FrequentlyAsked Questions

There are many different countries in the world where one can study Spanish. Costa Rica, however, offers some unique advantages. Costa Rica is known around the world for its stable, democratic government. After abolishing its army in 1948, Costa Rica funneled a large portion of its national budget toward education and health care; today, the country boasts the highest literacy rate in Latin America, and a high-quality educational and health system.

Costa Rica also is home to tremendous biodiversity. The country is teeming with wildlife and natural beauty, allowing visitors to climb a mountain volcano in the morning and relax on the beach in the afternoon. Costa Rica has a long-standing commitment to environmental conservation; about 13 percent of the country is dedicated to national parks, and over 25 percent is protected in the form of biological and environmental reserves.

Founded, owned and operated in 1991 by Romy Morales and her family, CPI provides the best combination of high-quality intensive language study, warm family atmosphere, and a safe environment.

All CPI programs at each CPI campus are separated into week-long segments.  While the minimum number of weeks to study is 1 week at your campus of choice, on average students tend to study 3 to 5 weeks and divide their studies between 2 or all 3 CPI sites.  The average, however, is a general parameter and students may enroll for as many consecutive weeks as fits their schedule. CPI has hosted students with the goal of perfecting their Spanish and gaining a deep understanding of the Costa Rican culture up to 6 months.  

All of our Spanish classes for all linguistic levels – whether for our Intensive (4 hours per day) and Intensive (2 Hours per day) or our Spanish Private Classes options begin on any given Monday (with the exception of holidays).

Language acquisition depends greatly on an individual's desire and motivation to learn, the amount of time dedicated to homework and conversation practice outside of class, as well as the student’s general ability to learn a second language (this is positively influenced by having studied a second language before - for instance, students who have studied French have an easier time grasping certain grammatical concepts).

Generally, in 4 weeks of study while staying with a homestay family, students can ascend one skill level in Spanish fluency (meaning, if you speak Spanish at a low beginner level now, after 4 weeks you might speak at a low intermediate level). CPI manages all Spanish levels from Beginner zero through Heritage speakers.

Recommendation on length of stay would depend on each person’s individual goals for learning Spanish. You may study for as little as one week to get a jump start on fine tuning your current Spanish skills or perhaps as a means of introducing yourself to the Spanish immersion experience for later extended study. Of course, if your goal is to progress at a quicker pace then a study period of two weeks would be a minimum.

Students have the added benefit of studying weekly at each of our CPI Spanish immersion campuses partners: Monteverde Cloud Forest, San Joaquín de Flores and Flamingo Beach. Even at its outset, CPI envisioned being able to offer a choice of locations so our students could experience the cultural and ecological diversity of Costa Rica.

CPI attracts students from many different backgrounds and from all over the world. The average age range of our students is approximately 13 to 70. Our students include people of all ages, including college students, professionals and travelers, families, children, as well as retired couples. The majority of the students are university students, professionals and some are in their golden years. Most of our students are from North America - United States and Canada. We also have students from Brazil and Europe - Switzerland, France, England, Japan and Germany.