Colored rods are among the materials used in the course.
The ruins of Teuchitlán. Nine circular pyramids mark the ceremonial center of a vast empire which dominated western Mexico 2000 years ago.
Small towns in Mexico have a charm that will win your heart.
A dip in the hot waters of Río Caliente—located at the edge of the Primavera Forest—will relax every muscle in your body.
The tiny, intensely flavored Mexican haltomate is the "great-grandma" of every tomato in the world and still grows wild in these parts.
You can read about the strange flora inside the crater of Tequila Volcano in Outdoors in Western Mexico by John and Susy Pint.
The famed murals of Orozco adorn many of the public buildings in the center of Guadalajara.
The Mayflower orchid, Laelia speciosa, is abundant in Jalisco. Learn more about western Mexico's flowers, caves, obsidian mines, etc. on our Mexico page.
The Black River is found in the Primavera Forest. It's too hot for bathing, but quite a sight to see.
WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT TO LEARN
- Room and board. (Special diet? See below) Five days of class and one and a half of touring and sightseeing plus interesting activities every day after class. (Schedule for meals will be as they normally are in México: a hearty breakfast at 8:00 AM; dinner at 3:30 PM; a light snack in the evening)
- 25 hours of class—Real beginners highly preferred.
- After 15 hours of classes: a visit to the main market in Guadalajara, for practicing the language.
- Touring and sightseeing:
· Guadalajara (Markets, murals and much more)
· Tequila (Fascinating tour of the entire tequila-making process from roasting the huge agave roots to the final product)
· or Tlaquepaque (Famous for its arts and crafts)
· or Teuchitlán (Ruins of the most ancient civilization in Western Mexico).
- Visits to museums and/or art galleries, and going to the theater.
- Hiking in the Primavera forest.
- Half hour of internet every day.
Please contact us.
Susana
(and her husband, John Pint) are among the handful of language teachers in
the world privileged to have taken courses with Dr. Caleb Gattegno
(1911-1988), a world renowned educator and the creator of
The Silent Way, a
language learning/teaching approach based on the principle of subordinating
teaching to learning. The concept of "silence" refers to the fact that the
teacher only speaks or models when necessary, therefore allowing the
students to do most of the talking. This technique helps to break the
barriers many students face when trying to use the language they are
learning in real situations. Because of their many years of experience, the
Pints have taught and conducted teacher-training at professional
institutions such as UCLA (USA); University of Kent (Canterbury, England);
International Buddhist University (Osaka, Japan); Yonsei University (Seoul,
Korea), ESADE (Barcelona, Spain); ACREA and Spie Batignolles (Paris,
France); World Trade Center (Rotterdam, Netherlands); etc. etc. (A book by
the Pints, "Discovering the Silent Way", with an introduction by Dr.
Gattegno, will soon be printed).
WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT TO LEARN
- After a maximum of three to four hours: the complete mastery of the sounds and writing system of the Spanish language. At this stage a student can read practically any text with perfection and with the ease of a native speaker.
- Some of the main function words (the grammar that holds the language together)
- All sorts of communicative skills which will allow the learner to ask questions as well as to relate to native speakers.
- Self confidence when using what was learned.
Day one (Sunday late afternoon or early evening):
- Pick up at the airport.
- Welcoming light meal.
Days two to four (Monday through Wednesday):
- Classes from 9:30 AM to 2:45 PM, with two coffee-breaks in between.
- After dinner, a hike in the woods or other activities in the city.
Day five (Thursday):
- Visit to the Guadalajara main market for practicing the language. Dinner at one of Guadalajara’s fine restaurants.
- Visit to a museum or an art gallery.
Day six (Friday):
- Classes from 9:30 AM to 2:45 PM, with two coffee-breaks in between.
- Visit to an art gallery or go to a concert in Guadalajara, after dinner or at night.
Day seven (Saturday):
a)Touring Tequila (with a visit to a tequila destillery) or b) a visit to Tlaquepaque; or c) a visit to the archeological site of Teuchitlán. Dinner at a restaurant (as part of the program).
Day eight (Sunday):
After breakfast, return to your home.
A suggestion: stay in a hotel downtown Guadalajara for several days after the course. We can help you to chose the hotel and to make reservations.
OTHER OPTIONS
Private lessons can be arranged.
I will do my best to arrange courses according to your convenience. The longer lead time you give me, the easier it will be to set up the course for the dates you prefer.
Please email me with "translator" or “Spanish Courses” on the subject line.