Tico Lingo Reviews

The first day at tico lingo was scary. All of us were in a new place with people we have never met before. However, within the first 48 hours I started to connect with everyone more and more. Day by day, my Spanish improved and my friendships grew stronger. During the weekend trip to the rafting is when I truly recognized this. I realized how special of a place Costa Rica is and I realized that I was surrounded by people who care. They care about each other, about their host families, and about the country of Costa Rica as a whole. The people I’ve met here will always hold a special place in my heart. My teachers pushed me out of my comfort zone and my tico advisors (Nicole and Mary) were there every step of the way. This program is so incredibly special and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity. I miss it already!

This camp was a great opportunity to experience a Spanish speaking country while also engaging in their culture and life. I met tons of new people who I’m so grateful for and I really enjoyed getting to know each and every one individually. The people I’ve met have been more than welcoming and it made the entire experience a whole lot easier. I think this program is something that everyone should get to experience and I have no regrets about coming here. I also got to meet Chris from Tico Lingo.

At the beginning I was anxious to be in a new country, new family and new friends. However, from the first day everyone was so kind, funny, and most people shared similar experiences. My host family welcomed me with open arms and helped me talk in Spanish even when I was confused/stuck on what I was trying to say. The staff and teachers were always kind and understanding. All of the kids bonded throughout the trip and many life-long memories were made. I enjoyed most of the activities we did and I feel like I learned a lot about Costa Rican culture. One of my favorite activities was talking with the other Tico students! My Spanish and pronunciation has grown tremendously but it was a little slower paced than I expected. Overall, I really enjoyed this trip and it was an amazing experience.

This camp was very special to me. I met so many new people that mean a lot to me. It was a great opportunity to explore a new country with new people. In addition, I got to meet Chris de Tico Lingo. The people I stayed with were very nice and made the time here even better. Personally, my favorite activity was white water rafting because it was very thrilling. Also my homestay parents were very kind, they helped me with everything I needed and were very amiable. The teachers at the school were very kind. It was overall a great experience and I would 100% recommend

Tico lingo is an immersive program that allows everyone to better their Spanish, no matter what level. The classes in school teach you grammar and vocab, the activities after school allow you to learn about the history of Costa Rica, and the aspect of living with a family gives you the cultural experience of Costa Rica which by far is the most important part of the experience. The people here are very kind, especially the tico lingo staff, making Spanish fun and expanding people’s knowledge of Costa Rica.

I really enjoyed doing this camp for many reasons. To start, I loved meeting everyone and becoming friends. We all have inside jokes and a bond made by spending time together. Additionally, all the staff was really supportive and welcoming. No one made you feel dumb if you didn’t know something and it felt like the genuinely wanted you to get better. The teachers are so amazing and know exactly how to incorporate fun with a lot of learning. I liked all the activities we did in class. I loved seeing the town and shopping. All the ticos are so nice and willing to help. Chris de Tico lingo was the highlight of this trip!

I could not encourage this experience to others my age enough. This was the first time I visited a Spanish speaking country and got to live out my dream of putting my years of Spanish learning to use. Immersing myself in the culture and people was the best method of doing so. I instantly fell in love with my host family and the country that greeted me so kindly and with open arms. The other kids in the program have taught me so much about myself in the only two weeks we’ve been together. Everyday we’d embark on another adventure that exposed me to language, culture, and gorgeous nature scenery. I was enamored with the biodiversity that exists in Costa Rica and all the attention paid to presenting it. My confidence in speaking and muscle memory improved tremendously. I can’t wait to keep working towards fluency and comprehension. This experience has been thrilling. It’s been filled with laughter, love , curiosity and adventure. I am so grateful for this trip and the people who’ve entered my life.

Others should do this camp because it doesn’t just let you explore Costa Rica, but helps improve your Spanish. The camp is very serious about focusing on Spanish, which proves they care and want to help you as much as possible. The activities were fun, and helped me connect more with my classmates, I started out pretty nervous, but quickly made lots of friends. The homestay house and family was great and really immersed me in Spanish. The staff was really nice and Chris from tico lingo is the best!

Reasons you should do this camp: to improve your Spanish, meet new friends that you will have for a lifetime, to experience the Costa Rican culture, have a lot of independence to get ready for high school and/or college. I laughed a lot with my friends who made it very fun. Every day there was a fun activity with much to learn. We were never left hungry, everything was always planned out perfectly. The homestay families welcomed us in their own kids; and that was the main reason I learned the most Spanish. The classes always have fun activities planned so it isn’t just lectures. Whatever level you are at you get placed into a class at your level and can change at any time whether you feel confident enough to move up or down. An all around great experience! Thank you to all the staff!

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.