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Standard course

WAYRA Spanish Institute
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Course description

This course is intended for general use and is aimed at people who want to learn quickly and improve their communication skills. You do not need to have any previous knowledge of the Spanish language to start studying at WAYRA. The course program ranges from the basics to advanced or complex communication needs.

All teachers are native speakers, experienced and creative professionals who will guide you through the course with interactive and communicative teaching methods. To make learning easier and more entertaining, the course integrates the local culture with interesting topics and combines them with the personal interests of the students to satisfy the communication needs.

Course composition: development of language and communication skills, grammar, vocabulary
Requirements: Interview and placement test on the first day to best determine your level.
Examinations: At the end of each course
Certificates: Certificate of participation and performance at the end of the course
Normally the timetable and the teacher change every week.

If only one student is enrolled in the Standard Course, we offer 15 lessons per week instead of 20. Thanks to this one-to-one tuition, combined with a more efficient and focused learning process, the same learning goals are achieved by the end of the week as in the 20 lessons course.

Courses include enrolment fee, placement test and VAT.

Course topics

Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar and Activities

Class schedule

Course duration
1-16 weeks
Start dates
Every Monday
Classes per week
20 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 55 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday
School holidays
25 Dec 2024, 01 Jan 2025, 11 Apr 2025, 13 Apr 2025 - 20 Apr 2025, 01 May 2025, 25 Jul 2025, 15 Aug 2025, 17 Aug 2025 - 14 Sep 2025, 15 Sep 2025, 01 Dec 2025

WAYRA does not hold classes on the holiday dates above. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

Class times

You can choose from the following class times:

Morning session
08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Afternoon session
01:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

All levels, beginner to advanced
You will take a placement test on your first day to determine your class level. You may also take this test before your arrival in Playa Tamarindo.

Class size

Average 4 students
Maximum 6 students

Student age

Age range 16 years old and older
Average 25 years old
(24 in the summer)

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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school

School description

WAYRA is centrally located in Playa Tamarindo and just 150 meters from the beach.
The school is situated in a beautiful tropical garden. On the premises, the students can find three buildings and two small ranchos (open air dry palm huts).

All the classrooms are distributed among the buildings. The classrooms are spacious and comfortable, with large open windows to create a comfortable and appropriate atmosphere to study.

The main rancho houses two classrooms on the second floor and the cafeteria with a snack bar on the ground floor. In the cafeteria, students relax and enjoy conversations with other students while having some snacks and refreshments. It is also a good place to do homework during school hours or to take part in one of the dance lessons that are practiced after school on the main floor.

We will maximize the students learning experience with a thoughtful balance of personal, cultural and academic challenges within a secure and supportive environment. The instructors are skilled in blending conversation with grammar to meet the individual needs of the group members.
In the classroom, we make learning an enjoyable natural process. Teachers encourage debate, conversation, and exchange of ideas to promote critical thinking and verbal skills. Games, videos and music are frequently used in the classrooms.

Outdoor activities, such as walks in the nature reserves, visits to the different business in town to gather information, conversations with people from the community, interviews or excursions to neighboring towns, are used to practice and learn more about the ecology, economy, and culture of Costa Rica. Your language ability will grow as your outlook broadens. Every day the students are required to do about one hour of homework.

Year opened
1996
Number of classrooms
10

Accreditations

Facilities

  • Library
  • Social Activities
  • Cultural Trips
  • TV Room
  • Eating Area
  • Free Internet
  • Wireless Internet
  • Computers
  • Studying Area
  • Sports Activities

Teacher qualifications

Native Spanish speakers
All
Teachers with Spanish teaching certification
Over 50%
Teachers with college degrees
All

Nationality and age mix

The nationality and age mix at WAYRA Spanish Institute varies over different time periods, courses and levels. Throughout the year, the average age is 25. In the summer, the average age is 24.

WAYRA teaches students from all over the world, including:

Switzerland
30%
USA
30%
Canada
10%
Germany
10%
Denmark
5%
Netherlands
5%
Other
10%

School holidays

WAYRA does not hold classes on the holiday dates below. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

School holidays
25 Dec 2024, 01 Jan 2025, 11 Apr 2025, 13 Apr 2025 - 20 Apr 2025, 01 May 2025, 25 Jul 2025, 15 Aug 2025, 17 Aug 2025 - 14 Sep 2025, 15 Sep 2025, 01 Dec 2025

School location

WAYRA is located at the beautiful Tamarindo Beach, on the west coast of Costa Rica, and offers since 1996 a full Spanish immersion program. Recognized as a DELE examination center and associated with the Instituto Cervantes, we are the perfect choice for students that want to learn Spanish in a serious environment but at the same time would like to enjoy the beaches and the many outdoor activities such as surfing, snorkeling, canopy, kayaking, fishing, etc.
Spanish classes are held in beautiful classrooms with a lot of space and a perfect view of our amazing tropical garden where animals like Iguanas and Monkeys can be seen often. The school is located just one block from the beach. We offer different lodging options such as 3 student houses in Tamarindo that are all in walking distance to the school and the beach. In addition, our students have the possibility to experience the real Costa Rican live staying with one of our carefully selected host families in the nearby towns of Villareal and Santa Rosa.

Take a video tour

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photos

Photos

  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 1/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 2/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 3/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 4/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 5/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 6/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 7/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 8/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 9/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 10/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 11/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 12/19
  • WAYRA Spanish Institute 13/19
  • Student residence offered by WAYRA Spanish Institute 14/19
  • Student residence offered by WAYRA Spanish Institute 15/19
  • Student residence offered by WAYRA Spanish Institute 16/19
  • Student residence offered by WAYRA Spanish Institute 17/19
  • Student residence offered by WAYRA Spanish Institute 18/19
  • Student residence offered by WAYRA Spanish Institute 19/19
reviews

Reviews

75% recommend

based on 4 reviews
5 stars
3
4 stars
0
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing

"Good teacher not satisfying facilities or management"

Farideh Radis, student from Denmark

My teacher was attentive, flexible and a nice and fun person. He taught me about the culture and of course and did not try to talk English with me, even with my very little Spanish, he continued talking in Spanish. This way I learned many new words.

The school has not a real physical office and the lessons happen on the grounds of a nearby Hostel for very young people.
I do not recommend the school for people at my age.

And I find the way the manager communicates in English confusing. This gave me some problems with transport they organized for me.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
3 Jan 2022 - 7 Jan 2022
Would you recommend this school?
No
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.
Reto Patt, Director at WAYRA Spanish Institute responded to this review.
23 January 2023

Dear Farideh, thank you very much for taking the time for this review. We are glad to hear that you were satisfied with the classes, but we are surprised that you are writing that we do not have a real physical office... On our campus we do have 3 different buildings and on the main building we have the reception of the school and there are 3 more offices (one for the academic coordinator, one for the academic director and another one for the administrative director). And we always give the classes on Wayra's campus since we started more than 25 years ago. We have no idea why you are writing that the classes where hold on a nearby hostal ...

"It was education and entertaining!"

Madeline Szoo, student from USA

I really enjoyed the activities and interactive communication practice. However, I felt that having taken Spanish in school, I knew much of the grammar and simply needed some verbal and auditory practice. I feel that I would've gained more abilities in Spanish had I simply taken a speaking and listening class (if such an option was made available). Also, I think it would have been interesting to read some more realistic texts (newspapers, short stories, etc), rather than simply following the booklet.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Duration of study
1 week
Date of study
4 Jun 2018 - 15 Jun 2018
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"WAYRA is a school of excellence. The teachers are superb and I learned more than I could have ever hoped."

Rhonda Gessow

I liked the location of the school, the level of Spanish I was placed in, the teacher, the daily program and activities, and the excellence of everyone involved in the school. There was nothing that I didn't like. Great job, WAYRA!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
16 Nov 2015 - 20 Nov 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes

"Great language experience"

Peter Muerner

In 2005, I took a Spanish course with WAYRA and was very impressed with how fast I learned the language. I decided to come back to brush up my language skills and I must say that the school still offers the same quality program. This time, I stayed in a student house directly in Tamarindo which was very convenient. I met a lot of new friends and had an unforgettable time. Hopefully I can come back in the near future!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
3 weeks
Date of study
5 Jan 2015 - 30 Jan 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
housing

Housing

WAYRA offers the following housing types:
homestay

Homestay with shared bathroom

278 €
weekly
Age range: 16 - 85 years old
Location: Outside the city center of Playa Tamarindo
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (14 meals per week)
Distance to school: 10 - 20 minutes by bus
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 12:00 PM
Check-out: Sunday, before 12:00 PM
278 €
To learn Spanish in Costa Rica it is essential you immerse yourself in the language. Living with a family is a unique experience that will give you the best opportunity to learn the language, experience the culture, and get to know the people from Costa Rica. The families are all screened and carefully selected. You will meet many people from the community, and your host family will try to make your stay unforgettable.

Our families live in the towns of Villareal and Santa Rosa. These small towns are not on the beach and both are very rural and tranquil. Villareal is 5 kilometers and Santa Rosa is 7 kilometers outside Tamarindo. The homes are small and typical.

The host mothers prepare a variety of fresh and tasty meals. The cooking is normally traditional but if the student has a specific diet or preference, his or her host mother will do everything she can to please the student with the food. In some houses, the mother cooks on typical mud stoves with wood, and in others, on more modern kitchens but, regardless of the method they use, the meals are well enjoyed by the students. With a host family the students will have the opportunity to taste different fruits and vegetables that could be difficult to find any place else.

During the months of December to April local fiestas and dances are part of the entertainment in this or other neighboring towns, were the students can enjoy an afternoon at the rodeo, participate at the tope "horse parade," share interesting conversations or experiences with the locals or, at night, dance to the rhythms of Central American music.

In the homes, each student has a private room, unless other wise arranged, and the bathrooms are normally to be shared with the family.
student-residence

Casa El Mar

307 €
weekly
Age range: 16 - 85 years old
Address: Al lado de Taco Stop, Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste 50309, Costa Rica
Location: Outside the city center of Playa Tamarindo
Housing type: Student residence (off-campus)
Room type: 3-person shared room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Kitchen, telephone, wireless internet, free internet, tV room, hardwood, and garden
Distance to school: 2 - 3 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 12:00 PM
Check-out: Sunday, before 10:00 AM
307 €
This house is centrally located in Playa Tamarindo, only one block from the beach and from the school.

Casa El Mar, amidst a tropical garden, has three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor. The main floor is an open area with a large community kitchen, a comfortable living room and a spacious dinning area, with a double door that leads into an outdoor sitting area, and a comfortable living room. The setting of the main floor invites the students to have activities such as preparing a dinner, play games together, do homework or share their day's experience with others.

The bedrooms are assigned for women or for men and are to share. The rooms vary in size, and normally the largest bedroom with walking closet and a private bathroom is assigned for the ladies. The midsize and the small bedroom share a bathroom and each has a closet. All the rooms have a fan and the showers have hot water.

The patio is surrounded by large trees and a nice garden where students can relax in the hammocks or lounges for a shady retreat.

Casa La Carolina

398 €
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Address: 50 metros sur de Arco Iris, Playa Tamarindo, Guanacaste 50309, Costa Rica
Location: Outside the city center of Playa Tamarindo
Housing type: Student residence (off-campus)
Room type: 2-person shared room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, telephone, wireless internet, free internet, tV room, air conditioning, and garden
Distance to school: 5 - 8 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 12:00 PM
Check-out: Sunday, before 10:00 AM
398 €
La Carolina" is located 2½ blocks from the school and 3½ blocks from the beach.

This house offers all the luxuries and comforts of a home in a lush tropical garden. The house is modern, spacious, tastefully furnished and decorated.

It has a fully equipped kitchen, a living room with a dinning area and a lounge room on the second floor.

The bedrooms are naturally cooled by a ceiling fan an air conditioning.

Each sleeping room has two beds, a private bathroom, a closet and a dresser. The bathrooms have showers with hot water. The rooms are to share unless otherwise arranged.
Behind the main house, there is a one-bedroom apartment with a matrimonial bed, ideal for couples or for people that prefer a private room. The apartment has a kitchenette, equipped for two people, a private bedroom and a bathroom. In the garden is a small patio.

Enjoy the outdoors of La Carolina with a cool drink under the small rancho, or a refreshing dip in the medium size pool.

Important note: breakfast is included until 2018
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. The school is also not authorized to issue documents to support your visa application. If you need a visa, you have to apply for a visitor or tourist visa on your own.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Playa Tamarindo based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from WAYRA Spanish Institute staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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