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Intensive Spanish

Spanish by the Sea- Puerto Viejo
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Course description

Just like the Standard Spanish course, our Intensive Spanish course is based on the internationally recognized CEFR framework for learning, teaching and assessment which is also the basis of DELE-Diplomas (Spanish as a Second Language). The levels are Basic User (A1, A2), Independent User (B1, B2) and Proficient User (C1, C2). The difference between the Intensive and Standard Spanish course is that you will advance more quickly since you will spend more hours per day studying and practicing Spanish.
6 levels: A1 (2 wks), A2 (2 wks), B1 (4 wks), B2 (4 wks), C1 (6 wks), C2 (6 wks)
Materials included: Workbook.
Others included: Introduction folder with Tourist information including area map & info about the course (levels, objectives, contents and evaluations) /placement test / coffee & tea during breaks / introduction talk on Sunday / Friday’s happy hour / certificate upon completion.

Course topics

Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar and Activities

Class schedule

Course duration
1-52 weeks
Start dates
Every Monday
Classes per week
30 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 60 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday

Class times

Morning session
08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Afternoon session
01:00 PM - 03:00 PM

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

All levels, beginner to advanced
You will take a placement test on your first day to determine your class level.

Class size

Average 4 students
Maximum 6 students

Student age

Age range 4 years old and older
Average 25 years old

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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school

School description

Our Spanish School in Puerto Viejo is perfect for students that like to be able to visit the beach each day for example because it gives them energy or peace. In Puerto Viejo, we offer the cheapest option to take a surf course and surf each day since you can get to the surf beach by bike. In Puerto Viejo, we also offer a fairly extensive Volunteer program with children, animals, and the indigenous population.

Year opened
2012
Number of classrooms
3

Facilities

  • Social Activities
  • Cultural Trips
  • Eating Area
  • Free Internet
  • Wireless Internet
  • Computers
  • Studying Area
  • Sports Activities

Teacher qualifications

Native Spanish speakers
Over 50%

Nationality and age mix

The nationality and age mix at Spanish by the Sea- Puerto Viejo varies over different time periods, courses and levels. Throughout the year, the average age is 25. In the summer, the average age is 25.

teaches students from all over the world, including:

Netherlands
50%
Other
50%

School holidays

does not hold classes on the holiday dates below. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

Open dates
Year round
School holidays
None

School location

Our Spanish School in Puerto Viejo is perfect for students that like to be able to visit the beach each day for example because it gives them energy or peace. In Puerto Viejo, we offer the cheapest option to take a surf course and surf each day since you can get to the surf beach by bike. In Puerto Viejo, we also offer a fairly extensive Volunteer program with children, animals, and the indigenous population.
The school is located at 200 meters from the beach and right in the center of Puerto Viejo. The lush tropical garden around the school has different fruit trees and hammocks between the palm trees: an ideal place to study or relax after classes. Just like in all our schools, we have a Wi-Fi internet connection for free in school.

Take a video tour

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Photos

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reviews

Reviews

100% recommend

based on 2 reviews
5 stars
0
4 stars
0
3 stars
2
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing

"Expensive but good"

Joren Wiewel

I think the prices in Costa Rica are way too high. Compared to other countries in Central America, you pay double for less quality.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
1 week
Date of study
28 Dec 2015 - 8 Jan 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
Ariana, Assistant School Manager at Spanish by the Sea- Puerto Viejo responded to this review.
21 May 2015

Thank-you for your feedback.

This a common comment from tourists visiting Costa Rica.

Of the countries in Latin America, Costa Rica has one of the highest cost of living therefore prices of services from language instruction to restaurants reflect that.

Yet one of the reasons Costa Rica is so popular is because it is also one of the safest countries in Latin America and a great place to get your bearings before travelling the rest of Central and South America.

Therefore, when coming to Costa Rica most goods and services will cost more than other Latin American countries but it also less likely to be caught in serious crime.

"School and teachers are good, but we need total immersion, like living with Spanish speaking locals."

Gail Burchard

Puerto Viejo is a gringo type town. Most tourists and many locals speak English. There are few Spanish speaking locals who want to rent rooms. When I had gone to similar schools, such as in Guatemala, it was most helpful to use Spanish all day, and to live with a Spanish speaking family. Unfortunately, your school does not offer that option, and it is up to the students to find their own dwellings. Here, I spoke Spanish for the 2 hours a day I was in class - and that was it. Not good! All must use the language we're hoping to learn or become fluent in.

It was unfortunate that of the 6 weeks I was in Puerto Viejo, I think it rained for 5 of them. It was a very wet and rainy Jan 13 - Feb. 28.

My teachers Danielle and Elmo were great and we got along just fine. I just wish I had or made more opportunity to practice what I was learning. I spent a lot of time on my computer in my room doing Duo Lingo and Rosetta Stone.. pretty silly. I think my next attempt will be the Canary Islands where Spanish is the official language.

Thanks. Hope this helps.

Previously I studied at your school in Bocas del Toro. After leaving Puerto Viejo, I went to Bocas, to volunteer with the Floating Doctors for 1 month - and also visited your school there. Many improvements... it's looking good. There’s still that same factor for wanting access to go swimming while here - not so easy. You must take boats, bike or taxi to beaches. Just think folks should know.

Best wishes,
Gail

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
5 weeks
Date of study
19 Jan 2015 - 28 Feb 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
Ariana, Assistant School Manager at Spanish by the Sea- Puerto Viejo responded to this review.
14 May 2015

Hello Gail,

Thank-you very much for your feedback. Hearing your thoughts are important to us as we would like to improve our offer as best as we can.
I am sorry that you were not able to be as immersed in Spanish as you would have liked.

Indeed, the unique history of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and it's attraction to tourists does mean that English is spoken in Puerto Viejo more so than in other parts of the country.


However, as a school we are able to offer opportunities for practicing Spanish. This comes in the form of our volunteer placements such as working in an afterschool centre to help children with troubled families do their homework, helping out in a day-care, or providing educational support and food aid to indigenous people.

We also offer a homestay option. However because Puerto Viejo is such a small town, there is limited capacity and sometimes we are not able to accommodate more than one homestay at a time. Therefore, this needs to be booked in advance.

However, I am happy you got along well our teachers, and wish you all the best in your language learning in the future.

housing

Housing

Spanish by the Sea- Puerto Viejo offers the following housing types:
homestay

Homestay - Single-person room - Breakfast

NZ$ 377
weekly
Age range: 1 year old and older
Location: Outside the city center of Puerto Viejo
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast (7 meals per week)
Facilities: Kitchen, laundry, wireless internet, and free internet
Distance to school: 5 - 30 minutes by other
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 377
Homestays are carefully selected and offer students the opportunity to learn more about the local culture in a comfortable setting while studying Spanish in Puerto Viejo. These homes are often between 30 minutes walking distance or 5 minutes by bicycle away from the school. If you have special requests or diet restrictions (because of religion or health reasons), please let us know in advance.
student-residence

Student residence (on-campus) - 4-person mixed dorm - No meals

NZ$ 214
weekly
Address: Calle 6, Puerto Viejo, Limón, Costa Rica
Location: In the city center of Puerto Viejo
Housing type: Student residence (on-campus)
Room type: 4-person shared room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Kitchen, computers, wireless internet, free internet, and garden
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 11:00 AM
NZ$ 214
We work from out of Casa de Rolando. The school is located at 200 meter from the beach and right in the center of Puerto Viejo. The lush tropical garden around the school has different fruit trees and hammocks between the palm trees: an ideal place to study or relax after classes. Just like in all our schools, we have a Wi-Fi internet connection for free in the school.

Student residence (on-campus) - Single-person shared bathroom - No meals

NZ$ 478
weekly
Age range: 16 years old and older
Address: Calle 6, Puerto Viejo, Limón, Costa Rica
Location: In the city center of Puerto Viejo
Housing type: Student residence (on-campus)
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Kitchen, telephone, computers, wireless internet, free internet, and garden
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
NZ$ 478
We work from out of Casa de Rolando. The school is located at 200 meter from the beach and right in the center of Puerto Viejo. The lush tropical garden around the school has different fruit trees and hammocks between the palm trees: an ideal place to study or relax after classes. Just like in all our schools, we have a Wi-Fi internet connection for free in the school.
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. The school is also not authorized to issue documents to support your visa application. If you need a visa, you have to apply for a visitor or tourist visa on your own.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Puerto Viejo based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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questions

Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from Spanish by the Sea- Puerto Viejo staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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