Family Friendly Programs

       The following is abbreviated information to give you a quick overview of possibilities and fees. Please see the section of each school on our website for in depth details.

       Families who study together present an exceptional opportunity for all. Language Link has many years of successfully placing entire families in our Spanish programs, carefully selecting the program which is right for them.
     Your choice of program depends on several factors, primarily the ages of your children and your choice of lodging. Following is a list of our schools with comments regarding families, and these observations are based on many placements through the years.

Mexico

      Cuernavaca (Spanish Language Institute) is the best choice for families in Mexico. Our host families there are of a high level, and we can very comfortably accommodate even a large family. Children would most often be in a shared room, at that stated rate. We can even request that your host family have a swimming pool for family fun. If your children are under five years of age, we can arrange child care within your host family for a reasonable cost.
      If your children are ages 5 to 13, they can be in classes at the regular class cost, but they will be grouped with other children of similar ages. If there are no other children of their ages, then they would be placed together in their own private class. Their class content will be appropriate for their age, with many lively activities and a fun learning atmosphere. Depending on numbers, they may be on a separate campus, but it is only one block away from the adult campus. We have many students, especially in summer months, of ages 14 – 17. There are usually enough to group separately on the “teen” campus. Their program is also age appropriate, and there may be special activities for them.          
      Outside of class hours, everyone in the family can participate in the excursions of the school, and these are enjoyable for all ages. We have had many combinations at Cuernavaca – aunt and niece, grandmother and two grandsons, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, etc., as well as families as large as six.
      Fly into Mexico City. Airport pickup available.
$120 airport pickup for 3 or 4 together
$100 Registration fee (not applicable to tuition)
1 wk $225, 2 wks $430, 3 wks $615, 4 wks $780
       Homestay with 2 meals
$30 p/n – private or shared room with private bath
$20 p/n – shared room with shared bath

        Cancún – At El Bosque del Caribe there is no special children’s program, but we have accommodated younger students in private classes there. We can host a family in the same house there.
      Fly into Cancún. Airport pickup available $30 for two together
$100 Registration fee (not applicable to tuition)
Group
1 wk $195, 2 wks $390, 3 wks $585, 4 wks $780
Private (required for children)
       20% discount off these class fees as well as housing fees for children when accompanied by parents
1 wk $340, 2 wks $680, 3 wks $1020, 4 wks $1360
      Homestay with 3 meals and AC
$100 private, $182 shared

      Guadalajara – At IMAC there is a curriculum for younger students, but these would have to be private classes. We can host an entire family in a homestay there, or there are options of guest houses.
      Fly into Guadalajara. Airport pickup $30 for up to three together
$50 Registration fee, not applicable to tuition
Group
1 wk $194, 2 wks $336, 3 wks $426, 4 wks $517
Private
1 wk $368, 2 wks $670, 3 wks $906, 4 wks $1,081
      Homestays of 3 daily meals and private or shared room is $98 per week.

Guatemala

       At PLFM we can host students as young as 7, as the classes are all private. There are teachers who are experienced with younger students, but there is not a specifically defined children or teen program. We recommend a half day program for very young students, and these are not available in June, July and August. (Students can pay for the entire day, and only use the morning classes.) There is a bilingual nursery school in Antigua, and we can recommend this for daily child care. The host family stays in Antigua are at a very basic level, although we can host an entire family in one house. These are extremely modest houses with few amenities.
      We highly recommend a family trip to Tikal, as this can be exciting to all ages. A two day trip including airfare is $390 per person.
      Fly into Guatemala City $15 per person airport pickup
$75 registration fee
$175 per week ($125 for half days if available)
      $82 per week for homestay, private room and 3 meals daily except no meals on Sunday. 

Costa Rica

     Our best program for families and children is Conversa of Santa Ana. They have separate classes for children (age 6 and up) who are studying with their families. It is a lively program, and this campus has many facilities for children to enjoy such as a lovely pool. Although we can house a family with a Costa Rican host family, this school has onsite accommodations for families. Meals are served at the school.
     Fly into San José.
Classes including host family with all meals included and complimentary airport pickup
$760 1 wk, $1,460 2 wks, $2,085 3 wks, $2.650 4 wks
Children’s Program
$450 1 wk, $900 2 wks, $1,350 3 wks, $1,800 4 wks
Nanny service $110 per week
      For on campus lodge, fees are as above, but with additional fee added per person
Private room + $220 per person, Shared room + $150 per person, Triple/Quad + $125 per person

     ILISA of San José can also accommodate children in special private classes and will arrange nanny services.
Airport pickup is included.
      Fly into San José.
Group classes
$440 1 wk, $680 2 wks, $920 3 wks, $1,120 4 wks
Children Discount: For children 5-15 years, 20% off classes and homestay, for children less than 5 there is a 35% discount on homestay.

Ecuador

      The Academia de Español Quito can be an exciting destination for a family. Because the classes are private, children of all ages can easily be accommodated in the program. We would recommend the Activa program, as this would give classes to all in the morning, and in the afternoons the whole family can tour Quito, with each family member accompanied by his teacher. Another exciting possibility in this program is the one week Anaconda program in the Amazon jungle. This would be best for children ages 8 and up, but it can be a wonderful adventure for the entire family.
     Fly into Quito
$40 records fee, airport pickup complimentary
Activa program $340 per week, Anaconda (Amazon jungle program) $655
      Host family stay per person $175 per week with 2 meals

Peru

      Amauta of Cusco has a children’s program, but it would have to be in a closed group, so private classes would be best. Cusco is one of our most demanding locations from a physical and comfort point of view, and this should be taken into consideration when taking children. The high altitude is demanding physically, and students need to be prepared for the cold of the high mountains. We can do host family stays here for a family group, but the comfort standards (example, no heating) are a bit rigorous. A Machu Picchu trip can be provided for a family, and this would be better for older children, as there is a great deal of walking required even if you’re not hiking the Inca Trail and arriving by train.
      Fly into Lima and then on to Cuzco. We can arrange overnights in Lima if necessary due to flight schedules.
$38 records fee
$188 per week private classes
      $149 per week (6 nights) per person host family stay in the Plus program (recommended for families), 3 daily meals included
      $230 Machu Picchu trip by train with overnight in Aguas Calientes

Argentina and Chile

     In these programs we have had mature, independent students of 16, but the schools do not have defined children’s programs.

Spain

     All our programs in Spain are geared toward 18 and up. The exceptions are younger children who would be studying in private classes or the specific teen or junior programs on certain summer dates. Adults in a family can study in the regular program, while their teens participate in these special programs. There are junior programs at La Janda of Vejer de la Frontera, CLIC of Seville, Academia Hispánica of Córdoba, and Lacunza of San Sebastián. IH Barcelona has a teen program, but it is located in another city, Tarragona. We have had very independent 16 year olds study at Eureka of Madrid, but they were incorporated into the regular program. In Spain we have had families study with very young children (even infants), and we have successfully arranged nanny services in these cases. Please see our Teen section on the website for Spain prices and specific start dates or the information on each individual school.

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