Costa Rican Immersion School-- help?
 

Hello,

I seem to be having trouble learning to use this board. I think I've been posting my question at the end of other threads where it gets lost. (not a computer genius)

I am taking my 7 year old to CR for three weeks; am looking into Immersion Schools with programs for kids. Have gotten the idea that Forester Instituto (San Jose) may be the best, but I see one called Adventure Education Center also, which has locations in Dominical, Arenal, and Turrialba. Would we have more fun if we moved around those three locations? Does anybody know about these schools? IT seems very difficult to find any reviews online except ads masquerading as objective information. There is one site, 123, which seems more independent but has very limited information. We already speak passable Spanish. If we stay at the one in San Jose, we would have 2 3-day weekends off to go to (? maybe Manuel Antonio once and Arenal for the other? suggestions there, too.

We're not worried about seeing EVERYTHING in this one trip and my daughter doesn't like being dragged from place to place continually). We are outdoorsy but not athletic; we like culture and spanish and beautiful things and mild adventure. Honestly we have fun meeting some new people who speak spanish and feeding pigeons in the park. We'd like a raft or horseback riding trip if it weren't dangerous or scary. Hot springs, safe beaches without riptides sound great to us! We'd love to hear from anybody with advice. Thanks! Lori

I read great things about a hostel called Montana Linda with a language school.
I would not want to spend that much time in San Jose.
www.montanalinda.com

If we choose Forester, we would be in school four hours a day, four days a week and do their after-classes excursion program. Then go home to our homestay. Then we'd spend our 3-day weekends elsewhere... does that still sounds like too much time in San Jose? And why? Is this city a real turn-off?

Lori, I posted on the other thread, but will do it again here so it is more easily found. You're right--the title of the thread is important for keeping up with topics of information. You'll soon be an old pro!

While there are many many language schools is CR (and most are probably very good), I would especially recommend Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI) located in San Joaquin de Flores (wonderful little town near Heredia), Monteverde, and Playa Flamingo. I have done two of these locations. The staff is excellent--I felt like I learned a tremendous amount. Very professional operation. Great facilities. Small class sizes--one on one instruction available if desired, etc.

I think the two of you would enjoy a couple of locations, but only if you have 3 weeks or more to spend. They don't recommend switches every week. San Joaquin is a gorgeous and very safe little town--one of my favorite places in all the country!

Hi Shillmac,

Thanks for the reply, especially since you evidently had to post it twice! I looked over CPI's website, but I saw nothing indicating a children's program... I wondered whether they were more geared toward teens and young and middle adults. The reason I had given Forester and Adventure Education Center a closer look was that they have specific pages about their children's programs.

Also, what's the story with San Jose? Is it really that bad? In what way? (bearing in mind that we go to bed at 9 p.m. so a nightlife isn't really our greatest concern) Thanks everybody! : ) Lori

Lori, havn't a clue as to the school, someday hopefully.

But the thing with SJ. San Jose is just not a beautiful city that you would love to spend time in. It is very crowded, obviously you have city noise and lots of traffic.

Many people who visit the city will do a city tour, which involves visiting some of the museums. Others simply stay in the city for closeness to the airport. And still some of us stay to do daytrips in and out of the city to volcanos, for rafting and the canals, etc.

There are so many breathtaking views in CR, it would be a shame to limit your stay to SJ, since you have the option of other areas outside of this large city.

I am sure others will way in, good luck with your choice.

another point of view on school in San Jose. If Forester looks like the best school, I don't think it would be a bad choice. I just returne from studying Spanish two weeks in Mexico and was in class 9-4 (including cultural activities and intercambio hour). and we had homework. And I did a homestay. I saw most of Oaxaca and its outlying areas on the weekend (though I did try to explore restaurants etc in eve). And a couple times I went on excursions sponsored by my school. So, while I'm not a great San Jose fan either, I think your position of "what's the diff we'll be busy with school most of the weekdays" is reasonable-- assuming you'll get out of town when you have the chance. This seems especially true since you've said you just enjoy mixing it up with Spanish speaking folks -- eg just feeding pidgeons in the park. Maybe your homestay folks will make you a big part of their everyday life and you'll go to school soccer games etc. . Post your questions on the lonelyplanet board as well -- there are a lot of folks on there discussing language schools.

Both dfarmer and glover make good points, but I would have to agree, having spent quite a bit of time in San Jose, that the two of you would have a better overall experience OUT of town. I don't know anything about Forester, but as mentioned earlier, am sure it is a quality program.

As for CPI, it may not have a Children's Program as such, but it does welcome families with young children. I visited with 3 or 4 family groups who were studying there, and they were very pleased with the program that was offered for them.

I do understand your desire to search out a school designed with children in mind, but really hesitate to advise staying in San Jose, especially with a child. For me, the issue would be one of safety as well, but then I usually err on the side of caution, sometimes to a fault. . .according to my children! :)

We've spent time at Montana Linda Language School on two occasions. The first was with 2 6 yos and 2 9 yos. The 4 kids were split into 2 classes. They had a great time and since they were real beginners, the classes were more fun than rigourous. They went on walks, swam, drew etc.

This time we had a 9 yo and a 12 yo. They shared a class and since their Spanish had improved, their teacher (who taught the boys 3 years ago) was quite a bit more demanding but they still had fun. Their teacher has kids of a similar age as mine and was clearly experienced.

We also had a homestay - with children roughly the same age as mine. It was a huge success.

We really liked the village - small and friendly. I was happy to let the kids go off with their new friends there.

I'd highly recommend this school.