Spanish Immersion The First Couple Of Days

Spanish Immersion The First Couple Of Days

I still remember my first couple of days of my Spanish immersion program like it was yesterday. I flew into Liberia, Costa Rica at the end of July which is the rainy season. After going through customs and getting my bags I was met by my driver who was holding a big sign with my name on it. Soon we were off to the home of my host family in Santa Rosa which is located a couple of Km from Tamarindo. After driving for about 45 min through a heavy rain we were met by my family waiting for me at the corner in the rain of course. After introductions were made my driver was off and I was left to fend for myself. I really did not know what to expect. I was told they spoke no English and at that time I spoke no Spanish. Soon we were in the house and I was showed my room after I had unpacked my things I found a couple of toys I had brought for the two young boys they were very happy to get them and wanted me to show them how they worked. I found that the boys and the father spoke no English but the mother and her daughter who was visiting from San Jose spoke quite a little English, although they mostly spoke to me in Spanish that’s the point of Spanish immersion.

  When Monday morning arrived I could hardly wait to get to school.  My host mom walked me to bus where I was met by a small bus from the school. This was used to transport student to and from school soon I was on the bus and on my way to the first day of classes. When we got to there I was introduced to the director and some of other students, then it was off to the beginner class for me and an engineer from Illinois and an insurance agent from New Orleans.  Our teacher was a young lady who spoke no English, needless to say the first couple of days where hard but fun. When class was over I met a group of students who invited me to join them at a local soda, which is what they call a café for lunch. One of them was a girl from Switzerland we would later become good friends and surfing partners. There were a lot of people there from all over and a lot of different walks of life. The majority of them were collage students but after a couple of weeks most of them were gone to return to school.

  That afternoon after a relaxing day at the beach and watching one of the many beautiful sun sets I was back on the bus heading to Santa Rosa. The bus driver dropped me off and I started walking down to the house. I met a large dog whose name I later found out was (Muñeco) which is Spanish for doll let me tell you that day he was no doll. I guess he thought who this guy on my street  as the situation with him deterioratedrapidly I let out a cry for help as I feared he was getting ready to bite me.  Soon my family came to my rescue and introduced me to Moñeco.  After that we became good friends and many days I would find him waiting for me at the bus stop to walk me home. 

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Spanish Immersion Programs in Mexico – The Best Choice For Learning Spanish

Spanish Immersion Programs in Mexico – The Best Choice For Learning Spanish

There is no doubt. When it comes to learning Spanish, there is no way to do it than to immersing yourself in the Spanish language. And the best way to truly understand the Spanish language is to understand the culture. For this the ideal option is to enroll at in a Spanish Immersion program. For these types of programs, Mexico is the ideal choice. It does not have the high price of Spanish classes like you will find in Spain, but it also offers a level of safety that is not found in most other Spanish speaking countries in central and Latin America.

In Mexico there are hundreds of Spanish schools, but how do you know which one is best for you? This is depends very much on how you like to learn and what kind of environment you feel more comfortable in. Due to Mexico’s large size you can find schools on the beach, in historic cities, in the mountains, in the deserts or on mountain lakes. You can study Spanish in small towns or in one of the biggest cities in the world. The only limit to where you can study Spanish in Mexico is the limit of your imaginations.

Even with so many Spanish schools, there are always a few that stand out from the crowd. Here is a list of some of the top Spanish schools (based on size) in Mexico.

TOP LARGE SPANISH SCHOOL (100+ students)
Universidad Internaciónal – Cuernavaca, Morelos

Pros:

- Known as the school that invented Spanish language education. Has been around for over 30 years.
- Huge amount of school sponsored activities since it is also a Mexican University.
- Chance to interact with people from all over the world.
- Cuernavaca is known as the city of eternal Spring.

Cons:

- Easy to get lost in the crowd
- Cuernavaca is becoming saturated with Spanish schools, and many local stores and restaurants are starting have menu’s in English.
- Due the its near proximity to Mexico City the safety in Cuernavaca has gotten worse in recent years.

TOP MID-SIZED SPANISH SCHOOL (30-100 students)
Solexico – Puerta Vallarta, Quintana Roo

Pros:

- Perfect place for students looking to study and then enjoy an active night life.
- Spanish school has branches in other parts of Mexico, so you can arrange exchange programs.
- Can take classes in wonderful outdoor palapas.
- Puerta Vallarta is centrally located near the most beautiful beaches and ruins in Mexico.

Cons:

- A bit of a walk from the nearest beach.
- Risky choice during hurricane season, since Puerta Vallarta virtually closes if there is a hurricane headed this way.
- Some people may not enjoy the heat and humidity of the outside classrooms in the summer.

TOP SMALL SPANISH SCHOOL (0-30 students)
Querétaro Language School – Querétaro, Querétaro

Pros:

- Has a real family feel.
- Due to its small size, personalized attention is given to each students.
- Querétaro is the safest city in Mexico, and has one of the most active art and cultural scenes in the Mexico.
- The campus is located in the historic downtown.

Cons:

- Fills up quickly in the high seasons. Need to reserve in advance.
- Not for people who are looking to have class in large groups.
- The nearest beach is 8 hours away.

Other than the Spanish schools located in the list above there are hundreds of Spanish schools scattered around Mexico and you are sure to find one that has what you are looking for. The few things to ask when looking for a Spanish school in Mexico is if there teachers have university degrees (many Spanish schools have Spanish teachers without any qualifications) and to make sure that the staff knows

Spanish Immersion – the Most Effective Way to Learn Spanish

Spanish Immersion – the Most Effective Way to Learn Spanish

If you are interested in learning Spanish, and money is no object, then the fastest and most effective way to do this is probably through Spanish immersion. There are a wide variety of programs available to people who are interested in trying this option out. They are available in many Spanish speaking countries as well as some non-Spanish speaking countries, such as the United States.

The reason that it is so effective to learn Spanish through a Spanish immersion program is that you are only allowed to speak Spanish in these programs. All of the classes are conducted in Spanish, and you are requested to only speak in the language throughout the entire program. If you are taking a course in a Spanish speaking country you are usually also placed for at least part of the program with a Spanish speaking family. This way you get to hear the language being spoken as it is normally spoken in everyday life, rather than just how it is spoken in the classroom.

Some of these Spanish immersion programs can actually be quite affordable, but there is a wide range in prices, so those interested in giving this a try should definitely look around. Some of the programs can be very expensive. However, the more expensive programs will have some benefits that some of the less expensive programs do not. The instructors will be more likely to have college degrees, and their may be more high tech options to supplement the classroom instruction. Usually these programs offer either one on one instruction or very small classes of less than 10 students. The extra personal attention helps make it easier to learn Spanish than it would be with larger classes that are more common in universities and schools.

While you will be going into a Spanish immersion program in order to learn Spanish, you won’t be spending all of your time in the classroom, so consider this when you choose a program and pick one near other attractions that you would like to visit during your spare time. This way you can get some extra enjoyment out of your trip as well as learning Spanish.

The shorter language immersion programs that only last for a week or two will not give you as much improvement in your language skills as the longer programs, but they will still be helpful and give you a great opportunity to use and improve on your current skills.

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