References

	Holland
	United States

Holland

“Every student has individual wants and needs. ISSCR offers a very flexible language learning environment based on individual needs. For instance, my first trip to Costa Rica I wanted a classic classroom and home stay experience. The ISSCR tutors were great in that environment; I learned a lot of Spanish. This year I opted for a more specialized experience learning arts, crafts and history with individual tutoring on day trips out of Heredia. Having an experienced language tutor by my side insured I fully took in the history and culture of the places we visited together. I could not have asked for a more carefully planned and executed touring and learning experience.
The ISSCR instructors and managers went out of their way to ensure I met my dreams of a authentic immersion experience. They planned, communicated and followed through to perfection. The home stay of their choice could not have been a more perfect choice for my level of language skill and interests. Transportation was specialized, reasonable and practical.
As for learning experiences about arts, crafts and history, they managed to arrange the best possible workshops, tours and historical sites—I really don’t know how they could have done better. I like ceramics, not your normal tourist fare. ISSCR arranged a homestay with a professional ceramicist and arranged demonstrations by other ceramicists.
Finally, as a woman I was grateful for the care the managers used to ensure I would be comfortable with my experience traveling alone. When a companion joined me, the managers quickly adjusted plans and made us both feel welcome. You cannot go wrong arranging your learning and traveling experience with this school.”
Susan Staal staalfamily@yahoo.com

Following classes of Wesley and Rafael goes beyond the learning experience alone. They perfectly know how to combine introductions to the "tico lifestyle" with very practical lectures shaped to your own preferences. It's spending time together as good friends resulting in the ability to communicate fluently with the rest of the ticos!
Wiebe Vos, Holland
Que?? Como?? No entiendo?? Uhmmmm… First night in Costa Rica: a complete Spanish language shock. I thought I was 'experienced' with my two finished Spanish courses at my home University. Unfortunately the reality was confronting; how on earth I could ever understand the speed-Spanish of Ticos and not to mention giving answers? The next day I realized that I did not have to worry at all. After all I arranged classes with two language-heroes beforehand: Wes and Rafa. The Spanish lessons were excellent; classes were adjusted to my level and interests.
But the most fun part was the Tico-cooking lessons. Visiting the local market, cooking and more important; afterwards eating all the delicious dishes invented by Wesley. In this way time flew by and after four weeks my Spanish was like a real Tica and I went to El Salvador for an internship. During the rest of my stay of seven months. I got many compliments about my Spanish. Salvadorans were jealous I think; all wanted to know where I learned my Spanish so well. The only thing was that they every now and then made fun of my refined, subtle, Costa Rican 'r'. So I spend the first weeks with practicing 'rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr' with my Salvadoran guest family.I would like to wish everybody an experience like I had in Costa Rica with my two Spanish teacher heroes! They 'safed' me and I'm still very grateful for that.
Ciao!! Ellen

United States

I am a resident in emergency medicine and wanted a Spanish immersion program to help me communicate with my Spanish speaking patients. I chose the International Spanish School of Costa Rica for the location and because the directors were very responsive to my many e-mails asking about the program.
I had the best immersion experience I could have imagined! With no prior Spanish instruction, I became a competent speaker in just a month. For the first two weeks I worked on becoming conversational and the rest of my time was focused on medical Spanish. I had one-on-one instruction that was tailored to my special interest in emergency medicine. I loved the teaching and enjoyed every day of classes. We went on field trips to San Jose to museums and art galleries. My teachers arranged for me to shadow doctors in the local emergency department and accompanied me to my introductory meetings with the hospital and department directors.
The International Spanish School of Costa Rica limits the class size to 3 students in order to meet the specific needs of each student. The school is very careful about the families they choose for the home stay. My family helped me with my Spanish, included me in their daily lives and even fed me vegetarian meals (this was another of my requirements for my immersion). My teachers also went out of their way to help me with the daunting practicalities of traveling in a foreign county where you are learning the language. This began with my pick up at the airport and continued with help in booking my weekend travel adventures exploring beautiful Costa Rica. They would walk me to the bus station to make sure I got on to the right bus and tried to get me student discounts were possible. I always felt that they had my best interest at heart. In addition to learning Spanish in Costa Rica, I have come back with new friends. I could not recommend the International Spanish School of Costa Rica more highly.
Dr. Samantha Honner

My ISSCR tutors were both excellent educators and excellent travel guides. While in the hands of ISSCR my Spanish improved immeasurably and I had FUN. My home stay was an excellent immersion experience and I had no difficulty communicating with my host at the end of my stay. And ask Wes to teach you how to cook his mango flan, it is downright delectable.
I’ve had language courses that try to teach by the “grammar method” and I’ve always had difficulties, probably because I don’t know what the “present perfect tense” is in English, let alone Spanish. The instructors at ISSCR use a much more sensible approach to teaching. It’s much easier to learn with their method.
And the tutors are excellent tour guides. I like volcanoes and my tutor showed me one of the best, the beautiful Irazu crater (I had already seen the Arenal volcano blow its top in an earlier visit). I’m also an orchid enthusiast and my tutor personally guided me to two of the best collections in Central America. One of the collections was a private collection on an estate which very few people get to see.
ISSCR found the collection and took me to see it. ISSCR is also quite flexible. When I wanted to go off by myself to the cloud forest of Monteverde, they arranged my transportation and my hotel reservations. Everything went off without a hitch.
David Bogert DLBoge@AOL.com