learningspanish

Learning Spanish
related: spanish flickrgroup: [|Taller 21] editing: [|FAQ]

[|Oaxaca] (pronounced //wa-HA-ka//) awakens the senses.

This is not hyperbolic promotion, but rather a candid assessment of a place ideal for a learning vacation. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, tastes, smells and textures that are unique in the world. In the years I have lived in Oaxaca, I have had the privilege of getting to know many teachers and students. Said one friend and native New Yorker, "When you hang out with Mexicans and you speak Spanish, you are in a different [|México]."

Who teaches?
Formal and informal instruction is available. Informal teachers include taxi drivers, hotel and restaurant owners and passersby. Locals are proud of their language and the local slang. They're happy to share this knowledge.

Formal teachers are accomplished and accredited instructors. They also tend to provide flexible learning schedules and personal attention. Said one teacher, "I don't see students as clients. They're people first."

Who takes classes?
There are two primary groups who take classes. Some attend schools for a quick week-long immersion to prepare themselves for continued traveling in the region. Others take classes for several weeks or months to develop deeper skills. It's not uncommon for couples to arrive where one spouse already speaks Spanish and the partner attends classes to get up to speed.

Where to stay
Language schools easily can assist students with homestays. Living with families helps students with language learning and cultural assimilation. For those who prefer not to live with a family, hotels and apartments are available.

How to learn Spanish
The keys to successfully learning a foreign language are invariably having a desire to learn and putting yourself in a position where learning is fun. Experiential learning -- the process of creating meanings from direct experience -- extends beyond the classroom. Learning Spanish by practicing the language takes a plethora of forms in Oaxaca where you can learn to dance at the [|Salon de la Salsa] or play rugby Saturdays at the Ciudad Universitaria.

Other opportunities include taking cooking classes in a place where reknowned chef Rick Bayless says offers a taste of real Mexico. Oaxaca City's Abastos Market regularly receives seasonal produce from all over the state of Oaxaca and the country. Asking the sellers how to prepare [|huitlacoche] - mutated corn smut - or anything else that srikes your fancy will begin a long and tasty conversation!

There's no shortage of cultural events, book readings and art openings.

Some of the schools hold their own events. Instituto Amigos del Sol has partnered with Planeta.com by co-hosting the [|Rural Tourism Fairs] and this past year the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca launched a series of [|Fair Trade expos] in which local artesanos and chocolate producers were invited to sell directly to students.

When to learn Spanish?
The advantage of learning Spanish in Oaxaca lies in respecting the calendar of traditional festivals and celebrations. Nearby villages celebrate particular Saint's Days with reverence, not to mention a cavalcade of good food and amusements. The city's chief holidays are [|Day of the Dead] (November 1 and 2), [|Guelaguetza] (the last two Mondays of July) and the you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it [|Radish Night] (December 23) just before Christmas.

FAQ
There are celebrations year-round and great foods that are in season for just a month or sometimes even a few weeks. This means anytime you come to Oaxaca, there will be special treats and adventures. The best advice is to come when you have time and are in the right frame of mind to learn.
 * When is the best time of the year to learn Spanish?**

Oaxaca City is a great place to learn Spanish. You won't hear that much indigenous language unless you seek it out. That said, in the nearby villages locals frequently use their own languages.
 * I heard that Oaxaca has a large indigenous population. Is it still a good place to practice Spanish?**

Transitions Abroad
[|Language Study Abroad] http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/atd/latinamericafaqs.shtml

 [|OAXACA CITY]

 * [|Instituto Amigos del Sol] **

Pino Suárez #802

Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Phone: (951) 133-6052

Contact: Rogelio Ballesteros

Email

[|http://www.oaxacanews.com]

[|FLICKR] - [|FACEBOOK] - WIKI
 * [|Instituto Cultural Oaxaca] **

Avenida Juárez #909

Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Phone: (951) 515-3404

Contacts: Lucero Topete and Carlos Topete

Email

[|http://www.icomexico.com]

[|BLOG] - [|FACEBOOK] - [|FOURSQUARE] - [|FLICKR] - [|LINKED IN] - [|TWITTER] - [|YOUTUBE] - WIKI
 * [|Becari Spanish Language School] **

M. Bravo #210, Plaza San Cristóbal

Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Phone: (951) 514-6076

Contact: Sandra Rivera

Email

[|http://www.becari.com.mx]

[|**Facebook**] **- [|Flickr] - [|Twitter] ** - WIKI
 * [|Becari Spanish Language School] **

Quintana Roo #209

Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Phone: (951) 516-4634

Contact: Martha Canseco

Email

[|http://www.becari.com.mx]

[|**Facebook**] **- [|Flickr] - [|Twitter] **
 * [|Solexico Language and Cultural Center] **

Abasolo #217, corner of Avenida Juarez

Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Phone: (951) 516-5680

Contact: Elizabeth Petter

Email

[|http://www.solexico.com]

[|**Flickr**] - [|**Facebook**] - [|**Twitter**] - [|**YouTube**]


 * [|Español Interactivo Language School] **

Armenta y López #311-B

Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Phone: (951) 514-6062

U.S. Phone: (213) 634-1444

Contact: Luz Ojeda

Email

[|http://www.studyspanishinoaxaca.com]

[|FACEBOOK] - [|FLICKR] - [|TWITTER]