Program Reviews

I have never had formal Spanish lessons. I am from a Northern Canadian town. I had tried learning on my own for a year or so with not much success. I learned about Tico Lingo Program from a random Facebook person. Experiencing a country through a local home was a plus for me. I believe to see a country and learn their ways is best through a homestay. So this part of the program helped me make a decision on joining this language program. My host Mom was awesome. She spoke all Spanish as to my request. She was loving and kind beyond words. The school setting was welcoming and had a very fun loving and supportive atmosphere. The teaching method was interesting for me as a non native speaker. We learned through speaking, listening, and various lesson plans. There are extra curricular activities set up in the school. Weekend tours are extra but available to the students. At all times there was support for our needs; whether it was language related, site seeing help, or just general aide in our wants and needs. I would definitely recommend this Spanish program. The city of Heredia has a lot to offer a person wanting to immerse in a Spanish setting.

My husband and I considered many options for a Spanish immersion course and we are so glad we chose Tico Lingo. We appreciated the excellent staff, the flexibility of course length and start dates, the support and communication before and during the program and the great location in Heredia (away from tourism and English speakers, in a clean, safe, walkable city). And we loved our homestay family!

We also appreciated the effort to care for students beyond the classroom. The cultural classes and events, the optional weekend trips and the relaxed atmosphere for hanging out in our free time added a lot.

I attended Tico Lingo in Heredia for four weeks and loved my entire experience. From the warm, welcoming, attentive staff: Chris and Jenifer, the excellent instructors, the cozy ambiance at the school, the fun activities after class like dancing, yoga, and optional weekend tours, the friendly vibe, and ease of making friends, to my wonderful homestay family, I cannot say enough positive things! It far exceeded my expectations, plus the city of Heredia is a perfect location! I highly recommend Tico Lingo!!!

Learning a new language is always difficult but can be made fun when learning with others who are in the same situation. That's why I really enjoyed my two weeks at Tico Lingo. Of course the school program and staff make it a very welcoming experience from the moment you arrive at the airport and are greeted by a friendly escort to bring you to your homestay. The homestay was with a lovely family and gave me a lot of time practicing with native speakers.
The Mama Tica made me feel at home and cooked lovely meals.
The teachers were all very good in teaching but also knowing how to engage us in conversations. I was fortunate to have classmates who were at a similar level as myself at Spanish. The facilities at the school were more than adequate. There was good coffee in the morning and breaks. I can't thank my teachers Erick and Kevin enough for their dedication to helping us with our goals. Heredia is a non touristy town and is an ideal location for practicing Spanish in the market. I really like the climate and that's another good reason for my third visit to Heredia over seven years.
Yeniffer and Chris make you very welcome after classes and are there if you need anything. José was also there to help. I took advantage of the yoga classes too. I recommend Tico Lingo for your learning journey.

I studied Spanish twice at Tico Lingo, 3 weeks of classes, then a year later, 1 week of private lesson. I loved the entire experience. My teacher Karina was outstanding. She could take a fun, energizing, and often difficult conversation even in English (my first language) into a teachable moment. My Spanish and my confidence with it increased dramatically. During my home stays with Roxy and Mercedes, I felt like part of their families. Mercedes and I played games at night and went to the market together. Roxy helped me with homework and we took an afternoon excursion to San Jose. We remain good friends to this day. The staff at Tico Lingo were helpful from start to finish, helping with my arrival plans, transport, and activities outside of class. Everyone made the environment at the school welcoming.

What an incredible experience! I arrived at Tico Lingo at the end of January 2024- the staff at this school is invested in your experience in Costa Rica and they will welcome you with open arms! The school makes it easy to immerse yourself in the culture and country, from optional tours on the weekends to opportunities of hanging out at a local restaurant and chatting with Ticos.
During the 6 weeks I was there, my Spanish improved immensely. The classes were well suited to my level but challenged me to learn on a daily basis (and, they were so FUN). Meeting students from all over the world was great! I am glad I stayed with a host family, and they were thoughtful and willing to work with my dietary restrictions.
I enjoyed exploring the city of Heredia, and it was also easy to get out of town to check out other adventures! Highly recommend this program: amazing staff, small classes, and lots of opportunities to immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture!

I spent almost three months at Tico Lingo, and if you are looking for a place to improve your Spanish quickly without feeling like you're "wasting" valuable vacation days, you've found the perfect spot. Spend some time here and you'll have a blast, but also come out the other side with some new skills!

I had three different teachers (Erick, Karina, and Freddy) as I advanced through multiple levels, and all three were excellent. I was really impressed by the way they were able to adapt to the various needs of perhaps the most diverse classrooms I've been a part of, while still pushing the material forward. Every class was challenging but engaging, and each brought their own personality to the classroom. When I arrived in Costa Rica, I had zero Spanish knowledge (I could say "Hola!") By the time I finished my program, I was in the "advanced" level at the time, and could comfortably handle myself on the streets of Costa Rica. I'm not saying this to pat myself on the back, but to give credit to how effective the staff and the structuring of the program is.

The atmosphere around the school is also great for making meaningful progress in your language skills. My fellow students ranged in age from early 20s to mid 60s, but everyone is friendly and excited to be there. The vibe at Tico Lingo is very chill and friendly, but you will also still be surrounded by a bunch of other earnest Spanish learners. It really helps take away some of the anxieties about throwing yourself into a country before you speak the language, since you're all in it together! There are also plenty of activities organized by Tico Lingo throughout the week to help cultivate a social atmosphere, which really helped everyone to make friends quickly. My favourite was "intercambio," when locals are invited to come hang out and practise their English while you practise your Spanish.

The real standout of the program overall though was the homestay experience. Instead of returning to some hotel room or dorm to fall back into your rotten English ways, you'll be staying with a local family - you can't escape the Spanish, but that's what you want! My Tico family was extremely welcoming, and my Tico "Mom" was an amazing cook. They really made me feel at home, bringing me to family occasions, to watch football games, or teaching me how to cook some local recipes. It was so gratifying to feel my Spanish improving through the weeks, from stammering out the most broken incoherences to fully conversing and joking with my family.

I had time off before I started my new job and wanted to learn Spanish. I looked at multiple different programs and decided on Tico Lingo because the weather was amazing and it was a country I had not visited. I took classes at Tico Lingo for 6 weeks and could not recommend going to learn and staying with a Familia Tica any more! It was amazing being fully immersed in the culture of Costa Rica. My classes, teachers, tutors, and learning environment were excellent. The best part of my time at Tico Lingo was spending time with my host family and having engaging conversations with them using what I learned in class. I progressed from having little to no Spanish knowledge to being around a B1 level. I also now have to knowledge to continue to progress in my Spanish learning on my own time.

My 3 weeks at Tico Lingo language school was AMAZING. From picking me up at the airport to my sadly saying goodbyes, I will never forget this experience. From the first day, Chris and his staff made me feel at home. Eric, my teacher was very knowledgeable, professional and friendly. Yenifer was great to work with. I learned a lot. I feel I can communicate so much better when I am in Spanish speaking countries now.
My host family was truly a family for me: Rita, Rafael and Alma. They helped me with Spanish and showed me around Costa Rica. Rita is an excellent cook!
Besides the Tico Lingo people and my host family, I met many fellow students who are now my friends.
I highly recommend Tico Lingo and hope to go back some day.
Thank you so much! Mona D

Being at Tico lingo was truly a life changing experience for me. Aside from the fact that we were surrounded by awesome staff and host families I learned more Spanish in the two weeks I was there than I had learned in years of school Spanish classes. The Tico lingo experience was not only a great learning experience for Spanish but to make lifelong friends and family. I met my best friend on one of my trips to Tico lingo and I am so thankful for the opportunities the trip gave me each and every day. The Tico lingo program will always have a special place in my heart and I highly highly recommend for anyone looking to travel and learn Spanish. It is safe, fun and engaging experience!