Escuela de Español Dalfa

A Spanish language school based on Christian principles

Note: For those who found our website through Yahoo, we inform you that our
school is not located on a beach in the Pacific. This is a mistake that we
have not been able to rectify and we regret any inconvencience this may
have caused you. Thank you.

The republic of Costa Rica is a small country in Central America divided into seven provinces bordered by two oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific.

It has an area of only 51,000 square kilometers, so one can visit its major volcanoes, beaches, rivers, mountains, valleys and cities in a short time.

Its spring-like climate varies very little throughout the year. It's cool in the higher areas like the capital (San Jose) and somewhat warmer in the lower areas and on the coast.

There are two seasons:
The dry season (from November to April) and the rainy season (from May to October). During the rainy season, it generally rains in the afternoons but the mornings are clear and sunny.

No special clothing is required for these two seasons. The same informal clothing (with a sweater or jacket) is adequate all year round.

The people (almost 3 million inhabitants) are upbeat, friendly and always willing to help newcomers, especially those desiring to learn Spanish.

In general, Costa Rica is a place of safety and liberty.

Because it is geographically situated almost in the center of the American continent, its Spanish is influenced as much by the North as by the South, which makes Costa Rica THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN SPANISH.

Program A

This program lasts four weeks (capable of being extended in special cases). This program consists of:

• Four hours of instruction each day (from Teaching Materials)
• A variety of cultural activities
• Complete Lodging with carefully selected Costa Rican families

This program begins
the first Monday of January,
the first Monday of March,
the first Monday of May,
the first Monday of July,
the first Monday of September or
the first Monday of November.

The school utilizes the best existing methods to teach and to learn Spanish well and with reasonable ease, employing methods proven effective for over 28 years. These Methods are just as effective for beginners as well as for those who have some knowledge of Spanish.

Program B

This program is offered to students who desire to study Spanish more intensively, up to a period of one year.
This program lasts 15 weeks, (being capable of other extensions of 15 weeks).

This program consists of:

• Four hours of instruction each day (from Monday to Friday, except holidays)
• Teaching materials
• A variety of cultural activities

This program begins on the following dates:
The first Monday of January
The first Monday of May
The first Monday of September
The school will arrange a suitable house or apartment or complete lodging with Costa Rican families, which the student can rent on a monthly basis.

FACULTY

The instructors are Costa Rica Christians with many years of experience in teaching Spanish as a second language.
Our teaching materials are carefully prepared so that the student can learn:

• Grammatical structure.
• Good pronunciation.
• In-depth vocabulary, and Competency in conversation

PLACEMENT

After arriving, the participants in the programs will be given a placement exam and placed in small groups according to their level of Spanish, with the aim that each student have the maximum participation possible during the class sessions.

ARRIVAL IN COSTA RICA

The participants will need a passport with a tourist card for 90 days in order to enter the country.

On arrival in the country, a delegation from the school will meet the students in the airport and take them to their respective homes.

Future students should mail to the school the registration application and attach $200 (200 dollars) not refundable, at least three or four weeks before the beginning of the program.

This registration fee can be sent in form of a personal check made out to the school.

The total cost of the program will be due upon beginning the program, payable by traveller's cheque or in cash. (For more information see the Registration Application).

The majority of credit cards are accepted in commercial establishments here.

Prices

Program A: (groups 3-5 students)

• Four weeks
• four hours of instruction each day
• teaching materials
• cultural activities

  $400

Program B: (groups 3-5 students)

• 15 weeks
• four hours of instruction each day
• teaching materials
• cultural activities

  $790

If there is only one student for this program, only two hours per day will be taught instead of four hours, but for the same price.
The period of fifteen weeks of Program B can be extended up to thirty weeks and up to forty-five weeks, in other words, one year.
It is recommended that students register for a complete year if they wish or need a complete and in-depth study of the Spanish language.

Private Instruction:

$10/lesson

The School can offer special programs whenever necessary.

School Periods

Program A

This program begins the first Monday of January, February, March, May, June, July, September, October and November.

Program B

Our school uses a trimester format.
Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or an advanced student of Spanish, you can begin studying at the Escuela de Español DALFA at the beginning of any of the three school periods.

1996
January 2 - April 12
May 6 - August 16
September 2 - December 13

1997
January 6 - April 18
May 5 - August 15
September 1 - December 12

1998
January 5 - April 17
May 4 - August 14
August 31 - December 11

1999
January 4 - April 16
May 3 - August 13
August 30 - December 10

2000
January 3 - April 14
May 2 - August 11
August 28 - December 8

Location:

Escuela de Español Dalfa
Apartado 323-1011
San José, Costa Rica
América Central
Tel/Fax: +(506) 226-8584

E-mail us dalfad@sol.racsa.co.cr