions are such that renting a car and going on your own is more than just adventureous. Could also be a bit dangerous because the roads have so many potholes in them, even ones called national roads.
(Gas prices all over the country are the same, so that is one thing you never have to consider).
This school also teaches English with native speakers to the local school children, who come in late mornings, all afternoon and even evenings. Most of the English classes in the evening are for adults. Therefore, the school has an atmosphere of activity from 8am to 9pm. The front desk even has two shifts for this situation. Geovanna and crew doing a really great job of answering questions (in Spanish) and directing you to the right person with the right answers.
All in all, a great experience at the school.
Written September 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your comprehensive review. I'm glad to hear that you had a positive experience and agree that more frequest trains and transportation alternatives would be wonderful! We appreciate you taking the time to review us. We hope to welcome you back to Intercultura in the future.
Written October 3, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
amaris1922
Las Vegas, NV45 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
I just returned from a week here. I studied Spanish prior to enrolling, but my problem is not speaking regularly. I felt like the group classes were not as beneficial as the private even though I had a marvelous teacher. If I were to return in the future, I would ONLY book private classes and not group+private.
Positives:
-The campus is beautiful
-Very organized
-Excellent usage of technology in the classrooms
-Airport pick-up
-Helpful orientation
-Free tea, coffee, and water
-Programming for various ages
-Excursions
-Targeted learning objectives
Negatives:
-Very pretentious environment (school and home stay)
-Pricey
-Not enough excursions daily; It would have been nice to have a larger selection
Suggestions: If you 25+ I would suggest a hotel or apartment rental. I enjoyed my home stay, but I felt like *some* people have stereotypes about nationalities that simply aren't true. If you are coming to relax and learn, you don't want to feel as though you have to keep your guard up and defend everything from educational attainment to political situations in your respective country.
Positives:
-The campus is beautiful
-Very organized
-Excellent usage of technology in the classrooms
-Airport pick-up
-Helpful orientation
-Free tea, coffee, and water
-Programming for various ages
-Excursions
-Targeted learning objectives
Negatives:
-Very pretentious environment (school and home stay)
-Pricey
-Not enough excursions daily; It would have been nice to have a larger selection
Suggestions: If you 25+ I would suggest a hotel or apartment rental. I enjoyed my home stay, but I felt like *some* people have stereotypes about nationalities that simply aren't true. If you are coming to relax and learn, you don't want to feel as though you have to keep your guard up and defend everything from educational attainment to political situations in your respective country.
Written August 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your response. I am glad to hear about the positive side of your experience with us and a bit concerned about your feedback regarding the host family. It is important that students of all ages feel comfortable with their host families as it can be the most rewarding part of your immersion experience. If you don't mind, we'd appreciate hearing more about the negative aspects of your trip by emailing lindsay@interculturacostarica.com so that we ensure this type of situation does not affect future students.
Written September 1, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DavidRupel
Olympia, WA1 contribution
Oct 2014 • Solo
Since retiring at the end of 2005, during winter months I have attended no fewer than 10 Spanish language schools including two in Chile, two in Mexico, two in Peru, one in Argentina and one in the Canaries. For quality of instructional materials, teachers and cultural exchange opportunities, Intercultura stands above all the others. Well above, I might add. ( PS. Full disclosure. A little fib below. I have attended Intercultura three times. The last was at the beach campus in 2011.)
Written August 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stacydi
Tampa, FL150 contributions
Aug 2012 • Family
I've sent both of my teenagers to Intercultura's teen summer program. My son attended 5-ish years ago, and my daughter just went this last summer. Both of my kids had the time of their lives....while learning a TON of Spanish. I don't even know where to begin with how extraordinary the experience was for them.
The organizers were fantastic about answering a MILLION of my questions, and helping to calm my nerves before the trip (neither of my kids had ever traveled alone overseas, so I was extremely nervous). I appreciated that my emails were answered quickly by the staff, and they put my mind at ease (well, as much as they could).
Each kid stays with a house-parent who picks them up at the airport, speaks ONLY Spanish to them, provides meals and a safe place to live. They take 4 hours of Spanish classes in the morning, and then in the afternoon take cooking classes, dance lessons, and amazing jungle and beach tours. Both of my kids met fantastic teens from other parts of the U.S. whom they still keep in touch with.
My kids loved the Costa Rican culture and the people they met. The teachers made learning fun...the trips they took were extraordinary....I can't say enough good things about how this trip impacted BOTH of my kids.
I would highly recommend the teen program to anyone...and feel free to contact me if you want to know more about it...
The organizers were fantastic about answering a MILLION of my questions, and helping to calm my nerves before the trip (neither of my kids had ever traveled alone overseas, so I was extremely nervous). I appreciated that my emails were answered quickly by the staff, and they put my mind at ease (well, as much as they could).
Each kid stays with a house-parent who picks them up at the airport, speaks ONLY Spanish to them, provides meals and a safe place to live. They take 4 hours of Spanish classes in the morning, and then in the afternoon take cooking classes, dance lessons, and amazing jungle and beach tours. Both of my kids met fantastic teens from other parts of the U.S. whom they still keep in touch with.
My kids loved the Costa Rican culture and the people they met. The teachers made learning fun...the trips they took were extraordinary....I can't say enough good things about how this trip impacted BOTH of my kids.
I would highly recommend the teen program to anyone...and feel free to contact me if you want to know more about it...
Written October 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jennyh
Port Elgin, Canada91 contributions
Jan 2019 • Solo
I attended Intercultura 3 years ago. I have since attended 2 other Spanish language schools in Costa Rica. Intercultura was by far the best. I attended the Heredia and Samara campuses doing homesteads at bothe.
Heredia: The town is smaller than San Jose by far but there isn't a lot to do there and not a lot of cultural things to see or do, at least in January. there cultural centre was closed for the month. There is a market and a town square where you can go to try out your Spanish and watch Tico life. The school was very good. I was in a class with 6 students and felt I was probably the weakest in the class but was able to keep up and learned a lot and the pace was good. Learning activities were well organized and I didn't feel we wasted time in class. There were students from many different places and ages. Most of us were there for morning classes, so we were able to meet others who weren't in our classes. My home stay was very nice and it was cool enough Heredia that sleeping without air-conditioning was good. The meals were fantastic - 2 fresh fruits every morning and a protein source. Suppers were great. The host will sit and talk with you during your meals so you can practice.
Samara: The town is an amazing little secret. It has a beautiful, uncrowded beach that is protected a bit by a reef where you can snorkel and the surf is great for learning how to surf or swimming. There are stores and hostels and hotels and restaurants and you can walk to all of them or rent a bike. Not much traffic, so not like trying to ride on the main highways. The school was great. Air conditioned rooms and beautiful building. Lockers to use so after school you can stash your stuff and go right to the beach which is out the front gate. They have a night watchman, so the school and your stuff is protected. There is a lady that makes lunch and sells it out of her car for about $5 (3 years ago), so you can get a great meal right there and then go play. The beach campus had yoga in the mornings for free right at the school, which is beachfront. Dance lessons on several days and cooking classes all for free.
I was in a class with just one other students-they do try to put you at your level and have enough students that they can accommodate change of class to get you in right level. Teachers moved at a good pace so you didn't get bored. Activities for learning were very helpful and audio/tec equipment worked well.
As I said, I have gone to 2 other schools and this one I would return to- Samara campus. I would probably get my own accommodations as the home stay accommodations are very rudimentary and seem to be more interested in having multiple students so it is more like a rooming house than home.
Heredia: The town is smaller than San Jose by far but there isn't a lot to do there and not a lot of cultural things to see or do, at least in January. there cultural centre was closed for the month. There is a market and a town square where you can go to try out your Spanish and watch Tico life. The school was very good. I was in a class with 6 students and felt I was probably the weakest in the class but was able to keep up and learned a lot and the pace was good. Learning activities were well organized and I didn't feel we wasted time in class. There were students from many different places and ages. Most of us were there for morning classes, so we were able to meet others who weren't in our classes. My home stay was very nice and it was cool enough Heredia that sleeping without air-conditioning was good. The meals were fantastic - 2 fresh fruits every morning and a protein source. Suppers were great. The host will sit and talk with you during your meals so you can practice.
Samara: The town is an amazing little secret. It has a beautiful, uncrowded beach that is protected a bit by a reef where you can snorkel and the surf is great for learning how to surf or swimming. There are stores and hostels and hotels and restaurants and you can walk to all of them or rent a bike. Not much traffic, so not like trying to ride on the main highways. The school was great. Air conditioned rooms and beautiful building. Lockers to use so after school you can stash your stuff and go right to the beach which is out the front gate. They have a night watchman, so the school and your stuff is protected. There is a lady that makes lunch and sells it out of her car for about $5 (3 years ago), so you can get a great meal right there and then go play. The beach campus had yoga in the mornings for free right at the school, which is beachfront. Dance lessons on several days and cooking classes all for free.
I was in a class with just one other students-they do try to put you at your level and have enough students that they can accommodate change of class to get you in right level. Teachers moved at a good pace so you didn't get bored. Activities for learning were very helpful and audio/tec equipment worked well.
As I said, I have gone to 2 other schools and this one I would return to- Samara campus. I would probably get my own accommodations as the home stay accommodations are very rudimentary and seem to be more interested in having multiple students so it is more like a rooming house than home.
Written January 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
p032158
Saint Louis, MO75 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
I cannot adequately express how wonderful Intercultura was for me. I already speak fluent Spanish, but wanted to bring my ability up to a more native-level. I was worried that I would not be adequately challenged in class. I can't tell you how wrong I was! I had 2 classmates, a man from Quebec whose ability was similar to mine and a woman from Dallas. She had started at Intercultura several weeks before speaking very little Spanish. And although her ability wasn't quite as on par as my other classmate's and mine, it was fascinating to see how well she spoke considering where she had begun! Our professor, Dr. Haniah Castro, was FANTASTIC! I am a teacher myself and I observed how she modified lessons based on our abilities (this is referred to as differentiation) and on our learning styles. Not only did my Spanish improve, but I learned lots of ideas for teaching my students! As for the school itself, I can't say enough good about it. All of the people were genuinely warm, friendly and caring. Although I was only there for four days, I felt completely at home. I had a little locker (had to pay a deposit which was returned to me when I returned the key) and I could keep things in there so that I wouldn't have to schlep my books & packages around as I wandered the streets of Heredia. The school is open until 9:00 PM, so all I had to do was stop by on my way home each evening and pick up my stuff. There is a kitchen that is open for student use, computers and lots of cozy little places to relax, study or visit with friends. It was an oasis of quiet beauty right in the middle of town! I would definitely recommend this school to anyone, regardless of your ability to speak Spanish! I am hoping to return one day!
Written April 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert David N
Halifax, Canada2 contributions
Good evening. I am a 77 year old male that knows NO Spanish. Would this be a good school to spend two months at this winter? If not, where would you recommend?
David N
Nova Scotia, Canada
Singergirl1209
Hoboken, NJ56 contributions
I’ll be studying at the Samara campus for three weeks in July, and I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations/ tips as to which excursions are good to take. Ex: is there one that is must-do? The following are the weekend ones to choose from (I can probably do two):
RINCÓN DE LA VIEJA Volcano & National Park
MONTEZUMA BEACH & TORTUGA ISLAND
ARENAL-MONTEVERDE Volcano & Rainforest
RIO CELESTE National Park
Tom D
Temecula, CA13 contributions
Have a few questions as I research. Can you help me?
- [ ] New classes all start Monday?
- [ ] Whats the dress attire?
- [ ] Do we pay the school for HomeStay too?
- [ ] What’s included in HomeStay? Lodging, food, laundry. wifi?
- [ ] Is six weeks the proper amount of time to be fluent?
- [ ] How much is the total cost for 2?
- [ ] Can I jump from standard to intensive?
- [ ] Whats the difference: Regular homestay and the 24-7 program?
InterculturaSamara
Costa Rica
Hello Tom, I will do my best to answer all of your questions here.
Also visit us online at Intercultura Costa Rica, there you can also find out more information about our Samara and Heredia Campuses.
1. Yes, generally all new classes start on Mondays: Sámara alternating schedule, 8am to noon and 1pm to 5pm. In Heredia, we offer classes either 8:30am to 1:30pm or 1:30pm to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday.
2. We ask that our students dress modestly, and we follow the shoes/sandals, shorts/pants, shirt dress code. In Samara, we are located very close to the beach, even so we ask that students are covered at all times while on campus, out of respect for the institution, the professors, and other students.
3. Homestay is an option and we recommend it for the language and cultural immersion, yet it is not mandatory. Our students can stay in a variety of lodging options; from hostels to hotels. If you choose our homestay option, then yes, it will be part of your program and included in your tuition.
4. Our homestay program includes 2 meals a day, and weekly laundry service. We do not require that our host families offer WIFI. On our campus we have WIFI and our campus is open from 7am to 10pm daily.
5. Fluency is truly dependent on the individual, and their initial level of the Spanish Language upon entrance into our program. Six weeks is a fair amount of time to become familiar with concepts and vocabulary, but fluency is not our specific aim. We strive to help students achieve a comfortable level of communication. We use a communicative approach in our classes. Our teachers provide the tools that our students will need to advance, which means each student is responsible for their own progress and continual practice.
6. A two-week Spanish ($315 a week) and homestay (private room $175 a week) program will cost $980
7. We can make changes in any program, but it all depends on the time of year, and the number of professors that we have available to offer the additional 10 hours a week for the intensive program. For that reason, we recommend our Heredia campus as we have more professors available.
8. The difference between the regular homestay and the 24/7 immersion homestay, is that regular program is offered in both Samara and Heredia. The 24/7 immersion is only offered in Heredia, and it includes the regular instruction, as well as instruction in the homestay with one of our educators. The program can also be tailored to our student’s needs, business, medical or social-work focused.
I hope this helps. Again, please feel free to visit us online or on Facebook Intercultura Samara Language School
MichelefromNY
Long Island, New York24 contributions
I will begin 4 weeks of classes at Intercultura beginning April 18th; the first 3 weeks in Heredia and the 4th in Samara. I'm interested in hearing suggestions and advice regarding what to bring or not to bring (clothes, portable fan?), helpful hints, definite things to see, advice regarding cell phone (should I buy a SIM card or a phone when I arrive). Thank you very much!
MaestroNH
Auburn, NH43 contributions
Buy a SIM card in Costa Rica. 1 block from school. Secretary can tell you where. No need for fan
baldchck
Miami, FL4 contributions
Hi David
I am looking to participate in a full immersion Spanish language program. It was recommended that I search schools in Guatemala and Costa Rica and Ecuador. I am going to dig deeper into Intercultura. Did you stay with a family? How long was your stay? Was travel about town and country fairly easy?
Any other school/country experiences/recommendations?
Thanks
Maria B
spsand
manhattan, New york City18 contributions
I am a senior citizen from NYC....do you have classes for older adults?
Thank you
Susan
Lindsay L
Liberia, Costa Rica22 contributions
Hi Susan. We have students of all ages and many in the 50+ category. When we have students of a similar age and Spanish level, we always do our best to group them in classes together. Even if you didn't end up in a class with people your age, you'd be able to partake in all of the extra-curricular activities with them. We often get people over 50 at our Sámara campus as well. Please let us know if you have further questions.
MicheleHaus
Istanbul, Türkiye26 contributions
Hi Stacy, I'm thinking about sending my 15 year old daughter for the 2 week Spanish and volunteer program. Sounds like you were really happy with the experience she had. How did she feel about the home stays and did she go to Heredia or Samara? I'm just feeling a bit nervous about sending her off on her own. Thanks for your input!
Michele
Lindsay L
Liberia, Costa Rica22 contributions
Hi Michelle. I'm not sure that Stacy will see your questions under this segment since these are questions with the school. I'm Lindsay, the coordinator of the teen camp and I'd be happy to give you any information you may need. This year's teen camp will be: Session One from June 21st to July 5th and Session Two from July 5th to 19th. For each session the teens will spend the first week at our Heredia Campus and the second week at our Sámara Campus. They have all ground transportation, meals, classes, lodging and activities included. (Airfare excluded.) We usually place 2 teens to a homestay family so that they aren't on their own, unless they specifically asked to be the only student in the house. I'd be happy to give you more information. Please feel free to contact us! (We're not allowed to post links or emails here, but you can find it on our website.) Thanks!
Imout61
Kagawong, Canada8 contributions
hi this is my second request for pricing on the course in spanish
Lindsay L
Liberia, Costa Rica22 contributions
¡Hola! Pardon our delay in getting back to you as we have been on vacation over the holidays. The cost of the first week at our Heredia campus is $295 for the first week and $260 for each additional week. This is for 4 hours of group Spanish classes, Monday through Friday. Classes start every Monday. If you were interested in staying with a local family, that has a cost of $175 per week and includes your provate bedroom, daily breakfast and dinner and weekly laundry service. Please let us know if you need any further information!
Imout61
Kagawong, Canada8 contributions
What is the cost of the Spanish lessons
Lindsay L
Liberia, Costa Rica22 contributions
¡Hola! Pardon our delay in getting back to you as we have been on vacation over the holidays. The cost of the first week at our Heredia campus is $295 for the first week and $260 for each additional week. This is for 4 hours of group Spanish classes, Monday through Friday. Classes start every Monday. If you were interested in staying with a local family, that has a cost of $175 per week and includes your provate bedroom, daily breakfast and dinner and weekly laundry service. Please let us know if you need any further information!
Intercultura Language School and Cultural Center (Heredia) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
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