STUDY THE LANGUAGE. LEARN SPANISH IN COSTA RICA:

Standard Language Program

A person can study at thousands of Spanish language schools throughout Spain, Mexico, Central and South America as well as the United States. So why study the language with AEC Spanish Institute? In two words, “our teachers”. They are the overall umbrella for the entire AEC Spanish language program. They are the glue and soul of AEC’s varied and proven featured programs. As Costa Rican nationals they bring a great pride and caring to their work. Each teacher is accredited through the University of Costa Rica in second language development. Every teacher is constantly improving and building their second language skills through our own Director of Education. Nora Garcia, Director of Education with a Master degree in second language, oversees the education of our entire staff at all three of the campuses. The inception for the language program was through the University of Texas Spanish program. AEC has permission to use the renowned copyrighted "University of Texas’s Spanish Immersion Program” and its accompanying manuals and study guides. With nine levels of Spanish taught from beginner to advanced, each student’s progress is AEC staff’s greatest concern.

When evaluating a language school, being a college accredited program should be one of the first aspects when researching the school. Without accreditation then one is lead to ponder the capabilities and overall competency of the language program. AEC Spanish Institute is accredited by Brookhaven College in Dallas, Texas. This institution is accredited by SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. These are undergraduate, degree seeking Spanish credits for college and university students wanting to fulfill their institutions Spanish requirements. With an accredited language program at AEC Spanish Institute this speaks volumes for the staff and teachers that support and make this language program succeed.

The Standard four hour Language program at AEC Spanish Institute is four complete hours of language a day. Class hours in Turrialba and Arenal are from 8:00am to 10:00am and from 10:30am to 12:30pm. There is a half-hour break in the middle and classes are no larger than four students. In Dominical they start and end an hour later and the maximum class size is six students. Each week all will also have the option of participating in three different afternoon activities: Latin Dance and Cooking classes and one half-day excursion. The Intensive 4-hour + Private has the same group schedule in the morning, followed by two hours of private lessons Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for a total of 28 class hours a week.

Accredited Spanish Program Information

As a participant in an AEC Spanish Institute,Spanish Immersion program in Costa Rica you have the opportunity to earn undergraduate Spanish credit from Brookhaven College in Dallas, Texas . This institution is accredited by SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

These are undergraduate, degree seeking Spanish credits for college and university students wanting to fulfill their institutions Spanish requirements. Obtaining advance approval from your institution is necessary, as each district, college, or state has its own policies regarding the types of credit it will accept.

Also, as a participant in an AEC Spanish Institute, Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica you have the opportunity to earn Professional Development Credits from Loyola Marytmount University of California, accredited by WASC, the Western Association of Schools & Colleges. These courses have graduate-level accreditation and are designed primarily for students who have baccalaureate degrees & appropriate teaching credentials. These semester hours of credit are used for professional advancement and to satisfy certain degree and credential requirements. Obtaining advance approval from your institution is necessary as each district, college, or state has its own policies regarding the types of credit it will accept. For more detailed information concerning college credits and a description of the courses offered through Brookhaven College or Loyola Marymount College please contact us via our e-mail address.

Intensive 4 Hour Plus Program

For those who require a truly intensive Spanish immersion program, AEC offers it's expanded daily program. We call it our "4 Hour Plus" program. The program is designed to aid those students desiring to maximize their Spanish immersion experience, and for those students seeking additional college credits for a shorter time invested in our programs. Students enrolled in intensive 4 hours = program will attend the standard 4 hours morning classes which will be followed up, after lunch break, by two hours of private lessons four days per week. Tuesdays will not be included for private lessons to allow students to participate in the midweek tours.

Start Dates:

Classes begin every Monday of the year except on Costa Rican National holidays and the last week of the year. In the case of Monday holidays, classes will begin on the following Tuesday. The following Costa Rica Holidays are observed by the school; January 1st, April 11th, May 1st, July 25th, August 15th, September 15th and December 25th. The school is not closed on Holy Thursday or Good Friday. There are no refunds for missed days because of holidays.

Program Outline:

Classes begin each Monday and last through Friday. During periods of peak enrollment, some students will be placed in afternoon sessions in order to preserve the optimum class size. At Turrialba and Arenal, classes begin at 8:30 am, while in Dominical they start at 9:00 in the morning. Both schools take two 15 minutes breaks in between lessons. Classes then end at 12:30 p.m. in Turrialba and 1:30 p.m. in Dominical. Students receive four full hours of instruction in classes no larger than four students (six in Dominical). Each week all students will also have the option of participating in different afternoon activities: Latin Dance classes, Cooking classes, community service projects, and half-day excursions to nearby cultural attractions. All students can receive free e-mail through the school's account. In the event that we are unable to place you in a group class because of differing skill levels, you shall automatically be provided three hours of individual private lessons instead. If the following week a group class does become available, you will be switched back to the group classes.
Once in Costa Rica if one wishes to relocate from one campus to another any changes are subject to a $25.00 processing fee.

Lodging Options:

Turrialba and Arenal- Homestays at AEC's Turrialba and Arenal campus are with local Costa Rican families, mostly in walking distance. Every student will have a private room with a bathroom that they share, although some houses do have private baths as well. Weekly laundry service is provided along with two meals a day, breakfast and dinner and all homestays are within a 15-minute walk from the school. In Turrialba, furnished homes without host families are available for family use.

Playa Dominical- The Playa Dominical campus has both school lodging as well as homestays. Lodging at the school is in shared cabanas on the campus grounds and each cabana has room for two or three students with a private bath and every student receives breakfast in the main building at 8:30am.

The host families are located in nearby beach communities south to the town of Dominicalito . Walking to the campus takes between 10 and 35 minutes depending on the host family location. Free van service is provided for those outside of a 15 minute walk each weekday morning. Free van transportation is provided back to your host families in the afternoons and evenings after any AEC Spanish Institute sponsored after school activity including medical visitations. Inexpensive local bus and taxi service is also available, although no taxi service is available late in the evenings.

AEC Spanish Institute also has a quiet attractively landscaped near beach cabinas known as Montanas de Aqua, on the outskirts of Dominical that is available upon request. These cabinas are a 5 minute walk from the school and two minute walk from the main surfing beach. Special larger furnished apartments are available for family use. The apartments give students a quieter study environment, than our on campus cabinas, which are closer to all the activities of this beach community.

A limited number of air conditioned cabinas are available at Montanas de Agua. At an additional cost of $50 per week. Those students wishing air conditioned cabinas should include a request for A.C. in the "special requests" section of your registration form. Every effort will be made to
secure one for you dependent upon availability.

Locations and Information:

Turrialba is a typical Costa Rican pueblo of over 40,000 people on the Atlantic Slope between the colonial capital Cartago and the Caribbean coast. The area surrounding the town is rural with verdant green mountains, river valleys, farms, coffee plantations and rainforest. The school itself is located just outside of town in the countryside on the 400-acre manicured grounds of the CATIE tropical research center next to the botanical gardens. The area is very Tico (Costa Rican) and few people speak any English, so it is very immersive.

Dominical is a small beach community on Costa Rica's central pacific coast with about 400 permanent residents. The area around the town and up and down the coast is not very developed, which means that its location is truly in the rain forest. The schools campus is right on the river in the middle of town and about a 5-minute walk from the ocean. The beach if famous for its world-class surfing and the abundance of wildlife in the area.

Arenal is one of the world's true natural wonderlands. The Arenal area is northwestern central highlands. The area is marked with small rolling green hills and small farms, until one comes face to face with its dominate feature, the 1663 meter Arenal Volcano; everyone's picture book idea of what a volcano is supposed to look like. The school is located at the southern base of the renowned Volcano in the center of the town of La Fortuna (Population 8,000)

Local Info

Turrialba at this point the area becomes one of lush tropical rainforest. Turrialba is very active both during the day and at night and is the center of the region's social life as well as its economy. There are many different restaurants, bars, discos, markets, shops, a movie theater and a nice Central Park. Even though many tourists pass through town to ride the rivers, there are not many foreigners living in the area. This makes for a very good environment for students wishing to practice their Spanish.

In Dominical every weekend they have dances that attract the locals from all over the surrounding area. It is not unusual to have over 300 people come for the disco on a Saturday night, twice the resident population of the town. There are a number of different really great restaurants in town. The real attraction of Dominical though lies in the surrounding natural wonders of the beach and rain forest.

Arenal La Fortura is concidered the gateway to the natural wonders of Costa Rica. It is the gathering point for those visiting the Jurassic styled Monteverde Cloud Forest, wind surfing on Lake Arenal, and experiencing all the facets of a volcanically active area. The main street of La Fortura is one of hotels, restaurants, and tour outfitters that service the tourist trade. Once removed from its bustling main street, La Fortura regains the flavor of its Costa Rican origins.

Main Points About the Adventure Education Center

• Small intensive groups classes of no more than 4 students at Turrialba and Arenal, with 6 students at Dominical.
• Campuses in three completely different locations, each with its own cultural feel and outdoor activities.
• The Turrialba campus is in a picturesque location on the Atlantic Slope, with the best aspects of the city, countryside and mountains.
• The Dominical campus is right on the beach with lots of wildlife in the surrounding countryside and in the town itself.
• Dominical is one of the best surfing beaches in Central America. • The area surrounding the Turrialba campus is very rural with lots of farms, ranches and coffee plantations.
• Arenal/La Fortuna is the gateway to Northern Costa Rica's most famous natural splendors; the spectacular Arenal volcano and hot springs, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Cano Negro wildlife refuge.
• All three campuses have great afternoon and weekend activities such as: dance and cooking classes, kayaking and horse back riding.
• Arenal students have the chance to view the awesome, nighttime natural splendor of one of the worlds most active volcanos up close and personal.
• The best Adventure program in Costa Rica from mountain biking down from the top of a volcano to sea-kayaking and snorkeling in Marina Ballena National Park.
• Extra benefits for those on the Adventure program include- airport pick up assistance and daily Internet access.
• Comprehensive Medical Spanish programs, combining in classes curriculum with afternoon hospital and clinical visits.
• Extremely safe area, perfect for families and those traveling on their own.
• AEC Spanish Institute is a small school so it is very flexible and willing to set up special programs or group packages.
• Turrialba is a fun and lively town, both by day and by night with a definite country feel.
• Students can receive