Program Reviews

My two weeks in Costa Rica with Tico Lingo have been so amazing. Whether in a classroom seat or clinging to a raft, every moment has helped me grow in more ways than expected. These past two weeks pushed me far outside my comfort zone, not only linguistically but personally. Some of the most unexpected and meaningful parts of the experience were the friendships I made, surrounded by people who were also trying, failing, learning, and laughing. I felt a sense of belonging that made every moment richer. What started as a challenge became a chance to connect, explore, and grow with people I now can’t imagine not knowing. None of it would have been the same without my host family and teachers. My host parents welcomed me with warmth and patience, turning what felt unfamiliar into something comforting. My teachers brought energy and encouragement into every class, making the learning process feel exciting rather than intimidating. It’s amazing how two weeks can leave a lifetime’s worth of impact. Pura Vida!

My time at Tico Lingo was great. I learned a lot about Spanish and made new friends. I grew as a person and took on challenges head-on on and benefited from these experiences massively. I want to thank Marlin, as he gave me impossible riddles and taught me my new favorite game. I would have to say that white-water rafting was my favorite part, as I learned so much and had a ton of fun. You might feel nervous or scared at first, but you slowly adjust, and it becomes an experience of a lifetime. From the long bus rides to the sightseeing seeing everything was great. My homestay parents were the nicest and most understanding. Thank you so much for everything, Nora and Manuel. Without you guys, my experience wouldn’t have been the same. The friendships I made and the people I met have helped me enjoy the experience even more. All of us are learning along the way, and that’s what made our bonds even stronger. Thank you again, Tico Lingo, for giving me an experience of a lifetime.

It’s definitely an opportunity to create new friends with the intercambio probably being my favorite part. My homestay mom, Maritza, was incredibly welcoming and I felt like I was at home for the most part (except from the obvious). SOme of the activities definitely felt a bit long and strenuous with the heat, but they were all interesting and fun. It’s definitely also very packed, with free time being a rarity and me always collapsing into bed with relief. I enjoyed my ability to explore independence and walk around exploring an entirely foreign country.

My 2 weeks at Tico Lingo might have been my favorite of all my summers. The friends I made, people I got to know and memories created will last a lifetime. At Tico Lingo, you are all in it together. Whether it is all being scared before going white water rafting, putting your heads together to solve a riddle, or laughing until tears are coming out of your eyes, the sense of community is felt. My homestay family fostered a fun and comfortable environment where I felt like I belonged. The staff spread fun and excitement each day and taught me things I would have never learned in my usual Spanish class at home.

The first day I got here, I was late and really tired, but I met my homestay buddies and classmates and they were all pretty cool. I felt a little nervous at first, but mostly I was insanely excited for the two weeks ahead. The first week was a lot of fun. We did some cool activities, and I got to meet other kids at the English school, which was awesome. My favorite activity that week was probably whitewater rafting on Sunday, it was such a blast. Now we’re into the second week, and it’s been great too. I really liked playing basketball at the park. I’m excited to go home, but also a little sad. I’ve had a great time and made a lot of amazing friends. I even got two girls’ Instagrams, which was pretty cool. I’m really going to miss everyone and maybe I’ll come back next year. I loved my Tica mom, she was a great cook. And I really liked Chris, Mary, and Marlin (Tico Lingo staff) as they were super chill. My teacher was really cool too.

This camp is a great way to learn Spanish. It is different from any other class because immediately after you learn a word, conjugation or concept you get to utilize it in conversational Spanish with your host family. This greatly speeds up the learning process and your TIco host family provides a welcoming and low pressure environment to speak Spanish. Not only did this camp improve my linguistic skills but it also increased my appreciation and fascination with culture, both Costa Rican and American. The other students allowed me to see a snapshot of how Americans all across the US act (this was especially interesting as I had never met anyone outside of the west coast). To anyone doing this program in the years to come I would say stay open to everything, trying new foods, meeting new people, going to new places and practicing Spanish. No matter how scary it may seem, I promise that the experience is worth it!

I think others should do this camp because of the perspective you gain from it. At the beginning of my 2 weeks I was a little nervous because I knew I wouldn’t be able to communicate with the people I met. For example, on my first day I was the first person in my homestay house and I was alone with our tico parents for 2 hours. During those hours, I tried talking with them, but couldn’t. By the end of my two weeks however, I was able to mostly understand everything they said and have short conversations with them. In the end, I think I learned just as much Spanish from them as from my teacher. Another benefit of Tico Lingo is that it teaches you to not be afraid to mess up when talking. For many activities, we had to talk with locals which was very hard at first but got easier over time. Tico Lingo taught me a kind of Spanish you can't learn in school. I’m very grateful to have had this opportunity.

I personally was a little nervous but literally after one day I knew I was fine. I found cool people and slowly our group got close. I may have lucked out in that my Tico Lingo group was very tightly knit. Also aside from social stuff, the activities are fun as long as you participate. Also there’s a lot of opportunities to build relationships if you want. And depending on your host family, you will get delicious filling meals and a loving, funny family. The camp is a good way to meet new people and extinguish some social anxiety that you may have.

From the second after I connected with the two Tico Lingo staff and fellow students, I felt welcomed. The staff and leaders’ positive attitudes reassured me that it was going to be a great 2 weeks. This proved to be so incredibly true. With enriching Spanish classes that reinforced and introduced new concepts to us, I felt my Spanish improving rapidly. All of the other students also made this experience incredible, especially my girls. From game nights with everyone to laughing and enjoying all of our activities and meals together (rain or shine!), everyone I met was so kind and understanding. Some of the highlights of my 2 weeks included rafting, zip-lining, the scavenger hunt, and exploring Heredia with all of my new friends. Everything that we did felt very well planned and executed. Shoutout to Mary, Marlin, and Chris for being great leaders and keeping everything organized. Last but not least, the homestay was a fantastic way to gain Spanish skills. I felt at home right away with Maritza, as well as my homestay buddy, Lark. Overall, I would highly recommend Tico Lingo to anyone and everyone.

The camp was a ton of fun and definitely a once in a lifetime experience. A camp like this is very hard to come across so enjoy it fully! Your classmates/friends you will meet will be very nice people and it will feel like you’ve known them forever. The locals here as well are all super nice. My friends and I, would play basketball at the park and we would all laugh and have fun. On the first day you might feel nervous, but don't. Be nice and friendly, and you will be fine and have fun. Costa Rica is a cool place with a very fun lifestyle. Be friendly with the homestay. They are very nice, and it's a fun and easy way to practice your Spanish. During my two weeks here I have definitely learned a lot of Spanish and the friends I’ve made I definitely will be talking to in the future. Some of the best activities for me were the white water rafting, the scavenger hunt, the beach and my personal favorite was the free time. Free time was one of the best for me because we got to hang out with the locals and do what we wanted in the city and have fun. Definitely come to this camp, you won’t regret it.