Welcome to the Manuel Antonio Spanish School Frequently Asked Questions. This page is intended to provide you with efficient and effective solutions for a variety of frequently asked questions.
These resources were created by Manuel Antonio Spanish School staff to provide you with instructions on some of the more specific aspects of coming to Costa Rica to learn Spanish.
Costa Rica has developed a reputation as a haven for nature lovers, thrill-seekers and vacationing families. With volcanoes, rainforests and beaches all easily accessible from international airports, Costa Rica works as a destination for a one-week Spring Break as well as for a month long backpacking adventure.
Due to its spectacular biodiversity and strong emphasis on environmentalism, Costa Rica leads the world in eco-tourism. The fact that Costa Rica has no military, that it is economically stable and has some of the most developed infrastructure of all Central America makes it very attractive to international visitors.
Above all, the country is renowned for its friendly people and easy-going lifestyle. Most visitors find that the low stress, Pura Vida culture is a welcome change to the usual fast paced society where they come from.
If after all this, you are still having difficulties finding an answer to your problem or some part of the website just doesn’t make sense to you, please let us know. You can ask questions directly by sending an email to [email protected] or click on the menu tap “CONTACT US”.
Spanish is the official language of 21 countries across the world, and commonly used in seven others.
Choosing to learn Spanish in Costa Rica offers many advantages apart from the great weather and proximity to the beach.
Costa Rican Spanish is spoken relatively slowly and with a very neutral accent. This makes it easier to learn initially and means that you will be understood everywhere from Argentina to Spain when speaking Spanish.
Costa Rica is also known for its friendly people, strong emphasis on tourism and conservation, and its political and economic stability.
There is a large network of public buses that allow tourists and locals to visit every corner of Costa Rica at a low cost.
You can also use a shuttle service to move between the main tourist areas of the country.
Private taxis can also be arranged.
We are happy to help you organize your transportation for your entire stay in Costa Rica.
Yes, in Costa Rica the water from the tap is safe to drink in most towns.
If you are in a very rural area, they may have their own source and it is better to stick to bottled water.
The length of time needed to become proficient in a language usually depends on two things, your motivation for learning and the opportunity to practice. Some students attend Spanish classes in high school for years and see very little progression in their abilities. This is usually because these students do not have a strong motivation to learn to communicate in the new language, they just need to memorize enough to pass a test. Also, they are usually surrounded by other unmotivated students with a similar level of Spanish speaking ability.
If you are surrounded by native Spanish speakers, you will have plenty of opportunity to practice. Taking the bus, shopping at the market or ordering a drink will require you to use your language skills in a natural context, make mistakes, correct yourself and learn faster. With a strong motivation to communicate and ample practice, you can see vast improvements in your Spanish and even jump up a level in just four weeks.
The best way to learn Spanish is full language immersion. This means being surrounded by Spanish speakers, Spanish radio and TV, Spanish signs, and generally navigating daily life through Spanish.
This can seem intimidating and intense for beginners, however, once you are armed with the basics of the language, immersion will accelerate the learning process immensely.
Immersion gives you both the motivation and opportunity to practice