Tico Lingo

I spent one month in Heredia over the summer and had a wonderful experience. For the first two weeks, in addition to my Spanish classes, I volunteered as a teacher’s assistant for four- and five-year-olds at a preschool less than a 10-minute walk from my homestay. Entering a brand-new environment was nerve-racking at first, but the staff was welcoming and helpful (they also speak English). In fact, one of the teachers and I became friends and hung out outside of my volunteering. Our new friendship made my stay even more enjoyable and unforgettable. And I can’t forget to mention the adorable children, who half the time I couldn’t understand (imagine 4-year-olds’ gibberish, but in Spanish lol).

As for my Spanish classes at Tico Lingo, I especially liked my group classes taught by Marcela. I’d describe my Spanish skills as upper-intermediate, and I found her teaching style very helpful: consisting of guided lessons mixed with casual, natural conversations, all strictly in Spanish.

The whole time I stayed with a host family. It sounded daunting to live in a home with strangers (and believe me, I was nervous), but soon enough they truly felt like an extended family. Every morning, my host mom prepared breakfast for me before classes/volunteering. To this day, I still associate the taste of Manzanilla (Chamomile) with the kitchen table where I sat, sipping the tea each morning.

Ultimately, the experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, and for that I’m tremendously glad and grateful. I will always look back with fondness.

(For reference, I’m a 19-year-old college student)

P.S. Take one of the free dance classes.

It is a really fun experience, with fun activities and surprises every day. I enjoyed the coffee farm and the river rafting especially.

When I first came here, I was nervous about speaking Spanish with my homestay family, but I have learned a lot of Spanish since I arrived. The classes are very helpful for learning new vocabulary, and we get lots of practice speaking it during the day when we do activities.

I also enjoyed trying new foods, like termites, and spending time in Heredia with my classmates. We went to places like el Parque Central and got churros together, which was really fun. I also learned a lot about the culture and wildlife here. I loved my homestay experience because Vicky is great, and her cat, Bruno, was one of the best parts of my time here. I love Bruno. He is so cute and loves to sit on people’s laps and be picked up.

The counselors are awesome because they always have exciting activities planned for us and they help us practice our Spanish. I also really appreciate how Nicole helped me make sure I was able to go to the gym every day, and offered to walk me home so I felt more safe.

Another thing I like about this camp is that sometimes we are spontaneous and we do things like go watch Spiderman in Spanish, and it’s always fun whether the activities are planned or a surprise.

I made friends and learned a lot of Spanish. I think my Spanish skills have improved a lot in only 2 weeks. I will miss everything about this experience when I go home, even the annoying fruit flies. I hope I can come back another time because I love Heredia!

My homestay mom Vicky was great. And I loved her cat!

Tico Lingo has been an awesome experience. My Spanish has DEFINITELY improved, and my homestay mom was super kind (and cooked great food, ¡Vicky!). My house had a cat who became my best friend. Whenever we came back from an adventure he would come say "hola"!

Some of the best trips were the white water rafting & the ropes course, which were fun on their own but became better with the new friends I made. Every day was a surprise because Nicole wouldn’t tell us anything. :)

People should do this camp because it is a great way to learn Spanish while also having a lot of fun. It’s a really good combination of activities and Spanish learning, and you get to practice speaking in real situations. I really enjoyed being with my homestay. Nory and her kids are very nice, and her family is really interesting. One activity I really enjoyed was rafting because it was super fun and also a good chance to speak Spanish. Heredia is super cool, and I personally love going to Tasty with my friends.

My experience with this volunteer program in Heredia, Costa Rica was amazing and I had a great time. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking for meaningful volunteer work and a new and enjoyable experience.

During my time at the school, I was able to help students of many ages. I helped students with their English pronunciation, practice having a conversation with a native speaker, helped with English spelling bees, assisted with presentations and projects, supervised classes, and helped administer English proficiency tests. I really enjoyed being able to use my English to help students practice and learn. This program also helped me improve my Spanish greatly. Being immersed in a Spanish speaking country allowed me to practice everyday and learn. At the school, I was able to practice listening to Spanish classes, talk with students in Spanish, and learn new words everyday. Just being immersed helped my Spanish greatly.

My host family was also amazing. They were very welcoming and friendly to me and by always made me feel a part of their family. I was able to practice my Spanish even more through daily conversations. They made sure I was comfortable and included me in their daily life. I also really enjoyed Heredia and having the freedom to explore. The people are very friendly in Heredia and I was able to walk around the city and explore the local areas. I felt very safe and enjoyed the freedom I had after volunteering.

I am very happy I got to experience this program and I would 100% recommend it. I enjoyed it so much I actually extended my time in Heredia for another week. I made a lot of great memories, met many people, helped others, and improved my Spanish. I can't wait to go back!