Program Reviews

I believe that Tico Lingo is a great experience for people that want to learn Spanish and already have a foundation in Spanish. When you get here you will be nervous but as you get used to the homestay and your fellow campers it will start to feel far more natural. Most of your days will be very structured like the animal rescue center, but you will get chances for free time throughout the trip where you can explore the city. How much you go out of the way to speak it with most tour guides able to speak English if you don’t try you won’t speak a lot of Spanish. The only advice I can give you is that you won’t get along with every other camper 100% but be at least nice to them and also don’t flush the toilet paper.

This was a great program. On the first day here meeting your roommate and host family can be slightly awkward but as you continue your trip and meet the other campers as well as continue practicing your Spanish these first day nerves will go away. The friendships you can make on these trips can be life long so putting yourself out there and speaking up was important and fun on the trip. I definitely learned a lot of Spanish. When I got here my Spanish was very elementary but my class with professor Freddy helped with my ability to form more sentences and understand Spanish. During the camp we explored the city, went to an animal sanctuary, went on a ropes course, went to the local mall Oxígeno in the first week. Over the weekend we went on a fun trip to stay in a hotel with pools, hot springs and the beautiful views of La Fortuna. As well as some fun whitewater and kayaking trips during the day. The next week we spent some free time in the city, went ziplining, a trampoline park, a water park and were able to practice our Spanish with students attending an English school as well as going to the beach. This trip was a great experience overall. It may be nerve racking traveling alone to another country however this experience helped my traveling skills, Spanish skills and left me with some amazing friendships. I would definitely recommend this experience to any teen wanting to travel and learn more Spanish!!

It’s hard to pick a specific aspect of this camp as my favorite. From the delicious food I ate everyday made by my homestay mom to the always eventful Spanish classes we had each morning and especially to our exciting activities we got to do every afternoon, there was never a dull moment. I loved the experience of staying with a homestay family because in this way, I felt like I best got to experience and learn about the unique culture of Costa Rica. After my time in Tico Lingo and homestay, I was able to eat so many typical Costa Rican dishes that I didn’t even know about before. I was also able to use my Spanish in a real world setting and learn about the lives of those I stayed with and met along the way. The Spanish classes at Tico Lingo were by far the best classes I have ever taken. Although we had 4 hours of classes each day, the time always seemed to go by fast and was enjoyable. In my small classroom of 3 people, we had Karina as our teacher. I loved her style of teaching as we always had the most interesting conversation topics and discussions. I recommend this camp for those excited for adventure and learning Spanish and the Tico culture.

Tico Lingo transformed my Spanish skills far beyond what I achieved in high school and college courses. In just five weeks, my confidence soared, allowing me to hold regular conversations with native speakers. The program’s cultural immersion fosters out-of-class speaking and experimentation with our lessons. The intercambio conversation meet-ups were invaluable for practicing advanced grammar, something I rarely did in university. Meeting people from Costa Rica and around the world made learning Spanish incredibly enjoyable.

Heredia, the city where Tico Lingo is located, was a joy to explore. Its vibrant streets, welcoming locals, and rich cultural heritage added an extra layer to my learning experience. From bustling markets to tranquil parks, every part of Heredia contributed to my Spanish practice and cultural understanding.

Tico Lingo excels at making language learning fun and practical. The combination of immersive classes and the charming city of Heredia made my experience unforgettable. I'll definitely be back!

Tico Lingo school in Heredia was exactly what I needed to rejuvenate my Spanish-speaking skills. Nestled in the quaint city of Heredia, the school offers engaging group and private lessons tailored to every student's needs. What sets Tico Lingo apart are the daily complimentary classes in dance and yoga, adding a delightful cultural touch to the learning experience. Additionally, the school organizes weekend group tours to explore different parts of Costa Rica, enriching both language skills and cultural immersion. I spent two weeks at Tico Lingo and found myself wishing for more time to continue learning in such a vibrant and supportive environment.

I really enjoyed the intensive nature of the program. I really liked my homestay family and meals and I really appreciated how flexible the scheduling is. I stayed for two weeks and after the first week I was able to add on private lessons in addition to my group lessons at request. There were others that decided to stay longer as well at request which was really nice and seems like not a lot of Spanish programs offer that (granted I don’t know of many programs outside of TicoLingo). I also came with my friend and the coordinators made it possible for us to stay with the same host family which made my trip all the better! I am considering returning and would definitely recommend to anyone considering going. Would recommend you bring an umbrella if go during May, it rained hard and random most times.

Tico Lingo offers a great program with excellent teachers and a helpful staff. This was the program I needed to catapult my Spanish to the next level. Everyone here wants to learn and the teachers are happy to help. There are also opportunities to experience Costa Rican culture and Latin culture. My Costa Rican family was very helpful, too. I should also add that the school and the Tica family network are centrally located near stores, restaurants, gyms, and anything else you might need. Everywhere you go there are plenty of opportunities to speak and learn Spanish.

I spent 4 weeks learning Spanish with Tico Lingo. My 2 professors were both incredibly capable and their lessons were productive and super fun. The homestay option really made the difference for me. Being immersed in Spanish 24/7 finally enabled me to break out of my plateau and get comfortable with speaking Spanish.

They organized weekly intercambio events where I got to meet and practice my Spanish with locals. These were very helpful for getting more exposure to the language in different contexts.

The weekends at Tico Lingo we're super fun as well. There were always tours or other activities to take part of.

Finally, Heredia and Costa Rica in general are super safe and nice places to visit.

Ps. The Coffee is amazing

there are not enough words to express my gratitude to Tico Lingo, and for the experience I had.

I spent three weeks in Heredia - lived with an amazing family had every day the best meals of my life. Attending class for four hours each day was pure joy. My professor, Zaida, never spoke English but had a way of getting you to understand. and my Spanish improved a lot. The students I met were from 18 - 75 all walks of life from all over the globe. And the Ticos - the nicest folks you would ever want to meet. The tours were outstanding - did one each week.

If you are serious about improving your Spanish and you enjoy being immersed in a country’s culture and you have the time, go for it.

there are not enough words to express my gratitude to Tico Lingo, and for the experience I had.

I spent three weeks in Heredia - lived with an amazing family had every day the best meals of my life. Attending class for four hours each day was pure joy. My professor, Zaida, never spoke English but had a way of getting you to understand - and my Spanish improved a lot.

The students I met were aged 18 - 75 and were from all walks of life from all over the globe. And the Ticos - the nicest folks you would ever want to meet. The tours were outstanding - did one each week. If you are serious about improving your Spanish and you enjoy being immersed in a country’s culture and you have the time, go for it.