EF Playa Tamarindo

I am currently 6 months into the 9-month program at EF Playa Tamarindo, and it has been extremely useful for the development of my Spanish language skills. I started in September, 2016 at the elementary level and am now (March 2017) at the level of advanced proficiency. By the time I leave, I will be able to communicate almost fluently. The teachers that I've had have been very helpful in explaining grammatical concepts and clearing up any questions I have.

As far as the living situation, I absolutely adore my host family. In fact, I don't think I could have had a better experience in this department. They are warm and welcoming, as are the majority of people in Costa Rica. It didn't take long for me to feel at home and become integrated into their lifestyle. Therefore, I would say the host family option is highly recommended. Not only does it accelerate your language development, but you also gain meaningful relationships.

Finally, there's the location itself. If you like to explore and experience rich cultural traditions, this is your place. There are endless opportunities to practice adventure sports, countless beaches to see, and several cultural activities in which to participate. Yes, Tamarindo itself is a very touristy area, but you can move around easily with buses and taxis. The school also schedules trips a few times per month on the weekends. I've personally crossed many items off of my bucket list.