The Language School

The name of the Assemblies of God language school in San José is CINCEL (Spanish word for “chisel”). The name is an acronym (from the Spanish) for Latin American Research and Language Center. All the teachers are Costa Rican. The school is located in an average-sized building and most of the classes are small (less than five students each). We like this kind of setting and enjoy learning the language and culture of Latin America. CINCEL is where every AG missionary spends at least four months learning Spanish before going to the field. Most spend a full year here. There are some 30+ students in the school at his time. Daniel is taking Grammar, Phonetics, Conversation and Interaction classes. Interaction requires him to talk to people on the street so he can learn the different ways people speak in everyday life. He practices his Spanish with street vendors, security guards, or bookstore employees. He likes books.

Beatriz, on the other hand, since she is a native Spanish speaker, took advanced classes in Latin American Literature, Composition and Translation our first semester. But at the beginning of the second semester (September), Beatriz began teaching English as a Second Language to Latin American missionaries going to English speaking countries (or countries where English is necessary to learn the local dialect). The first semester here Beatriz patiently endured classes meant for English speakers. She is very excited, though, about teaching English to future missionaries.