Hummingbird Student Tours
Travel Partnership
Idioma Education & Consulting is thrilled to partner with leading travel companies to offer graduate and undergraduate credit for teachers and students who embark on educational travel experiences and complete the required coursework with Idioma. We believe that travel is an essential extension of the classroom—allowing learners to immerse themselves in new cultures, practice language skills in real-world contexts, and gain a broader perspective on global citizenship. Through these partnerships, we enable teachers and students to deepen their understanding of the world around them, making learning not only more engaging but also transformative. At Idioma Education & Consulting, we see travel as an invaluable tool for both personal and academic growth, and we’re excited to facilitate this journey for educators and learners alike.
Through our travel partnerships:
Teachers can earn graduate-level credit or professional development hours for traveling with students and completing required coursework with Idioma.
Students can earn undergraduate-level credit through the University of the Pacific for traveling and completing required coursework with Idioma.
At Hummingbird Student Tours, we specialize in creating seamless and transformative travel experiences for students. Our expert team designs immersive educational journeys, anticipating potential challenges before they arise. When unexpected situations occur, our 24/7 on-call support ensures you're never alone. With a focus on safety, personalized service, and expertly crafted itineraries, we are dedicated to making your travel experience meaningful and memorable. Let us take care of the logistics, so you can focus on creating unforgettable learning adventures. Ready to soar with Hummingbird?
Idioma is proud to partner with Hummingbird Student Tours to bring our teachers the opportunity to earn graduate-level credits or professional development hours as an optional enhancement to your travel experience.
Travel with Idioma and Hummingbird
Deepen Your Language & Cultural Fluency in Costa Rica
In partnership with Hummingbird Student Tours, we’re excited to introduce the Pura Vida Educator Experience—an immersive professional development program designed specifically for teachers and educators.
Set in historic Heredia, Costa Rica, this 7-day (or optional 10-day) program combines professional language instruction with authentic cultural connection. Traveling teachers can choose to earn graduate-level credit, professional development hours, or simply enjoy the language and cultural immersion.
Program Highlights:
Authentic Homestay: Live with a welcoming Costa Rican host family with daily breakfast and dinner included.
Targeted Spanish Instruction: 16 hours of classes taught by native Costa Rican professors, complete with an oral assessment and graduation ceremony.
Cultural Excursions: Guided Heredia city tour, Central Market scavenger hunt, coffee farm visit, ropes course, and an educational trip to a wildlife rescue center.
Adventure Included: Full-day whitewater rafting in Sarapiquí with lunch provided.
Optional 3-Day Extension: Add Latin dance lessons and a full-day beach trip to Isla Tortuga.
Included in Package ($3,595): Local homestay accommodations, 16 hours of Spanish classes, daily breakfast/dinner + 5 lunches, all scheduled excursion admissions, and ground transfers (including SJO airport pickup/drop-off). (Note: Airfare and travel protection are not included.)
Earn graduate-level credit
Turn your travel into professional growth with the Pura Vida Educator Experience.
Make your travel work for you!
The Pura Vida Educator Experience offers world language teachers the ideal mix of language study, cultural immersion, and curriculum development. By pairing your travel with Idioma's Learning Beyond the Classroom: Pura Vida Educator Experience course, you’ll document your experience, create lessons you can use immediately in your classroom, and come home with 3 graduate-level credits ready to apply toward state licensing or salary step advancement (Master’s +15, Master’s +30, etc.).
How to register for graduate-level credits for the Pura Vida Educator Experience:
Register for the Pura Vida Educator Experience directly through Hummingbird Student Tours by clicking here or the button below to visit Hummingbird’s registration webpage.
Register for graduate-level credits by clicking here or the button below. Choose your credit option, add to cart, and complete the registration and payment information.
-
To earn graduate-level credit, you will register for the Pura Vida Educator Experience trip through Hummingbird Student Tours and enroll in Idioma’s asynchronous Learning Beyond the Classroom: Travel Course. During and after your trip, you will document your experiences, reflect on cultural learning, and complete coursework online to earn 3 graduate-level credits.
-
Graduate-level credits are offered through one of Idioma’s university partners, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).
Upon course completion, you will receive an official university transcript. Because re-licensure and salary advancement policies (such as Master’s +15 or +30) vary by state and district, we recommend checking with your district or licensing board for approval prior to enrolling.
-
Yes! If you do not need graduate credit, you can opt to earn 45 Professional Development Hours / Clock Hours (such as MA PDPs, NY CTLEs, IL CPDUs, TX CPEs, or PA ACT48 hours) or simply participate in the travel experience for language and cultural immersion without completing coursework.
-
The 16 hours of targeted Spanish classes in Heredia, Costa Rica, are taught by native Costa Rican professors and are tailored to meet participants at various proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced speakers.
-
The travel course is self-paced and online through Idioma’s Schoology platform. You have up to 3 months from your course start date to complete and submit your assignments, giving you flexible time to finish after returning home if you did not complete the course during the trip.
-
The $3,595 package price covers local homestay accommodations, 16 hours of Spanish classes, daily breakfast and dinner, 5 lunches, scheduled excursion fees, and ground transfers (including SJO airport pickup and drop-off). The graduate-level credits, airfare and travel protection are not included and must be arranged separately.
-
While the Pura Vida Educator Experience is designed as an educator-focused professional development program, Hummingbird Student Tours also specializes in custom student group travel. Check with Hummingbird Student Tours or contact Idioma to inquire about options for family or student group extensions.