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Learn a language as quickly as possible for academic or professional reasons.

Description: Make maximum progress during your stay abroad. Highly recommended for students who need to learn a language as quickly as possible for academic or professional reasons.
Our highly structured syllabus, comprised of 32 morning and afternoon lessons a week (total tuition time of 21 hours and 20 minutes), will have you speaking and writing with confidence in the least amount of time. Our general language lessons build your grammar and vocabulary, while our project sessions improve your research and communication skills through practical work tailored to your interests.

Level:

Start Date:

Length:

Online pre-course:

6 months included for all Intensive English courses.

Online post-course

Our Intensive Course offers the maximum number of Special Interest Lessons, to ensure you successfully achieve your goals while studying abroad. Taught both in class and online, you can take SPIN Lessons focused on language skills, professional development, exam or university preparation or culture and arts.

Why is EF Intensive our most popular course? Because not only do you maximize the amount that your language skills improve, you also gain valuable time to practice with fellow students. This extra interaction enables you to communicate in a natural way, faster than on other courses, and in the process form lasting friendships.
How many weeks should students enroll for an EF Intensive Course? The longer you study, the more you will improve, guaranteed. That’s why students seeking advanced language skills enroll for a minimum of 3 to 6 weeks. Keep in mind that Intensive students make progress 25 to 50% faster. A 6-week course allows most students to advance one full level of ability, and many intensive students choose to achieve greater fluency with courses of 3 months or more.

EF Intensive Course

Gain a sound understanding of a language through a well-rounded course.

Description: 
This carefully composed course of 26 weekly lessons (total tuition time of 17 hours and 20 minutes), held in the morning and afternoon, is designed to help you move up one course level every six weeks. Our general language lessons build your grammar and vocabulary, while our project sessions improve your research and communication skills through practical work tailored to your interests.

3 months included for all English courses

You&rsquo;ll also benefit from 4 Special Interest Lessons, which focus your
studies on the subjects you enjoy and help you reach your academic
goals &ndash; whether it&rsquo;s your destination&rsquo;s culture or preparing for an
official exam.

EF General Course

Focus on how to communicate and enjoy lots of free time.

Description: 
Combine plenty of free time abroad with 20 morning and afternoon language lessons a week (total tuition time of 13 hours and 20 minutes) – combining General Language Lessons, Project Sessions and Lecture Sessions.

Every Monday, summer only (In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa summer is Jan-Mar)

This course concentrates on understanding and speaking the language in practical situations. You’ll benefit from comprehensive materials, personalized instruction and interactive classtime.

EF Basic Course

Prepare for an officially recognized language exam.

Description: Prepare for officially recognized language exam like the DALF, DELE, DELF, HSK, and more. These exams, recognized around the world, enhance
your resume and pave the way to university acceptance and international careers in many diverse fields.
French: Le Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF), Le Diplôme Approfondi en Langue Française (DALF), Certificat Européen de Langue Française (Certificat de Français) Diplôme de français professionnel des Affairs. Diplôme de français professionnel tourisme et hôtellerie B1

Practice French or Spanish online from enrollment

German: Zertifikat Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Goethe-Zertifikat
Mandarin: Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK)
Japanese: Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT levels N3-N5
Spanish: Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE), Diploma Superior de Español de Los Negocios (DSEN) and Diploma Intermedio de Español de Los Negocios (DIEN) 
Italian: Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana (CELI), Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera (CILS)

Additional Language Exams

Improve your new language skills in an international work environment.

Description: This program combines an internship of 50 hours or more with a minimum 4-week EF Intensive Course. During classroom time you’ll improve your language skills as well as learn CV writing and interviewing techniques. After class, you’ll perfect your new language ability by working in a part-time, unpaid position at a professional company. You’ll develop industry-specific language skills and gain valuable international work experience. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll receive the EF Internship Certificate.

Available in: All EF schools in the UK, Ireland, Malta, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Japan, China, Italy and Spain.
Prefer a longer internship? Try our Internship Plus Program. Choose a 3+3 program (3 months of language studies and
a 3 month internship) or a 6+3 program (6 months of language studies and then a 3-month internship). Ask us for more details.

EF Internship Experience

Refine your language skills while volunteering with an organization.

Description: This program combines volunteer experience of 50 hours or more with a minimum 8-week EF Language Course. In addition to making progress toward fluency in your language course with interactive lessons inside and outside of the classroom, you’ll enrich your understanding of the language by volunteering part-time at a local organization. You’ll develop specialized language skills and gain experience in an international environment – all documented with an EF Certificate of Volunteer Experience.

Available in: 
Costa Rica; all EF schools in the USA and Canada except Vancouver and Vancouver IslandAll EF schools in the UK, Ireland, Malta, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and Spain.Costa Rica; all EF schools in the USA and Canada except Vancouver and Vancouver Island

EF Volunteer Experience

Learn more about our programs, speak with a study abroad advisorand ask important questions – either in person or online.

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We are so confident that our method will help you make maximum progress, that we guarantee it. Attend all of your classes, do all the assignments, and you’ll advance one course level every six weeks – otherwise, you'll study for free until you do. 

EF’s Learning Guarantee

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residence

Experience maximum cultural exchange by living with native speakers in a private home. Gain insight into local culture, pick up expressions with greater ease and return home with a more authentic accent. Enjoy breakfast and Live in the heart of the city alongside EF students from over 100 countries. Enjoy easy access to your course center by public transportation – as well as the city’s shopping, restaurants and sport facilities. Residences vary, but often offer Wi-Fi internet access and more.

EF Residence

campus

Stay on-site, just steps from your classes. You’ll experience a vibrant campus life while living alongside students from over 100 countries. Enjoy facilities such as a student lounge, sport complexes, Wi-Fi internet access and more. Live-in EF staff are always on call.

EF Campus

Live like a local. You’ll feel at home in Playa Tamarindo – whether you’re making fried plantains with a local family or living steps from the Pacific Ocean on EF’s campus.

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Since more than 20 years EF cooperates with Erika Insurance Ltd. to provide a tailor-made insurance coverage exclusive to our students. Staff around the world recognizes Erika and can help you on the spot. Insurance is mandatory and therefore we include Erika to all our students. Should you wish to renounce the coverage you will need to send in proof of equivalent coverage.
These are some highlights of the coverage:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
 <li>Erika refunds course fee per day in case you are sick more than 2 days while on the course</li>
 <li>If you miss more than half of the course due to illness&nbsp; or accident, Erika will offer to pay for a new EF course</li>
 <li>Unlimited medical coverage (some exclusions apply)</li>
 <li>Unique cooperation with Aetna, the largest network of doctors/hospitals in the US. Through Erika and Aetna you don&rsquo;t have to pay expensive medical bills yourself</li>
 <li>Theft, delay, third party liability and legal assistance is also included in this comprehensive coverage</li>
 <li>All EF-organized sports/activities are covered by Erika&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;More information about coverage details is available on www.erikainsurance.com.

Travel and Medical Insurance Coverage

EF's travel services will search for the best deal, book your flight and manage your reservation

Travel Service

Catch a ride with EF's transfer service - whether you are being picked up from the ARRIVAL airport to begin your adventure or dropped off to make your way back home

TRANSFER SERVICE

Please note that prices may be subject to change due to currency fluctuations.

Currency Surcharge

From June to August, most EF schools charge a summer supplement. Schools in the Southern hemisphere usually charge a summer supplement from December to February. Please see the EF brochure or call us for further details.

High season supplement

Practice the language at our charming campus located on the tropical West Coast.

Guaranteed results. You’ll advance one level every six weeks – thanks to our innovative and personalized learning method that blends classroom lessons, interactive tools and cultural immersion.

Get all the tips on what to do in your new city from your dedicated EF Activities Manager.

Looks good. Who's going to Playa Tamarindo?

With start dates every Monday and programs ranging from 2 to 52 weeks, you can study when it’s most convenient for you.

Unique location in a colonial building bordering lush forest with exotic wildlife
Bright classrooms with the latest teaching technology
On-campus residence with private swimming pool and sun deck
Horse riding, canopy tours, organized excursions to Rio Celeste, Catamaran, Arenal Volcano, Nicaragua, etc.
5-minute walk to the beach, shops, markets and nightlife
<div>&nbsp;</div>

Playa Tamarindo is one of the world&rsquo;s top eco-tourism destinations, and students at our centrally located school make the most of its stunning surf beaches, lush wildlife and stylish village. Housed in a former resort hotel, our intimate center has a private pool and easy access to canopy tours, rainforest waterfalls and the leatherback turtle nesting grounds of Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas.

Playa Tamarindo

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