www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Welcome to the #1 Source for Information on Costa Rica
It is currently Thu Jun 19, 2025 2:21 pm

View unanswered posts | View active topics


Board index » A Gentlemen's Guide To Costa Rica! » Living, Working, Investing & Retiring In Costa Rica!

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 15 posts ] 
  Print view Previous topic | Next topic 
Author Message
Yosh1234
 Post subject: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:36 am 
Why do they cost so much? I am in country, CR that is, and talked to a couple of people about Spanish lessons. They all seem to be around the $750/week mark. I checked the university too. Same price. There has to be cheaper somewhere. Does anyone know where? I prefer in-person contacts or a structured environment such as a school or something to that effect. Thanks
Top
  
Reply with quote  
PacoLoco
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:40 am 
PHD From Del Rey University!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2003 11:23 pm
Posts: 10212
Location: Esportsmen's Lodge
http://www.spanishandmore.com/class.htm

PS
A few years ago but we took morning class (9-12) then would walk to San Pedro Mall for lunch and catch a cab back to gulch, convenient and relatively cheap. First day you show up early and take an evaluation test so they know what level to put you in. Think it worked out to about 15/hr., great school and you get to keep the book too so you can study later on your own time.
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PlaneCrazy
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:02 pm 
Ticas ask me for advice!

Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2008 1:21 pm
Posts: 380
Location: Canada
I've been thinking about doing a couple of weeks at the Costa Rican Spanish Institute (COSI). Their prices seem to start at about $640 for two weeks of classroom lessons, 4 hours per day up to $1400 for the group 4hours plus 2 hours of private tutelage per day. One thing I find interesting in their info is that apparently they take the classes out to local museums, etc as part of the program.

Costa Rica Spanish Institute
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Zunbake3
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:34 am 
PHD From Del Rey University!
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:35 am
Posts: 2141
I need a course in the interpretations of Greengo, YO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Red
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:41 pm 
Not a Newbie I just don't post much!
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:30 pm
Posts: 108
Ditto! is there Rosetta Stone for Greeengo?
Red
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Medellin Paisa
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:46 pm 
Masters Degree in Mongering!

Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:51 am
Posts: 736
Location: Medellin, Colombia
Greengo wrote:
like the rest of cr...its a rip ...dig a little on the net ...take a few hours at different schools to find your groove....some teach soley conversation..some a mix of written and conversation..people in hell want snow cones..you can find great people wholl come to the house for 5 an hour..one on one...beat the bushes ..lots of schools are cutting back on teachers...closing locations..you can live in antigua guatemala.. and get lessons and homestay or an apt for ridiculously cheap..and cop some indigenous ..which is enlightening ..,melodic and invigorating..lots of cr schools are opening locations in panama to accomodate expats fleeing or bypassing costa rica http://www.guatemala365.com/ for a small sample of schools and costs....critiques and student feedback..antigua is relatively quiet and very safe unlike the rest of guatemala.......housing is reasonable ..full of students from around the world...fifty bucks for freelancing fine euro trash is a snap...almost all schools in antigua and xela provide mostly one on one...youll have an array of choices..many guys end up living with the teach..duh...repetition is a given.. :) ...you can easily find a prof that clicks with your need and speed from the thousands of experienced and capable... :)


I agree with GreenGo......Go study Spanish in Guatemala.....I studied in San Pedro de Laguna....very affordable & a beautiful place to spend some time!!
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
USA41
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:57 pm 
I can do CR without a wingman!
User avatar

Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 12:33 am
Posts: 151
I have done spanish immesion in Guatemala and Mexico--awesome and cheap, but best to not start out with no basics. I remember once when I was in a beginners class, I was helping tranate to the german student who had no knowledge of Spanish...why was I in that class I hve no idea...I complained and I was given private lessons the rest of the week...not a great school in Playa Del Carmen, but Ihad a great time.

I think prices are reasonable in CR, but it is more expensive then other central american countris. Spanish123.com is a good resource.

USA
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Hank Daman
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:11 pm 
PHD From Del Rey University!
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 26, 2004 11:15 pm
Posts: 2632
The best programs in Guatemala (most of them really) offer indiviudalized instruction with your own teacher- really an amazing experience.

The schools in Xela, or Quetzaltenagno, mostly have great reputations (Antigua has many good schools, but more mixed in quality).

www.xelapages.com

I am a fan of ICA, Instituto Centro America

http://www.xelapages.com/schools.htm

Great town, with wonderful options for day trips to the highland villages. Oh, FYI, monger in Xela sucks, and that is better than Antigua. That said, Antigua is only 40 minutes or so from Guatemala City, which has a robust scene. In general, GFE is not as good in Guatemala as CR or Nicaragua, but YMMV.

_________________
I said hey baby, take a walk on the wild side.
Lou Reed
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Devo
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 2:34 am 
Masters Degree in Mongering!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2004 11:10 pm
Posts: 744
Location: Canada
Yosh1234 wrote:
Why do they cost so much? I am in country, CR that is, and talked to a couple of people about Spanish lessons. They all seem to be around the $750/week mark. I checked the university too. Same price. There has to be cheaper somewhere. Does anyone know where? I prefer in-person contacts or a structured environment such as a school or something to that effect. Thanks


That's crazy! I took a 4 month University "Introductory Spanish" course here in Canada and it only cost me $385 including a new textbook and all labs.

_________________
The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
El Tranquilo
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:07 am 
Masters Degree in Mongering!
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2004 9:30 pm
Posts: 665
Location: San Jose
I'm not sure where you're getting your price information. Here are two excellent CR Spanish Schools offering much lower prices:

Forester Instituto in Los Yoses offers 4hrs/day, Mon-Fri for $260 & Mon-Thurs for $240.
http://www.fores.com/english/standard-language.html
CRLA (Costa Rican Language Academy) in Bario Dent offers 4hrs/day, Mon-Fri for $277 & Mon-Thurs for $222.
http://www.spanishandmore.com/prices.htm

These are prices without homestay. Multiple week courses bring those prices down quite a bit further and if you are a good negotiator 10% discounts can be had at both places.

I particularly like Forester. It has really nice facilities and excellent teachers-particularly Tatiana.

_________________
It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Yosh1234
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 2:48 pm 
Thanks for all the USEFUL information. I think Guatemala offers the best quality when compared to other schools around the world. It's FAR cheaper w/ or w/o a host family, a one-on-one learning environment, still some hoes to Phuck, great location, & I think it will be a good experience. I did check the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and I have came to the conclusion that the US Government is a bunch of paranoid maniacs.

One of those sources I spoke too was in the lobby at Amistad. This guy was something else. He told me its a 7 day course at the beach and by day 3 I will be speaking complete sentences. Hola is a complete sentence. I guess that's what he meant. Sounds like his punk ass was trying to scam me. I lost all interest; it just didn't sound right.

Another source came from a university in San Jose.
Top
  
Reply with quote  
Thirdworld
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:10 pm 
PHD From Del Rey University!

Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:07 am
Posts: 4858
I remember seeing some pretty good prices in Nicaragua too, but can't remember details. Both in Granada and San Juan de Sur. Seems like CR has the highest prices on everything out of Latin American countries.
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Yosh1234
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:14 pm 
Thirdworld wrote:
I remember seeing some pretty good prices in Nicaragua too, but can't remember details. Both in Granada and San Juan de Sur. Seems like CR has the highest prices on everything out of Latin American countries.


Whoever thinks Costa Rica is cheap is lying. I find the prices down there to be on par with the USA prices. The only thing that doesn't compare is the service. I believe it is the richest country out of all the Latin American countries. I guess we know why. They charge too damn much for a 3rd world/"developing country."
Top
  
Reply with quote  
Thirdworld
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:26 pm 
PHD From Del Rey University!

Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:07 am
Posts: 4858
Sadly you are right. Almost everyone I meet these days that is here on vacation comments on how things are much more expensive than they expected them to be.
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Dr.Mario
 Post subject: Re: Spanish Lessons!!!
PostPosted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:34 pm 
Masters Degree in Mongering!
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:30 pm
Posts: 810
Location: Where you wish you were......
Thirdworld wrote:
Sadly you are right. Almost everyone I meet these days that is here on vacation comments on how things are much more expensive than they expected them to be.



The only real way to live here and it be a huge difference from say US prices, you have to go full tico. Shop,eat, live, like a tico. Then it is affordable, but the only problem is that if you live like that you don't get to fully enjoy the country the way you want to normally. In my thirteen years here I have seen the cost of living become competitive with a lot of countries, including the US. A lot of people will debate with me on this, but if you look at the facts, it is quite clear.


the DR

_________________
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"
Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 15 posts ] 



Board index » A Gentlemen's Guide To Costa Rica! » Living, Working, Investing & Retiring In Costa Rica!

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:



Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group

Advertisements by Advertisement Management