Program Reviews

An excellent, and professional experience I had at Tico Lingo. From the staff, and learning, to a supportive host family.
A step in the right direction, for people wanting to learn Spanish.
Have taken Spanish courses on two separate occasions, with Tico Lingo. First one I did, I did not stay with a host family, and I wish I did. Even though it is not home sweet home, with a little bit of flexibility on the students part, living with a Costa Rican family will benefit the learning experience. It will put more value into learning Spanish by having a taste of the culture behind it.

I studied at Tico Lingo for just one week, but it made such an impact on me! Not only did I refresh my rusty Spanish super fast in individual conversation classes with the amazing Erick, but I loved staying with my host family and also made some fun friends along the way. We were able to eat lunch together several times, take cooking and dance classes, and even go on some excursions together. Yenny, Chris, and Robert really made sure I had everything I needed before I arrived, and I received prompt responses to any follow up questions I sent. It was a cheerful, fun place to study, and I hope to come back. My Spanish is so much more on track after that week and then putting it to practice on traveling around CR afterwards. I highly recommend Tico Lingo for its hands on, helpful touches and for great instruction!

My trip to Costa Rica was my first time traveling solo out of the country. Deciding to make it a Learning Vacation was the best decision for me. Tico Lingo offered me a welcoming airport pickup, a caring home stay, and multiple educational experiences. My stay included 1 week of group Spanish classes and 4 free days; I wish I could've stayed so much longer. Additionally, I loved that I could continue my practice of yoga and dance classes while engaging in Spanish immersion. The ease of signing up for an adventurous excursion (that included breakfast, lunch, transportation, and a guide) was such a delight. My initial worries were eased the moment I met my Costa Rican family. They treated me like a longtime friend; they even accommodated my dietary needs. We enjoyed breakfasts and dinners together, talked and even played chess together. After my return to the states, we have continued to stay in touch. I also met other students at Tico Lingo with whom I shared fun times at a night club, farmers market, and hot springs. I had a lot of firsts on this trip, and all of it is because I chose Tico Lingo and I'm so thankful I did. I hope to visit Costa Rica AND Tico Lingo again soon.

My experience at Tico Lingo was great! I participated in a 3-week program (1 week of group classes + 2 weeks of private classes) with two different instructors. My time in class was a good mixture of technical training, to include grammar and vocabulary, combined with conversational training to enforce the skills I had learned. I really enjoyed my group classes, but I learned so much in my private classes. They were personalized to the specific areas I needed to work on--challenging yet beneficial. My host family was hands down the best! They were so accommodating and really treated me like a member of the family. They did not speak English, so I had even more opportunity to practice speaking Spanish. I opted for a longer walk to school which turned out to be pretty nice because every day I could explore the different shops, restaurants, cafes, and landmarks of the city. I also love how central Heredia is as it makes traveling to other parts of Costa Rica so easy. The people are friendly, the food is so good, the area is safe, and Tico Lingo will always hold a special place in my heart.

This is truly a unique experience, that is unlike any I have ever had. The camp is made so that there is structure to your day, but also a good amount of free time as well. The teachers in the learning are excellent. From my times with them, my Spanish level grew exponentially. The homestay parents are amazing and really do care for the campers. In my experience, I created an bond with my homestay parents that I truly treasure. The food they make, though quite simple, is out of this world. The activities that tico lingo plans are tons of fun. From going to the beach at Manuel Antonio to the animal rescue center; there are activities that make the stay that much worthwhile. I totally recommend doing this program because it is an amazing experience that you will never forget.

I absolutely loved my time at Tico Lingo, studying and taking classes and with my host family!! The combination of the two drastically helped accelerate my Spanish language skills! I completed 6 weeks (1 week of group only classes and 5 of private and group classes) I had two different teachers and loved the combination of both of their teaching styles. I was at an intermediate level coming here but could not fluidly have conversations as much and would confuse my Grammer tenses often. I can more fluidly have conversations now and have a better grasp on Grammer also! I also love my host family I was paired with and as someone with a lot of dietary restrictions I was worried but it was a great pairing! I would definitly visit again!

During my three weeks at Tico Lingo (1 week group classes, 2 weeks both group + private classes) I have improved my Spanish significantly. Literally everything is taught in Spanish and also at my home stay family we would only speak Spanish, which I believe is the best way to efficiently learn/improve a new language. The staff are super kind and caring and make sure you feel at home. Heredia is not too interesting, but a safe city with some nice cafes/sightseeings and centrally located for weekend trips. I would definitely recommend Tico Lingo and sleeping at a Tico Family!

First of all, I did the intensive. In my opinion it is important to maximize your time while there. I got two different professors--both great--with two different teaching styles, personalities and approaches. That really helped my understanding. I have been studying on my own for a while now. I really needed a total immersion. My own schedule (My wife and I travel a lot and are very involved with our grandchildren) limited me to two weeks. More would have been better. I am already enrolled for another two weeks, six months from now, and am really looking forward to it. Between now and then, I plan to review and expand upon what I learned so that I can really magnify it in my next two week session.

I had such an amazing experience at Tico Lingo. I did 6 weeks. I ended up having 4 of the teachers there, and each teacher was amazing. They were patient, understanding, *funny*:) My host family was absolutely amazing. The meals were amazing, the conversations were amazing, the family itself was buena gentexD Before I came, I knew a little spanish but I wasn’t able to hold a conversation. But now I can hold a convo and get around CR with no problem. I’m definitely returning someday to improve my spanish/become fluent

Going to Costa Rica was my first time out of the country since three years old. And, it couldn’t have been better. I’ve been learning Spanish for four years and have become nearly fluent, so it was great stretching myself. I loved picking up on the idiosyncrasies of the “Tico Spanish” and have made some amazing friendships with camp mates and Costa Ricans alike. The journeys you would go on after Spanish school were always amazing and really made you feel immersed in the country. Overall, 10/10 would recommend for all people looking to improve their Spanish.