The school is fantastic. They use small outside classrooms in huts with nets. Animals are everywhere!

The highlights of my studies, by far, were the school activities.

My experience at AEC changed my life. It felt like a family and everyday I learned more than I ever thought I could. The staff there is amazing and they involve you not only in the language, but the Costa Rican culture as well. By the time I left I felt as though I was a part of the town and I have thought about my next trip everyday since. Thank you AEC for everything you did for me. I highly recommend this school to anyone and everyone thinking of learning spanish!

quality college trained tican teachers. Everyone there was most friendly. Nursing/spanish program exceptional. Lifetime friendship created with host family. The adventure & cultural tours gave me a real feel of beautiful Costa Rica.

Excellent program! Liked the teachers and textbooks. Made a lot of progress in just one week! Great accomodations if you travel with young kids.

I attended AEC in June, 2011. I stayed with friends and children in a rental home in the center of Turrialba which was arranged with help of the school. The town of Turrialba is perfect for an immersion experience. The people there are mostly working class Costa Ricans and very few speak English. The town is not very influenced by U.S. culture and it provides an excellent view of "la vida tipica costarriqueno". The city is in a mountainous area in the central highlands of Costa Rica, about 2 hours or less from the capital, San Jose. Bus service and private drivers are readily available (buses are clean, safe and very inexpensive too!) The school has changed location since many of the previous reviews were made; it is now in a more modern building closer to downtown. This not only makes it easier to walk to from the center of town, but it also has provided more modern classroom facilities. Although there are not as many animals next to the school, there is plenty of authentic Costa Rican culture in the neighborhood. The school is well-run and the instructors are knowledgeable and professional. You will find as many Europeans attending classes as you do United States or Canadian citizens. There are also a lot of opportunities for sightseeing and adventure trips, including national parks, very nice zip-lining / canyoning, horseback riding and world class white water rafting (check out Senor Loco's for rafting and house rentals). I have attended other Latin American immersion schools, which have been wonderful, and I rate AEC among them.