Costa Rica—Living the Pura Vida  

Although Costa Rica is smaller than the state of West Virginia, the country’s eco-diversity and natural beauty are unparalleled. The city of Coronado, just east of San Jose, sits amongst a beautiful forest of mountains and farms overlooking San Jose—an amazing location for hiking, mountain biking and immersion in the Spanish language and authentic Costa Rican culture. Join Brighton students from across the US and abroad in Coronado this summer to develop new friendships, improve your Spanish language skills and make a real difference in young peoples’ lives through community service projects.

Real Spanish Immersion

Each day, Brighton students have three hours of Spanish language instruction at a private language school in central Coronado. Students are placed according to their level of Spanish-speaking ability, and all classes are taught by native instructors experienced in teaching Spanish to foreign speakers. Classes are focused on improving oral fluency and comprehension of spoken Spanish, and small class sizes (no more than eight students per class) allow our students to receive personal attention from professors, enabling them to learn and improve their language skills in a comfortable, supportive environment.

Upon completion of the program, all Brighton students receive an official transcript package that includes a course description, a Certificate of Completion confirming Spanish level and 45 hours of instruction, and grades earned in separate areas of instruction.  

An Authentic Tico Experience

Costa Ricans call themselves “Ticos”—a name that is synonymous with friendliness and a generous, welcoming spirit. Our local homestay coordinator places our students with Tico families, two in each home, in central Coronado.  Living with a host family is an integral part of the Costa Rican immersion experience, as students’ language-speaking ability and confidence develop each day through the daily interactions they have and the relationships they forge with their Tico family members.  
  
Brighton Ambassadors

In addition to the homestay experience, our Ambassadors Clubs provide Brighton students with opportunities to have unique and meaningful interactions with native Costa Ricans.  Our club leaders are young, energetic locals from Coronado who join us for morning or evening activities to give students a chance to practice their Spanish with native speakers their own age. Students will also enjoy opportunities to break into smaller groups and join Ambassadors at a local café, for shopping or simply to spend time chatting (in Spanish!) at the Ticos’ favorite locations in town.

Cultural Activities and Excursions    

Our program’s central location in Coronado provides many opportunities for active cultural and leisure activities in the afternoons and evenings after class, as well as weekend travel.  Activities include coffee plantation tours, water sports, soccer games with locals, dance and cooking classes, rainforest hikes and city tours. Brighton students also visit the Poás Volcano, a butterfly farm, the Sarchi craft markets and whitewater raft on the Sarapiqui River.