Intensive Spanish program

[sgac]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi,

Does anyone know of a good intensive Spanish program abroad? I would like to improve my rusty Spanish skills before starting school. I've been looking on-line at different programs, but I'd really like a recommendation. I thought that maybe some of the other nontrad's might have some good rec's.

Thanks! 🙂

 

[MissMD'10]

Hi,

Does anyone know of a good intensive Spanish program abroad? I would like to improve my rusty Spanish skills before starting school. I've been looking on-line at different programs, but I'd really like a recommendation. I thought that maybe some of the other nontrad's might have some good rec's.

Thanks! 🙂

Pop Wuj in Xela, Guatemala was recommended to me by a doctor friend of the family. I am flying down there next month. They have a month long intensive medical spanish program but I know June is full and May (what I am doing) might be by now too. Check it out. I know that the city has many spanish schools and if you search the web by city name you can find a lot of them.

 

[sanford_w/o_son]

there was a related thread on this in allo a couple months ago.

man, i'm such an sdn dork.

 

[sgac]

Thank you so much! Both of the posts above are very helpful.

there was a related thread on this in allo a couple months ago.

man, i'm such an sdn dork.

 

[notdeadyet]

Does anyone know of a good intensive Spanish program abroad? I would like to improve my rusty Spanish skills before starting school.

There's lots of ad hoc spanish programs in Mexico and (especially) Guatamala/Nicaragua which can be had for about $100-$150/week. My brother went to one and loved it.

For something more recognized and organized, there are formal programs, especially ones offered through medical schools. The best I've found, through research and word of mouth is a four week program offered by the University of Guadalajara in Mexico (http://www.uag.mx/medicine/medical_spanish.htm). It's about $1400 for the month, including accommodation with a host family and all your meals. You have four hours per day of medical spanish classes and four hours per day of volunteering at a health clinic, working on backgrounds with patients, taking vitals, etc.

Again, this is a comparatively expensive program, but I liked the fact that it was very well organized and affiliated with a medical school. If you're on a tighter budget, the smaller programs for Spanish in central america are great, though go with a recommended one, as some are pretty sad...

 

[stherling]

I spent a month at the Dunham Institute (http://www.geocities.com/dunhaminstitute/) in Chiapas, Mexico last July. 4 hours/day Spanish lessons + accomodations with a host family for about $550 (think it's $650 now). The great thing about the place is that it's in Chiapa de Corzo, which is this small town in Chiapas that has virtually no English speakers, so you get the immersion experience big time. The only caveat is that while their regular teacher (Ester) is phenomenal, the substitute teachers are .... so-so, so you want to make sure that the regular teacher is available for the entire length of your stay. Feel free to PM me if you want to know more about the program/my experience.

In general, I've heard that Guatemala is cheaper but the teaching standards are generally higher in Mexico. Only hearsay though 🙂 I believe tickets to Mexico are cheaper though. Also, Mexico has a phenomenal bus system so you can travel on the weekends for CHEAP.