July 2007
Learning Spanish in Mexico is a Family Affair
“Me llamo Marta. ¿Cómo te llamas?”
The young Mexican teacher was looking directly at me. Squirming in my chair, I desperately searched the dark recesses of my middle-aged brain for an iota of junior high school Spanish.
That was five years ago. Since that first, awkward day I have become, if not fluent, comfortably conversational in Spanish. My two kids have, too. And here’s the best part: We’ve had fun doing it, and we did not go broke.
Since 2002, my family has been going to Mexico at least once – sometimes twice – a year for one to six weeks. Each time we go, my kids and I spend at least a week in Spanish classes improving our grammar, verb conjugation and vocabulary. Not only do we come home with better Spanish skills, but with new friends and great memories, too.
My teenage daughter still has the colorful piñata and crepe paper flowers she learned to make in Spanish Day Camp when she was 9. At home in Seattle, she keeps up with the girls she met at Spanish school in Mexico via the Internet. Ever since their first year in school together, they have plotted a rendezvous. Last year they finally managed to pull it off, returning to San Miguel de Allende for a weeklong teen Spanish program at el Centro Bilingüe. While they had a blast traveling around town visiting markets, artist studios and bakeries with their cool, college-age teachers, I tackled direct object pronouns and boned up on the past tenses.
The benefits of immersion and bilingual education have been well documented in recent years. Parental demand for school programs offering bilingual education is skyrocketing. Competition is stiff for the few available slots at dual-language immersion schools like the award-winning John Stanford International School in Seattle, where each year nearly 100 students end up on the waiting list.
Rather than clamoring for one of the few available spots at a bilingual school for my kids, I took the matter into my own hands. I did some research and found that Mexican language schools are very affordable. Most offer the additional service of finding reasonably priced housing for students and families. For high school or college students, family home stays can be arranged for about $23 per day, including meals.
Two popular places in Mexico for families interested in studying Spanish are San Miguel de Allende and Oaxaca. Both cities have vibrant local cultures and offer numerous educational opportunities, including language schools and private tutoring programs.
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
3.5 hours north of Mexico City; population an estimated 80,000; elevation
5,980 feet
This central Mexican hill town offers a setting that is both charming and easy to navigate. The town’s large expatriate community is generally helpful to new visitors, making it a welcoming place for the uninitiated. There are endless options for studying Spanish in San Miguel, with new programs popping up every year. Here are some reputable schools that specialize in Spanish language programs for families. Most schools have a nominal enrollment fee in addition to the weekly tuition, listed here per person.
El Centro Bilingüe de San Miguel: Centrally located, this school is the best choice for families with young children. In addition to adult language education, the school offers special kids’ programs during winter and spring breaks and summer vacations. Classes are daily beginning every Monday. Extracurricular activities – like their Mexican cooking classes featuring local chefs – are included in the tuition. The Web site claims that classes are limited to six students, but at holiday times classes can be twice that size. $100/week. www.geocities.com/centrobilingue.
AHA! Spanish-Academia Hispano Americana: This is one of the oldest language schools in San Miguel with classrooms organized around a lovely courtyard garden. The program is geared toward intensive Spanish, but semi-intensive classes are also available. It’s a good choice for adults and high school students. Intensive Spanish (seven hours per day) $190/week; semi-intensive (four hours per day) $120/week. www.ahaspeakspanish.com.
Mexart: Among the newer programs are Mexart’s month-long summer programs for teens interested in studying dance and art. The school offers either Dance/Spanish or Art/Spanish courses, open to mature high school students. Students live and study in a small hotel with seven casitas. All inclusive fee $3,550/month (transportation not included). www.gomexart.com.
OAXACA CITY
Six hours south of Mexico City; population estimated at 550,000; elevation
5,085 feet
Larger than San Miguel, Oaxaca City has lots to offer families interested in learning Spanish and Mexican culture. Oaxaca is home to numerous indigenous groups, making it one of the most culturally vibrant states in all of Mexico.
Holidays, when visitors can experience the colorful customs
and religious celebrations of the area, are particularly good times to
visit Oaxaca. The central city revolves around the zócalo (main
town square), and many sites of interest, including the recommended schools,
are within walking distance of the city center.
Instituto Cultural Oaxaca: Situated in a park-like setting on the grounds
of a 19th century estate, the Instituto Cultural is one of the most pleasant
places to study in Oaxaca. Four-week courses are offered, but students
can opt to enroll for one or more weeks at a time. In addition to language
classes, the school offers afternoon workshops in dance, cooking and crafts,
as well as organized excursions to local tourist sites. Classes and testing
for newcomers begin on Mondays. $150/week, $250/two weeks, $350/three
weeks, $450/four weeks. www.inscuoax.com.
Vinigúlaza: Based on an activity-oriented curriculum, the Spanish for Kids program at the Vinigúlaza School is great for young children. Students interact with local Oaxacan children, learning Spanish through games, songs and other dynamic activities. Adult classes run concurrently with the kids’ program from 9 a.m. until noon. $83/week. www.viniguluza.com.
With numerous daily flights to Mexico offered by all major carriers and quick access to information on the Internet, arranging a family learning experience south of the border is easier than ever. Do a little homework to find the school that’s right for you and jump in. With a little effort your family will be hablando español pronto.
Judith Gille is the owner of City People’s Mercantile in Seattle, and writes regularly about the art and culture of Mexico. Her two children, Hannah, now 13, and Will, now 21, attended several of the schools mentioned in this article.
If You Go
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
Continental Airlines offers daily flights to Leon (BJX) or Queretaro (QTO),
the two airports serving San Miguel de Allende. Both are just over an
hour from San Miguel. Shuttle service is available through www.viajessanmiguel.com
for $27 U.S. per person. For visitor information on the city, visit www.portalsanmiguel.com.
and www.internetsanmiguel.com.
OAXACA CITY
Several airlines, including Continental, offer flights to Oaxaca, with
at least one stop. More information on traveling in Oaxaca City and state
is offered on the Planeta Ecotourism website. www.planeta.com.
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