Program Reviews

Overall, I think this experience was more of a camp than a program. I expected a full immersion experience, but instead I found it to be like a camp. In many ways Tico Lingo delivered: homestay, market, and classrooms were places where I was forced out of my native language into something new. However, most of the time I was surrounded by others who came to this school not knowing any Spanish. Combined with the many activities also in English, I found my immersion to be underwhelming, but some of the experience and people I'll never forget.

My biggest piece of advice would be to sign up for this program if you are looking for a fun, activity-filled way to spend your summer. Don't come if you're looking for more than 20% of your day spoken in Spanish.

When I signed up for this camp, I was nothing but excited. Excitement and nervousness are very similar and can be mistaken for one another, but I was certainly nervous on the first day. My best friend and I made the trip together, so those first days I mostly stuck with her, but the friends I have made after stepping out of my comfort zone are people I'm sure to remember and stay in contact with. All of the Ticos, staff, and fellow students have been nothing short of kind and funny. My favorite experiences have really just been exploring Costa Rica and experiencing countless new things. I never would've imagined this camp would be so much fun, but it really exceeded my expectations.

The language immersion is something, just, unforgettable. My time here was something I'll always remember. We did so many different and fun activities every day. Our days were busy but I didn't mind too much. I made tons of new friends and we always had a good time. It was so fun, and the Spanish lessons were great too and I learned a lot being able to practice my spanish with my homestay family every day at dinner and breakfast and in class. It was an amazing experience, and I would recommend it.

At first I was very nervous to meet everyone and make friends with total strangers. Immediately I felt welcomed to Tico Lingo by staff and students. I ended up really having a nice time and making friends with people I had never met but will never forget. This program has helped me learn so much, and it was such a great opportunity. I definitely recommend this camp to any aspiring campers. I had so much fun that these two weeks felt like minutes. I'm gonna miss this place so much.

Pura Vida!

I think others should do this camp because it's a super unique way to understand life in a different country through the homestays, language learning, and activities around the country. I really liked how there was a combination of classroom learning and real-world experience. It's also nice to be able to go home at the end of the day and have some alone time. Everyone was very welcoming throughout the experience, which made it easy to get used to everything. We stayed very busy during the day, so there was never a boring moment, and the time felt like it flew by. We also got super unique experiences which wouldn't have been possible as traditional tourists, such as visiting local high schools and learning about each other. We got a lot of Spanish exposure too, which feels like the most efficient way to learn a language. The school days were well structured, and we did lots of different activities to practice different aspects of language learning.

I think the homestay aspect was my favorite part, and unlike anything I've done before. My Tica mama is so sweet, and I learned a lot from her. Talking at breakfast and dinner were always great parts of the day. Overall, I'm very glad I had this experience.

For me this camp has really helped open my eyes to the experiences of others. I've learned so much from my fellow campmates and they've truly inspired me to try new hobbies and continue going on adventures like this one. Although I've traveled to many Hispanic countries and am familiar with much of the culture, I really enjoyed the opportunities provided in this camp to explore the city through the lens of a local; visiting El Mercado, going to the farm, and the scavenger hunts. These activities were what made my experience here in Costa Rica so unique. I believe others who are seeking more authentic cultural experiences would really enjoy coming to this camp and learning about Costa Rica through interactive activities. This camp has taught me so much, not only of the culture but of myself. I am so grateful I decided to come to this camp because I've made so many friends and memories that will last a lifetime. It was such a wonderful experience, and I'm very sad to leave, but I'd recommend this camp to any and all looking to enrich their summers.

As a parent, trust is everything when considering sending your child abroad. Our experience with Tico Lingo was so exceptional the first year that when Matteo had the opportunity to return in a larger volunteer capacity, we had absolutely no hesitation saying yes.

Matteo was actually the youngest participant in the program, and despite that, we had complete confidence in Tico Lingo team, and the support system they had built around the experience. Every detail was communicated clearly and thoroughly from the very beginning. The volunteer project itself came together in a relatively short amount of time, yet Chris, the program director, and his team were beyond phenomenal: responsive, organized, professional, and incredibly detail oriented. Everything that was discussed beforehand happened exactly as planned.

What sets this program apart is that it offers so much more than volunteer hours. Matteo had the opportunity to teach English to elementary, middle, and high school students, support school activities, assist with administering Cambridge exams, participate in sports with local students, and become an active member of the school community. He truly felt that he was making a meaningful contribution, helping others, and being of service.

The cultural immersion was equally impactful. His host family welcomed him not as a guest, but as another member of their family. They included him in daily life and activities, while also helping him practice Spanish in authentic situations every single day. The accommodations, meals, laundry support, and overall care they provided were exceptional. This was Matteo's second host family experience with Tico Lingo, and both families have become part of what we now consider his extended family in Costa Rica.

We communicated with Matteo daily, but we also felt incredibly supported by the Tico Lingo team. They checked in regularly, shared photos and updates, and were always available if we needed anything. We never once questioned his safety or wellbeing, which is truly priceless when your child is thousands of miles away from home.

Maybe the greatest testament to the experience is that Matteo was originally scheduled to stay for two weeks, just as he had the previous year. He loved the experience so much that we changed his flight and extended his stay for an additional week. Chris was incredibly helpful in facilitating the change and making everything seamless. Even after three weeks, Matteo still was not ready to come home and is already talking about returning again before the year is over.

The growth we saw in him over those three weeks was incredible. At sixteen years old, he navigated daily life independently, walked to school and around the community, worked every day, built friendships, adapted to a new environment, and developed confidence, maturity, independence, and leadership skills that will stay with him for years to come.

The greatest gift this program gave our family was the peace of mind of knowing that Matteo was safe while simultaneously being challenged to grow, serve others, become more independent, make meaningful friendships, immerse himself in another culture, and strengthen both his language skills and his understanding of the world around him. Every aspect of the experience was enriching beyond words.

What impressed us most about Chris was not only his professionalism, communication, and attention to detail, but the genuine care he shows for people. It is clear that he cares deeply not only about the students and volunteers participating in the program, but also about the local community and the people they serve. His ability to think through every detail while maintaining such a personal touch is truly remarkable.

The best recommendation I can give is simple: we trusted Tico Lingo once, and we trusted them enough to send him back again. I would recommend this program to other families without hesitation!

Tico Lingo was one of the best experiences of my life. Apart from just learning a language, I got to immerse myself in a culture along with friends I will be able to keep for a lifetime. I did not only learn facts, but I learned a lot about myself. I learned how to communicate with a language barrier and how to be an independent person. The different adventures and activities that I got the opportunity to participate in not only improved my Spanish, but my overall person. Coming to Tico Lingo forced me out of my comfort zone on countless occasions, and I could not be more grateful. Thank you Tico Lingo students and staff for making this a trip I won't ever be able to forget. If you are even thinking about coming, DO IT. You will not regret it.

Sitting down at the dinner table with your host family brings a new feeling to many. Your host family parents don't speak your native language and you don't have any other choice but to learn Spanish to communicate. This is definitely the best way to learn/improve your Spanish. Walking around the city with just your friends is unforgettable, and bringing the new things home is a great joy. Being surrounded by Spanish, talking with the natives, and learning are all really enjoyable. The 2-week program is perfect.

The first day was pretty awkward since I didn't know anyone. But it was pretty easy to make friends with the other campers. My host family was amazing and tried as hard as they could to make me feel welcome. A lot of the food was just rice and beans, which got boring after a while. The activities were fun but curfew was pretty annoying. We did a lot of different types of activities which kept us all really busy. Overall, it was a good experience which I would do again. I had a lot of fun this summer.