More than 2,000 children in rural Costa Rican communities are now receiving English lessons through a technology-based program that connects small schools with specialized teachers. The program, called Hummingbird, has grown from an initial test in 35 schools to 100 schools across the country, according to the Ministry of Public Education (MEP).
Hummingbird is aimed at rural schools that may not have their own English teacher. Students receive live online lessons from a trained English instructor, while their regular teacher remains in the classroom to provide in-person help. The classes use computers, tablets and interactive whiteboards. Along with learning English, students gain experience using digital tools that are becoming increasingly important in school and the workplace.
The program is led by MEP and the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT), with support from the National University (UNA) and the Rural Development Institute (INDER). Officials say the goal is to give rural children access to the same learning opportunities available at larger schools, where specialized teachers are generally easier to find.
MICITT Minister Paula Bogantes Zamora and MEP Academic Vice Minister María Alexandra Ulate recently visited León Cortés Castro School in San Marcos de Tarrazú to see how the classes work and speak with students and teachers. Bogantes said technology should be used to close educational gaps and prevent a child’s home community from limiting what they can learn.
Ulate said cooperation among government agencies, schools and local communities can help overcome the distance separating rural students from specialized instruction. The program has also received support from parents. Juan Carlos Mora, president of the Cuesta de Moras School Board of Education, said Hummingbird has shown that children can receive English instruction even when their school is far from the larger population centers.
For students, the program offers practical preparation for high school, where English becomes a more important part of the curriculum. “My favorite word is sharpener, which means maquinilla; it was the first word I learned with teacher Marcos,” Cuesta de Moras student Nichson Navarro said.
The government has not released detailed information about the program’s cost, the complete list of participating schools or how students’ English progress will be measured. However, officials say Hummingbird is part of a broader effort to use internet connections and digital equipment to improve education in communities where access to specialized teachers remains limited.
