Spanish Immersion Programs in Costa Rica & Ecuador: Learn Spanish & Volunteer
The best Spanish Immersion Volunteer Programs for Students, Professionals, Adults and Families
Our mission…
To make your Spanish come alive and give you the Spanish speaking tools you need to have an impact in the communities where you live, work and volunteer. Participants gain Spanish fluency, cultural understanding, volunteer experience and an adventure of a lifetime on these immersion trips.
Adult Spanish Immersion Programs
![Adult Spanish Immersion](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Adult-Spanish-Immersion-1024x768.webp)
For adults of all ages & stages of life
Adults wanting a Spanish immersion experience guided by expert Spanish instructors and with embedded community service.
- 20 hrs. of Spanish classes per week
- Host family stay – live like a local
- Community service projects
- Cooking & dancing classes
- Weekend excursions to beaches, volcanos, rain forests and more!
1 to 6 weeks:
- January – March
- June – August
Family Spanish Immersion Programs
![Family Spanish Immersion](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Family-Spanish-Immersion-1024x768.webp)
For families with young children & teens
Families wanting a Spanish immersion vacation including host family lodging, language classes, and local volunteer opportunities.
- 10 – 20 hrs. of Spanish classes per week
- Host family stay – live like a local
- Community service projects
- Cooking & dancing classes
- Weekend excursions to beaches, volcanos, rain forests and more!
1 to 6 weeks:
- January – March
- June – August
High School Spanish Immersion Trips
![High School Immersion Trips](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/High-School-Immersion-Trips-1024x768.webp)
For individual students
High School students who want to improve their Spanish. Similar to a mini study-abroad experience during their spring and summer breaks.
- 15 hrs. of Spanish classes per week
- Host family stay – live like a local
- Community service projects
- Cooking & dancing classes
- Weekend excursions to beaches, volcanos, rain forests and more!
- Accredited for college level Spanish credit
1 to 4 weeks:
- January – March
- June – August
High School Spanish Class Trips
![High School Spanish Class Trips](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/High-School-Spanish-Class-Trips.webp)
For schools, classes & teacher-led programs
High School Spanish classes, clubs and groups interested in a Spanish language travel program in addition to adventures and cultural immersion is welcome.
- 10-20 hrs. of Spanish classes per week
- Host family stay – live like a local
- Community service projects
- Cooking & dancing classes
- Weekend excursions to beaches, volcanos, rain forests and more!
- Accredited for college level Spanish credit
1 to 6 weeks:
- January – March
- June – August
Medical Spanish Immersion Trips
![Medical Spanish Immersion Trips](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Medical-Spanish-Immersion-Trips-1024x768.webp)
For healthcare students & professionals in all stages of training & careers
Healthcare professionals wanting a Spanish immersion experience guided by expert Medical Spanish instructors with embedded community health projects.
- 20 hrs. of Spanish classes per week
- Host family stay – live like a local
- Community service projects
- Cooking & dancing classes
- Weekend excursions to beaches, volcanos, rain forests and more!
- CE, CME, CEU’s available.
1 to 6 weeks:
- January – March
- June – August
Medical Spanish
Rotations
![Medical Spanish International Rotations](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Medical-Spanish-International-Rotations-1024x768.webp)
For healthcare students that have elective time in the clinical phase of their training
Healthcare students wanting a Spanish immersion rotation with expert Medical Spanish instructors and with embedded community health education projects.
- 20 hrs. of Spanish classes per week
- Host family stay – live like a local
- Community service projects
- Cooking & dancing classes
- Weekend excursions to beaches, volcanos, rain forests and more!
1 to 6 weeks:
- January – March
- June – August
Study Abroad
Programs
![Study Abroad Programs](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Study-Abroad-Programs-1024x768.webp)
For universities and individual students
Students wanting a short term study abroad program that teaches Spanish for their degree track and future career.
- 20 hrs. Of Spanish classes per week
- Host family stay – live like a local
- Community service projects
- Cooking & dancing classes
- Weekend excursions to beaches and volcanos
- Accredited for college level Spanish credit.
1 to 6 weeks:
- January – March
- June – August
Teachers Spanish Immersion Programs
![Teachers Spanish Immersion](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Teachers-Spanish-Immersion-1024x768.webp)
For classroom teachers, subject area teachers, administrators & Spanish teachers
Classroom, Secondary teachers & Spanish teachers wanting to improve their Spanish to communicate with their students and families or reach that near native proficiency.
- 20 hrs. Of Spanish classes per week
- Host family stay – live like a local
- Community service projects
- Cooking & dancing classes
- Weekend excursions to beaches and volcanos
- PDU’s, CEU’s or graduate level credit availabel.
1 to 6 weeks:
- January – March
- June – August
Online Pre-departure Courses
![Pre Departure Course](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Pre-Departure-Course-1024x768.webp)
For all immersion travelers with Common Ground International
How do I prepare for my Spanish Immersion trip with Common Ground International?
Proper preparation is key – arrive ready to soak in all the benefits of Spanish Immersion.
We value every second you have in-country; so you’ll spend 10 hours in a specifically designed online pre-departure course for your immersion program. This will help you hit the ground running when you arrive and maximize your language growth and cultural experiences while on immersion.
If your goal is to become a better Spanish speaker then you’ve landed in the right place. Our objective is Spanish and cultural immersion.
These 4 program elements guarantee you walk way more fluent, with greater cultural understanding, more mature and independent:
SPANISH CLASSES
Taught by native Spanish speakers
When you participate in a true immersion program, you need daily Spanish classes. It’s difficult to make sense of everything as it comes, so we integrate classes into your Spanish immersion program in order to maximize all the day-to-day learning you’re doing.
Why travel with Common Ground International (CGI)?
Our immersion programs cost more than a DIY (do it yourself) trip, and possibly even more than other travel companies.
This begs the obvious value question… Why travel on Spanish immersion with Common Ground?”
Testimonials
My son did the 3 week Spanish Immersion trip. There are no words to describe the amazing experience. Leslie and her team are super professional. Every detail and activities are very well planned! They kept us updated with daily pictures and summaries of their activities. The host family was out of this world. His Spanish improved significantly. We highly recommend this immersion program!!
Nhora Mosquera
(High School Program)
One of the best experiences of my adult life. The program was well run and organized & exceeded my expectations on every level. The Foster family treated us like family, and no detail was missed. I will do another trip in the future and would recommend this to anyone with a desire for fun, adventure, knowledge and getting outside of your comfort zone. I can’t say enough about how wonderful this program is.
Stacey
(Adult Program)
Wonderful Program! Rory and Leslie were able to accommodate our large group (2 adults & 5 kids) and we thoroughly enjoyed the family atmosphere of Common Ground. Our 1 week stay in the Central Valley was truly immersive: meals and conversations with our host families gave us the chance to get to know individuals personally, the Spanish lessons allowed us to explore a new language, & the excursions and community building provided greater cultural awareness each day.
Pat H
(Family Program)
I participated in the medical Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica for 3 weeks between my first and second year of medical school and cannot recommend the program enough!! It was the perfect amount of adventure, coursework, learning, and flexibility to get exactly what I had hoped for the summer. I feel so much more confident after the experience and will definitely participate again!
Sonja K
(Medical Program)
I read these before I came and thought, no way could these reviews be real. So, um, they are. This program was incredible. I stayed for 5 weeks with an incredible host family, had 3 passionate spanish teachers who absolutely love their jobs, and got to travel the country on weekends with an extraordinary group of folks. I highly recommend this program. I can speak with my student’s families with a whole lot more confidence and ability, and the journey to speak Spanish will continue.
Pauline Katz
(Teacher Program)
It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. I met so many amazing people and got to step outside my comfort zone by speaking more Spanish than I ever had before. I loved learning about another culture and of course all the great activities. Everyone involved was so nice and accommodating, I felt right at home.
Geneva
(High School Immersion)
More reasons to travel with Common Ground International
What about volunteer work on Immersion?
How do you make sure that the community work you do is actually relevant, helpful, ethical & sustainable?
Great question! Our guiding principles for Outreach Work on Spanish Immersion are extremely important. Watch the video to learn more about our guiding principles that are our framework for vetting volunteer opportunities on our immersion programs.
What can you expect from the host family lodging aspect of the trip?
Family Meals
You’ll share breakfast and dinner with your host family. ¡Buen provecho!
Private Bedroom
Average homes in most of Latin America aren’t large, but all of our host families have a private space for you to sleep and keep your things (even valuables) safe. You’ll most likely share a bathroom with others in the family. Your host mother will probably clean up a little while you’re out during the day in an effort to help you feel comfortable and well taken care of.
Lots of Conversation
This is the main reason we want you to stay with a host family while on our Spanish immersion program. Your family will want to know all about what you did on a given day and what your plans are for tomorrow. They will help you learn different ways of saying things and more importantly, provide you with a cultural experience that can’t be “learned” – it must be lived to understand.
![Cajas-National-Park](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Cajas-National-Park.webp)
![Ingapirca-ruins](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ingapirca-ruins.webp)
![Avenida-de-los-Volcanes](https://staging2.commongroundinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Avenida-de-los-Volcanes.webp)
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