Testimonials

Yannick Piquet - Switzerland, March 2010
"If you are serious about learning or improving Spanish in Costa Rica, Personalized Spanish is a smart choice. Spanish was the 6th language that I learned and could speak fluently. Personalized Spanish has been the best language school that I have seen so far because it includes the 4 essential criteria for learning a foreign language (and which most schools, including public schools, miss). First the learning material is diverse and of strong quality. Second, the classes are small or private so you will improve at your best pace (and not at the speed of the slowest student among 15 people). Third the teachers were descriptive and not prescriptive on the language usage (in other words they focus on good communication vs learning a literary Spanish), allowing you to use the material at your best needs (i.e. to communicate!). And last, the school, due to its peculiar philosophy and size, triggers a lot of opportunities to talk!" Read Yannick’s success story in German.

Terje Bartholsen - Norway, January 2010
"In January 2010 our family left Norway to study Spanish for three weeks at Personalized Spanish. Terje (46) reporter/communication advisor, Trude (43) teacher, Anna (15), Wilhelm (13) and Edvard (11). We had very different knowledge of Spanish language at arrival, even though four of us had had some or quite a lot Spanish already. We - the adults - experienced very effective and inspiring learning for four intensive hours a day. Precisely adapted to our level. In combination with homework in good workbooks this had great effect. At the same time the younger members of the family had courses with most competent teachers who adapted their lessons to both age and level. Everyone at school put great emphasis into listening to what we wanted, and they contributed with their local knowledge and active help to make also our spare time and weekends good. We were especially impressed by the staff's professional level. We stayed close to school and experienced also here a strong wish to contribute to solve all kinds of minor problems and also in the home a strong dedication to our purpose of learning Spanish. I addition the food served by Janet was healthy and extraordinary delicious. And at the same time she brought Costa Rican traditions of cooking to us. After three weeks our family left Tres Rios with a substantially improved knowledge of Spanish - both considering grammar and vocabulary. And with new friends of the family as well. Recommended! " Read Terje's success story in Norwegian.

Brian Murray - Canada, March 2010
"I attended Personalized Spanish in March of 2010 for a two week period. I was very interested in an intense learning experience because I only had this short time to try and improve my limited Spanish speaking and comprehension base. As a result I chose to receive six hours per day of class time and to make use of the homestay program. It was also my first time in Costa Rica and I was travelling on my own. I was thoroughly impressed with all aspects of my experience with Personalized Spanish. Amanda was completely on top of all administrative requirements and was always available to ensure I was completely comfortable and confident both before and during my stay. Personally, I feel that this is a critical piece of their program given that "immersion" can be an overwhelming experience to say the least. The quality of the language instruction was first rate and was presented enthusiastically and professionally. Different techniques and learning environments were chosen, successfully, I think, to accelerate my progress and maintain a fresh approach. Overall, there seemed to be a well organized plan formulated as the days went by, to personally address my Spanish learning objectives. The homestay family was an exceptional part of my time in Costa Rica. I felt very safe in the neighbourhood and they were very genuine in their efforts to help me learn about the language, their culture and their country. The food was very good and they were very patient in our communication efforts! To summarize, I can't imagine a better opportunity for any serious learner than Personalized Spanish. The bottom line is that it is a very effective learning environment with professional staff intent on providing excellent Spanish language instruction. I am inspired to continue to progress and hopefully return to my friends at Personalized Spanish in the near future."

Nancy Henry-Socha
"I graduated from medical school this spring and since there are many Spanish speaking patients in Minnesota, I wanted to begin learning Spanish. Initially, I chose Personalized Spanish because I only had two weeks in Costa Rica and wanted a school that would be effective and responsive to my learning needs as a non-traditional student. I couldn’t have been happier with my choice. I was very impressed by my experiences at Personalized Spanish from the beginning. Class sizes are small, so students get lots of individual attention. The professors pay careful attention to the needs of the students and adjust lessons accordingly. In the afternoon I took private lessons in medical Spanish, which I would highly recommend to anyone in the medical field wanting to improve their Spanish."

Jennifer Ellsworth-Aults
"Personalized Spanish is everything that it advertises -- they provide excellent teachers in a pleasant surrounding, and customize their program to fit your needs rather than requiring that you simply fall in with a pre-arranged schedule or lesson plan. The families that you can stay with are kind, generous, and only a ten minute walk from the school. Both they and the wonderful teachers open their lives to you, so that you feel as though you are among friends and family in a very short time. As a law student who was also taking legal courses during my time in Costa Rica, I had very specific scheduling and lesson content needs. Gabby and the rest of the staff opened the school early so that I could have lessons start at a more convenient time, created each lesson from scratch to teach new grammar and vocabulary that were specific to my goals, and even arranged tailored field trips to the local Supreme Court so that I could compare legal systems in the US vs. Costa Rica. Thanks to both the skills and the confidence I gained at Personalized Spanish, I was able to spend the summer working with Spanish speaking clients in the US."

Chris Willmore
"In January 2009 I accompanied a group of 18 high school students for a week of classes at Personalized Spanish School. The entire experience was outstanding. The classes, which were no larger than 4 students, were designed to meet the specific language needs of each child. The teachers created lessons that were engaging and took a personal interest of each student and in their language development. The weekday cultural activities and the weekend excursion were well-planned and provided the students with insight into Costa Rican culture. Lastly, enough cannot be said about the host families. They were warm, hospitable, and caring. Many tears were shed when the students had to say good-bye to their mama tica and papa tico. I have received only positive feedback from all of the students who went on the trip and their parents. I look forward to bringing another group next year."

Rebecca Edwards
"As a professional in the Texas education system I have found a great need for Spanish speaking skills. Studying at Personalized Spanish has more than accomplished this need. The teachers at Personalized Spanish use various activities to meet the needs of all learning styles. The instant I arrived at Personalized Spanish I felt like I was at home. The school is extremely professional and the staff is friendly and helpful. The staff at Personalized Spanish is devoted to accommodating all of their students. In my time in Costa Rica, they arranged canopy tours, weekend trips to the beach, and various other cultural activities during my stay. After 6 weeks of studying I feel comfortable having conversations with students and parents in Spanish."

Julia 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 - ESL Teacher
"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 - Internal Auditor of a multinational 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 - Pastor of a Catholic Church
"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 - 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."

At Personalized Spanish, we respect the privacy of our students. We do not freely give out emails of former students without their authorization. If you would like to contact one of our ex-students, please contact Personalized Spanish at learnmore@personalizedspanish.com.