Online Spanish Program Testimonials
The following is a short list of testimonials and reviews that former and current students have shared with us. If you would like to contact a student of ours directly, please let us know. Our students are more than happy to help answer questions and chat with prospective members of the Conversa community!
“I have been an on-line student at Conversa for almost 3 years, and find the program to be exceptional. My background is as an educator, so I was looking for a company that offered solid based instruction, with true planning. Conversa is just that, with wonderful friendly patient teaches. The one-to-one lessons personalize the learning and are easy to connect, using Zoom.
Prior to attending Conversa, I had taken Spanish classes at the local community college to ‘keep learning’, but found them to be useless. Then I found Conversa, and was thrilled with how they teach and the high quality of their teaching staff. Lessons are organized and students get homework (around 45 minutes) after each lesson which helps reinforce the concepts you are learning.
Because I also attended Conversa in person when the school was a ‘brick and mortar’ organization, I have met and been instructed by different teachers and, without doubt, they are all excellent. Andy does a wonderful job of selecting and training them.
As far as scheduling, there has not been any issue. I have class twice a week, for an hour each time. (Students can select how many times they want to have class each week... many people opt for once a week, and others take more than I do.) There have been times when I needed to miss a class, and I just email Andy and he takes care of that... no issues and no extra charges. He is very flexible. I highly recommend the program. ”
Prior to attending Conversa, I had taken Spanish classes at the local community college to ‘keep learning’, but found them to be useless. Then I found Conversa, and was thrilled with how they teach and the high quality of their teaching staff. Lessons are organized and students get homework (around 45 minutes) after each lesson which helps reinforce the concepts you are learning.
Because I also attended Conversa in person when the school was a ‘brick and mortar’ organization, I have met and been instructed by different teachers and, without doubt, they are all excellent. Andy does a wonderful job of selecting and training them.
As far as scheduling, there has not been any issue. I have class twice a week, for an hour each time. (Students can select how many times they want to have class each week... many people opt for once a week, and others take more than I do.) There have been times when I needed to miss a class, and I just email Andy and he takes care of that... no issues and no extra charges. He is very flexible. I highly recommend the program. ”
“I’ve been taking online lessons with Conversa for almost four years—and I still look forward to seeing my teacher each week! Conversa’s approach is student centered, so my instructor quickly discovered where I was with my language learning, understood my goals, and tailored each session to the way I learn best. Through a thoughtful combination of reading, writing and listening, I’ve strengthened my grammar and vocabulary skills and now converse comfortably with native speakers.
The extra online workshops available are terrific! I enjoy having the chance to work with additional instructors and to dabble in everything from sentence structure to the poems and short stories of Costa Rican authors. An additional benefit is meeting and communicating with fellow students. It’s a welcoming online community.”
The extra online workshops available are terrific! I enjoy having the chance to work with additional instructors and to dabble in everything from sentence structure to the poems and short stories of Costa Rican authors. An additional benefit is meeting and communicating with fellow students. It’s a welcoming online community.”
“I first discovered Conversa while a graduate student in social work. I wanted to learn Spanish via immersion and travel in a foreign country. Costa Rica proved to be accessible and beautiful. Conversa proved to be the best choice in terms of learning. The teachers were friendly, warm, and supportive. I was shocked to realize each day I'd spent HOURS speaking Spanish...even as a beginner. My host family was generous, kind, and patient. I found myself speaking Spanish after school and into the night with my Mama Tica. My successes boosted my self-esteem and I began to believe that becoming bilingual was within reach! 12 years after my first experience at Conversa I was fortunate to return as a social work educator. I was excited to accompany a group of graduate students and walk with them through the same experience I'd had years before. As I watched them exit the plane, and congregate on the sidewalk outside the airport, their excitement and nervousness was palpable. But I knew what they didn't...that they were about to have one of the most memorable, productive, and adventurous experiences of their lives. Conversa is an absolute gem. I cannot speak more highly of the campus, staff, and host families in Santa Ana, or of the online classes via Conversaconmigo.com (of which I've fallen in love with because of their affordability and enjoyability). I feel very fortunate to have been led to Conversa so many years ago. Thank you Conversa for all you do to make learning fun and achievable!”
“Add me to the list of satisfied Conversa customers! From workshops to private lessons; from writing assignments to spontaneous conversation; from computer generated quizzes to prepared speeches, I benefit from the consistent, directed practice. The teachers know how to work with the students where they are in their acquisition of Spanish. Whether you are a new beginner or a seasoned veteran, combine your diligence with the methodology of Conversa and you will know progress!”
“I love Conversa! I am a 50 year old guy that has never been a great student. Their instructors are simply fabulous and their program is very approachable. With their one on one/on-line lessons, I have been able to learn this new language and I am now comfortable having a conversation in Spanish!”
“We all know learning a new language is never easy, but Conversa's online Spanish course gives you lots of chances to practice speaking. All you need is computer, Internet connection, and an interest in Spanish. I really enjoy working one-on-one with the teachers and in groups during the weekly workshops. Conversa's online Spanish classes and workshops are inclusive for all learning levels and most importantly, they're enjoyable.”
“What a jewel of a find Conversa was for our family! We had online classes with Grace. She is very knowledgeable in English and Spanish language and grammar, and is extremely personable and lovable. Conversa uses a very systematic and effective means to teach Spanish. We loved Grace and the program so much, we flew out to their site for a week of in-person learning in 2019 - a loved experience that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. I can’t say enough about the high level of teaching, the attention to detail, the efficiency with which things are run, and the overall warmth and friendliness of the faculty and staff. Conversa is an amazing program, that WILL help you learn to speak Spanish if you utilize the tools they give you!”
“After trying a couple of other language learning organizations, I'm so happy to say I found Conversa. My teacher is well versed in the grammar and vocabulary I need to use with my close friends in Spain. Thanks to Conversa, I can fully speak to them, and they are always surprised at my continued progress. In addition, Conversa's pricing is very reasonable, and I always look forward to the online sessions with my teacher.”
“I've been taking lessons through Conversa for several years and can't say enough good things about my teacher Auxi and the school in general. My Spanish has dramatically improved, and there is no doubt I am much more confident speaking, reading, and writing. I've been to a few different schools both abroad and online; but Conversa's curriculum is the best and most organized by far. I also get a genuine feeling that my teacher loves her job and wants me to improve. Highly recommended!”
“Conversa is an outstanding online program, with dedicated and friendly teachers who, above all, really care about students. Private lessons are very reasonably priced, with optional workshops to practice speaking under the guidance of experienced, native-language teachers. Weekly structured workshops focus on specific topics and Q&A "open door" sessions are available to answer questions you might have. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, Conversa offers a great way to get to know fellow students and learn Spanish in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.”
“I would recommend the Conversa Spanish online learning to anyone. It’s simply the best one out there (not to mention best value). The instructors are brilliant, while also very patient and encouraging; the exact combination in my opinion needed for success in learning another language. The one-on-one classes really made a difference in my learning and have brought my Spanish to the next level. I always look forward to talking to my teacher, who is well prepared, interesting (and funny!). Then, the added bonus are all the workshops offered during the week. The subjects are interesting, and it’s a chance to learn more, practice more and meet other Spanish learners at the same time. I don’t know of any other program that offers all extras that Conversa does. I highly recommend it. ”
“I've been taking Spanish lessons from Conversa for six years now and it's by far the best Spanish learning experience I have ever had. The teachers are terrific, the company is incredibly fair in its business practices, and it's SO EASY--just get on Zoom and you're talking to a very smart, interesting Spanish teacher--no driving, no waiting! I can't recommend it more highly.”
“Hello! My name is Joy Howard bringing you greetings from the United States. I signed up for Conversa approximately 5 - 6 years ago. During this time, I have gained so much more confidence and knowledge with the Spanish language. My professor Grace Arias is so kind and patient with me. It is always a pleasure to sit for my bi-weekly zoom sessions with her. I am now able to freely converse with my Spanish speaking families at school. I practice as a public school social worker. I even on occasion assist with translation during meetings. This program is a great investment of time and also very economical. I am very glad I happened upon this excellent Spanish language learning online platform.”
“I spent one month in Costa Rica learning Spanish at Conversa campus. It was a wonderful experience! Since January 2020, I have continued with online one-on-one lessons twice a week. The program offered by this school is of high quality. Having assessed language programs and language teachers during my career, I can say that this school is very well run with excellent, knowledgeable and well prepared teachers offering a rich curriculum. Not only is it a pleasure to be a student of Conversa, I am continuously challenged, always encouraged and showing progress.”
“After three years with the help of some wonderful teachers and consistent work, I have become reasonably fluent in Spanish! When I get stuck in a blind ally and can't find la palabra justa I can work my way to a paraphrase without loosing my drift. This is very gratifying, fun and exciting. It has opened the door for me to a vibrant and dynamic culture, and I use my Spanish whenever possible at work and with Spanish speaking friends.
Although I did have a background in French and have always been a lover of language, starting Spanish was a thing in itself. I would say a facility with language helps but I did not find that knowing French particularly helped me to learn Spanish. This is because the Spanish language has its own special rules, particularities and issues.
After one semester of Adult Ed Spanish, I was so energized to learn more and so impatient with the slow pace of the class, that I started to research how I might speed up the learning curve. That is how I came to Conversa, upon the recommendation of a costarricense, the mother of a friend of my son’s. My first exposure was intense: I came for three weeks that first time, which is the longest I had ever been away from my husband since getting married 26 years before that. That was probably the most frustrating period of my Spanish learning. I wanted to communicate so much, but simply could not. French words and constructions kept flooding into my mind because I did not yet have a basis in Spanish.
That first summer, I stayed in the Casona. There was a group of students there with me and although we spoke English most of the time, we studied our Spanish together. Always at the dining hall, the lovely ladies who cook, encouraged us to speak, and did not tolerate (or understand) any English. I also spoke with the guards, forcing myself to overcome the reluctance to make mistakes. Of course one is going to make mistakes all the time while learning a new language! It is not so easy as an adult because the brain learns in a different area from where it learned its language of origin. Yet, everyone was so helpful and encouraging to me and I found myself so happy in the culture.
When my son was learning Spanish, I observed that when in the idiom, his personality seemed to change. He went from a brooding kind of college student to a light and fun-loving persona. He was happy in Spanish and I was so motivated by him and his success in learning. He learned so fast it was astounding largely because of his incredible musical ear. It was self-defeating to compare myself to him, however. And I soon detached from his process and focused on my own. Just having him proud of my persistence was enough of a motivation for me to continue with respect to him.
There is no easy way to gain mastery over something as vast as a foreign language but to me, there is nothing more gratifying. Not that I am a master yet, but I am slowly getting there and that is my goal. I structure my lessons on line, which I began taking after my second summer intensive, to my learning style. I am not trying to pass any exams or get credit for my Spanish. It is my pass-time and my hobby. I am a visual learner so I write and copy everything and go back over what I have written and copied until gradually the forms seep into my memory. The audio component is also important, and combined, they have gotten me to where I am now.
I did an enormous amount of writing in Spanish, from those first essays and forays until now, when I am quite comfortable, with the help of an on-line dictionary, writing in Spanish with reasonable grammatical correctness. My teachers have always been there to correct and teach me the proper language as it is important to me to be literary as well as to converse. Conversa allows for the development of both abilities if one is interested in both, or can focus one on whichever aspect they choose for their own purposes.
Although I was still a little behind the curve when I came to Conversa the second summer, I was way ahead of where I had been. This time it was for two weeks and I again took the intensivo (5 1/2 hours) per day. Class was always small that the individual attention a real asset and catalyst to my learning. Those first two years were about learning the essence of grammar and usage, particularly the proper usage of verbs. My teachers all brought their own style to the classroom, but everyone was most capable. I made more progress toward my goal that second summer and by the end, I was speaking with the guards regularly after class and able to converse with the Spanish speakers I met in the course of days there. I had invited a friend from my childhood that second summer in Santa Ana, which was just wonderful. We both stayed at the Casona, taking advantage of the peace and beauty of the place to study, have meals together and to hike in the mountains on the weekend.
When I came home from that second summer, I was very installed in the on-line program and continued with twice weekly lessons until my return last summer, this time with my husband. All the learning, the memorizing, the repetition and the writing began to propel me to a new level with my Spanish. I was seeing the fruit of my efforts. My husband an I took class for 10 days last summer and we stayed on campus again. That was a lovely experience for us, like a second honeymoon. This time, because we came in September, the summer students had all left and we were the only ones on campus. When the students who were with host families left for the day, we had the place all to ourselves. We studied and talked to the guards lots – lots of fun and lots of laughs. We did a little tourism, but as before when I was at Conversa alone, that was kept to a minimum. Our intention was to get as intensive as possible and we achieved that goal. By this third summer, I was writing more easily and speaking much better.
My breakthrough came after I left last summer. My boss asked me to translate for our team at work and I stepped up to that. It gets better and better and because I am a Social Worker, I know that Spanish will always be important for me to know in my field. I have the dream of using it on a daily basis while living in a Spanish speaking culture one of these days. I am on the verge of becoming clinically licensed and at that point, I will have more options to move and experience something totally new in the next stage. My husband has kept up with his Spanish on his own using the Conversa materials and we believe we can really nail it by living among Spanish speakers for an extended period of time.
I listen to a lot of Spanish music now enjoying it so much. I can even translate the essential messages and much of the vocabulary of these songs I hear. I write and receive letters in Spanish and construct essays to work on in my on-line classes. Those classes are a balm to my spirit and we laugh a lot in the process of my learning and his teaching. I have been with the same on-line teacher one class per week (and I still make considerable progress!), for months now and his teaching perfectly fits my learning style. He is literary and cultured, colloquial, a fast writer, a fast thinker and an excellent person. I enjoy my lessons – they are my hobby. After class, I copy over my notes, new vocabulary and the new usages I have received and then review them as necessary to lock in the learning. Poco a poco, I have given myself a great gift that has enriched me enormously and promises to keep giving! I believe that from my great effort and commitment - one day at a time - has come a reward of great and enduring value to me."
Although I did have a background in French and have always been a lover of language, starting Spanish was a thing in itself. I would say a facility with language helps but I did not find that knowing French particularly helped me to learn Spanish. This is because the Spanish language has its own special rules, particularities and issues.
After one semester of Adult Ed Spanish, I was so energized to learn more and so impatient with the slow pace of the class, that I started to research how I might speed up the learning curve. That is how I came to Conversa, upon the recommendation of a costarricense, the mother of a friend of my son’s. My first exposure was intense: I came for three weeks that first time, which is the longest I had ever been away from my husband since getting married 26 years before that. That was probably the most frustrating period of my Spanish learning. I wanted to communicate so much, but simply could not. French words and constructions kept flooding into my mind because I did not yet have a basis in Spanish.
That first summer, I stayed in the Casona. There was a group of students there with me and although we spoke English most of the time, we studied our Spanish together. Always at the dining hall, the lovely ladies who cook, encouraged us to speak, and did not tolerate (or understand) any English. I also spoke with the guards, forcing myself to overcome the reluctance to make mistakes. Of course one is going to make mistakes all the time while learning a new language! It is not so easy as an adult because the brain learns in a different area from where it learned its language of origin. Yet, everyone was so helpful and encouraging to me and I found myself so happy in the culture.
When my son was learning Spanish, I observed that when in the idiom, his personality seemed to change. He went from a brooding kind of college student to a light and fun-loving persona. He was happy in Spanish and I was so motivated by him and his success in learning. He learned so fast it was astounding largely because of his incredible musical ear. It was self-defeating to compare myself to him, however. And I soon detached from his process and focused on my own. Just having him proud of my persistence was enough of a motivation for me to continue with respect to him.
There is no easy way to gain mastery over something as vast as a foreign language but to me, there is nothing more gratifying. Not that I am a master yet, but I am slowly getting there and that is my goal. I structure my lessons on line, which I began taking after my second summer intensive, to my learning style. I am not trying to pass any exams or get credit for my Spanish. It is my pass-time and my hobby. I am a visual learner so I write and copy everything and go back over what I have written and copied until gradually the forms seep into my memory. The audio component is also important, and combined, they have gotten me to where I am now.
I did an enormous amount of writing in Spanish, from those first essays and forays until now, when I am quite comfortable, with the help of an on-line dictionary, writing in Spanish with reasonable grammatical correctness. My teachers have always been there to correct and teach me the proper language as it is important to me to be literary as well as to converse. Conversa allows for the development of both abilities if one is interested in both, or can focus one on whichever aspect they choose for their own purposes.
Although I was still a little behind the curve when I came to Conversa the second summer, I was way ahead of where I had been. This time it was for two weeks and I again took the intensivo (5 1/2 hours) per day. Class was always small that the individual attention a real asset and catalyst to my learning. Those first two years were about learning the essence of grammar and usage, particularly the proper usage of verbs. My teachers all brought their own style to the classroom, but everyone was most capable. I made more progress toward my goal that second summer and by the end, I was speaking with the guards regularly after class and able to converse with the Spanish speakers I met in the course of days there. I had invited a friend from my childhood that second summer in Santa Ana, which was just wonderful. We both stayed at the Casona, taking advantage of the peace and beauty of the place to study, have meals together and to hike in the mountains on the weekend.
When I came home from that second summer, I was very installed in the on-line program and continued with twice weekly lessons until my return last summer, this time with my husband. All the learning, the memorizing, the repetition and the writing began to propel me to a new level with my Spanish. I was seeing the fruit of my efforts. My husband an I took class for 10 days last summer and we stayed on campus again. That was a lovely experience for us, like a second honeymoon. This time, because we came in September, the summer students had all left and we were the only ones on campus. When the students who were with host families left for the day, we had the place all to ourselves. We studied and talked to the guards lots – lots of fun and lots of laughs. We did a little tourism, but as before when I was at Conversa alone, that was kept to a minimum. Our intention was to get as intensive as possible and we achieved that goal. By this third summer, I was writing more easily and speaking much better.
My breakthrough came after I left last summer. My boss asked me to translate for our team at work and I stepped up to that. It gets better and better and because I am a Social Worker, I know that Spanish will always be important for me to know in my field. I have the dream of using it on a daily basis while living in a Spanish speaking culture one of these days. I am on the verge of becoming clinically licensed and at that point, I will have more options to move and experience something totally new in the next stage. My husband has kept up with his Spanish on his own using the Conversa materials and we believe we can really nail it by living among Spanish speakers for an extended period of time.
I listen to a lot of Spanish music now enjoying it so much. I can even translate the essential messages and much of the vocabulary of these songs I hear. I write and receive letters in Spanish and construct essays to work on in my on-line classes. Those classes are a balm to my spirit and we laugh a lot in the process of my learning and his teaching. I have been with the same on-line teacher one class per week (and I still make considerable progress!), for months now and his teaching perfectly fits my learning style. He is literary and cultured, colloquial, a fast writer, a fast thinker and an excellent person. I enjoy my lessons – they are my hobby. After class, I copy over my notes, new vocabulary and the new usages I have received and then review them as necessary to lock in the learning. Poco a poco, I have given myself a great gift that has enriched me enormously and promises to keep giving! I believe that from my great effort and commitment - one day at a time - has come a reward of great and enduring value to me."
