Roundtrip

I've persused just about all the threads on Spanish language courses in Mexico, but I'm surpised to not see any mention of the Instituto Allende, the supposedly famous school in San Miguel de Allende mentioned in FODORS Mexico 2007. All these other cities-particularly Oaxaca and Cuernavaca-seem to be mentioned but nothing about the Allende Institute. I've been to their website and I'm interested in their "Total Impact" program but I can't find reviews of this school either on FODORS or Lonely Planet.

Anybody have experience with this particular school? Also, if you've done any Spanish language immersion course in Mexico (3-4 weeks intensive instruction), did you feel it was truly valuable in terms of developing your Spanish language skills?

waggis

I have taken two consecutive courses, 3 weeks ea., of intensive Spanish classes in Mexico City. It was an excellent program and has served me well. Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the Instituto Allende. Have you checked with the Mexican Embassy?

Good luck in your research!

mikemo

There was a recent very negative post about the Instituto Allende on the www.tripadvisor.com SMdA forum.
Many others here are highly regarded.
The full emersion Academia Hispano Americano www.ahaspeakspanish.com is great, but very demanding.
Recommend www.warrenhardy.com free games for a start, and, of course, your local cc adult ed beginner's course.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

lakeside77

I'm very interested in the responses so far. My wife and I are going to live in Dominican Republic to help in a missionary church for 2 months. We are planning to go to a language school for 4 weeks prior to our time in the DR.

The SLI Spanish Language Institute in Cuernavaca has been highly recommended to us, but we've not had any luck finding reviews from people who have been there.

Roundtrip

Mikemo,

I visited the SMdA board on TripAdvisor.com, but I couldn't find any recent review of the Instituto Allende's language program, good or bad. Any chance to you could provide a direct link to that thread/post?

I've visited the websites of the other schools you mention but, based on the description of the programs off the respective websites, I still prefer the total immersion program offered by the Instituto Allende.

But I'm now a bit hesitant because there doesn't seem to be much said about it. And, I must confess, I don't like the fact that they've not responded to my online inquiry/pre-registration.

mikemo

Go to the www.tripadvisor.com SMdA forum and type instituto allende or spanish language schools or language schools or schools into the search box.
M

SmilingMary

While studying at the Instituto Cultural de Oaxaca in Oaxaca de Juárez last spring one of my classmates was a gringa resident of SMdA. She felt that she would get more exposure to Mexican culture in Oaxaca as so many expats in SMdA.

mikemo

Were you and she in the protesting crowds of teachers last Spring?
Very dangerous for gringas.
M