Is there anything that makes your Spanish School Costa Rica program unique?

What makes us unique? Other then having the second lowest prices in 127 Spanish Schools in Costa Rica, is that we are a very small school with normally 15-30 students per week.  Classes are maximum 3 normally 1 on 1 and guaranteed 1 on 1 for 3rd week of study 75% of the year… !At no extra charge! Why? Finding many students with the same level and goals is very unlikely.  This means that the classes are directed specifically by the student and the teacher towards the student’s specific needs.  Our very typical Costa Rican town is “tranquilo” and welcoming to foreigners which makes for many “Natural” opportunities to practice Spanish outside of the classroom, one of the most important tools to help your learning absorption rate increase.  Our small school and town atmosphere makes meeting new people extremely easy be it foreigners or locals.  Many travelers find new travelling partners after studying together for a few weeks. That’s why we have many return students, many referrals and the 2 most common travelling phrases here are “Once in Montaña Linda, you’ll always be back!” and “Orosi is my second home”

What other opportunities are available for practicing and learning about the language and culture?  What do people usually do in the afternoons after the class has finished?

Here at Montaña Linda we do not want to “Push” you into activities.  We hope that with your new language skills in the Spanish classes you will naturally feel comfortable joining in on these activities.  Dance classes, Volunteering teaching English or just joining us for exchange night, watch or jumping in our soccer nights or just taking the time to talk to the owners of the local businesses that you are frequenting is the best type of practice you can get.  Why?? As it is a “Natural” practice.  As mentioned earlier our very typical Costa Rican town is “tranquilo” and welcoming to foreigners which makes for many “Natural” opportunities of meeting locals and making new friendships.  Every time you go out becomes a practice opportunity as our small town automatically generates a “Hello how are you” type mentality. 

After class, many students will go hiking and exploring the area together, taking a trip to Cartago to visit the fruit market or just chill out doing homework.  All of these things are added practice opportunities that can’t be beat as this will help you feel part of the community and therefore more empowered to increase your Spanish speaking skills... Our relaxed atmosphere allows you to become involved with the community at your own pace and style giving you a more realistic idea of Costa Rican life.

After studying with you I am considering attending two schools one in the San Jose area, and then one on the coast.  Would you recommend this or advise against it and what should I take into consideration when choosing a Spanish school in Costa Rica?

For more details see our sister site at: http://www.spanishschoolscostarica.net for a comparison chart of all 127 Spanish Schools here in Costa Rica.  There you’ll find the 4 LLLP points for choosing a Spanish school.

Three of these points to take into consideration are the following:

Price: many school on the coast and extremely expensive, “the more you pay the less time you can stay”.

Location: San José and popular beaches are not the safest areas to be in, therefore limiting your time spent outside the school, which in turn limits your conversational practice outside of the classroom.

Class size:  Most school have a maximum class size of 6 which makes it very hard to have the class directed towards your specific needs.

How many weeks should I reserve for at one time? 

3-4 weeks is the best as it gives you a chance to not only learn new material but put it all into real life practice.  2 weeks in the hotel and 2 weeks in family is a great combination. If you are concerned about booking a long stay in advance feel free to book for one week now and then add another on after arriving and we would then apply the package price to the final bill. 

I only have 2 weeks available.  Is it worth it and what should I except to learn??

Each student has different learning skills, but in most cases a beginner student will be speaking in the present tense COMFORTABLY in about 2 weeks, first week being basic learning of conjugation and travelling needs. 2 weeks will be especially helpful if you have studied before. 

I’m only in Costa Rica for a short time and would like to spend all my time studying. 

Costa Rica is a beautiful country so try to see as much as possible.  Another option is to take 2 weeks of classes but only 4 classes per week, finishing on Thursday and taking the next week starting on the Tuesday which would give you a long weekend.  Rafting and other short trips can be done much easier with the extra day for travelling.  Please remember that if you are interested in hiking and nature there is a lot to do in the valley.

How far can I get in 4 weeks? 

Real fluency comes with years of living and studying in a country but with a little bit of a Spanish base, in 4 weeks with us you will be able to speak in pretty much all the basic tenses, with a really good vocabulary, making you "FEEL" as if you are fluent enough to enjoy all that's around you!!  Each individual is different and it's all based on your level of confidence, completing all homework and most importantly taking the initiative of practicing after class hours IE: integrate with the town community. One of the joys of studying with us is that our town is very small which allows for a good sense of security which means the practicing becomes part of everyday life.

How long should I study for at a time?

Our suggestion would be to start with 3/4 weeks as our classes are intensive which will increase your learning very rapidly.  Most people find that studying straight for a long length of time without taking a break makes it hard.  after the 4 weeks, go away for a week and put your Spanish into practice and then come back and the package price will be charged.

Where should I start with my accommodations? 

If you are a beginner we would suggest that you spend the first week here in the hotel and then move into a family the next week as it can become very stressful to be trying a new language, new culture, new food and a new family without having the language base.  The best way to feel more comfortable would be to study to get the basic greetings and numbers under your belt which will make the first few days a bit easier. You’ll enjoy your family time that much more.

Is it possible to take a week of courses, leave and then return for more later? 

Yes it is possible but we normally suggest 2 weeks before leaving as it gives a better base for practicing which makes it easier upon your return.  If the return is within 1 month then we would then apply the package price to the final bill upon returning.

Are classes private and what is your maximum class size and how do you place students? 

Classes are normally 1 on 1 and guaranteed 1 on 1 for 3rd week of study 75% of the year. Maximum class size is 1-3 students.  If the level is intermediate then one on one classes are given as much as possible. Taking placement test are not necessary as our classes are normally one on one.  If groupings are necessary office staff will do their best to place together students with not only the same general level but with same goals.  Please remember that class groupings are based on levels not on friendships unless otherwise booked.  “I learned so much with your small class size!” is one of the most favorite references from past students.

Why are your classes only 3 hours and can I take more hours?

All our standard package prices are 3 hours of class per day as our classes are almost always one on one which makes these 3 hours of class really intense. 4 hours is too much! Beginner students will find those three hours to be perfect without being overwhelming and frustrating.  Although more hours might be appropriate for intermediate or advanced learners we suggest to better spend that time practicing conversationally within town.  As long as we do have space you can add extra classes onto the package.

Can I choose my class times?

We do not take reservations for class times in advance unless work or health issues are involved.  Priority of class schedule goes to those that are already taking classes and then to the student with the longest reservation. Please take into consideration that January, February, June, July and August are group times so class schedules will be a little limited for choices and not always available at the same time each day!  Please let us know when booking if you have any special needs.

What day of the week do classes start and what dates do you not offer Spanish classes? Could I take classes on Saturday and/or Sunday?

Classes start on Monday running through Friday and start each Monday of every week throughout the year except when holidays fall on a Monday.  Holiday classes are replaced. We don’t offer classes on Sunday and Saturday classes are available only for late starters and extra classes.  Organizing classes on a day to day basis can only be done in low season and are based on availability after all students taking a full week have arrived. Arrival time is between 1-3 pm on Sunday afternoon.

How long has your school been around?

Our hostel and the school have been open since 1996.

What is the maximum and average amount of students per week, the average age of students and what percentage of the students are college students?

The maximum of students per week is 30 with the average of 15.  Our guests run from 17 to 65 years old.  The average age really varies from week to week and although the average is 25-40 years old our hotel and classes have become very popular to the older crowd as well. Most of our students are in or just finished university.

Are there any special school supplies that I need to pack or be aware of?

Your book is covered in the package, and we do have dictionaries for sale, 501 verbs and verb cards for use in the hotel and notebooks can be bought here in town.  Just remember to bring warm clothes as mountain area temperatures do drop down a bit at night. 

As I will be travelling by myself, my number one issue is safety. How safe is the town, etc.? 

One of the joys of our school is that it is located in a very small town; with its main center area being about 7 minute walk from top to bottom, which makes it not only very safe but also very cozy.  The only problems that have happened in the past has been a few robberies, from people being careless...leaving wallets on an empty table etc. We have many travelers that study & travel alone which means it really easy for making new friends as well.

Could you provide me with some references?

Reviews, testimonials and references are located under the review/testimonial click at the bottom of each page but the best references are those found on message boards on the Internet.  One great one is the Lonely Planet thorn tree.  Another way is to type Montaña Linda into the search engine and review comments about us on other websites.

Are library and internet services included?

We do have a small library and both hotels have a book exchange for free.  Free Wi-Fi internet is available in our Restaurant “Gekko’s” in the school building.

Would I receive a certificate of attendance at the end of the course and is this included in the price?

We can offer you a certificate but it is not recognized by universities as of yet. Certificate of completion is included in the price.

 Can I come with other people that are not taking classes? 

Yes you can.  Those staying with you would pay regular hotel prices for rooms.  Just be sure that they will not be a distraction for your studying time. 

Does your school organize/host tours when classes are not in session?

Yes we do organize tours during the week of classes but they do need to be organized as to not interrupt school schedule.  Most tours have a 3 person minimum.

What is the difference other then price of the hostel the guest house and Homestay?

The Guest House is more expensive but does have private bath.  A family is good for increasing your Spanish but it can be a bit difficult to go straight into a family when just starting classes.  You can always choose to go into a family after you have arrived.

Are most people who stay in your hostel Spanish or English speaking?  I want to practice my Spanish as much as possible. 

Most people staying in the hotel are studying but do speak English while in the hotel.  If you would like you can start here in the dorm and if you feel it's not working you can then pass into a family the next week.

Would it be possible for our two young girls to do a homestay together while we stay in the Guest House?  Can we volunteer with your English program while we're in town?

That is actually a popular choice by families.  We are always glad to have help with our volunteer program as long as it is within the volunteer program time.

Do you offer classes without accommodation packages? 

Yes we do offer classes without accommodations.  Our minimum is 4 classes per week within the Monday to Friday range.  Classes would need to follow within our regular class schedules and would need to be the same time through the week. Each class is 3 hours one on one! 

Can you give me a price quote? 

The price depends upon how many classes and what accommodations package you are choosing. All packages include nights, classes and lessons books.  Please remember that a private room in the hostel is an additional $5.00 per night per room. Meals can be purchased at the Gekko’s restaurant in the school and breakfast and dinner is included in the Homestay package. Please follow the price chart for exact prices.

Does the school have any hidden fees as in registration fees, learning materials, taxes, and is transportation costs from the airport included?

We have no registration or deposit fees, taxes are included in all prices on the site, lesson books are included.  Transport is not included and charged separately as an optional extra for those using the service.

How do you keep your prices so low and what extras are included in your program? 

Although many other Spanish schools here in Costa Rica offer a Spanish package full of programmed extras we have chosen the alternative route.  We keep our prices low by not including all the extras.  If the student is interested in these things then an extra fee is charged to the individual choosing the service instead of raising prices for everyone.  We do not increase prices for high season, we do not include a 30 to 35% markup for commissions to venders and our marketing, including this website, is kept simple to ensure great service for a great price. Wi-Fi is free in our restaurant, laundry, cooking and dance classes can be organized and many hiking tours can be done for free.

Do you have a special discount for the low season or long termers or if I don’t use all my nights? 

We don’t believe in increasing the price just because its high season, so we charge low season prices throughout the whole year.  Any missing nights or classes from the Spanish package will not be given discount but missed classes will be replaced!  Long termers do already have a discount worked into the price as the more weeks you take the cheaper the weekly program becomes.  Don’t forget, Monthly volunteer get a 10% discount.

Do you have a discount for families? 

Families can fall under different Spanish School class package discounts but only one discount can be used.  Discounts fall under:

Child: 3-9 years of age
Junior: 10-16 years of age

Please contact us for more details!