Spanish school recommendations

[Nicarao]

Is Randy sure that the quality of the teachers of the Vapues programme is really good ?? On the homepage of Vapues  is no further description on the programme so you can´t be sure how serious is it.  As Randy writes its a REALLY new offer and maybe Vapues must learn to find first good teachers as Vapues is changing its guides in the past for the hiking to Cerro Negro.

The advice for Via Via is much better.

Other Spanish schools in León are:


Escuela Leonesa
Leon, Nicaragua
 
Instruction & Pricing
Levels: Beginner
School Size: Small
Deposit or Fee: US$35.0
College Credit: Yes

Individual Instruction
- Hourly Cost: US$7.0

Class Instruction
- Class Size: 2 to 4 students
- Hours per Week: 20
- Weekly Cost: US$100 - $199
- Min. Weeks Study: 1
 
Metropolitana
Living
Share Apartment
Dorm or B&B
Live w/ Family
Internet Cafes
Private Apartment
 Instruction & Pricing
Levels: Beginner
School Size: Small
Deposit or Fee: US$0.0
College Credit: No

Individual Instruction
- Hourly Cost: US$7.0

Class Instruction
- Class Size: 10 to 20 students
- Hours per Week: 20
- Weekly Cost: US$100 - $199
- Min. Weeks Study: 1
 

[Joshua Berman]

Thank you, Nicarao -- this is a very helpful update. The answer to your question is "no," we are not sure of the quality of Va Pues program. We were only told of its existence, but have not heard from any former students or teachers of the programs. That's where we're hoping this forum will be helpful for potential future students. Thanks again for your input.

[vapues]

Dear Timoteo,

Thank you for your e-mail and request for information. Vapues Tours does
offer Spanish classes in León. The details are as follows:

-full emersion Spanish classes (no English)
-private teacher
-20 hours a week
-full board included (lodgement at host family and all meals
-teaching materials included (handouts)

Price: 195 US$ per week

Hoping to have informed you sufficiently, and to welcome you in colonial
León at the end of this month,

Best regards, Jan

PS, About the Spanish classes we offer: These are quite popular, we have an average of 2 to 3 students per month. We are working with capable teachers, most of them with ample experience at Nicalingua and NSS. We have also been organizing classes and roundtrips for a German Tour operator. We are working with a very well received host family (doña Paquita), who cooks deliciously! Our services include an ´ubicación´ test and final evaluation.

[Timoteo]

Thanks for the various bits of information about Spanish schools in Leon.

Any other suggestions, either in Leon, or elsewhere in Nicaragua, would be most gratefully appreciated. I'm looking for something for 2-3 weeks, probably in January.

Timoteo

[Mary]

Hi!  I just lived in Nicaragua for the last year studying at an amazing Spanish school in the mountains in the department of Leon.  I highly recommend it.  Check out www.hijosdelmaiz.net/
It is amazing.  You live in the countryside - there are no tvs for distractions - everyone is always talking and very welcoming.  There are rarely any cars in the village, it's more common to see a horse or cow walking by.  They have a theatre and music group that is amazing.  Check it out!

[eding]

mary! is there a way i can get in touch with you? email or something?
im planning on going to hijos del maiz this october and would appreciate some advice/info.
i hope you read this, thanks!

[khufu4]

Hi

I highly recommend Egdalina Lanuza's Escuela Horizonte  http://www.ibw.com.ni/~horizont/  I was there to work on my use of the subjunctive in the fall of 2001 and the people wrapped themselves around me on and after September 11th!  Also there was the incredible excitement of the upcoming elections as Daniel Ortega was not only running for President, he was coming to town!!!!!

It was a wonderful experience.  I saw many young people arrive with no Spanish at all, and within a week be able to "get along" in the present tense quite well.  Egdalina's teacher's are dedicated and of course, young people are used to studying :-)

Her homestay family for me was wonderful and the other students were equally happy.  I am returning next week and have contracted Egdalina for a week...just for conversation and her in depth knowledge of the revolution.  Esteli was in the thick of it, so you get a history lesson as well as classes.

Plus, it's beautiful as soon as you leave the muddy streets of downtown......

[Oli]

Hi. We`ve recently moved to Managua and are looking for good quality/serious Spansh language schools in the city. Thanks, Olivera

[Joshua Berman]

Oli, see new topic: http://gotonicaragua.com/forum/index.php?topic=609.0

[debburdick]

My husband and I had great experiences with both the San Juan del Sur Spanish school and Mariposa Spanish School in La Concha, just outside managua.

[nicaphilenewbie]

Hello,
I am heading to Nicaragua in the beginning of May for one month and would like to begin learning Spanish in Esteli. I have contacted both Escuele Horizonte and CENAC and both offer what I am looking for-home stays and volunteer possibilities. Does anyone have experience with one or the other school (and how they might compare)?
I appreciated the Budget Travel article on Spanish language schools in Nica-it was helpful.
Thanks!

[traveler101]

VIVA SPANISH MANAGUA
Hi folks. I live in Managua and I've been studying at Viva Spanish School there for the past two months. I am very impressed. They appear to be the only school in the capitol (private school). Their clients seem to be 75% people working and living in Managua and 25% tourists. They set up a schedule where I started out as a full-time student and moved down to 6 hours per week (pro-rated cost). Anyway, I would highly recommend Viva Spanish.

Jeff S, Managua

www.vivaspanishschool.com.
vivaspanish@btinternet.com

[cristina4573]

Is anyone familiar with Nica Spanish Language School in SJDS or School Express in Granada.  I've been researching them online and they are partner schools.  I'm planning on doing 1 week in SJDS and 1 week in Granada.  Wondering if anyone knows anything about the schools before I finalize my trip.  I'm planning on going in 2 weeks so I guess I need to do this asap!

[Joshua Berman]

Haven't heard anything about School Express -- are they new? The one in San Juan is respected, and Xalteva in Granada has a long track record. A newer one that receives rave reviews is Mariposa Spanish School, you may want to look into that too. Depends where you want to be.

[fundeci/gaia]

I am writing from the Laguna de Apoyo Spanish school in Laguna de Apoyo. Our school is small, but it holds three important distinctions. The first that our school is the oldest in the country and with the most experienced teachers. Our teachers have conducted teacher training for teachers in most of the other schools in the country, and several of those schools are using our teaching materials in their programs. Second, our school is located in a unique location, in a rural community along the shore of Lake Apoyo, a beautiful, warm, clear lake in a nature reserve. Third, our school is operated by the Nicaraguan Foundation for Integral Community Development, and as such is the only school completely incorporated as a registered non-profit in the country. No foreigner earns a salary or receives any proceeds from this school, and all proceeds are returned to the community in development projects, conservation work in the reserve, and jobs with decent salaries and good job conditions to the volunteers in the project.

Contrary to some rumors circulating, our doors are open and we are doing well. Our entrance is from the elementary school of Laguna de Apoyo, 200 m north, on the main road inside the reserve. We are now arranging homestays, too.

Our webpage is www.gaianicaragua.org., and our telephones are 8882-3992, 8809-3330, and 8810-4670.

Please visit if you are in the vicinity, and you can see our new butterfly collection, which is part of our flora and fauna monitoring project in the reserve.
Jeffrey