Our Methodology
Tikal Guatemala. Petén, parque Nacional Tikal.
Meet your teacher: To begin, you will have the opportunity to meet with your teacher for a free 50 minute class to determine your Spanish level, get to know each other, discuss what you want out of classes, and to have fun!!
3 Cutting-Edge Approaches
Our methodology is based on 3 cutting-edge approaches which support the use of technology in learning a foreign language. These methodologies are easily adapted to each individual student to offer you a faster and more enjoyable learning experience!
1. Communicative Approach
This approach focuses on practical and functional communication. Its main objective is to help students create meaningful sentences instead of focusing on exact grammatical structures or perfect pronunciation.
2. Grammatical Approach:
This approach focuses on grammatical rules which are learned and applied in functional activities like verb usage, sentence structure, and phonetics. Its main objective is to understand how grammar influences everyday conversation and writing.
3. Cultural Approach:
This approach focuses on building students’ knowledge and connections through activities targeted at embracing the culture of the Spanish speaking world. Its main objective is to establish a strong and lasting understanding of how cultures highlight our amazing differences and similarities.
Our Spanish Course is Modeled on the Common European Framework (CEFR)
We are trained to teach Spanish at all levels from A1 to C1 in accordance with the Common European Framework (CEFR). This methodology is internationally known as the most effective and functional way to acquire a new language! We provide all of our students with their unique plan of study and provide constant evaluation and feedback along the journey!
Example Level A1.1
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Communication |
Greet and say goodbye formally and informally Request and give personal information, name, surname, nationality, place of residence, age and profession Introduce oneself Say goodbye Give opinion |
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Grammar |
The alphabet Personal pronouns. Difference between TÚ/USTED The interrogative pronouns: ¿CÓMO? (How?), ¿DÓNDE? (Where?) ¿DE DÓNDE? (from where?) ¿QUÉ? (What?) ¿CUÁNTOS AÑOS …? (How old?) Present tense: LLAMARSE (To call), DEDICARSE (To do for a Living), VIVIR (To live), SER y ESTAR (To be), HACER Y TENER (To do and to have) Gender and number in adjectives YO CREO QUE … (I think + opinion …) |
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Terminology |
Basic Family Lexicon Nationality adjectives Country names Professions Class Survival Lexicon |
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Communication |
Order food and drink at a restaurant and pay Order in a store and pharmacy Lexicon related to drinks and food The Cardinal numbers |
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Grammar |
The three conjugations of the present regular indicative (all persons) |
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Culture |
Linguistic Map of Guatemala (Mayan languages) Names and surnames in Guatemala |
| Review | Feedback of the lexical, grammatical and functional content |
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Homework |
Individual exercise to review and deepen the entire unit, textbook |
Example Level B1.1
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Communication |
Speak about physical aspects. Describe oneself and describe others Give instructions Make commands Speak about clothing Identify people by their physical characteristics, by their clothing, or an activity they perform |
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Grammar |
Frequent regular and irregular command forms Use of the command form Use of the command form with pronouns to call attention, to encourage, to answer the telephone, to ask for forgiveness. |
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Terminology |
Terminology of physical and character aspects Terminology of clothing Terminology of parts of the body Terminology of domestic chores |
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Communication |
Speaking about the body Expressing physical ailments Speaking about illnesses or symptoms of an illness Speaking about medical remedies Giving advice Convince, encourage, or persuade someone of an action |
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Grammar |
Regular and irregular command forms Negative command pronouns |
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Culture |
Literature: Juan Ramón Jiménez The Bilirrubina of Juan Luís Guerra Use of the American English command forms |
| Review | Review of terminology, grammar, and function |
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Homework |
Speaking about the advantages and disadvantages of traditional and homeopathic medicine Individual review and deepening of the entire individual text |
Example Level A1.1 Children
| Communication |
Greetings: Hola, ¿Qué tal? ¿Cómo estás? (Hello, how are you?) Bien, gracias, ¿Y tú?(Fine, thanks and you?) Regular/estoy mal. (More or less/I‘m bad) Buenos días/Buenas tardes/Buenas noches. (Good morning/Good afternoon/Good night) Farewells: Adios, Hasta mañana. (Goodbye, see you tomorrow) Ask and say the name: ¿Cómo te llamas? yo me llamo … (What is your name? My name is ….,) ¿Cómo se llama tu madre? (What is your mother‘s name?) Introduce family members: This is my father, this is my mother. To say that someone has not come to class: NO ESTÁ. (He is not) |
| Grammar |
Phonetics: h, ñ, r, ¡!, ¿? YO/TÚ (I/YOU) (Extension: ÉL; ELLA. (He/she) YO ME LLAMO, TÚ TE LLAMAS. (My name is. Your name is) (Extension: ÉL, ELLA SE LLAMA. (He/she is called) EL/LA. (the) ESTE/ESTA. (this) MI. (my) Phonetics review: ñ, h, ¡!, ¿?, ll, j. |
| Lexical |
Spanish-speaking countries: Spain, argentina, Venezuela, Peru, México, Colombia, Guatemala… Anna, Ruben, Elena Family: father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, son, daughter. Boy, girl, man, woman Names in Spanish: José, Juan, Antonio, Manuel, Rubén, Pablo, Carlos, Daniel, Ana, Elena, Carmen, Julia, María etc.. |
| Communication |
Ask and say how to write a word: ¿Cómo se escribe casa? Ce-a-ese-a. (How do you write Casa?) Ask and tell the age: ¿Cuántos años tienes? (How old are you?) Yo tengo ocho años. (I’m eight years old) |
| Grammar |
Review: ñ, h, ll, j. Vowel sounds. The mute u. r strong. rr. Review: ñ, ch, ¿?. v-b Yo tengo, tú tienes. (I have, you have..) él/ella tiene. (he/she has…) (Extensión: un/una. (a/an) ¿Cuántos/as? (How many?) |
| Lexical |
Names of the letters in Spanish. Vowels and consonants. Numbers from 1 to 10. |
| Culture |
Spanish speaking countries. Popular song. Traditional song. |
| Review |
Greetings and farewells. Ask and say names and age. Ask and say how to write. Introduce the family. The family, The alphabet, The numbers from 1 to 10 |
| Homework | Individual exercise to review and deepen the entire unit: Communicate in class and introduce yourself. |
Example Level B1.1 Children
| Communication |
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| Grammar |
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| Terminology |
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| Communication |
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| Grammar |
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| Culture |
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| Homework |
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