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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS How
many classes will I have to attend? Attendance depends on your
chosen study approach. Courses run for 13 weeks (26 hours of
teaching). Classes take into account student’s circumstances and
needs. Private tuition is
tailored based on the student’s specific needs. How much does each course cost? You can find out what the tuition fees are by
email or telephone. tel. (204) 832 9893 What
support do I get as a student of The Spanish Institute? You’ll receive personal
advice, support, guidance and assistance in class and after your
class from The Spanish Institute the moment you register. On the
first day of class you’ll get the course syllabus with the
learning objectives and outcomes, and also The
Best 101 Tips to Learn Spanish Better, designed specifically for
The Spanish Institute’s students. Students get additional on-line
support answering queries, providing support and guidance. You’ll
receive El don de la palabra™,
a daily email in Spanish and a monthly newsletter on Spanish
language and culture. How many levels are there? The Spanish courses are
organized into four levels: Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, and
Advanced. By the time students have finished Advanced, they should
be able to express themselves as well as native Spanish speakers.
They will also have a good grounding in the culture of the Hispanic
world. What
if I don´t know any Spanish? Beginner Level course classes have been
designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Spanish. At
this level, students can opt to have instructions and explanations
in English or French. They can also decide whether to use Spanish,
English or French when contacting The Spanish Institute. What if I
do know some Spanish? The Spanish Institute
offers courses at all levels of Spanish. You will be placed you in
the right course for your abilities. What kind
of Spanish is taught? Although The Spanish Institute opts primarily to teach the Spanish of educated speakers from Spain, the main varieties of the language from Spain and Latin America, as well as information on their origins, can are taught. This approach allows students to become familiar with the broad diversity of the Spanish language. If, however, you wish to specialize in a particular linguistic variant, The Spanish Institute can advise you. Do I need to buy any books or materials? No. You don’t need to
buy any additional books or materials. You’ll receive the relevant
textbooks and materials for each tutorial. What is the teaching material like? The course materials are
varied in kind, in the manner in which they are presented and in the
way in which students interact with them. They have a varied
structure and combine dialogues, gap-fill activities, games, texts,
recorded material, in an attractive and dynamic way, providing
opportunities to practise the four skills, listening, reading,
writing and speaking, with a special emphasis on the latter. Also The Spanish
Institute’s students can have access to authentic Spanish language
resources from literature, the media and the Internet itself. You
can join The Spanish Institute’s Book Club and Cine Club. What are
the courses like? Our courses have been
designed for adult learners. While teaching how to function in a
Spanish-speaking world the course will also give you access, by
learning the language, to the whole culture and history. The pedagogical approach
is both communicative (you want to learn through practicing the
language in real and recognisable situations), cultural (you want to
understand and enjoy aspects of the Spanish-speaking world that give
the language life and meaning), and student-centred (enabling you,
as an adult learner, to bring into the class the experiences you
have had, before and during the course of study, stimulating you to
engage with these and the course concepts through critical
reflection). The course sets out to
provide you with the means to express yourself in a particular
context and to ensure that you learn not only vocabulary, phrases
and expressions but also patterns of language. At The Spanish Institute
learners practise verbal skills. They are encouraged to speak out,
to ask questions and express opinions and interact with members of
the group. At The Spanish Institute you’ll Learn
To Learn Better™. The Spanish Institute
classes, extra services and benefits will provide you with many
opportunities to explore aspects of the culture of the
Spanish-speaking world. Are there any courses for children and teenagers? A limited number of
classes are available for children from 6 years to 17 years. Please
contact The Spanish Institute for further details. Will I
really learn to communicate in Spanish? The course objective is to
help students develop the ability to communicate in Spanish.
Students work with communicative materials, and do a series of
exercises in which they have to express themselves in Spanish with
their group companions and tutor. How many students are there in each course? The average size of groups
is four students, to ensure personalized attention and to maximize
the opportunities to practise in class. What
schedule do the courses follow? There are morning and evening sessions. All
tutorials last two hours. Private tuition sessions can last from one
to three hours depending on the student’s personal needs. Will I
get a certificate and a language report? Registered students who
attend 75% of classes will receive a course attendance
certificate and
language certificate. Students who wish to
obtain an official qualification verifying their language abilities
can sit the examinations for the Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign
Language Diplomas
de Español como Lengua Extranjera. These take place
every year in different countries and in more than a hundred cities. |