Tico Lingo: The Life–Changing Immersion Program in Costa Rica

In a modern world where bilingualism is becoming an increasingly necessary skill set, learning a second language is more integral than ever—but it still isn't easy. For those of you who cringe at the prospect of reviewing vocabulary and tenses through some outdated book or hokey app, there’s a simple solution: an immersion program. This isn’t just an easy option, it’s also incredibly fruitful; recent studies, like one at the University of Minnesota, show that there’s no more effective way to learn a second language than through an immersion program.

The best immersion programs aren’t simply seminars or classrooms; instead, they offer avenues for students to delve deep into the local culture and flex their new foreign–language skills in real world settings. These programs send alumnus off with a firm grasp on the language and a host of incredible memories to last a lifetime. One such program can be found in the heart of Costa Rica: Tico Lingo. 

Tico Lingo Program Director Chris Reidy, like many of us, struggled with mastering Spanish through traditional resources. Seeking an escape from banal American life, Reidy jetted from his hometown of Chicago to Costa Rica; he fell in love with the culture, the food, the local brew and, most importantly, the language. "I arrived in Costa Rica with absolutely zero grasp of the language, a failed high school Spanish class experience and a total inability to communicate with anyone here," says Reidy. "Fifteen days went by and I had already learned the basics. Once I got to thirty days, I was holding conversations with people in cafés and restaurants all over town. And that was all just being here, going out and trying to meet people."

Friends and family in the States marveled at his proficiency with Spanish following his short time in Costa Rica and encouraged him to make the most of his experience. After teaching English in the country, developing a newfound passion for language and making friends with professors and language enthusiasts, Reidy was ready to set roots and make Costa Rica his home. The next step, born of both logic and passion, was a Spanish language immersion school.

From day one, Tico Lingo’s goal has been the same—to provide students with a memorable, unique and immersive experience through which they genuinely grasp the Spanish language. Their mission statement epitomizes their intentions: "Our mission is to teach, to immerse and to instill a life–changing experience for our students through classroom education and cross cultural immersion." 

With four classrooms, a multi–lingual library, dance room, yoga studio and an organic garden burgeoning with fresh fruits (plus a couple of hammocks), Tico Lingo offers students a relaxed and home–like atmosphere. All students live with local families through the homestay program, where they can connect directly with the community, share home–cooked meals and immediately apply their Spanish skills in the real world.

Part of Tico Lingo’s inherent success lies in the quality of its teachers. "My favorite part about Tico Lingo was our professor, Freddy," says recent graduate Jonathan Winfield. Each class program is completely structured around the needs of the individual students. "On the first day of class we sat down with Freddy and had a conversation with him in Spanish; he asked us question after question as he learned about our lives, personalities and level of Spanish," Jonathan remembers. "Freddy listened very carefully to the errors that we would commit as we spoke and he designed our classes for the next five weeks based on what he thought would take our language skills to the next level." 

The Tico Lingo approach to teaching is different; there's no rigid textbook or syllabus. "We’ve seen that using pre–written books and binding schedules doesn’t help the Spanish learning process." Reidy explains. "We like to offer a level of flexibility in the classroom that acknowledges each student learns differently, comes to class with a different academic level and will grasp different class topics at different paces."

Because of the program’s commitment to only speaking in Spanish, the language becomes less laborious and more natural. And another bonus? Your impeccable accent. "Because the course was mainly conversational, I noticed a drastic improvement in my accent," notes Jonathan. "Many Costa Ricans I meet tell me that my Spanish–speaking ability is great!"

The school calls the historic city of Heredia home. It’s a small town with an urban feel, populated by youthful bohemians eager to share their experiences and language with visiting students. You won’t find tourist traps or mawkish vendors, but you will find real culture. Jonathan fell in love with Heredia during his time at Tico Lingo. "Every Saturday, there is a giant farmer’s market that runs for about 10 blocks where you can buy all the locally grown fruits, vegetables and other local foods," says Jonathan. "It’s some of the freshest fruit you will ever try in your life!"

Heredia isn’t the kind of sprawling metropolis that inhibits your access to nature. Within a 15 mile radius of Tico Lingo, you’ll find four national parks, three of which are home to volcanoes. And if you miss the beach, it’s only one hour to the Pacific and two to the Caribbean. Whether it’s trekking through rainforests, soaring through the trees on ziplines, or walking along the beach with monkeys, adventure awaits just outside Tico Lingo’s doors.

Tico Lingo isn’t simply a study abroad program or kitschy school; it’s truly a cultural immersion program born of passion and adventure. Each instructor strives to positively impact the lives of their students and connect with each of them personally. And when students wander the local streets, beaches and forests, they’re also picking up kernels of knowledge dropped before them like fairytale breadcrumbs. When they leave, they’re don’t simply have the Spanish acumen for which they’ve been striving—they have the experience of a lifetime.