The magic of social immersion...Spanish confidence thrives when we are open to new people, new outlooks and new challenges. Since 1998, our Costa Rica Summer Exchange brings youth together in a mutually shared experience of friendship and community spirit. For visiting teens, adapting to our village way of life is a milestone in personal growth and Spanish self-reliance.
Spanish is culturally a social language that celebrates friendship. That is our focus - we bring out the best in young speakers by helping feel connected and engaged within our local youth culture. Each day we dedicate to bringing youth together to share experiences, make friends, have fun, and gain confidence.
Each morning students meet at our host high school. At our school, visiting students interact in a variety of activities from cooking, sports, arts, sports, dance, Spanish/English conversation and volunteer student projects. Our student "ambassadors" are matched with visiting students to help them interact and meet other students.
Once a week we visit nearby local villages to engage youth in their smaller "pueblos." Activities include cookouts, bonfires, nature hikes, sporting events, visiting small farms, youth centers, and community projects (our village of Tilaran, is the county seat to 6 smaller villages).
Fridays and Saturdays we dedicate ourselves to outdoor fun, swimming in multiple waterfalls, national parks, beach day, team challenges and local fiestas. Every event includes local student participation. Generally Sundays are free time with their host family and time to visit friends.
We provide a true immersion that young people love because they live at the local pace and experience the daily life of local teens. Spanish confidence thrives because it feels natural and there's no pressure to perform. We are an individual program that incorporates the talents and interests of visiting students. Whether playing on the volleyball team, playing an instrument or tutoring English, students will have fun sharing common interests. Tilaran is a friendly, relaxed community that has restaurants, shops, a central park for youth, and our own cinema. Walking around town you can see toucans, monkeys or even sloths. We stronging encourage parents to enroll for the longest time possible to elevate friendship and fluency.
Thank you for reaching out to us to learn more!
