Learn Spanish in Mexico - Spanish School in Puebla, Mexico

Course Prices Accommodation Prices School Facilities Course Details

Learn Spanish in Puebla, Mexico

In a broad, high valley about 60 miles southeast of Mexico City is a city which has been known by many names over the years: City of Angels, City of Tiles, Heroic City of Zaragoza. Today we know it as simply Puebla.

Established by the Spanish in 1531 on the main route between the port of Veracruz (the most important port in Mexico) and Mexico City, Puebla was the principal city of colonial Mexico. Puebla's appearance is the most European of all the colonial cities, because it was planned from the ground up by a Spanish city designer rather than being built within an existing Indian
community.

Puebla is known internationally for its hand-painted ceramics, done in a style known as Talavera. Talavera takes many forms, from colorful painted tiles (azulejos) with Arabic designs that adorn homes, churches, fountains, and municipal buildings, to hand-painted pottery and dishes sold in the city's shops and markets.

Puebla (elevation 7,000 feet) is flanked by four towering ice-capped volcanoes that are visible as you approach the city. The area's deeply rural flavor, indigenous roots, and European influences can be experienced by way of numerous day trips to neighboring cities and states.

Although modern Puebla is highly industrialized, its historic downtown remains a Spanish-colonial treasure filled with elegant 17th and 18th century European architecture and art. When you add a temperate climate year-around, friendly and courteous residents called poblanos) and delicious regional cuisine, Puebla becomes an ideal place to learn Spanish in Mexico.

Spanish Courses in Puebla, Mexico - Fees

Our Spanish School in Puebla, Mexico

Our Spanish school in Puebla, Mexico was moved to its new location after 22 years in the old location on September 1st, 2006. It was built with considerable consideration given to the acoustics, class size and comfort, and updated with the latest in teaching equipment and materials, and state of the art facilities. The Spanish language school in Puebla, Mexico is strategically placed in the historic center, with a 17 century facade, within walking distance of most of the tourist attractions of Puebla including: the Cathedral, the Zocalo (main plaza), the Theater, the market, many museums, many colonial Churches, the library, the Post Office, and many restaurants and cafes.

Our 18 classrooms are equipped with ergonomic adjustable chairs, large desks, overhead projectors, fluorescent lighting, etc.

Our computer lab with 12 computers connected to a T-1 LAN line, is equipped with Multimedia, with the latest in software packages; programs ranging from pronunciation practice to vocabulary building. We also have VCR/DVD/TV combos so students can watch Spanish movies from our wide selection of movies. In addition the lab has access to the Internet for research or e-mail. We also have wireless Internet access for any student that wishes to bring a laptop.

Our video/projection room is equipped with the latest theater style audio system as well as a big screen TV. The room is used for special presentations and for classroom viewing of videos or movies.

The Institute has three student lounges/terraces and a patio for relaxing or studying in between, before or after classes. Purified water is also available in our facility as well as refreshments, coffee and snacks.

Teachers, all the teachers at the Spanish School in Puebla, Mexico have college degrees in Spanish or Spanish Linguistics and between them have over 60 years of experience teaching Spanish as a second language.

Our Spanish Courses in Puebla, Mexico

Our main goal on our Spanish courses in Puebla, Mexico is to help you communicate in Spanish. There are four areas of communication: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. In our program we consider all four areas. Our standard program has five levels: Beginner, Beginner/Intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced and Superior. You can specify which level you would like to enter or you can take our placement exam which will determine which level to start at.

The duration of our Spanish courses is 4 weeks; which is the ideal time to complete one of our five levels. Our Spanish language courses are intensive 6-hours a day in which two of them are actually hands on Spanish. You will receive as part of your course a Textbook, a Workbook to accompany your textbook, a Verb-conjugation book (5,000 verbs), and a Spanish Encyclopedic Dictionary. Morning classes are from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (maximum 6 students) Afternoon classes are from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (one student/instructor)

Morning classes: In the morning you will cover different components of the language. You will have Spanish Grammar, Spanish Vocabulary and Practice, Interactive Lab, Spanish Reading, Pronunciation, Culture, Writing, etc.

Afternoon classes: In the afternoon you will have one-on-one hands on practice of the grammar and vocabulary you learned in the morning classes as you practice your Spanish Conversation with a Native Speaker. The Native Speaker will  escort you to places of interest and talk to you in Spanish. You will be given a list of all the places of interest in Puebla with an explanation of each, so you will be able to decide which places you will like to visit.

Learn Spanish in Mexico - Accommodation

Our home stay program is a very important part of your overall language experience. We only place one student per host family. You will stay with a host-family, unless you request differently in which case we will work with you to find adequate hotel accommodation. Our host-families are carefully screened, and all are extremely helpful to foreign students. We have also selected homes that offer a level of comfort that is hopefully not too far from what you are used to in your home country.

Our selection process assures that all our students will have a comfortable and pleasant stay in Puebla. Although our host-families receive a compensation to provide you a home, they certainly enjoy having a foreign student as a guest.

All three meals will be provided. Normally you will eat the same food as the family. unless you have indicated special diet restrictions on your application form. In this case we will communicate your needs to your host family.

In an orientation meeting you will be informed of any cultural differences that may exist between a Mexican family and one from your home country. Sharing your time and meals with your family is one of the best opportunities you will have to practice your Spanish and learn more about Mexican culture and values.

Please note: All prices are quoted in $US. For the equivalent in your currency, please visit www.xe.com/ucc.