Spanish Language Immersion Schools/Courses

[Guero]

Hola Yall,

Though we might start a thread about Immersion Type Spanish Schools and their courses.

Perhaps those on the board can share their experiences, recommendations, advice, and opinions on the subject.

I will start it off with the first post following this one.

Si quieres los demas, pues sigueme por favor.

guero

[Guero]

ok, i'll start...

while traveling to honduras with some friends a couple years ago to attend a conference, i was able to attend an immersion type spanish language school.

although my spanish was barely passable, my grammar was really on the sloppy side. so i was pleased to have a chance to learn some more. not only did i learn more spanish through short classroom instruction, i found myself amazed at how much more i learned by just being plunked in the deep end of the pool.

this was the first time i had ever traveled to LAm as an adult. Took a couple to day trips to mexican border towns in my youth, but most everyone spoke enough english that i didnt need to speak any spanish. but this trip was different! i had no choice but to sink or swim. while in school, we were not allowed to speak english amongst ourselves. (well we did cheat a little when they werent looking.)

after a week, i was chattering away like crazy and acting as interpreter for my friends, who didnt quite grasp the language as fast as me. all i can say is that the immersion program really works. you learn more by just doing and being than any classroom lesson or internet course can offer. i highly recommend it.

the next "immersion" course i took was by meeting, courting and getting married to my mexican wife. it is amazing how much you can learn when properly motivated and there is nobody around to translate for you. "Necessity is a Mother" or so i have heard it said...lol.

thus my advice to all those who are serious about meeting and marrying a latina;

1: you must learn spanish! at least get started. unless you are antonio banderas' twin brother... you will need to communicate. even rudimentary spanish is better than nothing...and the latinas will be impressed that you are actually making a sincere effort.

2. equally important, if not moreso... Learn the Culture, the music, customs, national histories, etc. watch some spanish programs to help you absorb the language by osmosis. if your eyes are open and you made it past the 5th grade, then you can figure out what is going on in just about any program. telenovelas are excellent practice. Watch Sabado Gigante every saturday night for a while. its entertaining and makes great practice. he almost always has a bunch of scantily clad latina models dancing around, so i promise it is worth a few minutes of your attention.

3. learn some basic conversational topics, such as national history, basic politics (be careful NOT to offer your opinions) just that you know something about what is going on in their country. the girls and their families will be impressed.. learn the different types of spanish music and the corresponding artists... as well as the "chismes" or gossip. who is doing what with whom...etc. such as Gloria Trevi, Niurka Marcos y Bobby Larios, Ana Barbara y Piru, yada yada yada. learn the lyrics (basic) of some of the more popular songs. (comes in handy when you want to convey a special message). latinas love a romantic man... knowing what song or artist is appropriate for the mood or message is absolutely a winning idea.

all of these ideas serve to represent the basic concepts and benefits of "Immersion" type learning. i have heard it said that "Chance favors the prepared mind." Please consider THOROUGHLY Immersing yourself in the Latin Culture before launching out into LAm to look for a wife or GF. otherwise.. even with a paid translator on hand, you are probably going to waste your money and your time. yes, you may be entertained for a short while, but in the end will most likely end up holding nothing but an empty wallet in one hand, and your johnson in the other.

i will admit that i am as significant as the little white speck on the top of bird ****... but i do have some experience worth consideration. my wife and several others have told me many times that i would be able to meet and attract women at will in nearly any Latin American country. (my wife is worried by this). her cousin told me that i could get married at least 4 times a month in mexico... why? well it aint my looks! i am short, skinny, old, and look like danny bonaduce before rehab... on a good day, and most days i resemble a sharpei. what they tell me i do have is some charisma, and a good grip on most, if not all things latin. i can talk a little about many different subjects, and i know what song to play, or quote the lyrics to... for just about any occasion. my wife tells me that i am "muy romantico, comprensivo y bien caballero" which she says the latinas absolutely love.

and to think that a short while ago, i could only say " donde estas el bano?" and "un mas cerveza por favor."

just my dos centavos...
guero

ps; for those interested... my former teacher (immersion) in Honduras is starting his own little immersion school. he is offering an introductory price or $299 for 5 days, including room and board and his assistance in meeting some local Hondurenas (#2 best latinas behind the #1 Mexicanas)

my wife and i will be starting an immersion school in puebla mexico in the spring +/-. offering special courses for the single gringo including Spanish language, and the winning methods of meeting and romancing latina women. stay tuned for details. meanwhile, if you can, get started on the immersion process. it is definitely "Vale La Pena" (worth the trouble).
aDios!

[NunoEFSilva]

For those who are trying to learn a foreign/Latino language (be it Spanish, Portuguese or Italian) I can refer you a 'meter' of proficiency.

Many moons ago, when I was a kid studying my English in highschool - and as most foreign shows are subtitled on Portuguese TV - I usually tried to test my translation-by-ear skills with those; that made me a bit cocky.

Little did I know, I was (unconsciously) reading the subtitles...

I only realized it when I put a book in front of the bottom part of the screen: I couldn't understand nearly half of what was going on!!!

Just try it...

Nuno

[dpad]

great topic guerro, my x wife knew some english, but was afraid & emabarresed to speak it. the one thing about americans as she said, they are not affraid to learn.

What i did was here in south fla, spanish is very fluent here, so i made english only tuesdays. i would speak to her on tuesdays only english, the shows we watched together were in english ( though i did let her watch her novela) my family would talk to her in english also on tuesday. Little by little her shyness went away and she was speaking english with that sexy accent colombianitas have .

[Guero]

dpad,

congrats! as you have proven... immersion is a great (and preferred) way to learn a language...any language. my wife is just as shy as yours was. she understands quite a bit but is afraid to practice in public. she is even agraid that i will laugh at her (which i dont). she is now more determined to learn english because we have 2 kids together. so she watches the "ingles sin barreras dvd course and also practices with me. she loves to watch the CSI shows with me in english.

as you said, it is very sexy when they speak english...love the latina accent.

congrats on your colombiana!

[Guero]

nuno, great recommendation.

tried to learn portuguese myelf but switched to spanish. maybe someday...
guero

[dpad]

great guerro, thanxs. i dont know why they are so embarresed, and my x used to say the same stuff, that i laughed at her when i didnt. The funny thing was she was school in english over in colombia but was afraid to speak it. Try the english only days dont speak a word of spanish to her, speak english, when she doesnt understand you, you explain it to her and repeat it again. this is key have everyone speak to her in english that day and have her speak it as well. if she says something wrong dont correct her right away let her finish what she says, tell her that what she said was great, but she need to say it this way.

beleive me it works

[LastLion]

Hey guys. I agree with the immersion classes. I would say you learn as much in 2 weeks as three months of class 3 times a week. It is all about practice and having the right stiuations in which to learn what you practice which comes naturally in spanish speaking countries.

I will say this , the teacher whether it be at home or in an immersion class will make a huge difference. My last teacher in Cali, was just wha the doctor ordered. She was totally present and we got in a great exchange where she learned what I needed to know to learn spanish.. I would highly recommend the School Centro de Colombo Americano en Cali and Maria who was my teacher. Of the 4 teachers I have had in immersion classes she was the best by far. She also has 20 years of teaching english and spanish and she LOVES IT!!!!!

[Clay]

I just asked my wife & mother-in-law if they would like to watch the game with me.

Tu quieres mira juego de futbal para championes national?

Would you like to watch a bunch of national mushrooms play football?

LL - why don`t you ask Maria if you could list her name in this thread as a reference in Cali?

Clay - the Gators just might win it all!

Back in 2001, although my Spanish is horrible (forgot most of it by living in Brazil too long) I researched every Spanish immersion school SOTB and Colombia was not up to par with other Latin countries. The one I chose was in San Jose - Costa Rica: www.intensa.com

In Brazil, the northeast city of Maceio offers a very good Portuguese immersion course: http://www.studyabroadinternational....il_Maceio.html

In Rio de Janeiro, you have PUC-Rio: http://www.cce.puc-rio.br/letras/por...sivoingles.htm

The schools listed above are high dollar, they are not cheap but you get what you pay for!