Intensive

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

Price per week: USD 325.00

The Intensive program aims at developing your communicative competences in the four main skills: speaking, reading, listening and writing.

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Private

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

 Price per week: USD 585.00

It is designed for those students who wish to learn Spanish in a short time and at their own pace. Classes focus on the specific needs of the student and are organized according to their interests and goals.

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

San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica, with a population of about 340,000 people, making it the biggest city in the country. The city is located on a mountain plateau and surrounded by a beautiful landscape, offering a very relaxed and scenic atmosphere.

San Jose is not only the capital, but also the absolute centre of entertainment in the country. Besides it is the central location of the government, university, and some of the most famous theatres in the country. Between the parks, various artists and musicians in the streets, and trendy restaurants and bars, you will never be bored.

The Plaza de Cultura provides two of the most interesting buildings of the city: the National Theater (today one landmark of the national pride) and the Gold Museum (a collection of 1600 pieces of Pre-Columbian gold work). Worth visiting are also the Jade Museum, the Insect Museum or a coffee and a butterfly farm.

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The best of the city

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Transport

You can use the public bus system or rent a car or motorcycle, however downtown San José is filled with cars specially at noon being the transportation hub of the country. It will be better to walk most of the time, besides you'll get to know the city a little bit more.

Climate

San Jose is located in a tropical zone and holds therefore a mild climate with a temperature average between 18ºC (64ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF) along the year.

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Available Accommodation Options in San Jose

Families & Homestays in San Jose
Residences & Hostels in San Jose
Shared Apartments in San Jose

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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Residences & Hostels

If you want to live with several local and foreign students, you can choose to stay in a private or shared room in any of the students' residencies we offer you. Sharing a place with young people from all over the world is a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and make new friends as well as learning about the place in which you are studying.

Residences & Hostels Features

Shared Apartments

A Shared Apartment gives you a great balance between privacy and socializing with other people.

Shared Apartments 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. You can take part in those you preffer. From cooking lessons to visits to different touristic spots, each activity is planned to help you get immersed in local culture. Various excursions and sightseeing tours are held each week. The school also provides students benefits, such as discounts to Costa Rica’s main tourist attractions. Many of the activities and attractions include visits to museums, nearby universities, movie theatres, raft trips, beaches, major cities, and volcanoes. It also includes a visit to the Supreme Court.

As atividades ao ar livre favoritas dos alunos são, por exemplo:   * Coffee tour, * Bowling, * Cooking lessons, * Salsa lessons, * Poas Volcano, * Local Market.

Modelo do calendário de atividades da escola

Spanish Courses        Special Courses and Programs        Accommodation

Spanish Courses 2013:

Prices are in USD

How to Calculate your Spanish Course (example)

Special Courses and Programs:

Registration fee USD 75. 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.

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What’s included

• Welcome package,
• First day placement exam.
• Spanish Course.
• Weekly tours & Recreational calendar activities.
• Course certificate.
• 24 hrs emergency phone.
• Local mentor.
• Internet access, Wi-Fi.
• Access to kitchen facilities at the school.
• Coffee, tea, milk, refrigerated water.

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Accommodation 2013:

The Prices are in USD

References:
Individual / Shared = Room; WB=With Breakfast; HB=Half Board (Breakfast and Dinner); NM=No Meals. 
Accommodation extra day: USD 25 per night Families & Homestay / USD35 Shared apartment
More information about Accommodation in San Jose.

What’s included in

• 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).

• Private Apartment: Kitchen access; internet service; cable TV; cleaning service once a week; towels and bed linen (changed once a week). Upon requirement: Telephone service.

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1. How is my Spanish level determined?
2. What happens if there is not a course available for my level?
3. Can I take my lessons in different destinations?
4. Will I get a certificate after finishing the program?
5. Will I receive university credits?
6. How am I going to develop my Spanish skills?
7. How many levels are there?
8. How many lessons do I need to reach a different level
9. Is the study material included in the Spanish course?
10. What is a typical day like?
11. When do I have to register to the program?
12. If I want to combine destinations, do I have to register at each separate location?

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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).

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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. 

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