Intensive

* Classes per week:  20 group lessons.
* Minimun Duration: 1 week.
* Spanish Level:  Advanced, Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate.

Price per week: USD 360.00

The classes aim at developing the communicative competence in Spanish in the four main skills: speaking, reading, listening and writing. They also provide contextualized grammar and expose the students to the local culture.

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Super Intensive

* Classes per week:  27,5 group lessons
* Minimun Duration: 1 week.
* Spanish Level:  Advanced, Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate.

Price per week: USD 495.00

This program is designed for those who want to deepen the learning experience and to accomplish a higher level of proficiency of your chosen language in a shorter time. You will embrace all areas of language by this program: reading, writing, speaking, listening and contextualized grammar.

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Video and Map      The best of the city      Featured trips      Transport       Climate

Monteverde is a Costa Rican zone located among a total of ten small villages in the high mountain ranges of Tilaran, which is almost 1440 meters high (4662 ft). It is internationally renowned and admired for its ambitious efforts to preserve the conservation of cloud forest reserves and for encouraging the sustainable development of its communities.

Monteverde is a region that speaks to those concerned and passionate about the preservation of natural life. Monteverde is most commonly known for its greenery and natural beauty, hence the nickname "The Green Mountain". Yet, no imagination can reach the natural marvels you will encounter and no camera will capture the extent of its beauty. This tiny village is a gift to nature lovers, and the possibilities for adventure are endless.

There’s so much to see and do here that choosing isn’t an easy task. Yet, the Preserve of Monteverde and Santa Elena Reserve are a priority, and surely you’ll love to visit them once and again. Some exhilarating activities include: bird watching and hiking, there are more than 13 km (8 miles) of well-preserved hiking trails; sky walk and sky trek in a network of forest paths and suspension bridges that reach 39 m (128 ft) above the ground; or take some horseback rides, 4x4 trucks, and boats to the area of Arenal Volcano. Some of Monteverde’s ecological reserves are: Ecological Farm Wildlife Refuge, Monteverde Nature Center and Butterfly Gardens, Monteverde Snake Exhibit, Paradise for Bellbirds Bird Sanctuary, and Peaceful Trail Reseve. Remember that each reserve in the region is a unique experience, and opportunities for great fun and excitement are countless. Other interesting day-visits worth your time are: Cerro Amigos and Monteverde Cheese Factory.

Since the moment you arrive in Monteverde you'll find that much of this town remains untouched by modernism and that the majority of its inhabitants maintain a rural lifestyle. The village has a bank where you can change money and travelers checks, as well as cash. There is also a pharmacy, a hospital, a library, a gas station, ATM machine, police station and post office Open mostly to serve the tourists there are a number of supermarkets, internet cafes, restaurants and bars. This is the perfect location if you want to learn Spanish in the Costa Rican rainforest!

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The best of the city

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Transport

This area is a rural region and is a 3-hour bus ride from San José. Buses travel daily to and from Monteverde at 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Climate

The average daily temperature is 18º to 24° C (65º to 75° F). The climate is typically cool and at times wet. If you plan to visit during the rainy season (May - December), we recommend .bringing rain gear and waterproof shoes or boots (especially if you plan to visit the reserves) as well as pants, long-sleeved shirts and a light jacket.

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Available Accommodation Options in Monteverde

Families & Homestays In Monteverde

Families & Homestays

Our families know, due to their experience, what it means to be a real host. They have received many students from different nationalities, occupations and ages. We will take into consideration your likes and preferences.

Living with a local family is the best way to learn their customs, likes, flavors, while you learn a new language.

Host Families Features

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Can you imagine a delicious cup of coffee, the fresh taste of coconut, the fragrance of the wild flowers, being part of your experience? That's exactly Costa Rica! This country is a young Central American jewel, divided by volcanoes and mountains. With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, you will have a hard time choosing a favorite beach. It lies between Nicaragua and Panama and is considered one of most highly valued tourist destinations in the world. With a variety of aquatic ecosystems and its beautiful white and black sand beaches, Costa Rica provides an ideal setting for activities such as sport fishing, snorkeling, and sun bathing. Divided in seven provinces, it offers attractive tourist destinations, including extensive rainforests, volcanoes, rivers, beaches and natural resources safeguarded by an important organization of national parks and forest reserves.

Life is good in Costa Rica! You will fall in love with deserted tropical landscapes, fringed by palms, bathed by warm waters and filled with welcoming locals that are called "Ticos". Ticos are really friendly, polite and kind people. You will feel welcome by their "Pura Vida" (Pure Life) whishes, a common phrase that for sure you will remember. Visit Costa Rica to explore and experience the unique mixing of races, the richness of its culture and  the scenic national surroundings.

The best of the country

Food & Drinks	Music & Dance
Its cuisine is simple but heavy on oil and some species. Rice and beans ("Gallo Pinto") are tipical. The most famous drink is coffee; don’t be surprised to find it served alongside your dinner as well. Other favorite local drink is "Horcheta" (a cinnamon flavored cornmeal drink), taste it and you'll know why!	Music is everywhere: in the streets, homes, restaurants, bars, discos and theaters. When it comes to dancing, enjoy the traditional Latin rhythms of salsa, merengue, cumbia, lambada and soca. Feel the caribbean rythm! Ticos love music and dance.
Plastic Arts	Cinema
The art scene is largely underdeveloped, with exception to a few native crafts. You'll see a true affinity to the poor and rural Ticos. Many of the best crafts come from Sarchí, which is famous as the home of gaily decorated wooden carretas (oxcarts), the internationally recognized symbol of Costa Rica.	Costa Rica, particularly Montezuma, is the home of a recognized film festival called Costa Rica International Film Festival (CRIFF). The CRIFF welcomes talented filmmakers from all over the world to showcase their films to a truly international audience. It's a multi-cultural event that has its 5th edition on 2011.
Science and technology	Sports
Costa Rica is a combination of fertile land and a well-educated population. Besides the  production of bananas, coffee, and recently pineapples, in the last years the country has become one of the worlds leading producers of microchips.	You'll find a great variety of sports, according to your interests. Surf, canopy, cycling, hicking, scuba diving, sportfishing, rafting and much more! Costa Rica is the third most popular destination to surf after Hawaii and Indonesia.
Spare time	Literature
Ticos love spend their time with their family and friends. Whenever it's possible, people that live in the city choose to go to the beach, escaping the daily routine. For them, weekends and holidays are a time to relax and to have a good time. Take into account that the country is also one of the few ones where two great oceans are within a six hour drive of each other!	Costa Rican literature is often belittled as the most prosaic and anemic in Latin America. However, contemporary poetry and literature in general promises a lot, since in recent years there have been an abundance of good authors that engage these arts.

Your safety first...            Travel Cancellation           Transfer Service

Your safety first...

When engaging in any of our programs a travel and health insurance is essential for yours and your familiy's peace of mind. We want your experience to be as exciting as possible and in order for it to be like that, feeling safe and protected is a must. We offer an International Travel Insurance tailored specially for experiential travelers like you.
You can choose different plans according to your insurance needs and expectations. The plans Silver and Bronze feature Travel Health/Accident Insurance, Emergency Travel Insurance, Travel Accident Indemnity Insurance, Travel Assistance, Travel Luggage Insurance, Travel Third Party Liability Insurance limited to your desired coverage amount. The Gold plan features unlimited coverage (including extreme sports) at a really competitive market price.

Some of the benefits of booking your Travel Insurance with us are:

• You'll be making sure that your full experience is organized as a whole, taking care of each aspect of it
• We make sure that you get the best coverage, adapted to your individual needs.
• Our International Travel Insurance is known worldwide and accepted by health facilities and professionals all over the world.
• Our insurance provider offers the best cost/quality rates of the market with over 20 years of experience and has been taking care of our participants for many years.
• Our tutors will be able to assist you with the insurance usage, the contact with the company and the relation: hospital-insurance

For your safety, we will ask you your insurance information when you book your program. We recommend that you use our Travel Insurance provided by CareMed International Travel Insurance. You'll be able to enjoy your journey knowing that any sudden or unexpected situation will be taken care of. And your family will be able to feel happy for you and your life-changing experience instead of worrying during your stay abroad.

Prices insurance for destination Latin America

For more information please click here!

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Travel Cancellation Insurance

For more information please click here!

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Transfer Service
 

COINED provides airport transfer service to meet students at the airport and transfer them to their accommodation. We can meet students at the domestic or international airports.

Students must always inform COINED about the date and time of  arrival, even in cases where the transfer service has not been requested. Airport pick-up only transfers students from the designated airport to the designated accommodation.

- Flight details (date, time, airport, airline, and flight number) must be confirmed in writing before arrival; otherwise COINED shall not guarantee the transfer service and no refunds shall be given for this service.
- All costs incurred due to failure to notify COINED of arrival information in due time are the participant's responsibility.
- In case of flights delays, changes, and so on, COINED will provide the transfer service but will reserve the right to charge additional costs, if necessary.
- If any changes regarding flight details are not duly informed, COINED shall not take responsibility for the proper provision of the transfer service.

For more information regarding our transfer service please contact us. We will be happy to assist you!.

* Please contact us for more information about Arrivals / Departures Transfer Service.
** Price per person, per week.

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There are many activities organized by the school. The area is an open invitation to hike the forest trails and enjoy a good time in touch with nature and seeing amazing landscapes.

Students' favorite outdoor activities are:   - Cooking/Dancing lessons, - Movie night, - Monteverde Train Forest, - Horseback riding, - Visit to a frog's farm.

School activities calendar example

Spanish Courses 2012:

Prices are in USD

Course	1 Week	2 Weeks	3 Weeks	4 Weeks	5 Weeks	6 Weeks
Intensive (20 lessons/Wk)	360	720	1020	1320	1630	1940
Super Intensive (27,5 lessons/week)	495	990	1410	1820	2245	2670

For programs longer than 6 weeks please contact us

What’s included

• Welcome package
• First day placement exam
• Spanish Course
• Recreational activities
• Course certificate
• 24 hrs emergency phone
• Local mentor
• Internet access
• Access to kitchen facilities at the school
• Coffee, tea, spring water

Registration fee USD 75 in any Latin American destination and 75 € in Spain Courses start every Monday except on closed dates No lessons will be held on school’s closed dates and there will be no extra lessons to compensate for them Study material included at Argentina’s, Chile’s and Guatemala’s schools.

Accommodation 2012:

Prices are in USD

Type	Price per week
Families & Homestay (Individual HB)	150

References

WB=With Breakfast
HB=Half Board (Breakfast and Dinner)
WM=Without Meal
Premium=Private Bathroom

What’s included

• Families & Homestay: Cleaning service once a week; telephone service to receive calls (available to make calls with prepaid cards); towels and bed linen (changed once a week). Upon requirement: Kitchen access; internet service; cable TV.
• Residences: Kitchen access; internet service; cable TV; cleaning service once a week; telephone service to receive calls (available to make calls with prepaid cards); towels and bed linen (changed once a week).
• Shared Apartments: Kitchen access; bed linen. Upon requirement: Internet service; cable TV; telephone service to receive calls (available to make calls with prepaid cards).
• Private Apartments: Kitchen access; internet service; cable TV; cleaning service once a week; towels and bed linen (changed once a week). Upon requirement: Telephone service.

More information about Accommodation in Monteverde

How is my Spanish level determined?

You will take a placement test on your first day to establish the Spanish course level you will attend to. You may change levels depending on your learning skills.

What happens if there is not a course available for my level?

If there isn’t a Spanish course according to your level, a course will be opened for you specially and you will have individual lessons until other students with the same level of Spanish arrive. The price of these individual lessons will keep the same as the group ones.

Can I take my lessons in different destinations?

You can take your Spanish lessons in different places in various countries in Latin America. It is possible to combine destinations in any of our schools in Latin America or Spain without extra charge. You will find the same teaching method in all our Spanish schools.

Will I get a certificate after finishing the program?

Yes, you will get a certificate that specifies the level of Spanish achieved and the amount of hours you have taken. You will get also a progress report which includes the skills developed during your course and a recommendation letter from your teacher.

Will I receive university credits?

You can receive university credits for attending to our schools but you should first visit your school’s language department in order to know the specific requirements. Common requests from universities are: course syllabus, talking to other teachers who know the program, classroom hours, course levels, academic policies, receiving progress reports from your teachers while abroad and giving you a test upon your return. We will help you gather all the necessary paperwork and you may schedule an interview with your academic advisor if needed.

How am I going to develop my Spanish skills?

Our methods combine both theory and practice, addressing all of the linguistic and functional pragmatic aspects of the spoken language, along with key socio-cultural information essential for you to gain proficiency and in order to achieve your goals. Grammar, reading, writing, listening, speaking and vocabulary are always integrated in order to approximate you to an authentic communicative environment.
You will begin with practical situations. Grammar lessons will be introduced gradually during the process. Lessons' topics and contents are related to daily life’s situations.

How many levels are there?

COINED offers 3 different levels following the requisites and guidelines from the Common European Framework of Reference. Each level is divided into 2 sublevels varying from lesser to greater linguistic capability: Basic (A), Intermediate (B), Advanced (C).

How many lessons do I need to reach a different level?

It depends on the level you already have, the one you want to reach and the kind of program you are taking. If you are a beginner, it takes approximately 40 to 60 group lessons per week to get you into the next level. But if you don’t have enough time you can reduce the time at half by achieving the same level with private lessons. For further information please contact us. We will be happy to help.

Is the study material included in the Spanish course?

In almost every destination the study material, according to your level, is included. In case you choose a destination that doesn't include it, we will let you know.

What is a typical day like?

You can take lessons from 9 AM to 1 PM or from 2 PM until 6 PM according to your schedule and your program.
Afternoon classes (2 PM to 6 PM) are usually reserved for students requesting additional hours or different programs.
Many days include school activities in the afternoon or the evening.

When do I have to register to the program?

You should register at least four weeks before the program starts to guarantee you a spot in our schools.  For bookins done lless than four weeks before the start date, we cannot guarantee your place in a group but you can write or call us to check for availability in such cases.

 If I want to combine destinations, do I have to register at each separate location?

No, if you are planning to combine your destination simply register at the location you will be at first, and then indicate which date you plan to switch to another school.