Tico Lingo's Teen Spanish Immersion Summer Camp in Costa Rica

It was really fun. Lessons last for four hours with a break in between, after which there is an optional hour of either yoga, cooking classes, or dance classes. After that you're free to explore the city (and go into San José to look at the museums). I stayed with a host family, and it was super helpful. You get home cooked meals every day, a chance to practice your Spanish, and a local guide. Fair warning - the weather (at least during the wet season) switches from hot and humid to pouring rain. I'd recommend packing an umbrella and a ton of sunscreen.

I appreciated the Tico Lingo program. I had the intention of going to learn Spanish and although I picked up some elements it turned out not to be the focus of my time during the program. What I found was important for me was the independence I gained. This was my first trip without being accompanied by my family. I was 15 years old and I had the capacity to journey around with new friends and also have a level of financial independence. Much of the town was closed due to Covid-19 quarantine measures but I still managed to find things to do and occupy myself either via the kind family who hosted me, the roommates who became like brothers, and the activities like white water rafting that the camp provided. Interacting with some of the kids was challenging but for the most part, the group was pretty cool. I got to understand myself better and am looking forward to my next solo excursion. I think if you want to offer your child a safe environment in beautiful surroundings where they can learn a bit of Spanish and open themselves up to a culture they may not be familiar with, this is the experience for you.

I loved every single day of the three weeks I spend in Costa Rica with Tico Lingo. My teacher was incredible and I learned so much about the structure and grammar of the Spanish language and by the end I felt drastically more comfortable speaking and interacting in Spanish using what I learned. My host family was also very kind and generous and the 13 other students were all really awesome people. The afternoon activities were also super fun and they bonded us all as a group through the unforgettable experiences we shared. We also had a good amount of free time to explore the city on our own with a friend or two. The weekend trips were really fun and we got to see so much of the wildlife in Costa Rica while also doing anything from swimming at the beach to white water rafting.

this was truly the best summer i have ever experienced. the city is safe, all the kids were incredibly kind, my teacher (Freddy) was smart and hilarious, and i always felt cared about. it was amazing to be able to hang out with other teenagers ranging from 14-17 and click instantly. Thanks to this camp I got to improve my spanish and make life long friends. i personally loved the aspect of independence that came with being able to travel by myself and i would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a safe and fun language immersive experience!

I had a great time at the program. My host family was wonderful, the classes were super constructive and I definitely learned a lot from both the immersive experience and the lessons. The activities after class were fun and I never felt unsafe. I especially enjoyed the weekend outings to Manuel Antonio National Park and to the rapids for white water rafting. The staff were supportive and always available. I made lots of friends over the three weeks and will miss all of them. Overall, it was a good experience!

Going to Costa Rico and being a part of the teen Tico Lingo camp was one of the best experiences that I will always remember. I was 16 when I went, so I was still young and not use to being away from my family for so long! The staff were all very supportive and understanding that Costa Rica was a new environment for the teens and went out of their way to make us feel like we were apart of the Tico Lingo family. The life time relationships I have made through this program is unforgettable! I absolutely would 100% recommend!

I learned way more Spanish doing this camp than I did in highschool. Speaking with natives really makes a difference. My family was amazing and the Spanish classes we're pretty intense but we were challenged and my classmates enjoyed it. It was just an overall great positive experience. I'm over 18 now, but I'd love to go back and sign up for the adult program. The teen camp was everything i needed to get used to living in a new place. There was so much support from the staff. Activities were fun, I liked the cooking classes with Profesora Helen! My teacher Oscar was so so cool. We still stay in touch on Whatsapp and he helps e with Spanish questions when I have them. Would highly recommend this camp to anyone looking for an adventure and wanting to drastically improve their Spanish speaking skills. Gracias!

I did this camp in 2019 and loved loved loved it! I was planning on going in 2020, but... the pandemic didn't allow for it. I loved meeting students from all over the world, learning spanish in this cool little costa rica town, doing all the activities. Dance class was actually pretty fun. I learned so so so much more Spanish than I learned in a whole year of highschool Spanish 2. It's like a completely different experience when you're living with a family and needing to speak the language to ask for something to eat! lol. I hope I can go back in 2021. Miss my homestay family and my teacher and heredia! pura vida tico lingo is awesome!