Location

Heredia, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Program Description

Immerse yourself in Costa Rica while earning Spanish credits through the James Madison University Summer 2026 program in collaboration with the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI). This three-week program offers students the opportunity to build language proficiency through intensive coursework and rich cultural experiences.

Students will live with carefully selected host families in two unique regions—Heredia and Monteverde—providing daily opportunities to practice Spanish in authentic contexts. Weekdays include four hours of instructor-led Spanish classes each day, taught by experienced CPI faculty. The program will offer a variety of courses tailored to students’ Spanish proficiency levels and the number of participants enrolled, ensuring all students are placed in the appropriate level to maximize language learning. Coursework focuses on communication skills and cultural understanding, reinforced by daily interactions with host families and local communities.

Outside the classroom, students will explore Costa Rica’s vibrant culture and natural beauty through guided excursions. Highlights include tours of Poás Volcano, San José’s National Theatre, the Heredia Mercado Central, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Monteverde’s world-renowned cloud forest. Students will also participate in service-learning projects with local organizations such as Rescate Animal, Somos Picnic, LIFE Monteverde, and Siempre Amigos, gaining valuable insight into Costa Rican community life and sustainability efforts.

Cultural activities such as Latin dance lessons, cooking classes, and a canopy zipline adventure round out the immersive experience. The program includes daily breakfasts and dinners with host families, lunches during group activities, and all in-country transportation.

Students are required to attend pre-departure orientation meetings during the spring semester to prepare for travel, cultural adjustment, and academic expectations. There are no required class meetings after the group returns.

Join us to improve your Spanish, explore stunning natural landscapes, and contribute to meaningful community projects—all while experiencing the warm hospitality and rich culture of Costa Rica.

All courses will be taught in Spanish by local instructors from Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI). They will be delivered in-person at their two campuses - the first week in Heredia and the second in Monteverde. All courses will integrate language and culture learning through practice of the communicative skills in Spanish - listening and reading comprehension, and speaking and writing proficiency. Each course will meet for four hours (including breaks) during the afternoons, Monday through Friday. The courses will be complemented by daily morning excursions to local sites and participation with local community organizations, also led by CPI staff. The out-of-class study will also provide Spanish immersion and rich cultural experience while students interact with a variety of local people through community service and tourism.

CPI instructors will place students in small class groups (2-5 students per class) according to their Spanish proficiency level. JMU instructors Dr. Galarreta-Aima and Dr. Lang-Rigal will determine which JMU Spanish course is equivalent for each student for accreditation: SPAN 232, 300, 301, 320, or 322.

SPAN 232: The intermediate level Spanish course will guide students towards improved autonomous mastery of the language in social, professional and academic contexts, aligning with low to mid-intermediate (ACTFL) and A2 to B1+ (MCER) levels. The course reinforces oral and written production and comprehension, incorporating intermediate grammatical structures and a wide lexical repertoire, facilitating more accurate and fluent expression. These courses promote the use of the language in authentic situations in conjunction with the development of intercultural competence.

SPAN 300, 301, 320, 322: The advanced level Spanish course covers the levels from advanced low to advanced high (ACTFL), and B+ to C1 (MCER). This course strengthens fluency, accuracy, and expression through the practice of complex structures and discursive frameworks in communication. Students will engage with high level texts and conversation, towards critical analysis of social, historical, and cultural topics in the Spanish-speaking world to develop their intercultural competence.

SPAN 476: This specialized Medical Spanish course is designed for students and health professionals interested in strengthening their communicative competence in Spanish with an emphasis in clinical and hospital contexts. Using a communicative and practice-oriented focus, this course provides key linguistic tools, grammatical structures, technical vocabulary and functional expressions from the medical world. It promotes integrated development of the four language skills: listening and reading comprehension, and oral and written expression, together with intercultural competence, necessary for an effective and empathic interaction in multicultural health settings. Students will also learn about the Costa Rican health system, and compare it and contrast it to other health systems.

Location Description

The program consists of 18 days in Costa Rica, and 3 days of pre and post departure meetings online. Students will be transported from San José international airport to their first location in Heredia where they will spend their first week. Then students will travel to Manuel Antonio National Park for a two day visit. Next students will travel to Monteverde, where they will spend 5 days. The last 3 days students will visit a beach in Guanacaste and stay in a hotel, before departing back to the airport in San José and returning to Virginia.

Students in this program will experience life in two distinct regions of Costa Rica, offering a balanced view of both urban and rural life while immersing themselves in Spanish language and culture.

The first part of the program is based in San Joaquín de Flores, a peaceful, picturesque town located in the Central Valley region of Heredia Province. With its colonial architecture, walkable streets, and proximity to San José, San Joaquín serves as an ideal home base for students adjusting to Costa Rican culture. Here, students live with carefully selected host families and attend intensive Spanish language classes at the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI). Daily life in San Joaquín allows students to engage in everyday conversation, deepen cultural understanding, and gain confidence in their Spanish skills.

While in San Joaquín, students will also explore surrounding areas through day excursions. Activities include a guided walking tour of Heredia and its central market, a cultural visit to downtown San José and the National Theatre, and a day trip to Poás Volcano National Park, where students will witness one of Costa Rica’s most iconic natural landmarks.

The group then departs for an overnight weekend excursion to Manuel Antonio National Park, located on the Pacific Coast. Known for its white sand beaches, tropical rainforest, and abundant wildlife, Manuel Antonio offers students the chance to hike scenic trails, relax on the beach, and observe monkeys, sloths, and exotic birds in their natural habitat. The experience also includes a guided hike, hotel accommodations, and group meals, creating time for both exploration and relaxation.

The second half of the program takes place in Monteverde, a rural town situated in Costa Rica’s mountainous northwest. Monteverde is internationally recognized for its lush cloud forests, commitment to sustainability, and strong community values. While here, students continue Spanish classes at CPI’s Monteverde campus and live with a second host family, providing a new cultural perspective and continued language immersion.

Monteverde offers many opportunities to engage with Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity and environmental initiatives. Students will participate in guided nature walks through the cloud forest, community-based service learning with local organizations such as LIFE Monteverde and Siempre Amigos, and cultural activities including a Latin cooking class and a canopy zipline adventure through the treetops.

Together, San Joaquín de Flores, Manuel Antonio, and Monteverde offer students a dynamic, multifaceted experience that combines language study, cultural immersion, community engagement, and outdoor adventure—all within the natural beauty and welcoming spirit of Costa Rica.

Director

Diana Galarreta-Aima | galarrdf@jmu.edu | World Languages and Literatures

Jennifer Lang-Rigal | langrijr@jmu.edu | World Languages and Cultures

Accommodations

All students will participate in home stays with families in the host culture for the entirety of the program.

During the program, students will enjoy two home-cooked meals per day—breakfast and dinner—with their host families in both San Joaquín de Flores and Monteverde.

Additional Items to Consider

All participants must have a valid passport that does not expire within six months of the program’s return date.

U.S. Citizens: A visa is not required for U.S. citizens to enter Costa Rica for this short-term academic program.

Non-U.S. Citizens: Students who are not U.S. citizens are responsible for checking visa requirements for Costa Rica based on their country of citizenship. Students must apply for any required visas on their own and should begin this process early to avoid delays.

All students must have access to a working cell phone with international coverage during the program. Students may use international plans from U.S. providers or purchase a local SIM card upon arrival (unlocked phones only).

Free Wi-Fi is generally available at CPI campuses and in homestays.

Students must attend a pre-departure orientation to review safety protocols, cultural expectations, and emergency procedures.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

Open to all class levels and majors, including graduate students.

Open to non-JMU students.

Students must successfully complete one Spanish language course prior to the start of the program.