Children’s Programs
ISLS has developed three different and very comprehensive children's programs. These programs are available to parents who are looking to give their children either an introduction to Spanish or improve on existing ability. Because children of different ages learn differently, we have designed our programs specifically with these developmental stages in mind. All of our instructors in the children’s Spanish programs are specially trained to teach children.
If you put together our specially developed course material, program structures and teacher training you will find that no other children’s programs compare. Don’t go to a school that tells you that they can work something out for your kids. Come to a first class Spanish institute that has taken the time to create the types of children’s programs you are looking for.
Our first program, the Kindergarten Spanish program is only offered at our Turrialba, Costa Rica, campus. It is for kids 7 years old or younger. We can actually take children as young as 1½. Any younger than this and we can supply the family with a child care provider. This is a very special opportunity for young children to interact with Costa Rican children of their own age in a fun and interactive way. The program takes place at a private nursery school/kindergarten that is within walking distance from the main ISLS campus. Parents that are uncomfortable with the idea of leaving their children alone at this age can volunteer at the school. This is not a structured Spanish program, but an immersive environment were young children can soak up the language like the sponges that they are. It is far easier for a young child to learn another language than an adult.
The second program, the Children’s Spanish Immersion Program is offered at four of our campuses in Costa Rica: Playa Dominical, Playa Tamarindo, La Fortuna (Arenal) and Turrialba. This program is for older children from 8 to 13 years of age. It is more structured than the kindergarten program, but less so than the adult program. By combining in class activities with games and field trips outside of school, students have a fun mix of lessons and hands on interaction to keep them happy and learning. This children’s program takes place on campus where we have the adult Spanish programs, so the children are in the same place as their parents when they are in our programs. In this program children are given oral and written evaluations like the adults and are split up into different class levels by ability.
Our third program the Children’s Spanish, Art and Sports Camp is only available during the month of July at our Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica, campus. This is a unique day camp that combines fun and interactive Spanish lessons with art, sports and adventure activities. It is meant for families that plan to take a vacation to Costa Rica, but want their children to get more out of the experience than sitting by the hotel pool. Each day, Monday through Friday, parents drop their children off at the ISLS Immersion center at 9am and then pick them up again at 3pm. Parents can take classes themselves or just hang out and do adult stuff. During the time that the children are in our camp we will have 2 hours of Spanish lessons, lunch and at least one other focus activity for the day. These activities range from art lessons to soccer matches, surf lessons and field trips. It is a fun and educational way to spend a vacation.
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