What makes the Tlatoani Language School different from others?
Any good quality school will offer a comprehensive language
curriculum. Our school, and indeed the program we use, are designed to move the
student beyond the classroom and to invite the student to bond in a real way
with the Mexican psyche. Hispanics and the Spanish language are each day
becoming more woven into the fabric of life in the United States. There is a
great social and economic need for many Americans to communicate verbally in
Spanish. Currently the needs are greatest in the areas of religious outreach,
social services, medical practice, classroom management at the Primary Level and
Public Safety. The Tlatoani Language School is located in a small mountain town and
provides students the chance to see and experience first hand the world that
many immigrants to the United States come from. Our students can gain an insight
into how they need to relate to the Mexican communities that they encounter and
serve back home. Our staff stresses the importance of "convivencia"
or hanging out with the locals after class each day. Click
here for comments from former students.
Every cultural and ethnic group reflects their view of the world through
language. Our rural location benefits our students by giving them a glimpse of
life from a perspective very different from that of the urban setting of most
language schools. Language and culture are inseparable. To know Mexico you must
know the people. For the serious Spanish language student who wants to talk
the talk, he or she will want to walk the walk.
Our course design and physical location hold a special benefit for those who
currently work in Pastoral Ministry
or for those who are enrolled in a
Pastoral or Theological Certification or Degree Program. Please see our Pastoral Ministry Program page. Realizing how important it is today for young
people to speak Spanish, our staff has developed a short one week
program for High
School Students.
Placement Evaluation
In order to make the student’s learning experience as productive
as possible, each student will be given a placement evaluation prior to the
start of classes. There will be an exception to this policy only for
those students who are continuing on in their program of study from a
participating network school. Let us know what school you previously attended
and we will coordinate the transfer and maintenance of your transcripts. The
placement evaluation will allow the staff to adequately group you with other
students at the same knowledge level. Every attempt will be made to keep the
classes homogeneous. The school does reserve the right to combine classes
depending on student headcount. Class size will generally be limited to 4
students to provide maximum individual attention to each student.
Once the student has paid the registration fee, the student will receive a
placement test via email or the US Mail. The student should complete the
placement exam and return it to the school as soon as possible.
Daily Schedule
Classes will be held daily Monday through Friday from 8AM to 1PM
with a one hour lunch break. At the schools discretion, activities may be
scheduled for later in the afternoon or evening. Free time is an integral part
of the learning experience. Students will have the time needed to explore,
socialize and mingle with the local population. Monday classes will generally
run 30 minutes longer to allow for an administrative and general
information session during the first half hour that the class meets.
Length of Stay
Registrations will be accepted for a one-week session, however,
students are strongly encouraged to attend classes for a minimum
two-week period. Students who attend classes for only one week tend to
"lose" about 1½ days of productive study time due to settling in. New
or different environmental factors such as jet lag, time zone, climate, food and
unfamiliar location detract from the student’s focus until he/she begins to
feel comfortable in the new surroundings.
The Regular Intensive Program
(20 hours)
The Intensive Program consists of 4 hours of daily instruction:
3 Hours of Grammar and Language Structure
1 Hour of Facilitated Communicative Activities or f Cultural Studies*
* The Communicative Activities are open to all students. Cultural Studies are
only available to those with a sufficient level of comprehension of spoken
Spanish.
Individual or Specialized Study (15 hours minimum)
Many students have a solid background in Spanish through prior study
either in the United States or abroad. In most instances, this knowledge is
general in nature and not sufficient for specific professional, job or volunteer
related requirements. The Tlatoani Language School can offer specialized
sessions to meet a student’s individual situation. Please contact the school
so that a full needs assessment can be completed. A program will be designed and
tailored to your objective.
Inter-Cultural Mini Courses and Communicative Activities
To bridge the gap between theory and practice, the following themes
and activities may form part of the daily study program and round out the students
understanding of Mexican history, culture and lifestyle.
The role of the Catholic Church in Mexico
History of Buenavista de Cuéllar
The Cristera War
Indigenous Cultures in Mexico
Pre-Columbian Studies
Art and Folklore
Mexican Customs and Traditions
Mexican System of Education
Current Events
Plants and Herbal Medicine
Local Culinary and Cuisine
Visits to area points of interest
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
All classes are taught at the school; either in a classroom setting or
in the school’s garden patio. Our programs are taught 100% IN SPANISH by
educated native speakers. Our instructors are professional teachers or
individuals who have been specifically trained in the techniques of teaching
Spanish as a Second Language. They are motivated and dedicated to helping the
student achieve success.
Students are required to bring their own class supplies, ie, notebook(s),
pens, pencils, highlighter, eraser etc. No tape recording of classroom
instruction is allowed.
Internet access is available to students. For those students
who do not have web-based email, they can receive messages at the school at student@eltlatoani.com
with the student's name placed in the Subject Line of the message.
Course Text
The Tlatoani Language School has chosen Platiquemos-Let’s
Talk® as its standard text. This is a derivative work of the Basic Course
in Spanish as used by the US Government Department of State’s Foreign Service
Institute to train foreign diplomats. The original work has been revised by
Platiquemos, Inc™ to make it more accessible to a larger civilian population.
The entire series is comprised of 8 Levels, each with an accompanying set of
audio.
We
recommend that when possible, students purchase their books prior to arrival at
Tlatoani Language School. The school maintains a small quantity of books on
hand, however, it is cost prohibitive for us to stock large quantities of the
texts to make available for student purchase. Shipping and import duties add
dramatically to the cost of the texts. Students bringing the text with them are
not charged an import duty by Mexican Customs since the book is for personal
use. Books can be rented at the school for classroom use.
Any additional course materials relating to the Culture Mini Courses or other
activities will be provided.
Academic Credit
Students wishing to receive academic credit for courses completed at
the Tlatoani Language School should contact their academic advisor or their
Department of Foreign Languages for pre-approval. We will work with your home
institution to provide all substantiating documentation including course
syllabus, class hours attended and participation in cultural activities.
On average, U.S. schools require attendance and successful completion of 15
classroom contact hours for 1 semester credit. A two-week program at the
Tlatoani Language School will give the student a total of 40 contact hours.
Double
click on the pdf icon to download a general description flyer of our program in
Adobe Acrobat format.
Important Note – The receiving institution has the final say in the
acceptance of transfer credit. Arrangements for academic credit must be
pre-approved by your school or employer BEFORE you arrive in Buenavista. We
cannot accept applications for academic transfer credit once your immersion
study program has begun.
Registration – You may register for our program by completing the
Registration Form and submitting it to our International Student Coordinator.
Special
Program for High School Spanish Students
Tlatoani Language School recognizes that cultural
differences create misunderstanding, apprehension and prejudice among people. If
our young people are to respond to the call of service to others and to be
leaders in our multi-ethnic and dynamic society, they must bridge the cultural
gap and begin to see the true essence and dignity of others. To help high school
students gain a broader perspective of the world and people around them,
Tlatoani Language School has developed a program for high school age students.
This special program is structured a little differently from our regular
intensive program. To best serve the needs of the students, we design individual
programs to make the study/vacation fun, educational and meaningful.
We work with the individual U.S. high school teacher ahead of time to develop an
intensive class to reinforce what the students have studied and learned back
home. Because of their usual one week stay with us, our goal is to get the
students to speak and use the Spanish that they have already learned and not
barrage them with more complex material. We would need to know two weeks before
the start of class, where the students are in their Spanish studies and if there
is a particular point of grammar that they have found difficult. If the US
teacher feels that new and more challenging material would be beneficial,
especially in the case of advanced students, the Tlatoani staff will design the
lesson plans accordingly.
The
study portion of the program consists of 2 hours per day of classroom work.
CLASSES ARE CONDUCTED 100% IN SPANISH. We will provide all classroom study materials.
Students are required to bring their own supplies, ie. notebook, pens, pencils,
eraser etc. Other reinforcement activities are scheduled which include:
-
Visits throughout the town
- Customs and the indigenous people of Guerrero
- Discussion of the Cristera War and the Persecution of the Catholic Church in
Mexico
- Saint David Uribe Velasco
- Local history and folklore
- Eco-tour for the students to learn a little of the flora and fauna
- Horseback riding (small charge applies)
- Other activities as appropriate
- Tours can be arranged to visit: Taxco, The Caverns of Cacahuamilpa and
Xochicalco Ruins
Discounted
registration is $50.00 per student. The one week instructional fee is $200.00.
Lodging
is $35.00 per day with three meals included.
The tours do
cost extra but are affordable for students. Teacher/Chaperone only pays for
lodging and any trips or excursions. No registration or instruction fee is
required
A consistent and progressive
course of study