General Spanish Courses

We are committed to providing our students with a quality learning experience in a friendly, fun, and student-oriented environment. Our teaching philosophy focuses on real communication in a non-threatening environment.
All instructors are Mexican natives, experienced Spanish teachers, and hold university degrees. Class sizes are small, with no more than 8 students per class and an average of 2-3 students per class.
Our curriculum has been developed following the Standards for Foreign Language Learning developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
Textbooks: "Español Para Extranjeros:," books 1, 2, and 3, by Ana María Maqueo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The books are written entirely in Spanish.
All of our instructors are also fluent in English and will use some English in the courses to clear doubts, to explain some linguistic and idiomatic differences and, overall, to accelerate the learning process.

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions and outcomes are outlined below. Proper class placement will be determined on arrival.

Your actual proficiency will vary depending on how much time and effort you invest. While it is true that some people have a talent for learning languages and learn faster than others, and some students will learn faster if they already speak at least one second language, dedication and hard work are the factors most important to your success.

Beginner

Beginner 1: 3 hours per day, Monday - Friday
If you take Beginner 1 for just one week, you will know enough Spanish for "survival" situations for travelers. A student entering at this level has little or no knowledge of the language or knows only a few basic words and phrases. After completing this level, a student should be able to communicate using simple basic structures and a limited vocabulary in everyday situations. Topics: Basic vocabulary and phrases. Gender and number of nouns, adjectives. Definite and indefinite articles. Regular and irregular verbs in the present tense. Direct pronouns. Simple future tense. Speaking, pronunciation, and vocabulary will be emphasized.

Beginner 2: 3 hours per day, Monday-Friday
Students entering at this level should be able to communicate using simple basic structures and a limited vocabulary in everyday situations, and understand some conversational language. Intended for those who have completed Beginner I or have a basic vocabulary, knowledge of basic grammar, and knowledge of conjugating verbs in the present tense. After completing this level, a student should be able to take part in a variety of simple conversational subjects using basic structures and vocabulary with acceptable accuracy and understand simple conversations when conducted slowly and clearly. Topics: More irregular verbs in the present tense. Reflexive verbs. Gerunds. The imperative and past tenses will be introduced. Direct and indirect object pronouns. Speaking, pronunciation, and vocabulary will be emphasized.

Intermediate

Intermediate 1: 3 hours per day, Monday - Friday
A student entering at this level should be able to take part in a variety of conversational subjects using basic structures and vocabulary with acceptable accuracy and can understand many conversations when conducted slowly and clearly. Intended for those who have completed the beginner courses or have a good grasp of Spanish grammar, and knowledge of conjugating verbs in the present, imperative, and past tenses. After completing this level, a student should have good control of structures and a practical and useful vocabulary on a broad range of topics. Errors may still be frequent but the student has a good understanding of the language and is able to get the gist of rapid speech. Topics: More on the past tenses. Imperfect tense. Imperfect and preterit progressive tenses. Past perfect tense. Future tense. Comparisons. Grammar will be continually reviewed and reinforced. Speaking, pronunciation, and vocabulary will be emphasized.

Intermediate 2: 3 hours per day, Monday - Friday
Students entering at this level should have good control of structures and a practical and useful vocabulary on a broad range of topics. Errors may still be frequent but the student has a good understanding of the language and is able to get the gist of rapid speech. Intended for those who have completed the Intermediate I course or have a good base of knowledge of Spanish grammar, and verbs in the present, past, imperative and simple future tenses. After completing this level, a student will be able to use a wide range of structures with a fair degree of accuracy. Some "typical" errors may still occur, but the student should have good overall comprehension and wide vocabulary. Topics: Subjunctive tenses. Passive voice. Grammar will be continually reviewed and reinforced. Speaking, pronunciation, and vocabulary will be emphasized.

High Intermediate, Advanced & Superior

Students in these upper levels should be able to communicate very well using most structures accurately. They should be able to talk about a wide range of topics using appropriate vocabulary and using varying degrees of idiomatic language.

Individual Tutoring Only:
Because of the highly individual needs of students at this level, High Intermediate, Advanced, and Superior classes are offered as individual tutoring only.

Course Objective:
That the student learns synonyms of words and phrases, colloquial Spanish, advanced Spanish grammar, learns to speak the language in a more sophisticated manner, and is capable of writing a letter or document with few spelling and grammatical errors. Topics: Subjunctive mood. Advanced grammar. Course content will be based on the specific needs of the individual. The student may develop further vocabulary in an area of need such as business Spanish, medical Spanish, or other professional areas.

Schedule:
Classes and schedules will be arranged on request. Advanced students who wish to share a tutor may do so at a reduced hourly rate.

Tutoring & Customized Groups

Students at all levels may also opt for individual tutoring in addition to, or instead of, group classes. The schedule is flexible and the program is tailored to the specific needs of the student.

You may arrange to share a tutor with 2 or more other students at a reduced hourly cost and at a time convenient for you. If 3 or more students wish to form a class at a time for a class other than as listed above, the school can accommodate you based on classroom and instructor availability.