What Students Say About Intercultura... / Was unsere Studenten über uns sagen... / Ce que nos étudiants disent... / Wat studenten zeggen over Intercultura...:
Franziska Meierhofer, Zurich, Switzerland
“In November 2008, I started volunteering at Intercultura as the German-speaking administrative assistant. Out of curiosity (and in order to improve my Spanish) I decided after a short while to start attending classes. I enjoyed the intensive school days that were always exciting and included a variety of learning methods in addition to the basics: Latin American movies, a lot of conversation, topic-relevant vocabulary and – of course – all the additional activities offered by the school and held in Spanish, like Yoga and Tae Bo. All this resulted in a perfect mixture. Intercultura Language School offers a unique freshness that contributes greatly to the learning process, although the astonishing view over beach and ocean, as well as the monkeys relaxing in the trees of the school garden, can have a distracting effect! The authentic friendliness and warmth of the dynamic staff creates a strong feeling of being welcome and even “at home”. Here, you will meet people from all over the world, play volleyball on the beach, study Spanish in the school hammocks and one thing for sure: you won’t want to leave!”
¡Disfrútenlo! (Enjoy!)
Franziska Meierhofer, Schweiz, März 2009
ADMINISTRATIVE & MARKETING VOLUNTEER
franziska.meierhofer@hotmail.com
"In Samara steht man gerne auf am Morgen. Die Sonne scheint, das Meer ist schon lange wach und die Schule sieht so fröhlich aus, in ihrem freundlichen Gelb und dem tropischen Gartenareal, nur durch eine Palmenallee vom 5km langen Strand getrennt. Die Vögel zwitschern ihre Morgenlieder, alles strahlt in starkem Blau und saftigem Grün. Alle Leute grüssen sich. Hier meint man es, wenn man mit einem zufriedenen “Perfecto” auf die Frage nach dem Wohlbefinden antwortet. Irgendwo brüllt ein Affe..." (Read more)
Jane Gantz 
My friends told me that they thought I was brave..brave because I’m a “mature” person…not a traditional university student going abroad…I’m a wife, a mother, an early retiree from a successful professional career, and a grandmother. Personally, I don’t think I was brave. I think I was fortunate. Going to Intercultura Costa Rica to study Spanish was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’d do it again in a heart-beat. I’ve travelled a lot in my life…to Europe many times, to Asia, and all across the United States, but I had never ventured off by myself with a life goal in mind….to get closer to becoming bilingual. (Read More)
From: Victoria English 
To: Laura Ellington / Intercultura
Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2009 10:48 AM
Subject: Top of the charts!
4 Jul 09
Dear Laura,
The Financial Times has a story today saying that Costa Rica has scored Number 1 on the Happy Planet Index, which is an
index published by the UK New Economics Foundation. The index measures a population's health (longevity of life), happiness and the state
of its environment. By comparison, the UK is ranked 74 and the US, 114. [Personally], I think that Costa Rica stands out internationally as the most environmentally friendly country in the world...there is no country in the world that - as a matter of public policy - puts such a high priority on
preserving its forests.
Cheers, Victoria
Victoria English
Editor, MedNous
Medical News Publication
Evernow Publishing Ltd
London, UK
From: Anneke Seelig
To: Intercultura Costa Rica
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 6:41 PM
Subject: Come back to Intercultura - Green Season Alumni Rates
Oh, I wish! I think of Costa Rica all the time still. Some time I will come back...I am in the Dominican Republic right now, teaching English. I love it, because it is a really rewarding experience, but Costa Rica has the special place in my little heart. Plus, I wont be able to see sea turtles here.
I really hope you are all well and things are as wonderful as always. What a special place for so many people round the world.
Byebye
Anneke from Germany
From: Lynn Belardo
To: stacey@interculturacostarica.com
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009
Subject: GROUP FEEDBACK
Hi Stacey,
Three weeks since our trip and it feels like three months. Anyway, although I have been quite busy with things not a day has gone by where I don't think of our very special time in Heredia with all of you. I cannot even begin to tell you how pleased we all were with the whole event..from homestay to lessons to trips to communication and to absolutely the nicest and most helpful and professional group of people I could have ever wanted to meet. Take care and please give my regards to all..
Lynn Belardo
From: Felicia Hicks
To: questions@interculturacostarica.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 1:27 PM
Subject: Contact from Web Site
Nationality : United States
Comments : I LOVE INTERCULTURA, this program helped me grow so much, and by the time I left I was dreaming in Spanish. (Y ahora yo escribo canciones y yo canto en Espanol!)
I was a student in summer of 2000 and you CHANGED MY LIFE :-) I came to the page to reminisce and I'm considering coming back when my career will allow (I'm a professional singer now) and I saw a picture of myself in the salsa class! I'm pretty sure that's me with my salsa partner in the Heredia school! I am so glad to know that the school is still going strong.
Franziska Meierhofer, Schweiz
franziska.meierhofer@hotmail.com
(Volunteer)
„In Samara steht man gerne auf am Morgen. Die Sonne scheint, das Meer ist schon lange wach und die Schule sieht so fröhlich aus, in ihrem freundlichen Gelb und dem tropischen Gartenareal, nur durch eine Palmenallee vom 5km langen Strand getrennt. Die Vögel zwitschern ihre Morgenlieder, alles strahlt in starkem Blau und saftigem Grün. Alle Leute grüssen sich. Hier meint man es, wenn man mit einem zufriedenen “Perfecto” auf die Frage nach dem Wohlbefinden antwortet. Irgendwo brüllt ein Affe...
(Read more...)
From: Patrick Just de la Paisières
To: info@samaralanguageschool.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:03 AM
Subject: Mi tiempo en Samara
İHola!
Mijn naam is Patrick Just de la Paisières. Ik kom uit Nederland en ben eind 2008 tien weken lang student geweest op de Intercultura Language School in Samara. Als ik zo naar de verhalen van andere oud-studenten op deze site kijk, zie ik dat er een probleem opdoemt. Hoe kan ik namelijk in slechts enkele alinea’s gaan vertellen over mijn wereldtijd in Samara?
(Read more)
From: Eva Fleischer
To: info@interculturacostarica.com
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 2:40 AM
Subject: Feedback
Hello from Switzerland, Attached I am sending you a very good Feedback from a client. Well done J Best regards, Eva
http://www.interculturacostarica.com/images/feedback.pdf
Click on the image to read
Mutsuko Sumi, Japón
"Yo estuve a Samara por 2 semanas. Quiero agredecer a los profesores y a las recepcionistas por sus infinitas paciencia, attenciones y ayuda. Y a los estudiantes por su preciosa amistad. Por eso, yo me senti como en un paraiso! Muchas gracias!"
Emilie Ferland, 2008 
Québec, Canada
choupetteno3@hotmail.com
From: elizabeth hanrahan
To: 4km53@queensu.ca
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 12:47 PM
Subject: Re: Would love your advice on Intercultura Costa Rica
Hi Kim
I can seriously recommend Intercultura, I had 12 weeks in Heredia with a fab family and then followed that by 3 weeks in Samara where I surfed every day and kayaked and hired a 4x4 and did yoga... (Read more)
Estimado Marcelo, Cada vez que veo a algunos de mis estudiantes que participaron en el programa del año pasado (2008) en Intercultura, siempre me cuentan de sus diferentes aventuras, de cuánto aprendieron y cómo echan de menos a CR y sus amigos ticos...Sepa que los estudiantes del año pasado han vivido una experiencia inolvidable!
Nancy Cloutier-Davis
Lindenwood University Semester Abroad Program
Profesora encargada
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 10:19 AM
Subject: Contact from Web Site
Hola, Adelita, Laura, and Vanesa! I studied at Intercultura in the Spring of 1995. I just wanted to drop a line to say \"hello\" and let you know that I think of you often and am glad to see that your ...
(Read more)
On Mon Feb 25 3:41 , stefanie schmitz sent: 
Hi Barbara,
time flys when you are busy! Already one month since
we have returned from Costa Rica to New Zealand.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you and the director of
the school Marcelo. My students and I had a fabulous
time in Heredia, everything went so well and was so
well organized. The families were so friendly and the
activities interesting. My students had the time of
their Life. So, thank you, thank you very much for
everything.
Stefanie Schmitz
Spanish Teacher
Waiuku College
New Zealand
From: Rodriguez, Maria Elena 
To: 'Adelita Jiménez Morúx INTERCULTURA' ; 'Barbara Miller Centro de Idiomas Intercultura'
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:45 AM
Subject: UNC - MBA Program- Working Spanish
Hola Adelita y Bárbara: Primeramente, quiero agradecerles todas las atenciones que tuvieron con mi grupo y con mis asistentes. Tanto los estudiantes como Marilupe y René regresaron fascinados con Costa Rica... (Read more)
From: George Beckley
To: Susannah Kenley (Intercultura Costa Rica)
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 4:24 PM
Subject: gracias
Hola Susannah,
¿Como está? Espero que usted tenga un buen semana!
Bueno, quisiera decir "muchas gracias" a usted y a la Intercultura. Tuve una buena experiencia, y disfrute mucho la opportunidad de habla y aprender la idioma española. Espero que yo regrese alla en el año proximo y quisiera decirles a mis amigos sobre su buena escuela.
Hasta luego!
George Beckley
Seattle, WA
From: Lindsay Jones:
lindsayfields@hotmail.com
Hola!
Me llamo Lindsay Fields Jones y fui estudiante en Intercultura en 1998. Hasta diez anos, mi espanol es mas o menos. :-) Siempre pienso en Costa Rica y espero que un dia, puedo regresar con mi esposo y mi hijo a visitar mis amigos de diez anos! Voy a escribir en Ingles ahora.
(Read more)
From: John Duvall
jtd4603@hotmail.com
To: info@interculturacostarica.com
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 8:11 PM
Subject: Muchas Gracias
Hello,
I know that to make this email legitimate I should be writing it in Spanish, but I am still traveling and unfortunately do not have the time to spend on such an email. I also do not want to ... (Read more)
From: Shelly (roger.thorn@comcast.net)
To: 'Tyrone SLS'
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 11:03 AM
Subject: feedback
Dear Tyrone,
I would like to be sure that you and the teachers at Intercultura get some additional feedback on my experience with the school. Will you please pass on my note? It was truly a phenomenal experience ...
(Read more)
From: Alice GLEISES
liloo_lop@hotmail.com 
To: Laura Ellington
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 7:31 AM
Subject: RE: intercultura
Un grand merci à toute l’équipe de Intercultura pour cet accueil si chaleureux !!
J’ai passé 4 mois extraordinaires au sein de votre école, que ce soit à Heredia ou à Samara. Pendant cette période, j’ai pu découvrir en profondeur cette école et son personnel et je dois dire que tout a été parfait... (Read more)
From: Olga.Dobson@bbh.com
To: Centro de Idiomas Intercultura
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 3:22 PM
To all Intercultura staff
I want to say thank you for the bottom of my heart for the wonderful time and teachings you have provided to my kids James and Simona Dobson. They were happy to be in Costa Rica and would love to return. James Dobson would have loved to spend more time there! (I was thinking that a month was way too long but i was wrong!).
James told me he learned more Spanish there in 3 weeks then he would have here in US in one year.
I am very very grateful to all of you for the wonderful experiences you have offered these kids!
Please forward this e-mail to all Intercultura staff and especially to Barbara.
You are the best! Thanks again
Olga Dobson
From: "Jan Sharoff"
Jan.Sharoff@Adams12.org
To: "Barbara Miller ICCR" <
barbara@interculturacostarica.com>
Subject: Re: Re(2): Teen Spanish
Dear Evelyn, Barbara, Laura and Tyrone,
I want to thank you all for giving my daughter, Julie, a great
experience.
When she and Sarah got off the plane, I asked them on a scale from 1-10
with 10 being the ... (Read more)
Laura, I can't tell you how helpful the Spanish classes I took there have been to me in my work, and now in the ESL classes I'm teaching. I was so frustrated before I came there because I had studied Spanish several times in my life (high school, college, continuing education classes, medical "brush-up" classes), but I could never express myself or hold up my end of a conversation. I was actually terrified when I first arrived at Intercultura; in fact, so terrified that I'm amazed Marcelo was able to put me in the correct level. But Hernán was able to put me at ease very quickly, and the curriculum was so effective, that I was immediately more effective when I returned from just 2 weeks of study at Intercultura, and I've been back to study with you twice since. And there is so much about Costa Rica to love! The last time, I took a real chance and enrolled my husband, who had studied several other languages, but not much Spanish. It was his turn to be terrified, but, once again, I was impressed with how empowering his classes with Ana and Hernán were for him. He subsequently studied at another school while I took the TEFL certification. Even though he learned and enjoyed himself there, he said it couldn't compare with the experience at Intercultura, and he's pushing me to come back to Intercultura this year. What a turn around! My experience learning with your school in the immersion method inspired me to learn to teach English in a similar way, which I'm currently doing with hispanic immigrants here in Asheville, although in the future I might want to do so in a Spanish-speaking country. It's such an effective method, as my husband and I have experienced. Thanks so much for all you and your staff do. Keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Katie Winchell
katie@winchell.us
From: Kay Godfrey
To: 'Barbara Miller Centro de Idiomas Intercultura'
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 4:40 PM
Subject: Group Trip Feedback for Samara
Feed back from Lona Crist ACIS group. Hats off to Lucie with warm thanks! Thanks, Kay
TM: Lucie Angers – Lucie is Intercultura's group coordinator person and really went above and beyond for the group. Lucie was adorable according to Lona. "Lucie was marvelous!" She arranged sandwiches for the kids since their flight was early in the morning. The excursions that Lucie went with them on were great! The turtle refuge was an amazing experience for the students. She pushed this back and asked the park to stay open later so they could see the turtle eggs hatching. It was incredible! Lucie also went with Lona to a local movie store and purchased a Spanish movie for the group to watch during the evening. She also arranged a bonfire for the group one night at the beach. She purchased all the goodies to make smores too! The kids loved this!
Lastly, Lucie was able to help Lona set up a horseback riding excursion for the kids. Another great time!
From: Kai Coleman-Morris
Email: kcol175@aol.com
Nationality: United States
Comments : I never got the opportunity to write to you all at Intercultural upon my return to the US in July 2008. I just wanted to say THANK YOU for everything as I had a wonderful experience. After living in Seville, Spain many years ago, I thought that I had \"lost\" some of my Spanish and coming to Costa Rica would be a great way to refresh and relearn many things. I did accomplish my goal and feel more prepared to handle my Spanish classes this year with a renewed confidence. It was well worth my time, effort and money and I look forward to another adventure in a few years in another Spanish speaking country. Thanks again and please tell my wonderful teachers, Vanesa and Nuria that I said hello!!
