" We first discovered this wonderful school via the web,
took a chance and were very pleased to have our expectations exceeded.
As a family of four with varying Spanish skills, we were placed
in small, customized classes and great teachers that worked with
us as individuals. I was hopeful, yet a bit skeptical that the
immersion experience we were seeking was possible. With both the
host families we stayed with and the excellent, patient teachers
we had, it was pure Spanish, yet we had no problem in communicating
any need…we returned two additional years to experience
the same commitment, enthusiasm and fun as the first time. I can't
recommend this school and the fantastic, affordable program and
team they've assembled enough."
-Steve Wise
Family Spanish Programs
Costa Rica, a gift of a
lifetime!! How can one describe such a precious offering from
parents to their children? To open the world of Costa Rica
for the entire family is such a treasure. You are opening
their lives to language, adventure and a different culture.
You are opening their minds and hearts to the wondrous world
of travel and self discovery. The lessons learned go far beyond
the world of language. They touch at the core of each individual
child. They get in touch with the ability to see, touch, taste
and hear new worlds. With these new abilities they can reach
further in their own lives with a new confidence, insight
and spirit for themselves. They may not remember every spoken
word or Spanish lesson given but they will remember this experience
of a lifetime with their family.
As mother and wife, Lori Lawson describes
it so well:
"My husband and our 12 year old daughter and I have spent
over five weeks on two different trips at AEC's Turrialba
and Dominical campuses, so we can say with certainty that
AEC offers a great experience for families wanting to learn
Spanish. The staff, the administrators, the teachers and the
host families are all warm, welcoming and wonderful.
I have recommended the experience to many friends and families
and all who have taken my suggestion also had a fantastic
time. AEC offers a great combination of effective learning
experiences, mixed with fun options for seeing Costa Rica:
canyoning, horseback riding, learning to surf, dancing and
cooking lessons . . . it's all good!
Pura Vida! "
CHILDRENS' PROGRAMS
The excitement of seeing a family go through
the process of first exploring the idea of studying
the language in Costa Rica is a great reward at AEC
Spanish Institute. With the many options that families
have with AEC it is quite exciting to come up with custom
programs that fit a individual family’s need.
While most language schools ignore the family, AEC welcomes
them with special children’s programs and housing
options that can include the entire family. We have
developed two different and very comprehensive children's
programs. These programs are available to families and
parents that will be attending the AEC Spanish Institute–
Turrialba campus.
Parents that are looking for a fun and engaging way
to introduce their children to the Spanish language
will find that this is the perfect answer.
KINDERGARTNERS: SPECIAL SPANISH PROGRAM AVAILABLE AT
TURRIALBA CAMPUS ONLY
The first program is specifically designed for children
between the ages of 1 to 6 years of age. We have worked
out an arrangement to have the children of AEC Spanish
Institute students attend a local kindergarten where
our Spanish director's daughter attends classes. The
name of the school is Jardin de Niños "Guaria
Blanca".
This school is not a total bilingual school, so the
children will be exposed to a great deal of Spanish
while attending classes. The school does have 40 minutes
of English each day and there are other times that the
teachers will speak in English as well. There are about
60 children in the school, split up into 4 different
groups, depending on age. In addition to daily English
lessons, students also participate in numerous other
activities and classes. Other daily activities include;
Music, Arts & Crafts and Literature. Also, once
a week they will have computer classes, physical education
and swimming lessons.
The school uses the education program developed and
certified by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education as
well as their own additions and specially developed
lessons. Children participating in this program will
start classes at 8:00 am and are completely supervised
until 12:00 pm when classes end. At that time children
can be picked up and transported to the AEC Spanish
Institute campus to meet up with their parents as they
finish their Spanish classes.
The Turrialba Kindergarten
Program Includes:
• homestay with child's parents at a Costa Rican
host family home
• 2 meals a day
• tuition at kindergarten
• transportation during program
Cost of program: $255/week
We believe that our children's programs are very comprehensive
and offer families the opportunity to expose their children
to the Spanish language at a young age. As most language
experts will tell you, it is much easier to teach a
child at a young age another language then it is for
an adult.
__________________________________________________________
The second program is designed for children from the
age of 8 to 13 years old. Teenagers from 14 years of
age and up will be placed in the regular adult classes.
This children's program is available at all three AEC
Spanish Institute campuses.
These special classes are held at the school's facility
and are taught by teachers that are conversant with
the needs and abilities of young children. During the
course of the lessons the children will have the opportunity
to get out of the classroom and have lessons outside.
They will have different games and activities that will
be done primarily in Spanish and will be done in a fun
and interesting way in order to keep them interested
and learning. The school also has specially designed
educational material and lessons that are use to introduce
grammar, vocabulary as well as the structure of the
language.These classes are run at the same time and
with the same schedule of the Adult language program,
with classes starting at 8:00 am and ending at 12:30
pm.
CHILDRENS' PROGRAM INCLUDES:
• homestay with child's parents at a Costa Rican
host family home
• 2 meals a day
• four hours/day of classes
• lessons & activities
• transportation during program
The cost of this program: is $235 / week.
We believe that our children's programs are very comprehensive
and offer families the opportunity to expose their children
to the Spanish language at a young age. As most language
experts will tell you, it is much easier to teach a
child at a young age another language then it is for
an adult.
Please call us at 800-237-2730 so we can put
you and your family into the world of Costa Rica with AEC Spanish
Institute.
HOUSING OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES: At AEC there a number of different options for family
housing available. The one most used is the host family situation.
Families will have a private room or attached rooms with a
bathroom that they will 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.
The Playa Dominical campus has both school lodging as well
as homestay. Lodging at the school is in shared cabinas on
campus or at apartments near the beach with private bath.
Also available is a small apartment with kitchen facilities
that can house four comfortably.
In Turrialba we have access to a duplex in downtown Turrialba
that is available throughout the year except January thru
March. This house can sleep four and has a kitchen, dining
area, bathroom and outside covered porch area with the Rio
Colorado in your backyard. Walking distance to school and
is within shopping, dining and the entire central portion
of Turrialba.
