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Bob M

Jul 27, 2002, 7:32 PM

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Classes in Northern Mexico?

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My wife and I are looking for Spanish classes in Northern Mexico, where it would be convenient driving from Arizona or California (e.g Hermosillo, Guaymas,???). Full immersion would be best but if there are other opportunities for effective learning we would be interrested. We currently have moderate skills in Spanish. Any ideas? Thanks.

Glenn

Jul 28, 2002, 8:23 AM

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Classes in Northern Mexico?

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: My wife and I are looking for Spanish classes in Northern Mexico, where it would be convenient driving from Arizona or California (e.g Hermosillo, Guaymas,???). Full immersion would be best but if there are other opportunities for effective learning we would be interrested. We currently have moderate skills in Spanish. Any ideas? Thanks.Bob, My wife and I spent 2 weeks studying at the Baja California Language College in Ensenada and I would reccommend it without reservation. Classes were held from 8:00 until 2:30 with 30 minutes for lunch. The first 4 hours were spent mostly on grammar and the last 2 hours were discussions about whatever seemed to interest the group, from shopping to kids and grandkids to politics. It was a great way to practice. We took this vacation in July of 2001 and had taken Spanish I the spring before ( we also had both taken Spanish in high school 30+ years before but had not practiced it, however we do feel that it helped ). The first day we understood little of what was being said by the instructors, but by the end of the 2 weeks we were amazed at the improvement, understanding almost everything. The instructors were young, but, never-the-less, excellent, knowing how to present the material and how to handle difficult situations, e.g., a german student pointing out the problems in Mexico (like they don't know), a 55(?) year old woman crying that she can't handle the material, etc.. The poise that these young (we're 50, so young means in their 20's) people demonstrated was fun to watch.
One thing that we found to be a benefit, but could be a drawback for some, is that homework is assigned each day which took an average of a couple of hours to complete. We didn't see this as a problem because we were there to learn and because we got out at 2:30 there was plenty of time to do whatever we wanted and still get it done.
We stayed with a Mexican woman for the 2 weeks and found that to be a great way to practice Spanish and get to know a little more about Mexico and its' people. If you want to get the most out of the Spanish lessons, we found it best to ask the host family to speak Spanish as much as possible, even if it is awkward. She made breakfast for us in the morning and had a meal ready for us when we got back from class. The first couple of days she also made an evening meal at about 7:30, but, we asked her not to make anything for us after the second day because it was more than we were used to eating.
We walked every day, sometimes as much as 10 miles, and never felt unsafe. The setting of Ensenada is beautiful, surrounded by mountains on 3 sides and the ocean to the west and the temperatures were in the mid 70s every day and in the 60s at night. However, the Mexican people are so poor and it is, of course, reflected in the town. El Centro is the tourist area and is nice, but, if you go a block or so from there, it changes. Since you are from Arizona, I expect you know what I am talking about. This was our first trip to Mexico and it was a shock to see how destitute such a large portion of the people are. In many places, as far as the eye could see, people living in whatever they could drag together; corrigated steel, cardboard, old matresses! It is heart rending to see a woman with her small children sleeping on the sidewalk with not even a blanket.
I guess that's about it.Best of luck,
Glenn

Juan

Jul 30, 2002, 6:36 PM

Post #3 of 3 (1346 views)

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Classes in Northern Mexico?

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: : My wife and I are looking for Spanish classes in Northern Mexico, where it would be convenient driving from Arizona or California (e.g Hermosillo, Guaymas,???). Full immersion would be best but if there are other opportunities for effective learning we would be interrested. We currently have moderate skills in Spanish. Any ideas? Thanks.: Bob,: My wife and I spent 2 weeks studying at the Baja California Language College in Ensenada and I would reccommend it without reservation. Classes were held from 8:00 until 2:30 with 30 minutes for lunch. The first 4 hours were spent mostly on grammar and the last 2 hours were discussions about whatever seemed to interest the group, from shopping to kids and grandkids to politics. It was a great way to practice. We took this vacation in July of 2001 and had taken Spanish I the spring before ( we also had both taken Spanish in high school 30+ years before but had not practiced it, however we do feel that it helped ). The first day we understood little of what was being said by the instructors, but by the end of the 2 weeks we were amazed at the improvement, understanding almost everything. The instructors were young, but, never-the-less, excellent, knowing how to present the material and how to handle difficult situations, e.g., a german student pointing out the problems in Mexico (like they don't know), a 55(?) year old woman crying that she can't handle the material, etc.. The poise that these young (we're 50, so young means in their 20's) people demonstrated was fun to watch.
: One thing that we found to be a benefit, but could be a drawback for some, is that homework is assigned each day which took an average of a couple of hours to complete. We didn't see this as a problem because we were there to learn and because we got out at 2:30 there was plenty of time to do whatever we wanted and still get it done.
: We stayed with a Mexican woman for the 2 weeks and found that to be a great way to practice Spanish and get to know a little more about Mexico and its' people. If you want to get the most out of the Spanish lessons, we found it best to ask the host family to speak Spanish as much as possible, even if it is awkward. She made breakfast for us in the morning and had a meal ready for us when we got back from class. The first couple of days she also made an evening meal at about 7:30, but, we asked her not to make anything for us after the second day because it was more than we were used to eating.
: We walked every day, sometimes as much as 10 miles, and never felt unsafe. The setting of Ensenada is beautiful, surrounded by mountains on 3 sides and the ocean to the west and the temperatures were in the mid 70s every day and in the 60s at night. However, the Mexican people are so poor and it is, of course, reflected in the town. El Centro is the tourist area and is nice, but, if you go a block or so from there, it changes. Since you are from Arizona, I expect you know what I am talking about. This was our first trip to Mexico and it was a shock to see how destitute such a large portion of the people are. In many places, as far as the eye could see, people living in whatever they could drag together; corrigated steel, cardboard, old matresses! It is heart rending to see a woman with her small children sleeping on the sidewalk with not even a blanket.
: I guess that's about it.: Best of luck,
: GlennMy wife and I went for a week of language study in Ensenada in both '97 and '98. At that time there were at least three language schools in Ensenada. The one we attended was "The Center of Languages and Latin American Studies". We had a good experience at the school and a wonderful experience staying with the same family both times.
This school was very busy during the summer months because they had some sort of a deal with San Diego State U. to teach "for credit" classes to college students. That may be true of other schools in Ensenada too. If you go after Labor Day I think you'll find the classes and the home stay accommodations less crowded.
Definitely stay with a family -- it isn't truly "immersion" unless you do!