Language school - Guanjuato or Oaxaca
 

50 something female travelling solo wants to squeeze in a couple weeks of language school before meeting husband and friends for further Mexico travel. Have cruised the board and other messages here and narrowed to Guanajuato (Falcon) or Oaxaca (Institute Culturel or Becari). Anyone have any recent feedback - rants or raves to share about quality of the whole experience? I'm probably a high beginner/intermediate, having had 3 semesters of Spanish in college decades ago, an hour a week off and on in the last couple years, and very lame and limited conversations on travel since. My conversational skills are lousy - my grammar's great!

I just finished a week at Becari in Oaxaca and really enjoyed it. It was my second language school experience and plan to go back again this summer. Several of other students in my home attended Insitute Cultural. One day we went to visit that campus and wow!! It was really plush and beautiful. It is on a busy intersection farther from the central part of the city. Becari is more small and quaint. My classes had 4 other students in them. In the afternoon I had 1 on 1 private lessons for 2 hours so a total of 6 hours per day. I thought the teachers at Becari were excellent. The advantage of Becari is that it is located just 2 blocks from El Zocalo and easy to do the central area after class. I am a high beginner who struggles with vocabulary but have fairly good grammatical skills. I don't think you will go wrong with either school in Oax. As far as Guanajuato, we vacationed there for 3 days and I really like that city as well. It is smaller but plenty to do. I am not sure where Falcon is in relation to el centro. I think I would have to give the edge to Oaxaca

Cant' speak to Gunajuato. I have been to Becari multiple times and think it is a good school. Also El Instituto Cultural comes well recommended by its students that I have met. Even though Oaxaca has changed a lot in the past 15 years- much more crowded and tourist oriented- I still enjoy it quite a bit and look forward to one or two trips a year. It would be a good choice.

Thanks, you two, great information - gave me a good feel for the distinction between Becari and Institute.

Dude, I know from your messages you've done lots of homestays in Oaxaca - Nonstop did you just do a homestay? If so, how was your experience?

yes, I did a homestay in Oax. I had a very good experience. I lived in a very nice home about 10 short blocks from the school. I walked to school everyday and then went home for lunch. After lunch I walked back to school for my 1 on 1 then spent every evening with fellow students having coffee and snacks in El Zocalo. I have really met some nice people at these school experiences.

I have a similar background and spent 4 weeks in SMdA @ Habla Hispana in September.
The students @ Academia Hispano Americana seemed to have a more intensive experience.
The bottomline seems to be that the language schools and daily living in Antigua, Guatemala are still "better" and less expensive.
M

mikemo. I almnost signed up for Antigua for my Feb imnmnersion but it was suggested to me that the level of instruction might be a little higher in Costa Rica plus the quality of homestays on average was also better in CR. I am still considering Antigua for a session later next year. Can you make a comparision between CR and GUA>? Thanks

Thanks for the info Mikemo. In fact, SMdA will be a stop on our trip in February, we have some family who go in the winter. Though I like SMdA very much, I'll choose some place else for language school -- in order to do the home stay and explore a different location. I've heard good stuff about Guatemala schools too, but am committed to Mexico this go around since "we're going there anyway." Have loved my 2 visits to Costa Rica, so who knows maybe I'll line up some more study in concert with a next trip there. So many great places to visit/learn . . .

Glover
Where did you go? What did you think?

My husband and I are going to Oaxaca in June for 3 weeks. We want to go to a language school, and take some cooking and other cultural experiences. We will be staying with families.

I'm finding 4 main schools: Becari, Vinigulaza, Instituto de Cultural, and Amigas del Sol.

We are torn. We only have the websites from which to make a decision and are not finding any independent feedback. So the above conversation was great. This is a big deal for us, so we would like to make as informed a decision as possible.

In the meantime, where have people gone in Oaxaca, and what did they think? and why?

kcd

HI - I ended up going to Instituto Cultural de Oaxaca. Loved the school and the city and the homestay. Indeed the campus is lovely. The school seems to have its administrative act together well too. I took the written and oral placement test when I arrived on Saturday. I felt I was placed appropriately - kind of an intermediate level. I stayed two weeks (the first two in Feb.) There were 5 students in my class first week and 3 the second. Two of us 50 plus and the others just post college. A group from U of MT was there doing their semester away. But it was a great mix of people of all ages, mostly from the States, but a few Canadians and Europeans. My teacher was good -- not warm and fuzzy, but focused, good enunciation, organized, and rigorous. I felt I learned alot in class. I was at school from 9am to 4 every day as I also did intercambio and cooking class (great fun - charming teacher). My homestay was about 2 long blocks from school. Oaxaca is a wonderful walking down. The school is about a 15 minute walk from the Zocalo. Often walked back in evening alone, never felt unsafe. School offers bustrips to outlying sites on weekends. I went on one and it was fine, but it's easy to arrange your own as well. The markets in Oaxaca and the music and cultural events in the Zocalo are terrific. (ACCKKK - I just remembered Zocalo is under construction now - but supposed to be finished by July). The family I stayed with was a 3 generation one. They were in and out - busy with school and work. But the matriarch - grandma - was the most lovely and available hostess. We chatted at breakfast every am, and she was very helpful and patient with my Spanish. She understood much, but spoke little English. I had a nice big bedroom to myself and shared a bath with another resident. BUT this family also owns/manages two or three brand new ensuite rooms directly behind their house. These have fridge, stove, TV, etc. Would cost more of course, but might be ideal for a couple. If you're interested in contacting them let me know and I'll email you their address.
I highly recommend the Instituto - but I heard good reviews of Becari and Amigos as well. Don't know the other school you mentioned. You'll have a GREAT time!

Hmmm, just after I responded I looked at lonelyplanet.com and saw this which was posted today about the other school I've copied that message from there below:

HI folks,

Just back from a wonderful month in Oaxaca, made better by good information acquired on these boards. THANK YOU!!!
It's a wonderful place to visit . . . a beautiful, gentle city with lots to do. Even when the zocalo is torn up, which is currently is.

My experience of Spanish language school was pretty annoying. I had the bad luck to enroll at Vingulaza for my classes, on the recommendation of a friend who had taken class there. It was WRETCHED! The management had changed, and everything was falling apart. The teachers were unhappy with the state of the place, and the students were all looking for other places to go. That was a huge drag for all of us on limited visits. The school was also very irresponsible with their Homestay program; it was stunning.

Of course Oaxaca being Oaxaca, I met alot of great people and made some changes. There are many good schools, so don't waste your precious time at Vinigulaza/Cambridge Academy!

Several of my group liked ICI, which is one of the newer schools. Becari and Amigos del Sol also have good reputations.

Glover
Thanks for the reply. After I posted this message, I also found the one from Lonely Planet. So that place is off the list.

I'm thinking that this will be the hardest part of the trip; deciding the school (certainly worse than conjagating verbs ;-) )

I especially appreciate information on the location, that we'll be able to walk to and from the Homestay to the school, to the Zocalo and the information on the other activities. I expect to take at least one cooking class and want to tour some of the neighboring communities.

One homestay I saw was up in the country, away from the city, but near a bus line. It looked nice, but I think being downtown will be better this time.

Any other opionions or facts equally welcome.

kc

I don't think you will go wrong with either Instituo Cultural or Becari. They each have their stregths. I plan to go back to Becari just because I enjoyed it so much before. But, I have also considered Insitituo Cultural because i liked the campus. I also went to Spanish school in Costa Rica in Feb and really liked it better than any place I have been so far but would give Oaxaca a close second.

Which school/where did you go in CR, nonstop. I like CR as well and want to go back to school again - either back to Mex or to CR this time.

Ladies and Gents
Thanks for your information. I've just registered with Amigos del Sol. The information I got on this place (the attention to personal service), and on ICI (more attention to culture, but not as good for no-Spanish speakers; my DH) lead us to that decision.

I'm also interested in exploring Costa Rica (and Michoacan-sp?). If only this pesky job didn't get in the way.

kcd

I'm very excited about this adventure. I know that it will be work, but work with fun attached, and context.

Glover:
I went to Intercultura in Heredia. The teachers there were the best I have seen so far. I have been to 3 diffferent schools, 2 in Mex and 1 in CR. I will go to Ecuador this summer and then I need to choose another place for next spring, maybe Panama or back to Oaxaca.

For reviews of Spanish (and other language) schools worldwide, there's a website called www.123teachme.com that has reviews from students who've attended the schools. Hopefully helpful for future searchers, since your request is from a few months ago.

I don't know if this thread is still being checked, but this message is for glover. Could you contact me at [email protected] to share the email address of the family you stayed with? I will be in Oaxaca from 6/26/10 to 8/7/10, and I think I would like to do a homestay.

Glover -- could I be emailed the family's address as well? [email protected]