Bilingual Education

The Cloud Forest School is proud to offer excellent instruction in both Spanish and English to all of our students. Our student body is comprised of over 90% local Costa Rican students who speak Spanish in the home. From Preschool through 6th grade, our students have an English-speaking Lead Teacher and a Spanish-speaking teacher for Spanish literacy instruction. In this model, English literacy as well as mathematics, science, and theme are all taught in English by the Lead Teacher, with a daily lesson in Spanish literacy taught by the Spanish Teacher. Spanish Teachers also co-teach and assist Lead Teachers with specific activities.

Upon entering high school, the core academic subjects are distributed more evenly with regards to language of instruction. English, Mathematics, Environmental Education and Science are taught in English by English-speaking teachers. Spanish, Social Studies, and Civics are taught in Spanish by Costa Rican teachers. Electives courses vary in language of instruction according to the teacher’s preference.

Given that English instruction is intensive from a very early age, students without former instruction in English are not admitted beyond the 2nd grade. Spanish-speaking students who apply for admission beyond 2nd grade must be evaluated and placed according to their abilities.

It is important to note that for our international students, who are a small minority, we provide intensive, small-group Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) classes. International students attend these very small (max 5 students) SSL classes when the rest of their classmates are in their regular, native-speakers Spanish class.