JRWooden

Folks:

I'm currently in Teuchitlan near Guadalajara on the 2nd leg of a major USA/CA solo tour by motorcycle.

I'm looking for recommendations for Spanish course / Spanish immersion schools in Southern Mexico.
I'm interested in "conversational Spanish" ... the kinda thing that will help me cross borders and talk to locals with reasonable proficiency. I have some skill now, but I can't follow open-ended conversations.

A school somewhere in the southern half of Mexico would be ideal if anyone has any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!
Jim

hopefulist

I studied for a few weeks at Instituto Jovel in San Cristóbal de las Casas in 2010 - excellent school and a great host family. They're probably still great:
https://www.institutojovel.com

JRWooden

Thanks!
I will check them out!

I can see from the few sites that I've visited that I should have planned farther ahead, as the classes are mostly scheduled sessions with a two week clearing period for applications ....


Alas, my "plans" were so fluid that wasn't really possible ;-)

baldone

We studied at 2 different schools and also hired 2 private tutors in Oaxaca. We liked this place the best, and they indicate there's no 2 week pre-registration period.
http://oaxacanews.com
Also, if you mosey on to Guatemala, our favorite Spanish school anywhere was PROBIGUA in Antigua. Proceeds for a good cause.

baldone

Just an FYI: http://www.probigua.com
What scooter are you riding? I'm so jealous.

JRWooden

Thanks BaldOne!

I have a 2009 BMW F650GS (2-cylinder) model.
I rolled over 61K miles on during the trip from North Carolina. I bought it new in 2008 and have loved it.

I rode the "Trans-American Trail" to CO
(mostly off-road) then headed south and ended up here.

In my "ever-evolving" (devolving) plan I'm thinking of heading to San Miguel de Allende so as to be there for the dia del Muerto festival next wkend 10/28.

You have started me thinking that perhaps instead of "school" perhaps just hiring a private tutor directly might be a better and more cost-effective approach.

How did you connect with the private tutors you used?

Thanks,
Jim

baldone

We did a couple different things. Google (or rather, Compuserve back in the day) worked. Then, a cousin of a friend in Oaxaca was a tutor. But we also requested private teachers from the school. Which was why we liked the school in Guatemala so much; 6 hours a day of one on one.
You may find adequate lodging difficult to find in Sma for DOD. I lived there for 7 years, (now in Querétaro), so if there's any heads up I might offer feel free to ask.
If you're going to be in the San Miguel area, the Sierra Gorda is an awesome place to ride. Another area off most people's radar (and maybe not compatible with your itinerary) is Nuevo León. Google Rayones and Rio Pilón, and Cañón Huasteca near Monterrey. Simply stunning.


If you're

JRWooden

Thanks baldone!

I will look up those riding suggestions.
I am on no schedule. I work a little bit from the road,
got rid of 90% of my stuff and put what was left in storage before I left the USA, so I'm intentionally homeless for the time being ;-)

I would exect that getting a private tutor through one of the schools would be more expensive - one school quoted $18 USD/hour (I think...)

Any idea what I should expect to pay roughly for a tutor if there is no middle-man in the transaction?

Thanks,
Jim

hopefulist

I had to pay extra for a one-on-one teacher at Jovel but it was 7 years ago so the cost wouldn't be the same. I'm so spoiled - nearly all Spanish courses in Guatemala are one-on-one and at about half the cost of the Mexican schools.

JRWooden

thank hopeful ;-)

I may end up hopping one more border and bone up on Spanish in Guatemala ;-)

baldone

I think the going rate for private/independent tutors in San Miguel for example, is about the equivalent of $10 US/hour. That said, sometimes the quality of a random teacher can be dodgy, so be sure he/she has good references.
I agree with hopefulist in that our experience in Guatemala was not only cheaper, but a much better learning experience. In talking with our teachers, they seemed to be more dedicated to and are very proud of their craft, in part I think, because of the high rate of illiteracy in the country.