SPANISH LANGUAGE SCHOOLS SAN JOSE
Instituto de Español "Costa Rica" (IECR)

[ Spanish Courses Abroad: Home ] [ Choose your School ] [ FAQ ] [ Search ]

Introduction

IECR is a highly professional Spanish school located in San Jose, Costa Rica. It organizes short and long term, intensive, language immersion programs for persons interested in studying Spanish, professional Legal and Medical Spanish courses as well as Spanish for Missionaries and Religious Organizations. Furthermore IECR offers professional internship programs in many different areas like business administration, legal field, social field, TEFL, tourism, hospitality as well as voluntary work in National Parks.

Thanks to our dynamic methodology in language teaching and personalized attention in a professional and friendly atmosphere, we provide high quality in the area of Spanish teaching. Our mission is offering first rate Spanish instruction along with authentic cultural experience. Therefore we offer personalized attention in individual classes or small groups combined with
cultural activities such as Latin Dance and Costa Rican Cooking, for an approach to Latin American culture.

We use a series of workbooks and textbooks, which include general Spanish as a foundation as well as specific professional vocabulary and themes depending on the special area of health care practiced by the student. Our methodology is based on the concept of total immersion in the Spanish language. All materials integrate Spanish language education in the four linguistic abilities: speaking, comprehension, reading and writing.

IECR offers two Spanish programs, 4 hours or 6 hours per day, with or without home stay, with or without excursions. Specialized Spanish courses are offered exclusively as individual classes in order to provide each participant with the instructional material and relevant themes.

Useful Facts

• School Founded: 1996
• Average number of students enrolled: 25-35
• Maximum number of students enrolled (summer): 90
• Nationality mix: U.S. Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Asians, Arabians
• Age mix: 25 or younger (30%), 25-50 (45%), 50 or older (25%)
• Minimum qualification teachers:  All teachers have received training in teaching Spanish as a Second Language. IECR runs this training. In addition, 80% of the professors have a university degree; the majority of the degrees being in education
• Accredited by: Our Institute has been accredited by the Ministry of Public Education in the year 1998. The medical Spanish courses are accredited by the University of Texas at Galveston, UTMB. The IECR maintains a partnership with the Coastal Carolina University.
• Member of: ACTFL, CANATUR

Courses Offered

• The IECR offers General Spanish language courses as well as Specialized Spanish language courses.
• General Spanish courses are offered in programs with 4 or 6 hours of daily instruction, in group classes or one-to-one instruction, with or without excursion and with homestay option.
• The Specialized courses are offered in individual classes and amongst them there are the following options: Legal Spanish, Medical Spanish, Business Spanish, Spanish for Teachers, Spanish for Missionaries and Religious Organizations. Furthermore Spanish courses for children can be provided.
• Levels offered: 7 (from beginners until superior)
• Number of classes per week: 4 or 6 hours of Spanish per day from Monday through Friday (an hour consists of 60 minutes including a 5 minutes' break)
• Length of course: min.:1 week; max.: open end
• Maximum number of students per group: 6
• Minimum age: 15

For more information on any of these courses, please visit the school website: IECR Spanish Language School Costa Rica.

Accommodation Offered

Our institute offers courses with or without homestay. The families provides participants with breakfast, dinner or lunch as well as laundry service. Our participants have a room of their own.

Activities and Excursions

Regular activities: Latin American dance lessons, Costa Rican cooking classes, visits of the central market, tropical fruits presentation, excursions to the center of San José in order to visit cultural places of interest (National Museum, National Theatre, etc.), visits of the University of Costa Rica, graduation celebrations on Fridays.

Possible activities: Trips to different volcanoes (Poás, Irazú, Arenal and Hot Thermal Springs "Tabacon"), White Water Rafting Tours in tropical rivers, excursions to National Parks (for example Tortuguero National Park), to the Orosi Valley/Orchid, Orchid Garden "Lankester", to the Handicraft Village Grecia/Sarchi, trips with the Rain Forest Aerial Tram, visits to a nearby butterfly farm as well as coffee plantation, etc.

College Credit

Many of our students have received academic credit for the participation in the Spanish programs at IECR. Most of these students come on their own and apply for credit independently at different universities in the U.S., Canada and Europe. This is usually the most economical option.

Generally students who are applying for credit must first have approval from their university prior to beginning studies at IECR. Most institutions also require that students take a final exam and receive an evaluation of their work & progress during the course. However, each university or college has a different system for granting credit so if a student is interested in this option, we can work with their Spanish or Study Abroad department to set up a program that will meet their specific credit requirements.

School Website

For more information on any aspect of IECR's Spanish Language School in San Jose, please visit the school's website: IECR Spanish Language School Costa Rica.