Your Typical Itinerary
Spanish Classes in San Jose
The classes teach Spanish in the many aspects it comprises; as well as an emphasis on speaking, you will also be taught grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, pragmatic use and cultural understanding.
Language classes will generally consist of three to four students but you will never be with a group of more than six. With smaller, more intimate classes, it allows the school to tailor the programme to your specific needs. In order for you to be placed in the correct class according to your Spanish proficiency level you will have a written test, which is sent to you by e-mail, and an oral evaluation exam during your first day of class.
Throughout the course you will have your progress assessed by your teacher and the Academic Director. Each day, your instructor will hand in a progress report for you and this information will help the Academic Director determine the steps for reaching your language goals. An example of your daily schedule:
09:00-12:00 Morning classes
12:00-13:00 Lunch break
13:00-14:00 Afternoon class
After your Spanish classes you will have the chance to participate in afternoon cultural activities:
- Latin dance classes (every day from 15:00-16:00 and 16:00-17:00)
- Cooking classes (Wednesdays from 16:00-17:00)
- Conversation classes (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 16:00-17:00)
Kitesurfing Lessons in Playa Papaturro
Day 1 -Lesson 1 (3-4 hours, with a maximum of four students) – Kite flying and safety knowledge
Using a learner kite, this lesson focuses on teaching the basics for flying. You will learn important skills related to the set-up/break down of the kite, basic steering, launching and more. The lesson will cover the following things:
| Knowledge learnt |
Skills learnt |
| Wind theory – strength, wind selection, direction and “window” theory |
Basic “piloting” skills and how to launch and land a kite with assistance, how to fly in neutral position etc |
| The beach – awareness of other beach users, other water users, location selection |
Safety procedures and safeguards such as unhook and release bar, how to untwist lines |
| The kites – differences between kites, terminology, how the kite works, line lengths |
How to set-up and pack up a kite |
| The bar - steering |
Simulation of water starts |
Your first lesson is completely land-based and will not involve the board or going into the water. The focus is the piloting of the kite and how to achieve differing levels of power from it.
Day 2 -Lesson 2 (two hours, with a maximum of two students) – Body dragging
Using 4 and 5-line Leading Edge Inflatable (LEI) Kites, you will:
- Learn flight techniques in the water such as launching and landing a kite
- Body drag with the instructor
- Body drag independently (using waterproof walkie-talkies for contact)
- Learn one-hand control
- Be taught safety and self-rescue skills
Day 3 - Lesson 3 (Two hours, with max of two students) – Water Start
The third lesson is the first step towards full kite surfing. Learning about the different board types, you will:
- Receive demonstrations how to start from the water by the instructor – this covers learning the water start position, using the power of the kite to stand up, how to tie the leash alone etc.
- Do your first water starts using the above learnt principles
- Discuss the principles behind sailing - start and return with the board in linear sailing, discussion about wave sailing, jibing (changing direction by turning downwind until you are facing the other way) and jumping techniques
Days 4-10 – One hour lesson each day
These one-hour lessons are there to supplement any independent kite surfing you wish to do. You can learn new tricks, improve your technique or learn how to use different types of kite. Hire of the equipment is included for the remainder of the day, however, this depends if the instructor feels that you have reached the required standard to kite-surf independently.
After about 12 hours of lessons, students should be able to kite-surf in both directions and be reasonably experienced to handle a kite on their own in stable conditions. After 20 to 25 hours of lessons and independent experience, students should be able to go upwind and back to the same spot where they started. So, you can expect to be a reasonably competent kite-surfer by the end of this programme.
Kite School Certification
At the end of the three-day beginner course, you will be rewarded with the Kite School’s Kite-boarding card. Although this is not a recognised qualification, it is proof of the level you have reached and will permit you to hire kites and to kite-surf independently worldwide.
Please Note: Kite surfing is a weather dependent sport and therefore requires safe/suitable conditions for the course to be completed. Without the correct conditions, lessons will not take place and you will not be permitted to take the equipment out.
Please note: itineraries and activities are subject to change.
