I am delighted to recommend Common Ground International's Spanish Immersion Program to anyone eager to accelerate their language skills while truly experiencing Latin American culture. From the moment you enroll, program founders Leslie and Rory provide warm, personalized support--whether you're an absolute beginner or already fluent in Spanish. Their humility, kindness and genuine respect for each student's level create an atmosphere of confidence and growth. What sets Common Ground International apart is its thoughtfully balanced combination of rigorous classroom study, hands-on volunteer projects, culturally rich excursions, and the option of a local homestay. In the classroom, you'll be constantly challenged by enthusiastic, positive instructors who employ interactive methods--role plays, debates, community interviews--to push your Spanish forward every hour of every day. Outside the classroom, you'll deepen your understanding of local life by working alongside community organizations, exploring vibrant markets, and sharing meals with host-families who open their homes--and their hearts--to you. Throughout your stay, Leslie and Rory oversee every detail, from airport pickup to your final farewell, ensuring that logistics never get in the way of learning. Their commitment to a family-style atmosphere means you're never traveling or studying alone; you rapidly build friendships with classmates and locals alike, forging bonds that outlast the program itself. By the end of my experience, my confidence in speaking, listening, reading and writing Spanish had soared--far beyond what I'd experienced in years of classroom-only study back home. Equally important, I came away with a deep appreciation for the daily rhythms, stories and traditions of the towns where I lived and volunteered. I wholeheartedly recommend Common Ground International to anyone--student, professional or retiree--who seeks an immersive, supportive and life-changing way to master Spanish and engage meaningfully with local communities. read more

We really hoped our son would gain confidence in speaking Spanish. He plans to continue progressing in his high school courses but we feel there is no better way to learn than a practical hands-on immersive experience. After researching several programs I felt Common Ground would be a good fit with his other interests in travel, adventure activities, soccer, and volunteering. I thought it sounded like a perfect combination of educational experiences and a really fun time. It seemed like a small group environment would foster deeper personal connection and more intense learning in a classroom. I was so impressed by the pre-departure zoom meetings to prepare the parents and students that I was very confident my son would be in good hands during his 3 weeks in Costa Rica. I was blown away by the communication during the trip when we got daily updates and photos from the counselors to see that the kids were incorporating classroom learning into the real world. I loved hearing about the variety of activities like cooking class, trips to the market, traditional woodwork, coffee plantation, animal rescue center, surfing, ziplining, etc etc. The list goes on and on! Keeping teens engaged is hard and the activities that were planned seemed like an excellent way to learn about the culture and give a greater appreciation for life in Costa Rica. We would highly recommend this program for students who are ready to get out of their comfort zone, willing to try new things and meet new people, and interested in advancing their Spanish skills. We really hope our 2 younger sons take Spanish so they can also have this same experience in the future. read more

I am an orthodontic resident and was excited when the medical Spanish course was offered in my school. I wanted to learn Spanish to be able to understand my Hispanic patient pool better and to be able to satisfy their treatment needs. What I like about this course is that the instructor, Rory has a unique way of teaching the course. He makes it interactive and fun. He does give us homework from time to time but he did say in the beginning of the course that "Even if you don't get a chance to do the homework, you will learn a lot by just attending the class." It is very true. So, you just attend the class without any stress and his "tests" really check how much you really know and not how well you memorized. Rory is very patient and he makes everyone feel comfortable irrespective of age, ethnicity and backgrounds. He is very encouraging and this helps in us gaining confidence as we try to communicate in Spanish. He does a great job with teaching by constant repetition. I am very happy I joined the class and look forward to learning more in the months till I graduate from my residency. I highly recommend Common Ground International for learning Spanish!! Wish I could give it 10 stars:) ! read more

I am a student a medical student at Rocky Vista University and I also happen to have a passion for speaking spanish. I lived in Costa Rica for awhile and can speak spanish, however never learned the technical medical words I need to effectively communicate with patients. Common ground international has been an amazing class for learning both vocabulary, grammar and practicing how this can all be applied in conversation. Rory Foster is a fun, creative instructor and his spanish class is definitely one of the highlights of my week! I love that we practice using real patient-doctor scenarios and have discussions as a class. I feel that this class has helped me so much in reaching my goal of being able to work effectively with spanish speaking patients and am so grateful for that! I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to further their understanding of spanish and their speaking abilities! read more

I never really enjoyed Spanish class in high school so I stopped taking classes and subsequently learned most of my Spanish through immersion and self teaching. When I became a student on the Anschutz medical campus, I knew that I would have to take a medical Spanish class if I was serious about using my Spanish professionally, but I dreaded going back into the classroom setting to learn a language. However, this class has proven that thinking wrong. Each week, I find class to be rewarding, not only in terms of how much I'm learning, but also as a fun break from my busy schedule. The classroom environment is laid-back and relaxed which is essential in maintaining an enthusiasm to learn. I'm really looking forward to using my new skills to connect with patients in a more professional and meaningful manner. I would definitely recommend CGI if you are looking for an interactive way to learn Spanish! read more

When I moved to Denver I knew that I wanted to take a medical Spanish course. After looking online, several courses came up. Common ground international stood out to me so I took a chance and enrolled in the beginning medical Spanish course. I'm so glad I did. I love coming to class every week! Leslie Foster makes the class entertaining. She encourages everyone to participate and to interaction with other each other. I really enjoy the the visual memorization cues she gives us for the vocabulary-as silly as they seem, they truly help you remember! You can tell that Rory and Leslie really love teaching. They both are very active and passionate during classes. It's very refreshing and encouraging to see an instructor that wants you to succeed. I would HIGHLY recommend taking a Spanish course with Common ground international. I am definetly going to be taking as many courses as they offer! read more

I took my sons on an immersion trip when they were in early elementary school. I know what a really bad program looks like. And now I know what a truly world-class program looks like! I looked at a variety of immersion programs because my 11-year-old granddaughter wanted to learn Spanish and I wanted to improve my ability in Spanish. Four things about Common Ground International that stand out: the extensive and excellent pre-departure work required and facilitated by CGI staff; the excellence of teachers and teaching environment at the Lapa Verde Language School in Costa Rica; the suberb leaderships of CGI staff while in Costa Rica; and the excellence of excursions which provided a balance to the intensive classes as well and great cultural/historical learnings about Costa Rica. read more

This program is AMAZING! My husband and I were Spanish beginners and we learned a ton. The Spanish classes for our kids (ages 10 and 12) were fun and engaging. The kids improved their Spanish and had a great time! We loved the host family experience. We felt safe in Cuenca and it was easy to get around by walking, bus, taxi or Uber. The program is incredibly well organized. The tours and volunteer opportunities were meaningful and the staff are all kind, helpful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I would recommend this trip for any families who are looking to have an amazing cultural experience while learning a lot of Spanish! They have programs for medical professionals, teachers, families, adults, and high school students. read more

I never knew learning a foreign language could be so much fun. Enrolling in Common Ground International's Spanish class for healthcare professionals has had a very positive effect on my communication skills with my Spanish speaking patients. I am a dental hygienist in University of Colorado's Dental Faculty Practice and was excited when the university offered and encouraged us to get involved in this Spanish class. This is our second semester in the beginner's level and I am sad that it is coming to an end. So looking forward to continuing on with the next level. Rory Foster is an exceptional instructor who helps instill confidence in his students. I would highly recommend this class. read more

As a physician assistant student at CU-Denver, I took an elective medical Spanish class and I have loved it. I have always enjoyed Spanish classes in the past, and I was excited to have the opportunity to continue practicing the language in the context of my profession. The classroom structure is inviting - relevant exercises and assignment, and plenty of time for discussion and practicing vocab/grammar. Rory Foster is a great instructor - down to earth, friendly, patient and fosters a comfortable environment to practice Spanish in. Highly recommend CGI to those who want to continue their Spanish education at all levels! read more

Common Ground International has been a great experience for me. I take a spanish class to help me with my career and the class has been very applicable and helpful! Vocabulary building specialized toward my career have been really key. I am dental student and dental spanish can be difficult but common ground is great at helping us with what we really need. Rory Foster is my instructor and does a great job. He is knowledgeable and helpful and teaches the things that are important for us to know. I am really glad I did the program, I wish I could attend the class more times a week! read more

I had the opportunity to take a conversational Spanish course for healthcare workers at the Anschutz Medical Campus. I never imagined taking a Spanish class could be so much fun! Even after a hard days work, I go to class to lift my spirits. Rory Foster makes the class easy and entertaining. Interactive games like Pictionary, visual memorization cues and practicing speaking the course material in teams helps to make the concepts stick. It's a delightful, refreshing learning experience to be in Rory's class, that encourages me to continue learning Spanish. read more

I took the medical spanish training class at the University of Colorado Anschutz campus for two semesters. The experience has been AMAZING! I would highly recommend all beginners looking to learn medical Spanish to consider Common Ground International. Rory Foster is an amazing teacher and uses different interactive ways to enable the students to make the most of the time at the class. A big YAY for such an awesome set up, benefitting beginners like me. read more