Special Programs

Professional Concentration

Healthcare Program

We see an increasing need in North America for physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers to communicate with Spanish speaking patients and medical colleagues. With this in mind, Personalized Spanish has designed a special program to meet this need in the healthcare profession.

The course is designed to provide healthcare practitioners with effective language skills so that they can communicate effectively and confidently with their patients and/or their caretakers in Spanish. Emphasis will be on oral communications.

The course starts with a week long classroom language instructions at Personalized Spanish with specialized vocabulary for the profession. Starting from the second week of class, the students may elect to conduct interviews with their Costa Rican peers and to visit local clinics and hospitals to experience first hand how the language is used in their profession. The school will be able to arrange such interviews and visits for the students.

For this program, we recommend a minimum of 2 weeks Spanish study.

Spanish for Business and Law

If you have little time available and want to maximize it, you may choose our special program for business and law. Before your arrival to Costa Rica, we will assess your needs and tailor a personalized program to meet them.

The program includes classes designed to concentrate on the language used by international workers, MBA students, managers and the like. Visits to business institutions that are of interest to the class can also be organized. For instance, students interested in the legal system may have an interview with a local lawyer or attend a court session with the teacher as part of the class. Such visits can also provide the students with excellent sources of local contacts in their profession. The materials used in this class can be readily applied in the work place. In addition to language acquisition, the students will also learn a great deal about the Costa Rican legal and economic systems.

Weekly classes normally begin on a Monday. For this program, students may also opt to start classes any day of the week or study for a weekend provided they come with a group or they choose the private lessons.

Spanish for Social Workers

Our Spanish for Social Workers is a well rounded linguistic and cultural immersion program that will prepare social workers to work in culturally diverse settings.  Recent statistics have shown that it has become more and more common that Social Workers do not ethnically represent their constituents.  This leaves the social worker vulnerable to miscommunication and ultimately the failure to effectively help.
Personalized Spanish offers a comprehensive Spanish program that not only includes grammar and conversation, but also vocabulary and terminology for social workers.  Our program also stresses the importance of understanding the cultural differences between your native country and Latin America.  Personalized Spanish intends to train their social workers on effective communication, spatial differences, families, education and religion so that students can increase their awareness for cultural differences and hopefully close the ever growing communication gap.
The program also offers the opportunity to meet Costa Rican professionals in your field, visits to private and public institutions, and an overview of the Latin American social service system.  These three opportunities will compliment the classroom work and give the student the opportunity to see their studies in action.

Spanish for Teachers

1. Teachers in General

Over the past few years, Personalized Spanish has received an increasing amount of students who are teachers that need Spanish for their classroom and to be able to communicate with parents. They are not Spanish teachers, but find Spanish vital for effective communication inside and outside of the classroom. This program aims to give the teacher the tools for conducting conversations with students and parents.

2. Spanish for Recently Graduated Spanish Teachers

Have you recently graduated from the university with a degree in Spanish, but you feel like you still need some practice before entering the classroom? Our program for the recently graduated is perfect for those who need more review, practice, and confidence building. Personalized Spanish has developed a program based on the needs of the individual student where they will finesse all aspects of their second language skills. Our program also includes pedagogical elements in order to reinforce the new teacher's approach to presenting the information to their future students.

3. Refresher Spanish Course for the Experienced Spanish Teacher

Personalized Spanish understands that even veteran Spanish teachers need a refresher course every once in a while. Our program aims to give the experienced Spanish teacher the opportunity to be immersed by the language and culture. The program is geared to the needs of the Spanish teacher varying from grammatical and lexical revisions, to new pedagogies, and cultural elements that can be easily incorporated into the classroom.  

Specialized Courses

If you are a person that is interested in perfecting your linguistic skills, at Personalized Spanish you’ll find the solution. Our staff is made up of experienced linguists who will work with you in achieving your goals. We offer courses in:

• Linguistics
• Phonetics (includes exercises that will improve your pronunciation)
• Communication
• Literature
• History of the language
• Culture
• Morphology
• Syntax

Study Spanish and Travel

Personalized Spanish believes that learning is not confined to the classroom; therefore we offer two programs where the student is able to study Spanish and enjoy Costa Rica. Please take the time to read carefully the descriptions of the following programs and decide which one reflects your needs.

Spanish and Tours

This is a program for those who want the best of worlds, quality Spanish lessons and the opportunity to travel within Costa Rica. The program consists of a 20 hour Spanish program that extends from Monday to Thursday, leaving the student a long weekend for traveling. Personalized Spanish offers many different tour options, leisure and adventure, that range from beaches, to rainforests, and national parks, depending on the season. Ask for more information on prices and dates.

Survivor Spanish

Personalized Spanish offers a survivor Spanish program for tourists who want to be able to communicate during their trip. The program focuses on give you the foundations for starting a conversation in practical situations like asking for prices and directions. Following a basic conversation in Spanish will empower you during your trip and make you more culturally conscience to your environment.

Spanish in Action

This is a special program that focuses on the practical uses of the language in everyday situations.  Like all of our programs, it is geared towards the needs of the individual student.  Spanish in Action offers traditional classes here at our school, but also incorporates a few excursions per week in order to put into practice what the student has learned.  Examples of excursions would be the bank, supermarket, and taking a taxi.

Spanish for Children

If you are planning to travel with your children, you are welcome to have them attend the school and learn Spanish at the same time as you. The program is specially tailored for children between 6 and 13 year old whose parents are studying at Personalized Spanish.

The program includes:

• Airport transportation
• Lodging with their parents in a host family
• 2 meals a day and laundry services
• Spanish classes and special materials
• Supervised recreational activities in Spanish such as coloring, puzzles, videos, sports

Educational outings to places of interest: The Children’s Museum, The San Jose Zoo, Bird Museum, Insect Museum, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Theatre, Visits to local schools, entertainment parks, participation in activities with Costa Rican children, INBIO Park (bio-diversity park), roller-skating, public libraries

Spanish for Retirees

It’s a pleasure for us to have the opportunity to offer this program for those who are considered “The Golden Age.”  Personalized Spanish has designed a program with various cultural, recreational, and touristic activities.  You would only have to pack your bags and catch your flight and we’ll take care of the rest.

Spanish for Residents

This program is designed for our students who live in Costa Rica. We understand that our resident students have full schedules between juggling their personal and professional lives. Personalized Spanish has received resident students whose professions range from professors, secretaries, executives, and even housewives.

Our resident's program is personalized in stages according to the student's needs. When designing this program for our students, we take into account a flexible schedule, adequate material, class locations, and cultural information.

Ask us about our special prices for residents!

Healthcare professional, Adam,
visiting a local clinic

Bethany Works for Red Cross

Kids are the fastest learners of a second language, they're naturals!