Program Reviews

I really enjoyed all aspects of Tico Lingo. The class size was small providing me a lot of attention and specific instruction tailored to my level. I received private tutoring. My home stay Mom provided excellent meals and took care of all of my needs in the home. I truly enjoyed getting to know her. On the weekends tours/ excursions are available with other Tico Lingo students. Overall I got so much out of this experience and can’t wait to return.
A friend and I walked everyday through the city and practiced speaking to the locals.

While in Costa Rica with Tico Lingo I learned so much Spanish through classes but also through immersion as well. I loved my host family and still occasionally text with them. Even though I was nervous at first, I quickly realized it was going to be an amazing 2 weeks. Sometimes during class we would go into a nearby market to use our Spanish to buy different fruits and other things. Then when we would go home we could keep practicing our Spanish with our host parents. During the weekends we went and had so much fun white water rafting, going to the beach, and canoeing near a volcano!I had so a wonderful and beneficial experience with tico lingo and I highly recommend this program for anyone who is looking!

The Tico Lingo teen program is awesome! I took small classes with classmates and instructors tailored to my proficiency (shoutout Freddy!), all of which taught be new skills and useful phrases. I met awesome new friends, many of whom I'm still in contact with today. Doing the program with people I'd just met but quickly knew so well gave us lots to talk about in Spanish without any of the usual awkwardness. My homestay "mama tica," Damaris, was super caring, very good at improving my housemate's and my conversational styles, and made amazing food. And Heredia was super fun to explore and easy to get around.

I was at Tico Lingo Jan 6 - Feb 17, 2024. My professor was Zaida, a wonderful lady who met us where we were with our Spanish skills. I liked that my professor provided written instruction, as well as ample time to practice our speaking skills; my class jokingly called our time to speak “una hora de chisme.”

The weekly activities, such as lunch and dancing, are fun and a great way to interact with other students.

I chose the home stay option for my trip, which is what I recommend to further your Spanish skills. I lived with an adventurous family who liked to take weekend trips and who (kindly) corrected my Spanish as I spoke with them throughout the stay. To me, the home stay was a vital piece of the immersion program.

Now for the negatives:
First, be aware that some of the home stays are a 15-30 minute walk away from school. That wasn’t an issue for me, but I knew some people who weren’t prepared for walking that much every day.

Second, Heredia is a busy city. There’s lots of traffic on the streets, and generally a lot of people out and about. As with any city, keep a watchful eye for fast cars and dangerous situations, and use common sense to stay safe while exploring the city.

Overall, I had a fantastic time studying Spanish at Tico Lingo. The staff were friendly and helpful, the program was organized, and there were plenty of opportunities to explore outside of Heredia. If you’re looking to expand your Spanish skills, I suggest booking your spot at Tico Lingo ASAP.

I spent three weeks at TicoLingo as part of a professional sabbatical to improve my Spanish skills. I appreciated the communication in advance and Yenifer was very reassuring. I was assigned a homestay host that was perfect. They accommodated a medical issue of mine, and were so kind. I loved being in Heredia, specifically because it's not a tourist area. It's walkable and almost no one speaks English. I was able to practice Spanish all day. I was assigned a class that was perfect for my ability. It was challenging but not over my head. I made fast friends with my classmates and others in the school and we enjoyed going out to eat, Latin dancing, and going on tours on weekends. The school hosts great tours, and you can also make your own if you're so inclined, or just chill on the weekends. I enjoyed all the lunchtime activities, including homemade Tico lunches and dance class. I also added the private lessons in the afternoon two of my three weeks. It was intense but it helped me learn a lot more. Three weeks feels like the minimum amount of time to get a full experience. I wish I could've done more, but I had to get home to my kiddos! Chris was wonderful, my tutors Kevin and Zulma were very helpful and fun, and my primary teacher Zaida was the absolute best. She was committed to teaching us what we were interested in. We took field trips to learn street vocabulary, and had deep conversations in Spanish about our lives and world issues. She was hilariously funny and we had a weekly "hora de chisme" to gossip for fun. It was such a joy, and in addition to learning a ton, it lifted my spirit. I plan to come back again in a future sabbatical, I miss my whole Tico Lingo family.

I would definitely recommend Tico Lingo for learning Spanish. The leadership, Chris and Yeni, are dedicated to the school and your success. If you have a question, an issue, or any concern, they want to know about it and will address it.

I had two teachers in two weeks and enjoyed their different approaches. The other students were 100% enjoyable to interact with and learn Spanish with. The school itself (both locations) is a pleasant place to hang out after classes and study or socialize.

The school offers weekend tours or you can book your own. These were more expensive than I would have expected, but I'm glad I did them.

I spend a day on my own in San Jose, museums, shopping, National Theatre, and that was quite a bit cheaper and pretty fun also.

Heredia itself is a pleasant enough town, plenty of shopping, gyms, etc. and opportunities to try to speak in Spanish. I wouldn't say it is a particularly attractive town and it is definitely noisy at times and probably not great air quality on the streets, but overall it was always safe and friendly.

My homestay was great, fun family, good food and a comfortable bedroom. I am only giving it a "4" because it was sometimes noisy with train horns, barking dogs, and mopeds, but overall it was good and a super way to get extra Spanish practice. Highly recommend it.

The experience was great, it showed me how I could really use my Spanish but also taught me some good lessons personally inside when I did certain things and saw certain things. I do believe people should stick in groups, especially after dark. I had to handle a situation with an aggressive homeless native mid day in a park in order to protect my group. But I strongly recommend tico lingo. I honestly think it’s a great experienced not just for Spanish but for life. I also really enjoyed the people who housed me and my housemates. Amazing people who deserve the best. The staff is great as well. They can all relate to us younger and older people.

Oh my god where to I start!? If you are looking for a safe, fun, out of the ordinary, bilingual, program to send your kid to this summer Tico Lingo is the one you want to send them to. Not only is the bilingual aspect fantastic thanks to their incredible staff and tour guides but the friendships you form overseas are one of a kind. The location is safe and not once did I feel unsafe. The Homestay families are fantastic, and the places they take you too are unforgettable. This is the best program out there and you should definitely consider it if your looking.

I did the two week teen summer camp and loved it! Everyone was super welcoming and kind. I had a wonderful homestay family and stayed with two other girls in the Tico Lingo program that were my age. I feel like my Spanish really improved, not only from the daily classes but also from getting to be immersed in the language during everyday situations. The group dynamic was great and the wonderful staff looked out for us and made sure that we felt safe. From swimming in the crystal blue water at Manuel Antonio to kayaking through lake Arenal, the weekend excursions were breathtaking and unforgettable. Tico Lingo summer camp is the perfect opportunity for your teen to grow their Spanish, experience new cultures, and see the world.

Tico Lingo camp exceeded my expectations in every way. From the immersive language sessions to the cultural activities, every aspect was meticulously planned and executed. The instructors were not only fluent in Spanish but also incredibly passionate about teaching. The small class sizes allowed for personalized attention, ensuring rapid progress in language proficiency. Moreover, the camp fostered a supportive and inclusive environment where students felt comfortable practicing their Spanish skills without fear of judgment. The cultural excursions were a highlight, offering hands-on experiences that deepened our understanding of Costa Rican history, art, and cuisine. Overall, this camp was a transformative experience that not only improved my Spanish but also left me with unforgettable memories and lasting friendships. Highly recommended for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture.