Intercultura Language School - Heredia and Samara Beach
Learn the Language, Live the Culture!
Founded in 1993, Intercultura is a language and cultural center devoted to achieving linguistic proficiency in the context of cultural immersion and intercultural education. We seek to cultivate global awareness and cooperation through the sharing of cultures and languages. We believe that participation in our program teaches not only a new language, but also effective tools for communication and understanding in the constantly evolving world culture in which we live.
Intercultura offers a series of 18 courses designed by curriculum specialists, using interactive small groups in an environment of total immersion in Latin American culture. Classes are 4 hours per day, Monday to Friday. Our professors are university trained and credentialed to teach Spanish as a second language. We give all teachers further instruction on teaching in the context of total cultural immersion. Academic credit through several accredited US university programs is available (e.g.. Brookhaven, Austin College, and Duke University).
At Intercultura, students have numerous opportunities to extend their learning experience outside of the classroom by participating in any number of the cultural activities offered including: Latin Dance, Costa Rican Cooking classes, Spanish Film Nights, trips to the theater, National, Gold, and Jade Museums, eco hikes, and more.
Mission & Vision
Intercultura is a language and cultural center devoted to achieving linguistic proficiency in the context of cultural immersion and intercultural education. We seek to cultivate global awareness and cooperation through the sharing of cultures and languages. We believe that participation in our program teaches not only a new language, but also effective tools for communication and understanding in the constantly evolving world culture in which we live. “Learn the language, live the culture”
Our vision is to provide students with an integral language learning and cultural experience, using the communicative approach in combination with strategic elements of current didactic and pedagogical theory in a total cultural immersion environment, which contextualizes the language acquisition process. In addition, we aim to maintain our role at the forefront of the linguistic and intercultural studies field by creating new programs, expanding facilities, continuing the professional development of our staff and reinvesting in the communities that receive us.
Placement
Students are given a placement test by Spanish professors and the Spanish Director. The exam is oral and based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines for Speaking.
Accommodation
In order for students to fully immerse themselves in the local culture, we strongly encourage them to live with one of our local home stay families where they will practice their Spanish in a home environment and experience the hospitality and friendliness that makes Costa Rica such an exceptional pace for students to study Spanish.
Although encouraged, home stays are not required. Student residence and hotels are available at the Samara campus.
Admission
Students must be at least 18 years old to join our Spanish Small Group Intensive program. Our Summer Spanish and Adventure Camp for Teens admits participants between 14 and 17 years old.
Scholarships
Although Intercultura reinvests in the communities in which the schools are located and offers some scholarships for Costa Rican students of English, at this time there are no scholarships for our Spanish Small Group Intensive program. We do offer partial scholarships for our Summer Spanish and Adventure Camp.
