Spanish Language Courses in Costa Rica

Centro Panamericano de Idiomas:
Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI) is a Spanish immersion language institution in Costa Rica in Central America. CPI is the only Spanish immersion school in Costa Rica with campuses in three diverse regions of the country, with the same quality service: CPI Monteverde, CPI Heredia and CPI Flamingo. CPI Monteverde is located in the rural region of Monteverde, CPI Heredia is located in San Joaquín de Flores, a suburb of Heredia and CPI Flamingo is located in Flamingo, a beautiful Pacific coastal town in the province of Guanacaste.

-Standard Spanish Program:
Group Classes:
CPI offers two Spanish programs, 4 hours or 5½ hours per day. The maximum class size is 4 in order to provide each student the greatest level of interaction with other students as well as personalized attention from the professor.

Private Classes:
CPI also offers one to one lessons in which a student receives more personal attention and studies in greater detail a specific topic of their choice.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels

-Preparation for the Spanish DELE Exam:
The "Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE)", issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry for Education and Science, are official qualifications accrediting levels of competence and command of the Spanish language. They are the only officially accredited qualifications issued by the Ministry for Education of the Kingdom of Spain that are administered internationally. They are recognized worldwide by private companies, chambers of commerce and public and private educational systems. CPI offers a 4 week preparation course for the "DELE" examination.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels

-Homestay Program with a Local Family:
Our families, all of which are carefully screened and accustomed to hosting foreign students, live within the area of the school so that students may either walk to class each day or meet at a central location for morning transportation. The host families are patient and extend themselves to help our students learn Spanish

-Business Spanish Seminar:
Business Spanish for professionals provides insight into Latin American business culture, utilizing Costa Rica as a case study, by introducing realistic situations and dialogue typical of a business environment. Students obtain specialized and relevant vocabulary skills which assist in facilitating communication in a professional ambience.

Business Spanish for Professionals is a practical Spanish course offered in two different schedules:
-Regular Schedule (5.5 hours of Spanish class daily - 8:00am to 2:30pm - and 2 visits per week to a local business)
-Flexible Schedule (Offers the option of choosing which days of the week they would like to start and end classes as well)

Location: CPI Heredia, Spanish level: All levels

-Social Work Spanish Seminar:
CPI has designed a special two-week seminar directed to professionals working in the social services. The seminar includes Spanish classes, professional talks, discussion groups and informational visits to the local social service community.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels

-Medical Spanish Course:
CPI has been offering medical Spanish courses since 1998, making it the most specialized language-immersion school in Costa Rica. Our program successfully assists medical professionals to become more effective health care providers through Spanish-language development coupled with the opportunity to augment cultural sensitivity through complete immersion in native Latin American culture. CPI Medical Programs can help you to better understand and connect with Latino patients, the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the U.S.

Location: All, Spanish level: Intermediate Beginner

-Seminar for Spanish Teachers:
CPI has designed a specialized workshop for teachers of Spanish as a foreign language. Seminar participants are taught various techniques created, developed, and successfully applied during our many years of experience as an institution that specializes in Spanish as a second language.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels

-Study Abroad Program for High School Students':
In order to secure the best service and attention for teenage students, CPI policy was extended to permit unaccompanied minors, aged 14 – 17 years, to study at CPI year-round. Teenagers are especially encouraged to attend CPI during their Christmas, Easter and summer breaks. Whether for only one week or for numerous weeks, through our intensive program (4 hours a day Spanish classes) or the super intensive course (5.5 hours a day Spanish classes), the CPI immersion program helps students to improve their Spanish.

Teenagers also have the opportunity to earn undergraduate language credit from Brookhaven College in Dallas, Texas. This institution is accredited by SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Multinational Academic Program (MAP) for Study Abroad is designed to provide academic credits for systematic language study abroad. Click here to download the Authorization for Enrollment.

There are two more Universities which also transfer credits to High School students: The New Mexico State University (NMSU) through its program “Language Credit Via Distance Education”. And the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) which makes several programs available to teenagers wishing to earn credit for intensive Spanish study.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels

-Family and Kids' Spanish Program:
Family Arrangements:
CPI offers a family friendly learning environment for parents traveling to Costa Rica with their children. In our Standard Spanish Program adult family members are placed in classes amongst other adults at a similar level and the children with other children of the same level.

Kids Program:
For children 12 and under, an age appropriate course corresponds with the particular learning needs of young people. Class time is divided into modules with emphasis on basic communication skills, vocabulary, and the introduction of grammatical concepts, coupled with art, linguistic games and hands on learning.For children 4-6 years old, CPI has developed a special program covering elemental vocabulary and interesting topics appropriate for their age.

Teen Program:
For teenagers 13-17 years old CPI has developed a special program, the young students may travel with their parents or tutors, or they may travel alone. Undergraduate language credit are available for teens 16 years old.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels

-Dive Certification with Spanish:
Become diver certified while improving your SPANISH in a 2 week course. CPI Flamingo offers the unique opportunity to combine Spanish immersion with an Open Water Diver Certification course through the most recognized scuba center in the Flamingo area.

Location: Flamingo, Spanish level: All levels

-Retirement Travel Spanish Program:
Due to a growing demand from retirees interested in travel to Costa Rica and studying Spanish at CPI, we have initiated an innovative 2 week program to meet the needs of mature students (50 years and up) which combines both Spanish classes (3 hours per day) with activities exposing participants to the culture and natural wonders of Costa Rica.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels

-Soccer Camp Spanish Program:
CPI has successfully achieved the perfect combination, 14 days soccer training with Spanish classes. Spanish classes, for all levels, are conducted 4 hours each week day afternoon, for a total of 40 hours of Spanish. CPI Soccer Camp includes a combination of training in full field soccer and fútbol sala (indoor), with each training session lasting 2 hours. Camp participants are male and female teenagers from 13 to 17 years old.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels

-Public Safety Spanish Program:
Public Service & Public Safety Program Introduction. The ideal program for individuals working in the areas of public safety and public service who find it to necessary to know Spanish in order to perform their daily job expectations.

Location: All, Spanish level: All levels