Instituto Estelar Bilingüe in Liberia We offer an exciting Costa Rican cultural and language experience! Stay with a local family and attend daily Spanish and culture classes (Latin dance, cooking, art, etc). Our teachers are certified professionals, and our curriculum is designed by qualified educators. Our staff is great! You can make a difference in the community through our volunteer programs. Liberia is a traditional, safe city with a backyard full of natural wonders to explore either on your own or in organized trips.
The Institute
Instituto Estelar Bilingüe is located in the historic district of Liberia, Costa Rica. We offer dynamic, conversational Spanish courses to international travelers and English courses to locals. Liberia is an ideal spot to study Spanish as it is a typical Costa Rican town where English speakers are scarce and nearby attractions abound (volcanoes, beaches, hot springs, rivers, national parks, etc.). We arrange homestays and provide dance & cooking classes, language intercambios, volunteer activities, and the best Spanish classes for students of any level, age, and background...and all of this at very affordable prices. Liberia’s international airport makes getting here easy! Learn more..
Programmes
The Intensive Program is a great way to jump-start Spanish skills and experience fast progress. In this program, students receive 20 hours of class in a week and stay with their group and teacher for at least that amount of time. Classes start every Monday, and students can sign up for one week or fifty! Most students opt for the morning schedule for classes, 8am-12md, so that they can participate in extracurricular activities or take a tour in the afternoon. This option is available for kids ages 5-12 in a more active, hands-on format where kids get to play games, participate in dynamic activities, and create art and crafts...all in Spanish. We also offer Private Classes and Specialized Courses for Teens and Groups.
Certificates and Diplomas
Students receive a certificate upon passing each level.
Teaching Materials
Each of our dynamic 15 Spanish courses, created by qualified educators, emphasizes conversation while teaching language structures. There is a coursebook for every level, each one containing grammar concepts and exercises, conversation themes, stories, survival Spanish chapters, and more!
Methodology
We have a variety of levels, from beginner to advanced, for kids and adults, and our classes are small and personalized. We place a lot of emphasis on speaking the language, using the communicative method, and we develop the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We utilize the TPRS (Total Physical Response Storytelling), which allows students to interact and use the language more through fun, unusual stories.
Social and Cultural Activities
Included in the Intensive Program are a wide variety of extracurricular activities, such as dance class, cooking class, music class, language exchanges with our English students, and more! These cultural classes help students practice Spanish even more in different contexts.
Students can also volunteer! We strive to set an outstanding example of citizenship and have weekly events organized for the community that do not cost anything to be a part of. We also work with several non-profit organizations, and our students are welcomed to get involved!
Accommodation
Most students choose to stay with a family; however, there are many hotel options as well. Homestays are the best way to experience Costa Rican culture and practice Spanish outside of the classroom. We have carefully selected families who understand how to meet the needs of a foreigner staying in their house and are examples of the warmth and hospitality typical in Guanacaste. The family provides breakfast and dinner, a private room, and laundry service. The families are all located within walking distance of the school. We find the best family for each student by asking students’ preferences and accommodating them.
Excursions and Visits
There is always something happening in Liberia, whether it be open-air concerts in the park, special events at Café Liberia just down the street, or Liberia festivals including bull fights, horse parades, carnival rides, dancing, and concerts. Students can take a trip for the day or weekend to some amazing spots near Liberia: beaches, national parks, volcanoes, hot springs, and waterfalls and rivers.