History

The Spanish Language Institute was originally founded by the United Presbyterian Mission Board in  Colombia in 1942.  In 1950, the school was moved to San José, Costa Rica, where it continued to operate under the same board until 1972.  In that year, a non-profit Costa Rican organization (Asociación del  Instituto de Lengua Española) was formed, which continues to govern the Institute through its annually elected Board of Directors.  The Association and its Board are made up of Costa Rican pastors and missionaries, along with representatives of several of the denominations and agencies who send their missionaries to the school for language training. It is affiliated with FEDEMEC, a national evangelical mission sending agency, and ACEP, an association of private schools in Costa Rica.

The Institute is located in San Francisco de Dos Ríos, a middle class residential area on the southeast edge of the capital city of San José.  It is situated on an attractive, sloping property with private homes around it and a view of velvet green mountains to the south.  Buildings are spaced among pleasant lawns and gardens on the nearly two-acre campus.  A steel-beamed gymnasium, completed in 1984, provides recreational and large meeting facilities for students of all ages.

Churches, restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores, and a post office are within walking distance.  Downtown San José is easily reached in 20 minutes by bus or 10 minutes by taxi.  Museums, international and typical restaurants, concerts, and live theater are just some of the interesting places to visit and things to do.  For a “touch of home,” U.S. newspapers and fast food restaurants are close at hand, and shopping malls are just 10 minutes away.

Along with its year-long Regular Course for missionaries, the Institute schedules cooperative study programs with Christian college groups or church mission groups at different times during the year for the length of time requested.