Medical Spanish Immersion Program | Costa Rica & Ecuador | Earn CME & CE

Immersion is the best way to learn! In this Medical Spanish Immersion Program, healthcare workers and students gain the necessary Spanish language skills and cultural understanding to better serve their patient populations and break down language barriers in healthcare.

CHOOSE YOUR SPANISH IMMERSION LOCATION

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Medical Spanish Immersion

Highlights

1 – 6 week programs
Live like a local with a host family ( hotel / hostel options too)
20hrs/week Spanish Classes
Optional 1:1 private lessons
Tuesday – Thursday public health education outreach projects
Explore amazing beaches, volcanoes, cloud forests, coffee tours, national parks & más!
CME & CE Accredited
A great place to include your family or significant other for a post-trip vacation
Interprofessional mix of fellow travelers

Location

Based in Santo Domingo de Heredia

2024 Dates

Starts June 29, 2024

2025 Dates

Starts February 1st, 2025

24/7 Support

24/7 leadership, coordination & support by engaging program leaders

Price

View trip cost and inclusions

Possible to combine with Ecuador programs

Learn more

Ecuador

Ecuador Medical Spanish Immersion

Highlights

1 & 2 week programs (Consider 10 days to have a full weekend to explore)
Live like a local with a host family ( hotel / hostel options too)
20hrs/week Spanish Classes
Optional 1:1 private lessons
Tuesday – Thursday public health education outreach projects
Explore local markets, Inca ruins, national parks, the Andes, soak in volcanic hot springs, straddle the equator & más!
CME & CE Accredited
Consider extending your trip to visit the Galapagos Islands!
Interprofessional mix of fellow travelers

Location

Based in Cuenca, Ecuador

2024 Dates

Starts June 15, 2024

24/7 Support

24/7 leadership, coordination & support by engaging program leaders

Price

View trip cost and inclusions

Possible to combine with Costa Rica programs

Learn more

Save your spot

This program fills on a first come, first served basis. Reserve a spot on the trip – no obligation – no credit card, just 30 days to help you coordinate your schedule!

Why does learning medical Spanish even matter?

It makes a tangible difference in the lives of your underserved patients every day

Your Spanish speaking patients get faster and better care

Your patients are immediately put at ease when you try to speak to them even if it’s broken, imperfect Spanish. It shows you’re dedication!

Your Spanish speaking patients have an advocate they can turn to within the healthcare system

You understand your patients more easily, so you are naturally less frustrated

You feel better about your work with Spanish-only speaking patients

Our Medical Immersion Program is hands down the BEST way to improve your Spanish over the summer!

I felt really supported. Every detail was thought through carefully and it felt like a safe environment

Kameren

Nurse Practitioner, California

Medical Spanish Immersion with Common Ground Int’l is The Best Way to Learn Medical Spanish and earn CME & CE credits! What are the primary components of our program?

Small Group Conversational Spanish classes

Communicative Spanish classes combined with relevant grammar, vocabulary and lot’s of practice are the key to actually speaking. It’s easy to be a passive learner and spend many hours studying Spanish – immersion classes focus on using Spanish immediately! Often we learn more but don’t move the needle on our speaking. Classes are taught by professionals and conversationally focused so that you build confidence speaking Spanish!

Lodging with a local host family

Host families on Spanish immersion are essential to improving your general conversation skills and everyday rapport-building conversations. You work hard all day long in your community projects, your Spanish classes, and then you go home to your loving host family for more practice speaking. It’s tiring, but it works!

Weekend Adventures

Work hard Monday through Friday on your Spanish and take a break on the weekends! We put together group travel options for you on the weekends that you can join, or you can venture off on your own. When we explore with the group, we commit to speaking Spanish on the weekend as well to keep the immersion alive.

Community Outreach Work

Our approach to “medical mission” work is community health / public health education topics. We don’t focus on clinical work, we focus on education. This is ethically less complicated for local communities and local health systems and it’s actually more effective for your Spanish communication skills.

I’m so glad that I came because I advanced my Spanish tremendously and I also had time to enjoy my weekends

Zemfira

MD, Washington

This trip is custom designed for you!

This medical Spanish immersion program in Central & South America is specifically designed for healthcare professionals and healthcare students to maximize your learning every moment.

And if you have CME money to spend, this qualifies!

Every year we go through the process of accrediting our medical Spanish immersion trip for CME and nursing CE credits. If you have education funds available, this trip should qualify.

Most importantly, it’s effective…

You’ll never participate in a better medical Spanish immersion program. Read the reviews, you’ll be speaking better Spanish when you return home!

Why the Common Ground Medical Spanish Immersion Program?

This Medical Spanish immersion program is specifically designed for healthcare workers and students to drastically improve their Spanish communication skills. Program planning, host family coordination, language classes, and leadership are designed intentionally for YOU!

You know where we live

We’re a Colorado-based organization, and we have a clear track record of amazing Spanish immersion programs. You can call us up at any time (303) 684-5557, speak English (or Spanish), and get your questions answered immediately. That’s worth its weight in gold!

We prepare you before you travel

Preparation is essential for establishing clear expectations, staying safe, knowing the day to day plan, and positioning yourself and your Spanish for maximum success on your program. Our custom pre-departure course is an amazingly effective online course that connects you with your fellow travelers and prepares you for every single detail – including culture shock!

We offer the best language and cultural outcomes

The primary difference with our Medical Spanish immersion program is that we weave 4 Spanish language components into your everyday experience. In other words, you learn Spanish through everything you do Mon – Fri. Here is how we do it:
• Learning medical Spanish in daily immersion classes with native Spanish speakers.
• Staying with a local host family (one student per family) so that you’re immersed in speaking Spanish 24/7 and acquiring Spanish as you relate to your host family and experience daily culture in Latin America.
• We partner with local clinics and nonprofits to deliver health education workshops and serve communities with identified health needs.
• We attend health lectures in Spanish by local healthcare providers and tour local hospitals / clinics in order to see healthcare in action.

You’re not alone

We understand that traveling alone isn’t for everyone. We are in country to support you! There is safety and peace of mind when you have others checking in with you every day. You’re surrounded by a group of like-minded professionals and you’ll work closely with one of our medical supervisors
during a portion of your trip. Additionally you’ll have our lead medical Spanish instructor
with you as well.

I loved absolutely everything about it… it’s memories that I’ll have with me for the rest of my life.

Trishawna

RN, California

COSTA RICA & ECUADOR MEDICAL SPANISH IMMERSION

A perfect blend of Spanish immersion, professional growth and adventure

If I participate – What are the expected outcomes?

Become more fluent in Spanish

A life-changing experience

A deeper understanding of the culture

Establish a positive rapport when you use Medical Spanish with your patients

Insight into the healthcare system and culture in Latin America

Engage in more confident and insightful conversations with your Spanish speaking patients in the US

Medical Spanish Immersion is specifically designed for healthcare workers and students to drastically improve their Spanish communication skills. Participating in this program results in more effective and successful communication with your Spanish-speaking patients. We intentionally integrate the four components below so you walk away with practical Spanish skills to use.

Spanish Classes

Volunteer work

Host family living

Exploring the hot spots

Download Program Brief

Download Courses Flyer

COSTA RICA IMMERSION PROGRAM DETAILS

Medical Spanish Immersion Programs in Costa Rica

Highlights

1 – 6 weeks in length
Consider 10 days to have a full weekend to explore
Live like a local with a host family ( hotel / hostel options too)
20hrs/week of Spanish classes
Optional 1:1 private lessons
Tuesday – Thursday outreach projects
Explore amazing beaches, volcanoes , cloud forests, coffee tours, national parks & más!
A great place to include your family or significant other for a post-trip vacation
Interprofessional mix of fellow travelers
Approved for CME and CE credits
Learn about access to healthcare and standards of care for the mainstream society and those who live in poverty so that you gain perspective
Provide preventative health care education in conjunction with existing local efforts in these communities in order to help without hurting
Fly in and out of San Jose (SJO)

Location
Based in Santo Domingo de Heredia

Price

View trip cost and inclusions

2024 Dates

1-Week Programs

6/29/24 – 7/6/24
7/6/24 – 7/13/24

2-Week Programs

6/29/24 – 7/13/24
7/6/24 – 7/20/24

3-Week Programs

6/29/24 – 7/20/24
7/6/24 – 7/27/24

4-Week Programs

6/29/24 – 7/27/24
7/6/24 – 8/3/24

5-Week Programs

6/29/24 – 8/3/24
7/6/24 – 8/10/24

6-Week Programs

6/29/24 – 8/10/24

2025 Dates

1-Week Programs

2/1/25 – 2/8/25

2-Week Programs

2/1/25 – 2/15/25

3-Week Programs

2/1/25 – 2/22/25

4-Week Programs

2/1/25 – 3/1/25

5-Week Programs

2/1/25 – 3/8/25

6-Week Programs

2/1/25 – 3/15/25

*Click here to check out the combo program dates

View pricing

General Program Itinerary:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Return from Optional Excursion	Volunteer orientation	Volunteer prep	Volunteer work	Morning excursion	Optional Excursion	Optional Excursion
Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm	Spanish classes 1-5 pm -cooking class	Spanish classes 1-5 pm	Spanish classes 1-5 pm – dance class	Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Monday

Return from Optional Excursion
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Tuesday

Volunteer orientation
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm
– Cooking class

Wednesday

Volunteer prep
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5p

Thursday

Volunteer work
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm
– Dance class

Friday

Morning excursion
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Saturday and Sunday

Optional Excursion

First Saturday & Sunday

Saturday: arrive in country, get settled with your host family
Sunday: town tour, orientation, meet trip leaders and participants

Mon – Fri Afternoons

Small group Spanish classes from 1-5pm

Tue – Fri Mornings

These are the days we dedicate to community outreach work.

Weekends

Explore the country! We put together a weekend trip every weekend. You are free to join us, stay with your host family, or DIY a weekend excursion!

Costa Rica Medical Spanish Immersion Program - CGI

Next steps

Save your spot

Request info

Schedule a call

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This program has given me the confidence to take what I have learned into my everyday life, into my job, so I can better help my patients.

Gabbie

ECUADOR IMMERSION PROGRAM DETAILS

MEDICAL SPANISH IMMERSION IN ECUADOR

Highlights

1 – 2 weeks in length
Consider 10 days to have a full weekend to explore
Live like a local with a host family ( hotel / hostel options too)
20hrs/week of Spanish classes
Optional 1:1 private lessons
Tuesday – Thursday outreach projects
Explore local markets, Inca ruins, national parks, the Andes, soak in volcanic hot springs, mitad del mundo & más
Include your family or significant other on a post-trip vacation to the Galapagos Islands
Interprofessional mix of fellow travelers
Approved for CME and CE credits
Learn about access to healthcare and standards of care for the mainstream society and those who live in poverty so that you gain perspective
Provide preventative health care education in conjunction with existing local efforts in these communities in order to help without hurting
Fly in to Quito (UIO) with domestic flight to Cuenca or overland travel with us on optional weekend excursion

Location
Based in Cuenca, Ecuador

Price

View trip cost and inclusions

2024 Dates

1-Week Programs

6/15/24 – 6/22/24
6/22/24 – 6/29/24

2-Week Programs

6/15/24 – 6/29/24

*Click here to check out the combo program dates

View pricing

General Program Itinerary:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Morning excursion	Volunteer orientation	Volunteer prep	Volunteer work	Morning cultural activity	Optional Excursion	Optional Excursion
Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm	Spanish classes 1-5 pm	Spanish classes 1-5 pm	Spanish classes 1-5 pm	Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Monday

Morning excursion
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Wednesday

Volunteer prep
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Tuesday

Volunteer orientation
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Thursday

Volunteer work
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Friday

Morning cultural activity
Lunch
Spanish classes 1-5 pm

Saturday and Sunday

Optional Excursion

First Saturday & Sunday

Saturday: arrive in country, get settled with your host family
Sunday: town tour, orientation, meet trip leaders and participants
Optional: Weekend excursion before programs begins (Quito city tour, Mitad del Mundo, Avenida de los volcanes, Baños y más)

Mon – Fri Afternoons

Small group Spanish classes from 1-5pm

Tue – Fri Mornings

Community outreach work.

Weekends

Take time to explore the country! We put together a weekend trip every weekend. You are free to join us, stay with your host family, or DIY a weekend excursion!

Ecuador Medical Spanish Immersion Program - CGI

Next steps

Save your spot

Request info

Schedule a call

Back to top

3-6 Week COMBO IMMERSION PROGRAMS IN ECUADOR & COSTA RICA

Combine both countries

2024 Dates

Ecuador

Costa Rica

2-Week Programs

1 wk EC:
06/22/24 – 06/29/24

1 wk CR:
06/29/24 – 07/06/24

3-Week Programs

2 wks EC:
06/15/24 – 06/29/24
1 wk EC:
06/22/24 – 06/29/24

1 wk CR:
06/29/24 – 07/06/24
2 wks CR:
06/29/24 – 07/13/24

4-Week Programs

2 wks EC:
06/15/24 – 06/29/24
1 wk EC:
06/22/24 – 06/29/24

2 wk CR:
06/29/24 – 07/13/24
3 wks CR:
06/29/24 – 07/20/24

5-Week Programs

2 wks EC:
06/15/24 – 06/29/24
1 wk EC:
06/22/24 – 06/29/24

Ecuador

Costa Rica

2 wks EC:
06/15/24 – 06/29/24
1 wk EC:
06/22/24 – 06/29/24

4 wk CR:
06/29/24 – 07/24/24
5 wks CR:
06/29/24 – 08/03/24

*Check out the Costa Rica or Ecuador programs

Save your spot!

This program fills on a first come, first served basis. Reserve a spot on the trip – no obligation – no credit card, just 30 days to help you coordinate your schedule!

The ratings and reviews and testimonials for this Medical Spanish Immersion Trip speak for themselves

Check our testimonials

All of our programs include basic travel medical insurance with trip interruption, delays, lost bags, etc. Here is the standard description of coverage for your included travel insurance plan.

If you have any uncertainties about your upcoming adventure, it might be a good idea to consider additional travel insurance coverage. If you’re looking for a Cancel for Any Reason policy, we suggest you shop for it here:

Adult Spanish Immersion travel insurance

Diversity and Inclusivity on Spanish Immersion

Our mission of Impacting Communities Through Language extends to ALL travelers and learners regardless of age, gender identity, physical ability, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.

Learn more

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.

Medical Spanish Immersion & International Rotation Informational Webinar

This video is 12 minutes, so grab some paper to make notes, and dive in to the details of the best medical Spanish immersion trip for healthcare. In this info webinar you will learn all about:

The purpose and mission of our programs

How the 4 unique components work for you

Our goals for you

3 ways we help you make a difference with your Spanish-only patients

The day to day schedule on immersion

The towns we’re based in

How to be certain if this trip is right for you

Schedule and budget requirements

Program inclusions

Additional budgeting items to consider

Medical Spanish Immersion FAQs

How is this program different from other medical missions or medical Spanish seminars abroad?

Common Ground’s medical Spanish immersion programs are unique in several ways from other travel programs available to healthcare professionals and students. Primarily, the differences relate to pre-trip preparation. Secondly, the integration into the local communities and the type of medical outreach work we do is unique. Finally, out-of-class learning experiences and program supervision make this trip the best medical Spanish immersion program available.
For a more detailed explanation of how our programs are different, read our blog post here: (https://commongroundinternational.com/immersion-in-costa-rica/medical-spanish-immersion-trips/). Most importantly, if you’re not sure how to choose between the programs you’re considering, we’ll be happy to help. For example, we can give you a free comparison/contrast with any other program you’re considering. In short, it will be our pleasure to help you make a well-informed decision on which program will be best for you.

*What about Continuing Medical Education (CME) for providers & Continuing Education (CE) for nurses?

This live activity, Medical Spanish Immersion in Ecuador & Costa Rica, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 20 Prescribed credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. As such, physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #14584, for 20 Contact Hours per week of immersion.
*CME & CE credits are optional and billed separately here.

Who usually travels on these medical Spanish immersion programs?

We accept healthcare students and professionals from across the country on these medical Spanish Immersion programs. Therefore, while everyone has unique careers and varying professional aspirations, they all have something in common. Above all, the one thing that EVERYONE has in common is a sense that they need Spanish for their work with patients. For example, some students are participating in a formal International Rotation through Common Ground. Others are just trying to bolster their Spanish before they hit the job market.
There is usually a high number of RNs and Nurse Practitioners on our programs as well. However, regardless of your profession, our goal is to match your expertise with a need in the communities where we work to benefit the local population. We have a small team of physicians and PAs that help supervise our programs in Costa Rica and Ecuador, therefore we’re able to ensure that our outreach work remains ethical, accurate, and applicable to the local populations that we serve.

How can I prepare for the Medical Spanish Immersion?

Preparation is one of the key elements of our Mission Statement for responsible international medical work. Therefore, you can and should be preparing as much as possible with your Spanish language before traveling. As mentioned elsewhere, beginners are accepted onto the programs without hesitation. However, you will never regret a single minute of Spanish preparation before you travel. There is a truism when it comes to language immersion programs: the more you know before you travel, the more you learn while abroad.

The stronger your foundation is in Spanish before participating in a program, the more you have to build on when you are in-country. So if you can make time for it, consider working on a few essential medical Spanish topics before you travel to make sure you’re ready to go.

You will also be joining a series of live webinar meetings online to help you prepare. For example, we’ll review logistics and plan the medical outreach work that you’ll be participating in. We typically have 4 meetings in the 2-4 months preceding a program that systematically help you prepare for your travel.

Can I join if my Spanish is beginning level?

Yes, of course. Our Medical Spanish Immersion Programs are designed to improve your Spanish while you help communities with specific needs and learn about concepts of health and factors that affect healthy living in Latin America. We strongly believe that improving your Spanish proficiency is key to providing enhanced service to your Spanish-only patients in your home community, so we don’t turn people away at any level.
However, remember that as a beginner, you face frustrations and challenges that intermediate and advanced level speakers don’t face. For example, it takes you longer to get comfortable with your host family, you strain harder to follow conversations and presentations that we receive. Additionally, you work harder to develop and facilitate your charlas. That said, it’s totally worth it. In fact, every trip beginners thank us for allowing them to participate because they can’t believe how much progress they’ve made with their Spanish.

How are the facilities chosen where we will be working?

We work with different non-profit groups with different missions. However, they all focus on bringing health education & healthcare to the poor and under-served in several different communities around Costa Rica and Ecuador. We spend significant time in schools or other public meeting places in these communities in order to deliver our preventive health education and respond to the identified needs of the community. For more information on our guiding principles for health work abroad, please see our mission statement.

What medical issues do the target communities we’ll be working with suffer from?

Of course this is variable, but in general we see individuals with high blood sugar, high blood pressure, malnutrition, oral health needs, STIs, anxiety, depression, and a handful of other common conditions. In general you can expect a large amount of preventative health education to women and children. Therefore, we focus heavily on educating our patient populations so that they can make informed health decisions when we’re not present. You will receive much more detailed information about the specifics of the medical outreach work and the communities in which you’ll be working during pre-departure orientation.

What about donations?

During your pre-departure course, we may ask you to collect both physical and financial donations for your work on immersion. Your donations will relate directly to any charlas that you will be giving in select communities. For example, if you’re giving a talk on oral hygiene, we will suggest that your charla group try and secure toothbrush and travel toothpaste donations to accompany your charla. Other situations may lend themselves more to health education materials as donations. So, no rush at the moment, you will receive more details on the talks you will be delivering and have the opportunity to define your own donation items during your pre-departure preparation.

What sort of liability insurance do I need for this immersion trip?

Medical liability insurance is not required for the work we do since we do not provide medical care as a general rule. If, however, we have the opportunity provide primary care to patients, we take special caution. For example, it will always be underneath the supervision of a local healthcare worker and his/her organization. Because we want to always provide sustainable medical outreach services, we spend a lot of time educating patients about healthy lifestyle options in resource poor settings. This is great for you as a participant as well because you get to practice explaining the very same educational topics that you need to explain to your patients back home as well. For more information on our guiding principles for health work abroad, please see our mission statement.

Should I bring medical equipment?

Since our work is primarily educational, nothing is REQUIRED. However, you may have opportunities to use some basic equipment during a health education piece. For example, portable items like: stethoscope, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, bp cuffs, thermometers, glucometers, etc. Contact us any time for more info on the specific medical Spanish immersion program you’re considering.

Can I bring my family with me?

Of course!
We’re a family business and we have experienced the joys of sharing this experience with our own 3 children. So, we’re happy to have your family join you on your immersion program.
This does require some additional planning. Therefore, we will want to know that you’re thinking about bringing a spouse and/or children sooner rather than later.