Learn Spanish Travel Spanish Blog

The first week of school was a challenge but I loved it. It was exactly as I remembered it from last year except this time I am taking 5 hours each day of private classes instead of group classes. Plus one group class - a lecture.

The first three hours are for grammar. 50 minute periods. We are using one of the books that UNINTER has published which has lots of exercises for practice. So my teacher, Margarita, explains a little and then I try to use the correctly conjugated verbs to complete the sentences. This is very difficult for me because I have to come up with the answers without a lot of time to think. My brain really gets a workout and the practice helps anchor the grammar.

The fourth and fifth hours are for conversation. For two consecutive 50 minute periods a really pleasant and engaging young man (late 20’s maybe) named Edwardo and I sit in one of the Spanish conversation gardens and talk about whatever subject comes up. Sometimes we talk about our families or politics or the differences in our cultures. Other times we discuss current events. It’s always interesting and he gently corrects my Spanish errors or helps me as I grasp for words to express myself. Again, it‘s exhausting but fun and the time passes quickly.

The 6th hour of the day is a lecture class. There is a different topic each day. This week we have learned a little about the Aztec culture, the history of the beginning of Mexico City, (it’s built on an ancient lake bed and is sinking), medicinal plants, the etnobotanico jardin in Cuernavaca and the problems of depression in present times. I am amazed at how much of this I am FINALLY understanding. 6 weeks of study in Mexico are paying off.

The last class of the day is an extra one was free. It is Spanish Pronunciation. For about an hour and a half each afternoon (Monday through Thursday) Claudia — a really wonderful teacher with a great sense of humor — has helped us struggle through diphthongs and the dreaded double R sound. I don’t know if the class will be offered in the upcoming week, but I hope so. It was really helpful and I have learned lots of techniques to help me avoid making the lovely Spanish language sound terrible. Now I need to practice what I have learned — a lot!

The staff and teachers at the school are all very warm, friendly, professional and anxious to help each student in whatever way they can. The school is geared toward serious study and there are many opportunities to learn and practice Spanish. The classrooms are comfortable, bright and the acoustics are good, so I never have any trouble hearing what the teacher is saying. In fact, the main campus is a group of about 8 buildings surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens with trees and lots of flowers, pretty little swimming pools (filled with clear water, but no longer used for swimming), benches, and white metal tables with chairs grouped here and there.

This week there was a celebration on Thursday in honor of Valentines Day. There was a temporary stage erected in one of the central gardens where mariachis and traditional folk dancers in colorful clothes performed for the students. “Cupid”, complete with white feathered wings and a red bow and arrow was seen wandering among the students. Tables were set up here and there and people sold fresh Oaxacan tamales, chocolates, American (make that U.S.) style hot dogs and a multitude of little gifts for that special valentine. It was fun.

Dr. Jim Horn was on campus all week with a Elder Hostel group. Trudy, the other student that shares the same house and host family with me was invited to attend two of his lectures and asked me along. Dr. Horn is from the U.S. but has lived in Cuernavaca for over 25 years. He has written a book about the city and talked about the political and economic relationship between Mexico and the U.S. during the past 40 years or so. He is a good speaker and the lectures were very interesting and informative. They left me wanting to learn more.

As usual during the past weeks of Spanish schools, by Friday my brain was completely full and I didn’t think it could hold another Spanish word or verb conjugation. I was looking forward to the weekend, not only for a little relaxation, but because my host family was planning to take Trudy and me to the place in Mexico where the monarch butterflies migrate each year!

Tags:   Cuernavaca · immersion · Immersion school · Immersion Schools · Learn Spanish · Learning Spanish · Mexico · Spanish · speak Spanish · Travel Spanish · Universidad Internacional2 Comments