Sidebar #47 - English Language in Costa Rica

As you’d likely surmise, Spanish is the national language of Costa Rica and is by far the dominant way of communicating here. However, English usage is also on the rise in Costa Rica. In 2018, the then-President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado announced an ambitious goal in which by 2040 all high school graduates would be bilingual in Spanish and English. English speaking is critical for Costa Rica’s efforts in tourism, business, and international language, and that is why the country has placed such great significance on it. Along with Youth Development and Community Economic Development, English Education is the third within Peace Corps Costa Rica because of its status as a national priority.

From my experience, the levels of English literacy vary drastically depending on a person’s geographic and socioeconomic background. Those who live in highly-developed or tourist-heavy areas, more often than not, speak English with a high degree of fluency. However, in my community, which I’d describe as much more “blue-collar", most adults do not possess proficiency in the English language. When I go into San Jose to run with my Sunday running group, many of them come from more affluent backgrounds and graduated from private high schools. Because of this, most boast a high degree of fluency in English and tend to address me in English rather than in Spanish. In fact, many of them blend English and Spanish together. For example, I’ll hear phrases like “muy cool” fairly often. At my technical high school, due to the mandatory nature of English courses, all students possess at least a limited vocabulary. However, their ability and confidence level varies drastically depending on their academic specialty and linguistic background. Rest assured, if you travel to Costa Rica, particularly the more tourist-friendly areas, you will have no issue getting around with English.