Costa Rica Adult Programs 2007
SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

JULY 2009
$2600

COSTA RICA 2007: JULY 20-AUGUST 2
SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

JULY 20: FLIGHT: Leave Sacramento in the morning on America West Airlines. Arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica via one stopover in Phoenix, in the evening. A bus will be waiting with members of the school to pick up the group.  We will take you to a nearby hotel for an overnight stay.  

JULY 21: TRIP TO ARENAL VOLCANO, FORTUNA WATERFALL AND TABACON HOT SPRINGS: After breakfast, we will leave for our trip to Arenal. We will arrive at La Fortuna town around 1:30pm. There will be with one stop along the way to use the restrooms, purchase some snacks or take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the cloud forest. All expenses included. After checking into the hotel (in triple rooms), we will spend time at the springs and have dinner there. It is often possible to see the active Arenal Volcano from here.

Class	Cooking Class

JULY 22: ARENAL. Today we will visit the Fortuna Waterfall after breakfast. We will take a 1 hour horseback ride to the top of the falls and then hike down for about 15 minutes. Here it is possible to swim or just enjoy the scenery. The rest of the day is free to swim at the hotel, take a guided hike around the hotel or return to the hot springs. Pizza for dinner.

JULY 23: ARENAL: Free time in the morning after breakfast.  After breakfast, you can swim at the hotel or relax and sleep in. We will have lunch at a nearby restaurant. We will return around 6:30pm. You will be home for dinner with the families.

JULY 24: FREE DAY WITH FAMILIES. The families will spend the day with the students. You can also choose to do an optional tour today.

JULY 25: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! The families will take students to school today. We will have an orientation and placement test before lunch. Then we will eat lunch at the mall and have time to change money, use the internet, etc. CLASSES FROM 1PM TO 5PM. SALSA DANCE CLASS FROM 5PM TO 6PM. Return to the families by private bus at 6pm for dinner.
 
JULY 26: BUTTERFLY FARM: Pick-ups begin at 7am. This tour visits a butterfly garden with a tour of the site and an explanation of the life of a butterfly. Return to San Jose for lunch. SCHOOL IN THE AFTERNOON FROM 1PM TO 5PM. SALSA OR CONVERSATION CLASSES FROM 5 TO 6PM. This evening we will go to a local hole-in-the-wall for some traditional appetizers and drinks.

JULY 27: CAFÉ BRITT COFFEE FACTORY TOUR: Pick-ups begin at 7am. This award-winning musical tour explains the importance of coffee in the region in a musical show. Return to San Jose after lunch. CLASS FROM 1 TO 5PM. SALSA FROM 4PM TO 6PM.

WELCOME DINNER AT 6PM. We will leave from the school for the restaurant that overlooks the city lights. Dinner is a large buffet of typical foods. The show will last 1 ½ hours and there is an opportunity to dance with folkloric dancers. We will drop students off at homes at 10:30pm.

JULY 28: RAINFOREST AERIAL TRAM:

Pick-ups begin at 7am. This tour visits the lush Braulio Carrillo National Park, located about one hour outside of San Jose. Naturalist guides take visitors on tram rides high above the rainforest to explain the canopy and on a walk to see local flora and fauna. We will return to San Jose for lunch. CLASS FROM 1 TO 5PM. SALSA DANCING AT 5PM.

JULY 29: DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE: We will meet downtown for a walking tour of San Jose at 9am. Our tour will visit the National Theater and Central Market, as well as the Plaza de la Cultura and other important sites. Lunch will be early today & a short graduation ceremony takes place at 12. CLASS FROM 1 TO 4PM, FOLLOWED BY DANCING AND CONVERSATION UNTIL 6PM.

JULY 30-AUG 1: TAMBOR BEACH ADVENTURE (ALL-INCLUSIVE) Today we leave by bus and transfer to a ferry to take us to this deluxe hotel located on the Nicoya Peninsula. Here there are hourly activities, such as water polo, beach volleyball, dance classes, ping-pong tournaments, beach soccer, dart tournaments and more. All meals, drinks and activities are included. Return to San Jose for the last night.

AUG 2: We will pick up early for our trip to the airport for the flight back to the U.S

This program, led by Mr Dolan, includes:

• Two bilingual trip escorts from I I TOURS
• Pre-planning informational meetings and packets
• Roundtrip airfare from Sacramento to Costa Rica on America West Airlines
• Private airport transfers
• Spanish classes Monday through Friday for one week in small groups with native, university-trained instructors (total of 20 hours)
• Daily cultural classes for additional two hours daily in Salsa dancing, conversation and cooking
• Homestay in a private room with warm Costa Rican families (hotel stay also offered for slight additional charge)
• Breakfast and dinner daily with families
• Welcome dinner with folkloric dance/music show
• Half-day tours of the butterfly farm, coffee factory, rainforest aerial tram, museum and shopping
• Two, three-day, excursions to Arenal Volcano and Tambor Beach including hotels, private transportation, most meals and more
• Continuing education credits through SJUSD

Click here for more information on the following listed tours!

Q & A FOR SJUSD TEACHERS

ABOUT COSTA RICA

What is the weather like?
It will be very pleasant in San Jose when we are there. You can plan to wear shorts or light pants and t-shirts. We will do our touring in the morning when it is sunny and warm. It will usually rain for 2 hours in the afternoons when we are in class. At night, you often need a light sweater, as San Jose is located over 3000 feet above sea level. It is not humid except at the beach.

What is the benefit of going to Costa Rica to learn Spanish?
The democratic tradition of 150 years makes Costa Rica an ideal place to learn Spanish and experience the warm hospitality the Latin American culture is famous for. Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama. It is known to be one of the most peaceful countries in the world and hasn’t even had an army since 1948. The ex-president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987. There are more teachers than policemen in the country, which makes it easy to understand why it has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, at 93%.

Costa Rica is truly a nature lover’s paradise. Flora and fauna are abundant, with many species found exclusively in the area. Costa Rica has over 20 national parks and dozens more biological reserves. It is easy to see why Costa Rica is so famous for its wildlife and ecological accomplishments. From gorgeous beaches, pristeen rainforest and active volcanoes, Costa Rica has something for everyone to enjoy!

ABOUT THE TRIP & ITS PARTICIPANTS

Is this the first year you are offering this trip?
This is the first year we are able to offer this trip for SJUSD teachers. Innovative Immersion Tours has led trips for American River College, Churchill Middle School and many other schools in the past 10 years.

What about next year? Will you offer this again?
Next year we plan to go to Peru in mid-June to see the exciting Inti Raymi festival. So make sure you are on our mailing list for details!

Who is in charge of this trip?
Michael Dolan, from Churchill Middle School, is the official group leader. He has led trips to Costa Rica for the past 4 summers. In addition, Innovative Immersion Tours will also be leading the group and will make all the trip arrangements.

Can a friend or family member come along with me on a group program?
Sure, anyone over 15 yrs old is welcome on our adult group trips. You can choose to have them stay with your family or we can recommend another family or even a hotel. Your friend or family member can also take classes or choose to just hang out. If they do not take Spanish, they are still welcome to attend cultural classes and group activities. 

Can children participate?
Some programs welcome children. We recommend that families visit Costa Rica. It is a wonderful place for families because it offers so many activities that all age groups will enjoy. We have had a number of families attend our programs in the past. If you would like to take a family trip, let us know and we can arrange it for you.

What is the average size of this type of group?
Normally our groups average about 15 teachers and 2-3 tour leaders. There will be children from Churchill Middle School who will also go down on the plane with this group. However, at the families, in the Spanish classes and on most activities, the groups will be split into adults only and children only.

ABOUT THE SPANISH CLASSES

I have never taken Spanish before? Can I still go?
We encourage all those who are interested in learning Spanish, whether or not you have ever taken Spanish, to attend our programs. A wide variety of Spanish levels is offered-from those who have never taken a Spanish class up to native speakers.

Each student takes a short placement exam at the beginning of the program in order to determine his/her level. Please refer to our website for this test. Generally, 9 levels of Spanish are offered. If a student feels that he/she has been placed in the wrong level, it is very easy to switch.  

Are the classes focused on grammar or conversation?
Although grammar is a necessary part to learning any language, the classes do focus more on conversational skills than on learning more grammar. The “communicative” approach to learning is used, which means that the most important aspect of the classes is to be understood and understand others.

Are the teachers qualified?
All of the schools we work with have very professional staff. The school is very profession and has been certified by the Ministry of Education as qualified to provide language classes to foreign students. The teachers are all university-trained in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Some have their Master’s degrees or are in the process of getting their Master’s degrees.

How much can I really learn in just a couple of weeks?
Obviously, how much you learn depend upon the amount of time and effort you put into studying and speaking Spanish. Past students have been amazed at their progress in the relatively short period of time. Since our classes are designed to improve conversation and understanding, students will tend to focus on simply

improving and mastering information that they already have learned, as opposed to trying to cram in a lot of new material.

How can I get continuing education credits?
The SJUSD already approved 20 hours of continuing education credit for teachers who participate in the Spanish classes. You will be responsible for taking all the classes and will receive a written transcript and certification of attendance from the school.

ABOUT EXPENSES

How much spending money should I take with me?
If you are participating in one of our group programs, most of the expenses, from tours and activities to classes and lodging are included. We recommend, depending on the country, between $100 to $150 per week for extra expenses. This would cover taxis or buses, nightlife, etc.  

What if I get sick while I am there?
We have a list of clinics that are highly recommended in each country. In the event that a student gets sick, he/she can either ask the family to take them to the doctor or call one of us. In the past students have had minor health issues and have had to visit the clinic for an infected ingrown toenail, blisters, an earache, a sore throat, etc.  It is normal to expect some gastro-intestinal discomfort during the first couple of days, due to changes in food preparation and condiments. However families always take care in preparing the food that will be served to their students. And, in Costa Rica, you can drink the water from the tap!

ABOUT THE FAMILIES

Do the families speak English?
The majority of the families do speak some English. However, they are encouraged to only speak Spanish with the students they host. Many students are concerned about not being able to speak with their families. But the families are very patient and will give you the time you need to express yourself in Spanish.

What time to the families serve meals and what foods can I expect?
The families provide 2 meals and will do their best to accommodate the dietary needs and preferences of the students they host. We encourage students to list all of their likes/dislikes on the registration questionnaire so we can let the families know about these. Vegetarians or people with allergies can be easily accomodated.

Breakfast is typically served at around 7am. However, if you need to leave before that time for a tour, your host mother will prepare your breakfast earlier. Lunch is usually served around 1pm and is a large meal. Dinner is served around 7pm, or whenever you are there to eat it! Although Latin Americans tend to eat light dinners, the families will generally prepare a substantial meal at night for students. Most students comment that the food they are served is more than enough! Your “mama” will serve meals that prepared especially for students.

Do the families have hot water, air conditioning, etc?
Most of our families are middle or upper class and are professionals. They have very comfortable homes with hot water and each student will have a private room. You will be surprised at the level of comfort.

Can I contact my family ahead of time? Will I be given their phone number?
Once we receive your family assignment from the school (based on the information you have provided us in the registration questionnaire), we will forward this information to you. It will generally include the names, ages and professions of everyone in the home, as well as their phone number and address. Lots of families also have email addresses. You are encouraged to get to know them before your stay.

How far do the families live in relation to the school and downtown?
Generally the families live within 15 minutes by bus from the school. Taxis are very inexpensive and also a convenient way to get to school. A lot of families live within walking distance, depending upon the country.
We will pick up and drop off students every day before activities.

What if I prefer to stay in a hotel?
That is ok, too! We recommend the Hotel Casa de las Orquideas for a budget option. It is located just a mile or so from the school and is close to the University of San Jose. The added cost is $100 for the entire stay if you share a room and $170 more for the entire stay if you want a single room.

ABOUT TRIP REGISTRATION

How do I sign up?
Please see our website at www.iitours.com for more details and a packet of registration materials. Or, you can contact II TOURS or Mike Dolan for the packet as well.

Do you offer scholarships?
Currently we do not offer any scholarships or financial aid. But contact us if you want more information about special payment plans or if you want to pay a portion with your credit card.

Do you offer trip cancellation and medical insurance?
Yes we offer this through Access America. Contact us for a brochure and more information about what the insurance covers.

INCLUDED TOURS:

• Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Hot Springs
• Butterfly Farm
• Welcome Dinner at Ram Luna Restaurant
• Café Britt Coffee Tour
• Rainforest Aerial Tram Tour
• Tambor Beach Adventure

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

• ACTIVITIES NOT MENTIONED
• LUNCHES DAILY EXCEPT AT TAMBOR (approx $5 per day)
• DEPARTURE TAX IN COSTA RICA OF $25
• SECOND DAY AT HOT SPRINGS AT ARENAL (optional)
• RECOMMENDED SPENDING MONEY OF $100-$150 PER WEEK