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People of all ages and backgrounds can study Spanish abroad in Samara, Costa Rica. This is one of the many Spanish immersion programs offered by Spanish Por Favor. Samara is one of the most relaxed and friendly beach towns of Costa Rica. Students who want to study Spanish in Samara, Costa Rica or other beach towns should contact us to learn more about all of our Spanish language programs.

The school’s beach-front location makes it an ideal destination for those seeking a laid-back atmosphere in which to acquire a new language. Nearby restaurants and open air café-bars provide ample places to relax and chat with friends, drink coffee or try the delicious local fresh fruit shakes. The Affiliate Spanish Language School in Samara, Costa Rica attracts students of all ages and from around the world!

You can be confident in our selection of our ASLS. It is our policy to personally visit and evaluate each school we represent. In addition to a comprehensive tour of all campus facilities and in-depth interviews of key faculty and staff, we actually take the classes offered to ensure that the company's elevated standards are upheld. A formal review and evaluation of all homestay accommodations is also undertaken. Relax, we do the work for you!

*Please contact us with any questions.

Learn Spanish at our Affiliate Spanish Language School in Sámara Beach, Costa Rica.

School History

Our Affiliate Spanish Language School (ASLS) in Sámara opened its doors to foreigners interested in learning Spanish in 2004. The school is known for its commitment to improving the local infrastructure, educational system, and environment through active participation and community outreach. Last year, over two hundred students from around the world studied Spanish through immersion education here.

The Executive Director states that, “Though a private enterprise, the majority of our profits are reinvested into academic and professional development for our staff, improvement of student facilities, and expansion of our community and cultural activities. A significant portion of these profits go to local causes and social development organizations, and to the funding of our local student scholarship fund”.

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School Location

The school is located in Sámara, Costa Rica. Sámara boasts 5 km of white sand, lined with palm tress, in a protected coral reef bay. The beach is known as one of the most beautiful and clean in all of Costa Rica.

In this quaint, but charming beach town, locals and foreigners greet each other with smiles as they pass one another on the white sand beach.

The school’s beach-front location makes it an ideal destination for those seeking a laid back atmosphere in which to acquire a new language. Nearby restaurants and open air café-bars provide ample places to relax and chat with friends, drink coffee or try the delicious local fresh fruit shakes.

Students at our ASLS in Sámara will find shops, cafes, restaurants, internet cafes, bars, and nightclubs within walking distance of the school. You can walk to the school everyday, and your homestay family will gladly take and pick you up from the school on your first day of classes.

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The School

This newly built, vibrantly colored, and spacious facility houses seventeen indoor, air conditioned classrooms and three additional outdoor classrooms.

The school also boasts a kitchen where students can get free coffee and water before class and during breaks; a library, an open air theater, and extensive grounds for various outdoor activities such as barbecues and yoga classes.


Each classroom is equipped with standard audio equipment, whiteboard, and a large communal study space, encouraging didactic activities and easy participation.

The grounds are immaculately landscaped and flowers are ubiquitous. Students are assigned to morning or afternoon classes. Monday through Friday, the morning classes are held from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and the afternoon classes are held from 1:15- 5:15. After class, students usually walk over to the beach, which is literally a stones throw away.

Occasionally, teachers take students outside the facilities to hold a conversation hour in the rancho, the tropical gardens, or on the beach under the shade of a palm tree.

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Technology

The school offers students free access to the internet while studying at our ASLS in Sámara. There is, however no WiFi connection at the school so students are not encouraged to bring their laptops.

To enhance foreign language acquisition, the school incorporates computer-based learning activities as well as interactive audio-visual learning tools.

For a fee, students can buy international phone cards and make international phone calls or faxes from the school.




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Cultural and Social Learning Activities

The school recommends that students check the notice boards in reception daily for times, sign-up sheets and specific information. Spanish Por Favor and the school encourage all students to participate in as many activities as possible, as you will find they greatly enhance your understanding of, and connection to, the culture.

Four times a week, for free, the school offers Latin Dance classes for all students who wish to participate. You have the opportunity to participate in classes where you will learn salsa, merengue, cumbia and marcado, the most popular dances in Costa Rica.

In addition, our ASLS in Sámara offers Costa Rican cooking classes once a week, yoga classes twice a week, and weekly movie nights. All of these cultural activities are included in the price of tuition and the school is continuously adding new activities to keep language acquisition fun and exciting.

Day and weekend excursions can be arranged once you arrive and they are all reasonably priced.

*Below are some of the options available to students:

- Tour to Arenal volcano (two nights)
- Tour of Monte Verde (two nights)
- Tour a Ricon de la Vieja (two nights)
- Tour of Montezuma- Isla Tortuga (two nights)
- Tour a Rio Celeste (one night)

- Tour de Cafe Diria (half day)
- Tour a Playa Ostional: para ver tortugas (half day)
- Tour a Cavernas de Barra Honda (one day)
- Tour a Palo verde: para ver aves (one day)
- Tour a Finca de Mariposas (one day)

*Students must sign up for weekend tours by Wednesday of the week in which they wish to partake. There are volunteer opportunities for all students.


Please let us know on your application if you are interested in volunteering while abroad.

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Course Summary

To be selected as an ASLS, the school must offer classes that primarily focus on developing the students' communicative skills. The Executive Director states, “We emphasize student participation, conversational skills and educational activities, within a framework that teaches you not only the necessary grammar, but also how to converse and be understood in real-life situations. Hands-on experience, role-plays, games, music, interviews with locals, and intensive class-work support your language acquisition goals, helping you become quickly familiar with and comfortable in the language”.

Classes are fifty-five minutes long with a ten minute break in between. Students take a total of twenty hours of group classes per week and have the option of taking private one on one classes thereafter at an additional cost (see price list for details).

The school takes beginners up to advanced native Spanish-speakers. Classes start on every Monday of the year, except holidays, and there is a minimum student age of 18; however, during the summer a teen program in which the minimum age is 13 is offered for three weeks. This program is specifically for teenagers who are interested in improving their Spanish language skills through immersion education.

Students progress through the school’s Spanish language books focusing on communicative skills but still addressing grammar and the structure of the language.

Our ASLS in Sámara has many specialty Spanish courses for people of all ages and backgrounds, such as Spanish for Health Professionals, Law Enforcement, Teachers, Flight Attendants, Artists, Teens, and others.

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Teachers

There are six full-time Spanish language teachers on staff at our ASLS in Sámara, but this number increases during the high season. All of the Spanish language teachers have earned bachelors degrees and some hold Master's degrees in education. All teachers receive ongoing teacher training throughout the year. The Founding Director states, "The teachers have all been certified by our Professional Development Training Program, and regularly participate in ongoing seminars, both in Costa Rican and abroad, in order to remain abreast of current methodology trends and teaching concepts".

The teaching staff is multi-lingual, speaking English, French, German, and Italian as well as Spanish. All of the teachers have over two years experience teaching Spanish as a second language and most have over ten years experience. Teachers are rotated weekly, but students can choose to stay with the same teacher. Spanish Por Favor recommends that students change at least once a week to increase their exposure to different teaching styles and teachers.

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testimonials

The students who wrote testimonials have agreed to share their experiences with anyone who is interested. However, their email addresses will only be shared upon written request.

Testimonials coming soon!

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Additional Information

All students receive a half hour orientation on their first day of classes. After this, students will take a verbal examination to identify their appropriate language level. This test usually takes thirty to forty-five minutes to complete.

The school guarantees no more than 6-students per class however, the average group class size is about 3-5 students. If there is only one student in a particular language level the cost will not change but the student will only have class for three hours instead of four, with the understanding that they will learn more in a one on one setting.

Our school has affiliations with universities in the United States where students can receive credit for classes taken. Spanish language students have the opportunity to interact with English language students studying at our ASLS in Sámara. This is known as “intercambio” and is an additional method to enhance Spanish language skills and also to help native Spanish speakers learn English.

GETTING THERE:
You have several options for your transportation to Sámara, which we can help you arrange. Note: For the taxi option, up to 4 students can share the taxi--you may contact us for students arriving at similar times if you prefer to ride-share.

1. Liberia International Airport arrivals:

a) Standard taxi option costs $60 one way, and will take you directly to your homestay in Sámara (1.5 hour drive). Additional passengers, $10 each.

b) Car rentals are available at the airport, and are available for $45 - $70 for a one-day rental with drop off in Sámara.

2. Juan Santamaría International Airport arrivals (San José):

a) Standard taxi option costs $130 one way, and will take you directly to your homestay in Sámara (4 hour drive).

b) Car rentals are available at the airport, and are available for $45-$70 for a one day rental with drop off in Sámara.

3. Stopover in Heredia/ San José:

a) If you prefer to stay overnight in the Central Valley, one night of homestay with airport pick costs $26. The family will call you a taxi the next day to catch the local bus to Sámara from San José ($6 one way), or the private bus service Interbus ($30 one way), or if there is a shuttle leaving the school, you may catch that ($15 one way).

b) Alternately, we can provide a pre-arranged one night homestay including airport pickup, pre-paid public bus ticket, and taxi to the bus station the next day, for $55


c) You may stay overnight at a local hotel in Heredia or near the airport (prices range from $30-$80 per night) and catch a bus the next day (see above for bus options).

d) If you prefer not to take the bus, you may fly from San José to Sámara-Carrillo local airport, 7 kms from Sámara Centro, for $75 one way.

After you have completed your Spanish immersion experience, you will be asked to fill out a satisfaction questionnaire to critique your teachers, overall classroom experience, and homestay.

We at Spanish Por Favor are always striving to improve our programs and services and, therefore, will also request that you critique your experience once you return to your home country through our own personalized survey.

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samara - price points

Prior to departure, students must pay a $99 enrollment fee and deposit to reserve a seat. All homestay accommodations (to live with a native family) start on Sundays and end on Saturdays. The airport pickup service is optional, but highly recommended.

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800-699-9685