Personalized Spanish - learn spanish in San Jose, Costa Rica
Personalized Spanish, an award winning spanish language school in Costa Rica

Success Stories

 

Ian Hart, student at Personalized Spanish Language school in Costa RicaIan Hart - University Student (contact me)
"Personalized Spanish was an amazing experience, the whole operation is run professionally to help maximize the learning process. Gaby is a 100% committed and dedicated to seeing her students learn and understand as much as they can. I would recommend this school to anybody, over any other Spanish school. Personalized Spanish has a beautiful atmosphere along with a delicious lunch, excursions to some of San Jose historic locales, and an overall immersion into the culture."

Jennifer Lowenherz, School Psychologist that took a course from Personalized Spanish Language school in Costa RicaJennifer Lowenherz - School Psychologist, New York (((contact me)
When I arrived in Costa Rica, I was very nervous about learning Spanish and staying with a local family. I had had six weeks of learning Spanish in the U.S. and had difficulty learning. At Personalized Spanish, I was very happy with the way that grammar is taught and I became very excited about learning the language. I also became very comfortable with my Tica family and have since made a strong bond. After three weeks of study, I am able to communicate with people using present, past and future tenses and have already made plans to return during my winter break! Read full recommendation

Mark Cerniglia, student at Personalized Spanish Languague school in Costa RicaMark Cerniglia - VP of Partnership Initiatives Lutheran Family Services ((contact me)
I have studied at Personalized Spanish on several occasions and have always received a very warm embrace by all the staff at the school and the families with whom I've stayed. Gaby Cerrate and the other professors do an excellent job of assessing each student at his or her level and providing just the right instruction to increase skill levels. They manage to make the learning both challenging and fun. I have seen great improvement each time I attend. Read full recommendation.

Julia Davis, student and Personalized Spanish Language school in Costa RicaJulia Davis - School conselor in Denver Colorado
My experience at Personalized Spanish was outstanding and I would immediately recommend it to anyone wanting to learn the language! I was fortunate to have a five week program tailored to meet my interests and needs. The staff were all professional, super friendly and shared all sorts of information with me, as well as going out of their way to accompany me to many cultural activities. My wonderful Tico family also helped me learn Spanish and included me in many of their daily activities. After my lessons, Gaby made recommendations and reservations for a mini tour around the country, which was the perfect ending to an unforgettable trip

Thomas Roussin, student at Personalized Spanish languague school in Costa RicaThomas Roussin - ESL Teacher (((contact me)
As an ESL teacher, I've always had some difficulty communicating with my student's parents. Now, I am able to better understand and communicate some of the basics with them. Personalized Spanish was a great experience. The classes were small and quite challenging. The groups changed as the needs of the students changed. I highly recommend Personalized Spanish to anyone who is interested in learning Spanish. "

Heather Schwersinske, student at Personalized Spanish language school in Costa RicaHeather Schwersinske - Internal Auditor of a Multi-national Products Company (
In only a week of private classes, I reviewed almost everything I had learned in high school.The instructors were unbelievably impressive, and I was very pleased with the teaching methods employed. They focused on my business needs and language weaknesses which was very important to my goals.

My host family was incredible and still keeps in touch. My Spanish improved to the point I was able to give an opening meeting in Spanish in Colombia the following week and perform the entire audit in Spanish with minimal translation assistance. I cannot speak highly enough about my experience at Personalized Spanish, and I would encourage it for anyone at any level with a desire to learn Spanish!"

Mike Bertram, student at Personalized Spanish Language school in Costa Rica Mike Bertram - Pastor of a Catholic Church ((contact me)
As the pastor of a Catholic Church in a heavily Puerto Rican community, I was interested in getting some Spanish experience in order to relate better to the Latino members of his congregation. Personalized Spanish provided me with very specific lessons and vocabulary which have allowed me to reach out to the large Spanish population and even hear confessions given in Spanish!

At Personalized Spanish I received more than just classes, I participated in a complete program built specifically for me which even included a trip to rural Costa Rica to do volunteer work with Catholic Friars in the area. My experience went above and beyond what I was expecting!

Riitta Jonsson, student at Personalized Spanish Language school in Costa Rica Riitta Jonsson - Fundraiser for Swedish Cooperative Centre
If you are looking for a personal, efficient way of learning Spanish, then Personalized Spanish is just right for you. I loved going to school every single day in four weeks. It was incredibly rewarding and I felt like I was entering into a whole new world with my increasing Spanish skills.

The atmosphere and the lectures at the school were open and friendly, but at the same time demanding. The time at the school is an investment for your life. I trained both my written and spoken skills and the topics were chosen with preference to my international aid work as a fundraiser.

I had two families; the school and my "Tico” family and I loved them both. They have enriched my life a lot! I truly recommend the Personalized Spanish with all of my heart.

Adam Raffkind, student at Personalized Spanish language school in Costa RicaAdam Raffkind - Healthcare Professional (
I arrived to Personalized Spanish with zero Spanish. Working in a busy children’s hospital in Colorado, I found it difficult and disheartening not being able to communicate well with Latino parents about serious matters concerning their children. After an intensive 6 week course, even taking lessons on the weekend, I progressed drastically with my Spanish speaking ability. Not a night goes by where I don't use my Spanish. I can't tell you how satisfying it is to be able to communicate with these families. I feel victorious when I walk out of a room!

Matt Hastings - Director of International Membership Development, Edison Electric Institute (
With very rusty high school and college Spanish I was unsure how much I would learn at Personalized Spanish. With the quality and dedication of Gaby and her staff I was able to make amazing progress, far beyond my expectations. By Wednesday I could deliver a 15 minute speech on American politics! Anyone who wants to expand their grasp of conversing and reading Spanish would be well-served at this school. The staff was polite, supportive, helpful and challenging. The homestay program was wonderful and greatly helpful in the learning process. The school is in a beautiful part of San Jose and the learning materials were interesting and useful. I've used the Spanish I learned at Personalized Spanish with clients in South America and Spain, and with Latinos here in Washington. I plan to return next year. My only complaint is that the time went too quickly.

Marit Befring - Reporter, National Broadcast Corporation of Norway(
I wanted to refresh my Spanish, and after two weeks in a private class I felt that I had reached my goal: to be able to make an interview in Spanish. I had the most wonderful teacher. She reviewed almost all the grammar I had learned at the University and inspired me to speak Spanish from the first day. My two year old daughter stayed with my "Ticamother" while I was at school. Before I arrived at Costa Rica I was a little bit worried about that, but my host family were wonderful and my daughter loved it. She still speaks some spanish words!

Jeg onsket aa friske opp spansken min, og etter to uker med privatundervisning syntes jeg at jeg hadde naadd maalet mitt: aa klare aa intervjue noen paa spansk. Jeg hadde en fantastisk laerer. Hun repeterte nesten all gramatikk som jeg hadde laert på universitetet og inspirerte meg til aa snakke fra dag en. Min to aar gamle datter var sammen med min Tica-mor mens jeg var paa skolen. Jeg var litt bekymret for dette mens jeg var i Norge, men hun var bare helt fantastisk. Datteren min elsket det. Hun kan ennaa noen spanske ord!