Learn Spanish in Cusco: Teaching
Spanish Language ability / Rate of Progress
| Description | Skills developed after completing the level |
| A1 Level EL PRESENTE | |
| New grammatical contents starting from ABC 2 weeks length Every week uses a book. |
You will be able to talk about usual activities, answer survival questions, describe basically and compare people and places |
| A1 EL PRESENTE COMPENDIO* | |
| * Open every two weeks for the student who arrive on 2nd week. | You will be able to talk about usual activities, answer survival questions, describe basically and compare people and places |
| A1+ Level EL PASADO | |
| New grammatical contents 2 weeks length. Every week uses a book. |
You will learn to talk about past actions, routines and events. Expressions to talk on the phone and in a hotel and a restaurant. |
| A2 Level EL FUTURO LOS VERBOS REFLEXIVOS LOS TIEMPOS CONTINUOS EL CONDICIONAL |
|
| New grammatical contents 4 weeks length Every week uses a book. The 4 books can be studied in any which way (at random). |
You will be able to talk about future actions and plans, actions that happens at the time of speaking and expressions used at the doctor’s, at the drug store, for shopping, to suggest, to invite and others. |
| B1 Level El PRETÉRITO PERFECTO | |
| Review and new grammatical contents and practice. 2 weeks length. Every week uses a book. |
You will expand and improve your skills to talk about past and learn to express necessity, wishes, and recommendations. How to act in interviews for a job, etc. |
| B1+ Level EL PRESENTE DEL SUBJUNTIVO | |
| New grammatical contents and practice. 2 weeks length. Every week uses a book. |
You will be able to express emotions, value judgements, opinions, doubts and consent. You will also learn expressions of condition. |
| B2 Level EL PASADO DEL SUBJUNTIVO LA HIPÓTESIS DE PRESENTE EL DISCURSO INDIRECTO LA HIPÓTESIS DE PASADO |
|
| New grammatical contents and practice. 4 weeks length. Every week uses a book. The 4 books can be studied in any order (at random). |
You will be able to talk about possible and very unlikely actions. To report what other people said and to express consequence, probability, complaint, doubt, denial. |
| C1 Level LAS TRADICIONES LAS RELACIONES LA POLÍTICA LOS PROBLEMAS DE AMER. LATINA |
|
| Review of contents and practice. 4 weeks length. Every week uses a book. The 4 books can be studied in any order (at random). |
You will learn about the most well known traditions of some Latin American countries, the way the Latin people establish their relationships, the way they do their politics and some of the major problems in Latin countries society |
| C2 Level LA VIDA EN AMÉRICA LATINA LOS MEDIOS LA CULTURA LATINA LA LITERATURA LATINA |
|
| Review of contents and practice. 4 weeks length. Every week uses a book. The 4 books can be studied in any order (at random). |
You will learn about the way the Latin people live, the importance of the media in their societies. Some typical artists, places, food, films, music and a brief review of its most famous writers, poets and literature movements. |
| To go from beginner to proficient fluency takes the average student 20 to 28 weeks. | |
* The complete beginner level length is two weeks duration, but in order to offer a complete beginner course every week the school implement a Special Preparation Course* called “Compendio” (see the chart above) for those Beginner Students starting classes on the Second week of the Standard Level. This special mini group Course (usually with only 3 or 4 students in it) allows students the chance to complete the normal 2 week course Beginner’s level in just one week, enabling them to select any Monday of the year as a start date, without the risk of becoming out of sync with the other levels.
Teaching method in Cusco
Classes at the Spanish school in Cusco combine grammar with practise of the 4 skills – reading, writing, listening and, of course, speaking. We understand that the word “grammar” doesn’t appeal to everyone! But grammar has to be covered across all language levels, as it offers a way of building knowledge and retaining it, not just for the duration of your course, but in the years to come. Your power of recall will be so much better if you understand the tools that pull the Spanish language together. The school’s teachers know a lot about classroom dynamics and are careful to create an inclusive atmosphere in which students have the confidence to talk Spanish.
Grammar and Vocabulary
This is the core part of the course in which students study the grammar, vocabulary and skills corresponding to each level as set out in the above syllabus. Course material is closely controlled so learning is organized and varied too.
Conversation
As for most people this is both the most challenging and the most desirable skill, most of the courses contain this module which gives students the chance to train accessing new knowledge for active incorporation into their own speech.
Private Tuition
Participants can decide on the content of their private tuition themselves or ask their teacher to devise a programme most suited to their needs. All students taking private tuition are requested to fill out the Specific Needs questionnaire in advance of arrival so their lessons may be planned accordingly.
The Spanish school in Cusco is busiest in January to March and June to September, hosting around 35 students in any one week. The staff offer classes for all language levels, from Beginner to Advanced Spanish level, across 8+ different ability groups – so there is sure to be a class that is appropriate to your personal language needs.
We recommend language students follow a course of at least 2 weeks duration (though of course a longer term course ensures far greater progress!). Whenever possible one week courses are also offered as a group option, but such a short group course is never ideal for the student, so if time is limited, private tuition is recommended instead.
Each student will be assessed every two weeks to ensure their progress is strong enough for them to proceed to the next class level. All of the Spanish language school’s teachers are native speakers with university degrees and are experienced in teaching Spanish to foreign language students. Many have also learned a second language themselves, so they can fully appreciate your perspective as a student!
The curriculum is structured on eight theoretical language levels, with a natural duration of approx two weeks at each class level. There are classes in grammar, oral and written exercises, practice with video and audio material and conversation on subjects of general, social and cultural interest.
The methodology is the result of years of experience in the intensive teaching of Spanish. Special importance is given to the communicative aspect of the language and its use in everyday life. For this reason, the college encourages students to speak Spanish in class, and whenever possible out of class as well.
Class materials
– A grammar book designed by the Academic Coordinator
– Photocopies
– Videos
– Games to practice your Spanish language skills
End of Course Certificate
End of level tests are organised every 2 weeks.
Grades are from 1 to 100%; 75% is required to advance to the next level
Certification/diploma is given upon completion of your programme, stating the level achieved.
Levels and groups
To guarantee adequate progress, it is vitally important that students are placed in a group that corresponds with their knowledge of Spanish. This is only possible if the language school guarantees groups of all levels of learning. After making a careful initial evaluation of each student’s ability, the School follows up their placement with regular control testing. Every second week they have a test and students must pass with 75% or more. If a student fails, and wants to try again, they can take a second special test on the following Monday at 08:00, but this time the minimum grade will be 85%.
Class Size
The smaller your learning group, the more personalized your course will be. The maximum amount of students per group is nine, except Culture which is open-class style. The average number of students per group is five, with a maximum of seven students per class.
Class Duration
We are quite strict about classes starting punctually so no class time is lost. At the school, lessons run from Monday to Friday and are 50 minutes long.
First Day
08:00 am Placement test
09:00 am
After the placement test the staff will assign the students to an appropriate class level and they will start classes that same day, either in the morning or the afternoon session depending on their level.
01:00 pm
Welcome & Orientation lunch.
The students will meet the School Staff and will be given useful information to move around the city:
Public transportation, safety, places to go, etc.
Placement Test & Progress to next Level
Placement Test:
The placement exam is a written exam (and oral if required by the Academic Co-ordinator after checking the written exam) and it is mandatory in order to place the students in the correct class level. It takes no more than 10 – 15 minutes to complete it and students sit this on the first day of class. The school do not include the test as part of the class timetable.
On request an on line test can be taken in advance of arrival, if the student can not go to school early on the first day, but the staff will still not be able to confirm the timetable until the first day of class.
Test to pass to next Level:
Every second week the school
have a test and students must pass with 75% or more. If they fail, and want to try again, they can do a second special test on the following Monday at 08:00, but this time the minimum grade will be 85%.
Timetable for Standard Course
| Sunday | Arrival in Cusco |
| Monday | Tests/ Lessons |
| Tuesday/ Friday |
AM timetable: Lessons 09.00 hrs to 12.40 hrs (10.40 hrs/ 20 mins break) |
| PM timetable: Lessons 14.00 to 17.40 hrs (15.30 hrs/ 20 mins break) |
|
| Saturday | Day Trip * |
| Sunday | Free Day |
* Day Trip: Takes place on Saturday or Sunday, every 2 or 3 weeks during the year, and once, every weekend during the busy summer months.
Please note:
Choice of AM or PM timetable determined by School Staff according to student language levels, rather than student choice.
Timetable for Private Tuition: Variable
School Teachers
All of the teachers are native Spanish speakers and they are all full time Spanish teachers (generally 25 to 45 yrs of age). All teachers in the school are trained to teach Spanish as a foreign language. They use the Spanish school syllabus, a tried and tested method developed based on personal experience and the vision of the school’s own teaching experts.
Spanish Students
Students come from all over the world, from Europe and North America, but also from as far afield as Australia, China, Japan and Russia. Fundamentally, if you want to learn Spanish – you’re welcome. Age wise there a lot of young adults (18 yrs to 29 yrs of age), but the oldest student to date was in their 60’s and some 15%+ of the student body last year were over 35 yrs of age, again everyone is welcome.
There are students that stay for one or two weeks and others who stay for 12 to 24 weeks. The longer you stay the better your Spanish language skills will be!
