Essence of CISA

After a person makes their first inquiry through our contact form (see below) on the CISA website, they can expect to receive a welcome email with a link to view our Price List. If a phone number is provided, that person will receive a phone call from a Representative in Costa Rica to discuss any questions they may have.

After discussing details of their stay; number of weeks, desired immersion Experience, our CISA Program Coordinator will put together a budget for them to review. Once they have made the final decision to attend CISA, they will fill in our Online Application Form, found in the Contact Us page of the website.

We will then email a Profile of the Host Family that they will be staying with, that includes a picture and description.

Plus they will receive a Student Prep Package to help them prepare for the trip.

Payment for the budget is to be sent to our California office. The student will send a check for 40% of the budget as a deposit one month before arrival, and the remaining amount just before arrival.

The next step is to wait for the day that one flies to Costa Rica!

The Homestay Experience allows students to live in a safe family atmosphere and be able to build friendships.

CISA homestay host families have been carefully screened and selected to attend to the necessities of our students. All of the families are Christians and are trustworthy.

Even though the styles of homes are very basic, they will always contain clean running water, a private bedroom for the student, shared bathroom with thermal water heater for the shower, equipped kitchen, and high cleanliness standards.

The students are accepted to be part of the family and share with them in their daily activities. The homes are located either walking distance or a short bus trip away from the school.

The Homestay Experience includes:

• Laundry
• All meals
• Shared bathroom
• Private bedroom

Before arrival, students will be emailed a profile of their Homestay Family which contains a picture and description of the family.

Cost:

$175.00/week

The CISA Rental House is ideal for families and couples who would like the benefit of living within a Spanish speaking community, but also have the convenience of maintaining their privacy and family routine.

The CISA Rental House is fully furnished, has a complete kitchen; stove, fridge, microwave, dinnerware, etc. The house has one bathroom with hot water. It also includes a phone and wireless high speed Internet (bills extra).

Students can feel safe and be assured that they will be able to meet the locals to practice their Spanish.

For an extra fee, students can hire a local to help with cleaning and preparing meals.

Cost:

$195/week (includes water)

Extras expenses:

• Rental deposit: $150.00
• Hired help for cooking & cleaning. MonN-Fri 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Optional): $96.00 / Week
• Hydro, phone, internet billed as per usage. Satelie TV available for a fee.

Students have the opportunity to stay at the CISA hostel during their studies at CISA. This is an economical option for students of all ages.

The facilities are clean, safe and have all the basic amenities one would need to for living independently.

By staying at the hostel, students are able to meet and build friendships with fellow classmates.

There is a communal kitchen for making dinner; Breakfast is provided by CISA at the hostel all week. Lunch is provided by CISA from Monday to Thursday at the school.

Students wash & dry their own laundry.

The Hostel is located in the center of town, which still allows students to meet locals, do house visits and practice their Spanish.

The Hostel accommodation includes:

• Own bedroom (double beds) – (bedding & towels provided or bring your own)
• Continental Breakfast all week; Lunch at CISA from Monday to Thursday • Washer & Dryer (scheduled laundry days)
• Communal Kitchen (stove, fridge, microwave, dinnerware available)
• 1 full bathroom with hot shower & 1 half bathroom
• Phone (with phone card)
• Cleaning Service

Cost:

$118.00/week

You will come to CISA by foot or bus (depending on where your homestay family is located). Your host family will guide you to where the school is located.

You will join in with the other CISA students at 9:00 AM for a short devotional, prayer and song. When that is done, you can enjoy the complimentary coffee that is available to students daily.

Your Orientation will then begin. You will receive a folder with some details that describes more about the culture of Tuis, homestay guidelines, CISA guidelines, Student Code of Conduct, Waivers, volunteer opportunities and information about Tours.

It is a time to discuss questions or concerns you have about your stay.

The next part involves you doing a written Spanish Assessment in order for the CISA Director to evaluate your level of Spanish.

After the Assessment is completed you will take a Turrialba City Tour. You will either go before lunch or after lunch. At times, the Turrialba City Tour is postponed for another day depending on the scheduling of tours and other activities.

Helpful hint: Bring a pen in order to be ready to write the Spanish Assessment.

Depending on the results of your Spanish Assessment, you will be placed in a class that is appropriate for your level.

You are given a CISA Spanish Workbook as well.

Class sizes are from 1-4 students.

The classes are from Monday to Friday – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Students who have registered for the ALL-INCLUSIVE INTENSIVE Experience, would also have some extra classes in the afternoons from between 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Students will receive a schedule.

We typically use the first few days of classes as an evaluation period, if it appears that you are at a higher or lower level of Spanish that your Assessment reflected, then we would move you to another class that is best suited for you.

Helpful hint: Bring your own workbook to write extra notes in class.

All of our CISA teachers have been trained in teaching Spanish as a second language.

They are Costa Ricans who live in Tuis or in Turrialba or in the Escazu area. The teachers are Christians and uphold Christian values.

CISA has teachers that work with children, teens and adults.

Helpful hint: Do not hesitate to tell your teacher your learning style: visual, oral, written, tactile. This information helps them be able to teach you more effectively.

Students have the option to do a variety of activities after class.

• Go on Tours
• Go to the gym in Turrialba to work out and/or get Personal Training.
• Spend time with the homestay family
• Go for walks in the hills and mountains of Tuis
• Do volunteer work with the Voz Que Clama Mission
• Go shopping in Turrialba
• And much more!

Helpful hint: Let us know what types of activities are of interest to you and we can help arrange them.

The Voice of One Crying Mission. Students are welcome to join the VQC Mission Sunday church services in Tuis with their homestay families. It allows them to take part of the Costa Rican style of worship. It also gives opportunities for students to meet other local families.

CISA is able to organize group trips that want to come and combine Spanish classes and community service through the VQC Mission. Work projects, ESL, VBS, kids activities, arts, etc. are examples of possible activities.

Students and families studying at CISA are able to volunteer with the VQC Mission. Guidance is provided and projects created depending on the areas of interest of the students.

The VQC Mission is a not-for-profit mission that began in 2003 in Tuis. It was founded by two Costa Ricans from San Jose. It also has the nonprofit status of 501(c)3 in the United States. Donors are able to receive a tax receipt for financial contributions mailed to our US office.

The Mission focuses on facilitating church services, Bible studies, kids activities in the community. They also work with the Cabecar Indigenous who live on a reservation in Chirripo Mountain.

Students who are interested could join the Mission on a 3 day trip to the mountain to help provide food, do building project, health clinics, activities with children. This trip is always weather pending and the dates vary.

Upon completion of your classes at CISA, each student has a small Graduation.

All the students gather together to honor the student that is graduating. The teachers speak, as well as the student is able to say his/her thoughts, reflections. The student is also presented with a CISA Certificate, which includes the number of hours studied.