Full Immersion Experience
A full immersion experience in the language means that not only will you learn a language during classes, but you also benefit from the priceless opportunity to practice what you've learned in your day-to-day life. SEC provides you will the best full immersion experience thanks to:
- Carefully selected Mexican Host Families
- Spanish teachers certified at university level in teaching Spanish as a foreign language
- Native Mexican teachers with Spanish as their first language
- Full immersion in Mexican lifestyle with locals through social activities
Co-existing with locals is the best way to learn a language: living it is learning it!
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Schedules
- Starting dates: every Monday throughout the year.
- Opening hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm. The school opens all year long from Monday to Friday except during the national holidays*
- Orientation is recommended prior to the beginning of classes. If possible, you should plan to arrive in town the week before the class starts.
- First day schedule: first Monday of your course at 8:00 am.
1 lesson = 1 class = 50 minutes
General Schedules
(See 2011 Mexican National Holidays, below.)
Standard Spanish
9:00am – 11:50am 3 lessons of grammar
or
12:10pm - 03:00pm 3 lessons of grammar
Intensive Spanish
09:00am – 11:50am 3 lessons of grammar
12:10pm – 02:00pm 2 lessons of conversation
or
10:00am – 11:50am 2 lessons of conversation
12:10am – 03:00pm 3 lessons of grammar
Executive Spanish Course
09:00am – 11:50am
3 lessons of grammar
12:10pm – 02:00pm
2 lessons of conversation
02:30pm – 05:30pm
3 lessons of individual instruction
Private Spanish Course
Private Spanish Course are open all year long from Monday to Friday.(classes on Saturday can be organized upon request)
A minimum of 2 lessons per day is required.
Schedule will be tailored according to your needs and confirmed upon registration.
1 lesson = 1 class = 50 minutes
2012 Mexico National Holidays
| January |
1 |
Sunday- New Year's Day |
| February |
6 |
Monday - Constitution Day |
| March |
19 |
Monday - Benito Juarez’s Birthday |
| April |
6 |
Good Friday |
| May |
1 |
Tuesday- Labor Day |
| September |
16 |
Sunday- Mexican Independence Day |
| November |
19 |
Monday - Mexican Revolution |
| December |
25 |
Tuesday- Christmas Day |
Please note that classes missed due to holidays will not be made up.
Dates in red:classes start on Tuesday.
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General Spanish
This program is structured in levels designed in weekly cycles allowing you to develop at your own pace.
- Maximum 5 students per class*, ensuring individual attention while in a group setting
- Basics of grammar incorporated into conversation in order to maximize your knowledge and abilities to communicate.
- All levels are welcome in our full immersion program: from complete beginners to advanced,
- Tailored programs are designed for those in search of a more personnalized approach
Method and levels of the General Spanish Program
We have been working with the teaching method "Aula Latina" since 2007. This method has been designed especifically for students learning Spanish in Mexico and Central America and meets the requirements of the European Common Frame for Reference in Languages (Marco Común Europeo de Referencia para las Lenguas: MCER).
At SEC we offer a vierty of 40 levels, divided into 3 categories (basic - intermediate / advanced / superior).
Basic - Intermediate
Aula Latina is used for the first category and is divided in 24 levels:
- Levels 1-9 = basic
- Levels 10-17 = intermediate 1
- Levels 18-24 = intermediate 2
Advanced:
For the advanced level the method "Conversar y Repasar" is used:
- Levels 25-28 = advanced 1
- Levels 29-32 = advanced 2
Superior:
For the Superior level the book "Arte de la Conversación" is used.
- Levels 33-36 = superior 1
- Levels 37-40 = superior 2
"Contrastes" extra class
Every course includes 5 extra "contrastes" classes and one lesson of individual attention per week:
These extra classes focus on specific topics that represent a chronic problem that students from all over the world face while learning Spanish.
Any student can choose to attend one or various contrast class according to their level - with no extra cost:
- Monday: "ser / estar" - from level 5
- Tuesday: "preterito / imperfecto" - from level 8
- Wednesday: "por / para" - from level 10
- Thursday: "indicativo / subjuntivo" - from level 21
- Friday: pronunciation - all levels
*On very exceptional occasions during the highest season this number can be brought up to a maximum of 7 students per class.
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Cultural Exchange - Ocean and Culture program
with our sister school in Guanajuato!
Pay once and enjoy the facilities of combining your stay at SEC with a stay at our sister school “Plateros Spanish School” in one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the world: Guanajuato.
TOTAL PRICE: starting at 968 USD (2 weeks)
Details of the program
(Details based on 1 week in each spanish school. Registration fees are included.)
First week, Ocean: Puerto Vallarta
Arrival on Sunday with private transportation.
Includes:
- Airport pick up to accommodations
- School orientation on the first day
- 1 week Standard Spanish Course
- 6 nights in Mexican Host Family (Sun. to Sat., 2 meals per day, single room)
- Teachers certified at university level in teaching Spanish as a foreign language
- Educational material*
- On site assistance in English, French, German and Italian
- Extra Classes: individual attention and “Contrasts”
- “Noche de Guateque”: social meeting on Wednesday night (consumption and covers not included – discounts or happy hours (2x1) apply for SEC students)
- Soccer night on Tuesday
- Art film showing every week (coming soon!)
- Private showers
- Free access to our fully equipped kitchen
- Free access to our computers area
- Free Wifi internet in the whole building
- Library
- Air conditioned classrooms
- Study area on sunny terrace
Does not include:
- *Books (~40 USD)
- Mexican Cooking Class on Thursday (100 pesos, min 3 students)
- Pick up from accommodation to bus station (33 USD)
Second Week, Culture: Guanajuato
Puerto Vallarta-to- Guanajuato Transportation: Deluxe transportation with WiFi, beverages, snacks and video with ETN Bus line on the night from Saturday to Sunday.
Arrival on Sunday morning.
Includes:
- Pick up from bus station to accommodation
- Orientation on the first day
- 1 week “Plata” Course, (3 grammar lessons + 1 extra lesson per day)
- 1 week in Mexican Host Family, 2 meals, single room (Sun. - Sat.)
- Welcome party
- City Tour
- Salsa Class (Tuesday)
- Social meeting on Wednesday night (consumption and covers not included – but happy hours (2x1) available for Plateros students)
- Conversation class
- Culture Class
- Spanish Movies
- Free WiFi internet connection in the whole building
- Teachers certified at university level in teaching Spanish as a foreign language
- Educational material
- Study area on sunny terrace
- Mexican host family placement / Assistance to find private accommodation
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Professionals Program
Our Professionals Program is directed to students and professionals from the following fields:
- Medical
- Social work
- Law
- Education
And to any other person who is constantly working with the Latin community and feel they are in need of improving their professional skills by increasing their knowledge in Spanish.
We all know that the job market is currently in crisis. Many social jobs have been eliminated due to drastic budget cuts from the government. Thanks to our new Professionals Program you will now be able to highly increase the odds of finding a better job!
Overview of the Professionals Program:
- Length: 1 to 8 weeks, according to your needs
- Schedule: 8 classes a day
- 3 classes of grammar: general Spanish in group class
- 2 conversation classes: specific Spanish
- 3 private classes: specific vocabulary, role plays, simulation of / preparation to job interviews.
- 2011 prices*:
- 1 week: 540 USD
- 4 weeks: 2'120 USD
- 8 weeks: 4'200 USD
*Not included: 100 USD registration fee, course book (~40 USD), accommodation and airport transportation
Why sign up for the Professionals Program?
- Specific vocabulary: allows the student to apply it to real life situation and go back home with confidence and experience for their everyday life. --> Communication with the Latin community becomes realistic and accurate.
- Classes are assigned according to the Student's level
- Max 5 students per class: allows every student to evolve at their own pace, receive individual attention and benefit from the interaction with the other students.
- Mexican culture: the full immersion experience in Mexican culture grants the student a greater understanding of their patient's / student's / client's needs
- Choosing the Mexican host family accommodation maximizes the chances to learn more, and faster.
Restrictions:
- Minimum 4 weeks of Intensive Spanish is mandatory for students with no Spanish in order to acquire the basics which are necessary if the students wants to succeed.
- Cancellation fees: the 100 USD registration fees will not be refunded
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Internship Program*
The best way to acquire a language while learning it, is living it! The Spanish Experience Center gives you the opportunity to take part in an internship at the CMQ Private Hospital In Puerto Vallarta, and put in practice what you've learned in class.
Overview of the Program
- Length:
- Spanish course: 4 weeks of the Professionals Program (minimum - according to student's Spanish level)
- Internship: 4 weeks to 6 months
- Schedule:
- Spanish course (please see Professional Program)
- Internship: will be determined according to student's needs upon registration. Mexican working hours are usually 8 hours a day, 6 days a week. Combining part time internship with Standard Spanish course or private lessons is also an option.
- 2011 prices*:
- Internship placement fee: 300 USD
- 4 weeks Professionals Program prior to Internship: 2'120 USD
*Not included: 100 USD general registration fee, course book (~40 USD), accommodation and airport transportation
Why sign up for the Internship Program?
- Apply what you've learn to real life: our Internship program provides you with a comprehensive Spanish course were you learn the theory through new vocabulary and role plays. By taking an internship you reinforce what you've learned.
- Lifetime knowledge: putting in practice what you've learned in theory moves the info to the long-term memory in your brain and allows you to master your Spanish skills to the fullest extent
- SEC is a certified establishment (from the SEP: Mexican Secretary of Public Education) and we place you in the best companies in Vallarta so that you go back home with priceless bagage.
Conditions
- Minimum 4 weeks of the SEC Profesionals Program will be required beforehand (according to Spanish level)
Costs
- Internship placement fee: 300 USD
Restrictions
- Copy of student credential showing proof of study in a medical/nursing school/university, or a medical/nursing license/credential will be required upon registration to the program
- No internship placement assistance will be granted to non SEC Students
- The intern will not be allowed to practice any medicine during the internship, unless they directly receive agreement from CMQ hospital, SEC will not be involved in decision making.
- Cancellation fees: the 100 USD general registration fees and 300 USD internship placement fee will not be refunded
*currently only available for doctors and nurses but more options will be available in the Spring 2011!
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