CPI is a private language institute specialized in teaching the Spanish immersion to non-native speakers. Since 1991 CPI offers Spanish immersion classes complemented by stays with local families and cultural activities as well as excursions. Currently CPI proudly provides students classes in 3 fully equipped and operational campuses in Costa Rica. In 2014 we developed an in-house customized online Spanish program permitting our students prior to or post-immersion the opportunity to take live classes with CPI professors on-site in Costa Rica. The combination of online classes with on-site immersion affords our clients the opportunity to maximize their learning and experience Pura Vida in Costa Rica or virtually!

CPI was founded in June 1991 by Romy Morales and her family in the small town of San Joaquín de Flores in Heredia. Holding close to the established vision to create the best language program in Latin America, CPI Director Romy Morales decided that her then 25 years of experience as a Spanish professor both for the Peace Corps and in schools specialized in teaching Spanish as a second language provided her with the expertise and insight to serve those foreigners wishing to embark upon an adventure, experience another culture, and learn a second language.

Ms. Morales created CPI to meet the demands of individuals, organizations, and companies at a time when borders are more fluid, the economy is becoming increasingly more globalized and when knowing a second language, especially Spanish, is of great importance. Director Morales continues her studies on educational issues through participation in seminars offered by the Spanish Cultural Center of Costa Rica. She utilizes her qualifications and extensive teaching experience to develop and maintain the highest possible educational standards at CPI; this is revealed through the quality of the instructional materials (all texts have been developed at CPI) and effective teaching staff.

Today, with three fully-equipped campuses across Costa Rica, each operates with the same high-quality service.

With almost twenty years since CPI was founded, CPI Director and Co-founder Romy Morales and I always strongly believed the most valuable inheritance for a child is education and cultural understanding through learning a second or third language, permitting one to more fully join in the global citizenry. With our combined expertise we dreamt of contributing to this end by opening a language learning center. Romy, teacher by vocation with extensive experience and expertise in the methods of teaching Spanish as a second language, was key to the process of making this dream a reality.

On June 3rd, 1991 Centro Panamericano de Idiomas was created, a date which was not only a start – but also an end to a long preparation process inclusive of: market studies, location scouting, decisions on how to furnish and decorate the location, preparation of didactic materials and programs of study for all levels, establishing class schedules, creation of brochures in English (our initial market for students was the USA and Canada; internet was nonexistent so all our marketing was through mailed brochures to consulates and advertising in English newspapers like the "Tico Times") along with translations, and legally establishing CPI as a business.

We diligently prepared because our vision was clear, seeking to achieve the same high standards that defines CPI still today. At the outset our reconditioned home was converted into a small school with six classrooms, an office, and a small ranch area that served as both cafeteria and classroom. Although our beginnings were very small, the ambience was always warm and welcoming. Classes were hosted at this location for two years until we needed to construct a larger facility; then a newly constructed 2 story school with expanded grounds became the new home of CPI.

CPI has always been a family affair and the first to believe in and collaborate were our three children: Carlos, Lorena and Carolina. Carlos became involved right away, combining daytime support to Romy, sales and a bit of everything to ensure all went as smoothly as possible, then in the evening he attended university classes. Upon graduating from university, our daughter Carolina became involved directing the English program and put her tourism degree to use with the planning and creation of excursions for students as a complementary element to the CPI Spanish program experience. It was after practicing law for a few years that our eldest daughter Lorena became more directly involved in the administration of CPI in the early 2000s.

Initial challenges in those early days included being one of the first immersion schools in Costa Rica to offer internet to our students (thank you Linda & Irvin Boschman!) and convincing families in San Joaquin de Flores to host foreign students, a new concept at the time! However, as word spread about the quality and effectiveness of our program, more students arrived and we required more teaching staff, with Romy personally training all new candidates, even already seasoned teachers. Since, many more collaborators and staff have come, both teachers and administrators – including the spouses of my children - at all three CPI schools, each and every one is appreciated as valuable to the success of this institution.

In 1996 we were visited by Osborn Cresson, a Quaker and resident of Monteverde who actively sought to fulfill the need of a Spanish and English language school in the zone. While we already had the idea of establishing a CPI at the beach we also liked the idea of a school in the cloud forest and CPI Monteverde was established. In 1999 our students started to ask, "Why not have a school at the beach"? Their encouragement led us to revisit the idea and after looking at several locations we found the perfect place -- Playa Flamingo.

Our growth continued as we kept present our goal of CPI being one of the best teaching institutions of Spanish as a second language in Latin America, to the point that CPI is recognized at an international level by the Instituto Miguel de Cervantes de España, and by numerous prestigious universities in the United States through which we offer credits and preparation for students planning to take the ACTFL and DELE exams. Parallel are our determined strides toward modernization with our Spanish immersion program now also offered online through a customized platform.

I want to recognize all of our team members, professors, administrators, maintenance and support members, who for lack of space are not each specifically named, but who have all contributed to what and who we are.

Thanks to you all.