Job Discussion Forums

Nate · Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 61 Location: Korea

Hi, I'm looking for people's opinions on the best programs out there to learn Spanish. I would prefer Mexico, since I'm posting in this folder. Other countries (Argentina...) aren't out of the question, though!

I'm looking for something that lasts maybe 2 months. I've studied Spanish in high school but my conversational level is very poor.

Feel free to link me to other threads that I didn't find in search.

I know about http://www.innovative-english.com/languagecourses.htm and the Guadalajara Language Center mentioned on that site. Any opinions on them?

I suppose if I'm looking for a 2 month program I could do the intermediate program one month then the advanced program the next month...

Obviously, the idea is to become fluent. I realize it will take more than 2 months to do it. But my area back in the States has an ever increasing Spanish-speaking population and it'd be useful to know the language.

Thanks. Laughing

Wouter · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Tlaquepaque

Hi Nate,

I�m from the Guadalajara Language Center in GDL. Nice that you found our website. We are publishing tomorrow some email addresses on our comments webpage so you can ask people about their experience with our school. Maybe this will help you to make a descission. If you need any more information just send us an email.

Wouter

SarahEsperanza · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 2

I took some classes at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara... it's done in one month blocks, so you can stay for as many months as you like, theoretically. I knew people who were there for a year, a semester, or only 2 months. There are 8 levels that you can place in, based upon an 80-question written exam and then an oral interview. Each month you have two classes- grammar and conversation until you get to levels 6-8, when you can take literature or business/medical spanish courses instead of conversation. Each class is 2 hours, so there are 4 hours of class each day, total. Sometimes people placed in different levels of grammar/conversation, but typically you're in the same level across the board.

Having 4 hours of Spanish a day is pretty intensive, and UAG's program attracts students from lots of different countries-- USA, Canada, England, Japan, Korea, Germany, to name a few. It's good to have a mixed class because the only language you have in common is Spanish. A lot of the teachers only speak spanish, too, so it's no use speaking English.

I think in any program you'll only get out of it as much as you put in. If you spend your time outside of class (all classes were in the AM, so you'd have the afternoons to yourself) speaking to Mexicans and practicing your skills without fear, you'd improve a lot better than if you only spoke Spanish when forced to and assumed that most Mexicans know a little English.

Hope this info was helpful to you!

Nate · Joined: 05 Sep 2003 Posts: 61 Location: Korea

Thanks to both of you.

I found this http://www.uag.mx/ for the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara... is there info on there about the Spanish program there that I can't find?

More ideas appreciated. Very Happy

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

vocholoco · Joined: 31 May 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Mexico DF

I studied at UNAM�s Centro de Ense�aza Para Extranjeros here in DF. Their main course is intensive, 9-12 daily for a month and there�s only one place you can do it and that�s in Ciudad Universitaria in the South of the city. There�s a part time course in Polanco, closer to language schools and lots of teaching opportunities in companies if you�re intending to work while you study. The teachers are well qualified and the classes dynamic.

This is the link http://www.cepe.unam.mx/cepe.htm