The Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center has inaugurated a new branch in the Pacific-slope town of Esparza, and area residents can now sign up for English classes there.
Classes are available for children, adolescents and adults of the nearby communities of Puntarenas, Jacó and Orotina who want to learn English. Among classes to be offered are English Now; the Speak Plus program to improve pronunciation, vocabulary and comprehension; the Teens Xtreme program for 12-15 year olds; and First Steps, for children ages 8-11. These classes will be offered during the evening hours and on Saturdays, according to a statement from the center.
The center has other branches in the San José areas of San Pedro and La Sabana; Alajuela, northwest of San José; and Cartago, east of San José. Its directors decided to expand to Esparza because of an increase in tourists to nearby areas, creating a growing job market for residents who speak English, the statement said.
The center’s Feb. 23 inauguration came just days after Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced the closing of the Venzuelan state-run aluminum plant CVG Aluminios Nacionales S.A. (Alunasa), which employes 400 people in Esparza (TT, Feb. 23). He later apparently changed his mind and said the plant will remain open (TT, March 2).
The new CulturalCenter branch is located inside the Colegio Santa SofÃa. For more information, call 636-7771 or 800- 207-7500.
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