After classes and on weekends we offer a wide selection of activities, conducted in Spanish (the majority involve no extra charge). Students should check the notice boards in reception daily for times, sign-up sheets and specific information. We encourage all students to participate in as many activities as possible, as you will find they greatly enhance your understanding of, and connection to, the culture.

These include:

LATIN DANCE CLASSES:

From Monday through Thursday you have the opportunity to participate in classes where you will learn salsa, merengue, cumbia and marcado, the most popular dances in Costa Rica. This enables you to go out to discos and dances with confidence and interact on a fun social level with Ticos.

MONTHLY ACTIVITIES CALENDAR:
Each month we have a new activity plan of special events, national holiday activities, and a variety of fun excursions which are accompanied by a school teacher or staff member and in which we encourage English students to participate so as to promote social interaction with the locals. These activities include football (soccer) games, trips to the bowling alley or roller-skating rink, special dance or theater shows, discussion groups, live music discos and more. For some of the more important national holidays Intercultura's staff presents eduational performances relevant to the occasion, in which student interaction is highly encouraged!

COSTA RICAN COOKING CLASS:
Once a week we teach students how to make typical Costa Rican dishes, a nice skill to take home and share with friends and family!

LATIN MUSIC CLASS:
In this weekly class students learn traditional and modern songs from different Spanish-speaking countries, analyzing their meaning and cultural significance. This helps greatly in overall comprehension. Feel free to join in and bring your own instrument!

LECTURES:
We hold periodic talks and informal gatherings which cover a diverse range of subjects and inform students about topics such as the ecology and environment of Costa Rica, Latin-American literature, politics, women's studies and other socially and culturally related themes.

FILM NIGHT:
Once a week we show a film in Spanish, an entertaining and practical way to practice the language.

INTERCAMBIOS:
During these cultural exchanges Spanish students meet with Tico English students at the school to practice conversation skills (in both languages) in a relaxed atmosphere, and to make new friends from the local community.

LOCAL ACTIVITIES: Every Thursday evening and Sunday morning, weather permitting, the local band presents free open-air concerts in Heredia's central park. Also every Thursday afternoon the National University shows primarily Spanish language films, open to the general public for a nominal fee. Intercultura maintains a list of suggested day trips in the area for other after- school activities.

"FIESTAS PATRONALES":
These local celebrations are held in all Costa Rican cities and villages every year, usually over a weekend. They are advertised throughout the country and are an excellent source of cultural entertainment. You can watch bullfights "Tico" style, where the bull is not harmed in any way, participate in traditional games and try out a variety of local fare.

EXCURSIONS:
On weekends we host excursions to many different parts of the country: Possibilities range from relaxing on a white sand beach, to studying the complex ecosystems of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, to watching the eruptions of a live volcano! During the week we take students to theaters, museums, nearby parks, the capital city of San José, discotheques, soccer games, concerts and more!

"I was very impressed with the professional manner in which the school was run. Both the teachers and directors were very accomodating in tailoring a program to fit my specific skills and needs....The classes were demanding and interesting, and after class, having fun with the cultural activities was the high point of my day!...My experiences with both the school and the family were exceptional."
-- Tracy Hicks, BA Sociology / Psychology