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Costa Rica Spanish and Salsa
Forget Strictly Come Dancing. This is where the dance floor really comes alive.
Dance is not so much a hobby in Latin America as a religion. With mornings spent learning the Spanish language and afternoons devoted to honing your Salsa and Chachacha, this is the ultimate introduction to Latino culture; and what better place to learn than the outstanding country of Costa Rica, whose stunning scenery and thrilling activities make it one of the continent’s most attractive destinations.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants’ health.
The Programme
The programme consists of Spanish language classes in the morning followed by Latin dance lessons in the afternoons. Spanish lessons are held from Monday through Thursday and last for 5 hours in the mornings. Your accommodation will be with a Costa Rican host family giving you a great opportunity to hone your skills away from the classroom. Afternoon dance classes will also take place within the language school while you will take additional classes at our dance academy from 5.30 to 7.00pm, 4 times a week. With all this practice, you’ll be speaking and dancing like a native in no time!
The Dance Academy
On your first day at the academy, your prowess on the dance floor will be assessed and you’ll be placed in the appropriate class to match your ability.
If you think you’re more Fred Flintstone than Fred Astaire, fear not! As well as being a well-known, professional dance school, our academy is a relaxed and fun place to learn how to dance and caters for all levels.
You’ll take part in informal group classes where you’ll get to dance with a number of different partners, many of whom will be local Costa Ricans!
Background
The Academy was set up with the aim of rescuing and developing the dance culture of Latin America, using a combination of education, research and creation. Its achievements in research and teaching met with both national and international acclaim and the artistic vision that it is famous for is now expressed through the academy’s classes.
Dance Methods
In an effort to find a generic way of teaching basic dance moves to both adults and children, the academy introduced the Merecumbé Method in 1991. The method combines the style of the Colombian Merengue (Mere) and the Cumbia (cumbe) in an inventive and exciting dance style.
From its roots as a Columbian folk dance, the Cumbia has achieved huge popularity throughout South America as has the Merengue, a fun, easy to learn dance that originated from Hispaniola. The two mixed together makes for the ultimate Latin dance extravaganza!
Dance teachers
Thanks to the prestige of the dance academy, it is able to attract teaching staff that are all rigorously trained, popular dancers. The tutors are all trained in teaching the Merecumbe method and they regularly take part in seminars to keep both their practical and theoretical knowledge up to date, so you are taught the most current information.
Participant Requirements
A basic knowledge of spoken Spanish
The Language School
Language classes will run from Monday to Thursday for 5 hours a day.
Teaching Approach
A real effort is made to ensure that classes are both challenging and fun and approaches to teaching are varied and dynamic. While classes can be intensive, they will always be interesting. Active participation is encouraged, so communication is top of the agenda in classes.
Understanding the mechanics of the language and correct pronunciation are also prioritised.
Teaching Staff
All of our teachers are native speakers and the school is one of the few in Costa Rica that is staffed and owned by local Costa Ricans. All the teaching staff have degrees from Costa Rica’s most prestigious universities and are Costa Rican Department of Education accredited. You are guaranteed an authentic Costa Rican experience!
Your Spanish Classes
Each class contains an average of 3 to 4 students, guaranteeing a significant amount of individual attention. You will focus on a variety of aspects of the Spanish language, though the main focus will be on communication and comprehension. You will also look at grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and pragmatic use.
Before you begin your language classes, you will be assessed in order to establish your standard of Spanish. A written test will be e-mailed to you before you leave for Costa Rica, and you will be given an oral evaluation on your first day of classes. All abilities are catered for, so you will be placed in the beginner, intermediate or advanced level class.
Your progress will be assessed daily and you will be set individual goals by the Academic Director.
Additional Activities
To fill the free time between language lessons and the dance academy, our on-site coordinators will lay on other activities to keep you occupied. These will include extra Salsa classes to perfect your steps, cooking classes and additional conversation classes.
Project Support
Throughout your stay you will receive the support and guidance of a coordinator and their team. They will be able to deal with your questions and offer any advice you may need.
In addition, you will be able to contact our UK staff 24 hours a day should you need to, via our emergency contact number.
Project Orientation
You will need to arrive at the school for 8am on the first day in time for your oral evaluation. Following this you will have a programme orientation, where you will be given information about the language course, dance classes, San Jose and Costa Rica as a whole. This is the best time to ask any burning questions you might have. You will also be given a student card that will have a telephone number and the address of your host family on it. Later that afternoon, there will be a salsa class and a chance to use the facilities at the school.
Accommodation and Meals
During your time in San Jose you will be staying with a host family in your own private bedroom. This provides the perfect opportunity to try out your newfound Spanish skills, especially at meal times, and to get a close up look at Costa Rican daily life. If you are travelling with a friend, we will do our best to accommodate you within the same home stay. Your family will provide you with breakfast and dinner everyday.
We have a careful selection process when it comes to host families. Houses are checked by a co-ordinator to make sure they are secure, clean and comfortable, and that the family themselves are friendly and hospitable, to give you the best stay possible.
For further information, or to secure your place on this programme, please call the Latin America Team today on 01892 516164, or email us at latinamerica@realgap.co.uk
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