Whether you are beginning or ending your time in Costa Rica, join new friends and old on this 8-day language extension. Learn Spanish in Playa Flamingo, with its famed white-sand beaches and crystal blue water. Live with a Costa Rican family to truly engage in Spanish conversation. Learn the art of Costa Rican cooking and dancing. Discover the magic of pura vida in this perfect Pacific paradise.
“[This] is a perfect trip for anyone looking [to be] challenged while still having fun, immersing themselves in a completely different culture, making great new friends, and making memories that will last a lifetime.”
— Jane H., San Francisco, CA
San Jose Arrival and Orientation
Students who have just completed a first-session program and are continuing on to the Language Extension enjoy a day of exploration in San Jose. We visit a local coffee plantation, where we learn more about this important industry in Costa Rica. We also have the chance meander through local markets, shop for souvenirs and gifts, and practice our Spanish by bargaining with local vendors.
Participants who are beginning their Costa Rican journey with the Language Extension are met at the airport either in Miami, Florida or in San Jose, Costa Rica on the first day of the program. Once the group is gathered together, we travel by bus to a family-run bed and breakfast in the suburbs of San Jose. There we meet the other students who will be joining us for this fun week of language study. Through games, teambuilding activities and eating our first meal together, the adventure truly begins. We also introduce the role of “Leader of the Day” which is an essential component of every ARCC trip.
Spanish Language on the Pacific Coast
We develop our language proficiency with a week of instruction at a school located just steps from the beach. We spend four hours each day in the classroom with our teachers, building on the knowledge we have already gained in class and through our interaction with locals during our journey. We continue our education outside the classroom walls with excursions and activities that enhance our comprehension and give us practical applications for the lessons we have learned. We also explore the small towns and beaches of this enchanting part of Costa Rica, giving us a great chance to practice our Spanish in the real world. In the evenings we share meals and conversations with our host families.
Closing Celebration
After eight days of learning, laughing, working and playing, we conclude our program in San Jose with a final celebratory meal. We reflect on our time together and all that we have experienced as we depart on flights back home or stay on in San Jose to begin our next adventure.
