PROGRAM OVERVIEW: INTERCULTURA

Intercultura is a nice school situated in the city of Heredia. The primary goal of Intercultura is to teach you the Spanish language in a warm yet intellectually challenging environment, using the Communicative Approach as the basis for instruction. Classes are conducted entirely in Spanish, providing students from all over the world with a complete and intensive learning experience. The professors have advanced university degrees and teaching certification, and the school is accredited through the US university system, offering undergraduate credit to those interested.

View a video of the school and surrounding areas (Windows Media File - 4.51 MB)

The main campus in Heredia has all the modern facilities that students need: well-lit, spacious, classrooms equipped with modern audio visual systems, student computer with free internet access, dance and recreational rooms, study rooms both indoors and out, student kitchenette, and in-door and out-door lounge areas.

A nice feature offered by Intercultura to its students is the opportunity to take classes at either of its two facilities (Intercultura Heredia and Intercultura Playa Samara). Please see the pages for Playa Samara to find out more about that location. For instance, you can take classes in Heredia for two weeks, and then study on the beach at Playa Samara for two more. Program prices and options are the same at every location.

• You get the benefits of a small town atmosphere with all the conveniences of living in a large metro area.
• Just a few miles away from the Heredia location, you will find coffee plantations, beautiful volcanoes, and interesting small villages.
• Heredia has a vibrant and exciting nightlife.
• Heredia is not the major final destination for most tourists visiting Costa Rica. This means that you will come into contact with few tourists and therefore have more opportunity to practice your Spanish and learn about the local culture.
• Heredia is only 20 minutes away from downtown San Jose.
• Almost any location within Costa Rica is only 4 hours away by public transportation from Heredia.

Group 4 lessons Per Day: This is the most popular program. Each class has a maximum of 6 students. Classes are given from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a small break at about 10 a.m. During times of high enrollments, afternoon classes may be given from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This program offers you a lot of Spanish instruction while still allowing you enough free time for other activities.

Extra Options

• High school programs, Programs for teachers, Programs for medical professionals
• Programs for business professionals, Volunteer programs

• Private room with a local host family.
• 2 meals per day with host family.
• Access to email, the internet, phone, and fax service (some services not free).
• Books, handouts, etc.
• Airport pickup
• Cultural activities
• Weekend Excursions (not free)
• Academic credit available (see academic credit section)

Start Dates: Classes start every Monday throughout the year. The only exception to this occurs when a holiday falls on a Monday.

• Cultural activities
• Weekend Excursion