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Our Student´s Testominies
Jo Bravery
I studied at The Spanish Way for 2 weeks to awaken my dormant Spanish and from the first day I knew I had made the right decision in picking this school from the many others in BA. I was fortunate enough to have lessons by myself and following my initial test my weak areas were immediately identified and we set to work on them the following day.
I really appreciated this flexible approach and also liked the fact that as well as working from a grammar book, I learned the subjunctive from a song and my teacher brought in a book which we read together at the end of each class which gave me the confidence to subsequently buy the book and carry on reading it myself. Thanks to Nadia I am reaching a personal milestone of finishing my first book in Spanish (only 20 pages to go!)
Each day we spent break time with the other students and teachers and I will always remember these times fondly as a place where we all chatted and laughed together until the words of ¨chicos, chicos¨ uttered in semi stern manner signalled the end of break time!
I would highly recommend this to anyone who would like a more intimate experience of learning Spanish in a friendly school which focuses on the individual.
I am happy for you to contact me if you have any questions about the school and my experience, my email address is jo_bravery@hotmail.com.
Jo
Julia Haubitz / Germany
I can´t belive my time in Buenos Aires is over already! I realy fell in love with
the place and the wonderful people! Even the spanish classes , that i thought would
be the boring part, were very enjoyable. But that´s probably because i was so lucky
to choose exactly this school. Actually, I think at first I´ve chosen this school
because of the nice website and the because it was the closest to my apartment...but
it turned out to be much more than that!
I came here with very basic spanish skills. During the two weeks with "the spanish
way" i developed such a confidence that, I talk to anyone in Buenos Aires, even on
the phone. I can go out with an Argentinian and chat the hole night long without an
embarrassing pause. That´s fun and very satisfying! I wasn´t expecting it to be that
easy and quik.
But hey, therefore you have to move your as, dont only hang out with other
travelours the hole time, try to meet Argentinians (that don´t speak english!)and
don´t be shy...aaaaaand choose a good spanish school where you get your daily
grammar and vocabulary input!
Here are 10 reasons to go "the spanish way" with Pam and here team:
- a nicely structured course fitted to your level, that allowes discourses to privat
live and any topic you want to talk about.
- paying for group lesson and getting privat lessons (if you are lucky)
- stupid questions always welcome, whether its about the grammar the teacher
explained you already 5 times or how you have to dress for opera bay (club in BA).
- if you have plans for discovering Buenos Aires or doing a short trip, they help
you first with organising it and second arrange the courses as good as they can
fitted to your needs. For example you can skip a day or change the course from the
afternoon to the morning.
- Lauras clear, intelligent and understanding way to teach.
- the fact that you are not only improving your Spanish, but also your English.
- the location. Not far from Santa Fe and the nice boutiques in Palermo. I loved
going for a shop after the lessons just to let my braincells hang loose ;-)
- the amusing brake inbetween the classes, where you get to know the other students.
The language here is spanglish.
- the lovely view to the church, when you have your well deserved cigarette brake on
the balcony
- have you ever been out with your teacher? Well, Buenos Aires is different and
Pam´s little school, too. It´s actually good fun!
Maria Laura and Patricia, thank you very much for teaching me so nicely, having
relaxing chats and helping me with thing beyond the course.
My Respect to Pam for having created such a nice school, where you are treated as
more than just a student.
Suerte,
Julia
Frances Scherman - United Kindom
A tiny language school with a huge heart
Deciding to spend six weeks studying spanish in Buenos Aires was the best
decision I could have made. I was rather apprehensive about attending the
school but Pamela and the teachers made me feel very welcome and
comfortable. They were very knowledgable, hospitable and yes, very patient.
I enjoyed going to the school in the mornings and making my way to the
lovely coffee shops nearby to do my homework in the afternoons. I was
encouraged to practice my writing, listening and speaking as much as
possible and as such I found that my confidence increased. My teacher
Carolina gave me every opportunity to discuss things, topics and events that
were important to me and I have to say that every class that I had was
incredibly enjoyable. The breaks also gave m the opportunity to sepeak (in
Spanish of course!) with the other teachers and students. Thank you to
Carolina, Maria Laura, Patricia and Pamela for such a wonderful and valuable
experience. Muchas gracias chicas!!
Matthew Dyer - Australia
I have just completed a 6 month holiday in South America. The first
2 months of my travels were spent living in Buenos Aires and
studyiing at the Spanish Way school. I thought it might be better
to actually write a review after having lived and travelled using
what I learnt in the classroom to give a better perspective of my
experience.
I arrived in Argentina having never learnt another language before.
Pamela arranged to have me picked up from the airport, helped me
find an apartment on my first day, and generally gave me alot of
assistance well beyond my Spanish studies to ensure I got settled
quickly and comfortably into the fantastic city of Buenos Aires.
Learning your first language in your early 30's was fairly
intimidating but the teachers at the school really put me at ease.
The teachers seemed to be mainly 3rd or 4th year English Lit
students, and had a very strong grasp of how to teach another
language. They spoke great English and during my 8 weeks they were
really able to get through to me how to not only speak Spanish but
think it. This really made the difference when I finally left on my
travels as it laid a great foundation to expand and improve my
Spanish.
I stuck with 1 on 1 classes, tried to do all of my homework (BA
nightlife sometimes interfered) and at the end of my studies I had
progressed enough to feel comfortable for the rest of my travels.
Taking the time to learn Spanish really enhanced my overall travel
experience and I really feel grateful to Pamela and the staff for
making my time in BA so enjoyable and productive.
Lena Vestad Hansen - Norway / Australia
A tiny language school with a huge heart
Are you wondering if "The Spanish Way" possibly can be as good as it sounds? I can give you my word, it is.
After being in contact with Pamela for the first time, my gut feeling told me that this was the language school for me. It certainly was.
I was met by warmth you would be struggling to find anywhere else, even in the friendliest city of the Western world, Buenos Aires. The moment you're let into this apartment in Palermo, you are considered family. You are going to be loved and looked after whether you want it or not.
I learned more Spanish than I thought possible and I got closer to the Porteño soul than I could ever have dreamed of. The highlight of every day at school being "Break": At 11:00 teachers and students gather around the dining room table for coffee and mate (the local herb infusion). It's supposed to last 30 minutes, but it could drag out to 40 and 50 minutes, depending on how interesting the conversation got and how hard we were laughing.
Argentina being one of the most wonderful countries I have ever been to, Buenos Aires being the most amazing city I have ever visited, this language school made my stay even more special.
Pamela, Maria Laura and Cecilia, you are forever my friends.
If still in doubt, please don't hesitate to contact me on lena.vh@gmail.com
Jude O´Hara - London, U.K.
I was only too happy to be able to write a testimonial for my school - the problem is, that when Pam, the School Director asked me to share my thoughts about my experience with the school I want to make it sound sincere and not too effusive - but the fact of the matter is, The Spanish Way was just 100% PERFECT for me - from the moment I was met at the airport on my first day in Buenos Aires with a warm smile by Pamela, until my last day at the school - the entire experience was challenging, enjoyable, tailored specifically to my needs and most definitely FUN!!!
I would not hesitate to recommend the school to anyone who wants to learn Spanish - my Spanish was very basic when I arrived but in a few short months of working hard at school and integrating with other Portenos I found myself able to have conversations, express myself really well, and even have heated discussions all in Spanish! My progress was much faster than I could have expected, due to the dedication of Pamela and her team of Teachers - all of which seemed to understand me and my pace of working really well. The thing that I loved about the school is that it is small and intimate - we had some fun learning times over the breakfast table each morning, practising our Spanish and discussing what we'd been up to recently - I thoroughly enjoyed going to the outside school events, especially visiting the Pena where I am thrilled to say that I have met some wonderful people who are still good friends of mine to this day, one year after starting school! I was with Pamela for a few months and the flexibility of the course, and how she was able to adapt to my changing needs and demands was fantastic - nothing is too much trouble for her - you will find out after a little while in Argentina that lots of businesses say things to get you to part with your money, and then don't deliver, but with the Spanish Way I was 100% satisfied with the results - it made my whole life easier as I quickly grasped exactly the kinds of things I needed to get along living and working in Buenos Aires, which is a world away from the life I came from in London!
I would just like to add a huge thank you to Pam and the team - it's not so much a school but a new way of life, living, learning, experiencing new things, learning the local nuances, tasting the flavour of life in Buenos Aires in a relaxed environment that was most conducive in getting the most out of me - using the varied materials including music and magazines - I heard some of my first Argentinian music in the School and this started my enthusiasm for music here, and have gone onto compile a really good CD collection!
In short, don't think twice about choosing the Spanish Way - it was the best decision I've taken, and smoothly helped me in the transition from London life to BA Life, with all my queries and problems and those little daily misunderstandings so expertly dealt with by the teaching team.
THANK YOU!
Paul Davis
San Diego, U.S.
As I approach the end of my first month abroad, a musing of a different flavor...
An American, a Slovakian and 8 Argentines are seated around a small table in a quaint bar, listening to live folklore music, enjoying some quilmes (a local brew), devouring empanadas and piecing together conversations in Spanish and English. This is the Language Institute where I am learning Spanish . . .
The Spanish Way is a small school owned by a 25 year old Argentian named Pamela and run by a cadre of teachers between the ages of 22-30. Every Day for 45 minutes, the students and the teachers take a break from classes to sit around a small kitchen table as a family - with a cup of tea, a plate of pastries, and a bond that is usually reserved for close friends and family.
Every Thursday evening the owner and the teachers of my school take their students and friends out for a night of conversation, amazing stories, language exchange and an authentic evening in the Argentinian nightlife. This thursday, in the background, the patrons are forming into small groups at tables surrounding a couple pitchers and dueling guitarists. In each corner of the bar, the room swings and sings to the tune of their bango. In the middle of it all sits the students and teachers of The Spanish Way.
Pamela starts picking my brain to figure out why exactly I chose the Spanish Way. ¨This I tell her. I knew I wanted something small and something local. You gave me both.¨ Conversation then shifts to the financial success of the school. Being from America, I chime in that it would be easy to EXPAND the school if they started advertising and collaborating with colleges abroad.
(downbeat)
¨But that is not what I want,¨Pamela says.¨I don´t want a bunch of students from the University of Florida. I love the randomness that produces you and Damion (the Slovakian). I don´t want to be so big that I lose touch with my students and too busy to share these conversations. I want to be involved in the lives of my students.¨... And that my friends is why I love Pamela.
I have these friends at home that I call my book friends. Every time you think you start to get a grip on the realities of this world, my book friends hand me a book that sends my theories into a tailspin. About two years ago one of these friends handed me a copy of Small is Beautiful written by EF Schumacher. In Small is Beautiful, Schumacher contends that our current way of life has lost its way. Somewhere in this whole race for money and power we lost people. We created a system that dehumanizes people by creating large institutions of mind-numbing jobs composed of mundane tasks. Creating corporations so grand that it is impossible to form any ¨real¨ relationships between management and their workers, and management and their clients.¨
Over the last two years, I have often found myself debating the Small is Beautiful point with others. In these conversations I have always romantized the small buisness enterprise, while different friends would defend the practices of large corporations. ¨How can you hate Starbucks, why won´t you shop at Costco,¨ they´d say, ¨ these are companies that treat their employees well.¨ These musings often lead to debates about whether lower paid employees within ¨mom and pop¨ shops like a camera store or a coffee shop were better off than better paid employees at Costco or Starbucks. Quality of experience vs qualtiy of pay - needless to say these conversations never ended definitively and probably never will . . .
BUT here is what I can tell ya. Being in Argentina has been an unbelievably refreshing experience. It is refreshing to leave the house each morning knowing that there is somewhere new to explore - a seemingly endless stream of choices. It seems almost every restuarante and store is famliy owned and operated. . . There is something romantic about waking up in the morning and deciding whether to go to Cafe Luna, Cafe Desayuno or Bellazi instead of deciding whether or not to frequent the Starbucks at Grand/Mission or the Starbucks at Garnet/Felspar. Damion the Slovakian student at my school - who spent a year and a half studying English in the US tells me this: ¨In the US you have no freedom. Everything is the same, same houses, same stores, same life's. This here,¨ he says, as he points to the cluster of small and distinct shops cluttering one of our favorite boulevards - ¨is FREEDOM.¨
Is Damion right? Who knows. But here is what I do know. Right now I am going to a small school - a family business - that invests a staggering amount of energy into its students. As a result of this small business, I have received a uniquely intimate experience and made real friends that I have no doubt will last a lifetime. Due to its character, the Spanish Way has enjoyed great success, but it has yet to affect the desires of those involved. They don´t dream of vast expansion - even though it would increase their bottom line - because it would compromise the real relationships that develop - ¨el oro de nuestros trabajos¨ - the gold of their jobs.
So here´s raising a glass to Pamela and her teachers - for their bite-size dreams, their big hearts and the uniquely ¨real¨ experience it all produces. I´m convinced . . .Small is Beautiful.
Abrazos,
Pablo
Sharon Bergquist - San Diego, California, U.S.
This month has been more than I ever expected. In just one month I have learned enough Spanish to really communicate well, and in addition, I have found a community of friends I know I will return to see.
The small class size with such one to one attention allowed me to move at my pace and allowed us to move quickly. Both of my teachers are wonderful instructors! I was motivated to work hard in this month from my own desire to speak the language, and also because I knew my professors wanted me to learn. The work load was substancial, but well worth the reward of learning at such fast pace. I feel my base in this language is really solid!
I look back at my first night here when I could not speak a word to now, four weeks later... and I am conversing entirely in Spanish! I am really amazed and excited!
The strength of this school is the personal attention and its teachers, it has really been a wonderful experience and an amazing month. I feel I have been completely taken care of, from being met at the airport upon our arrival, to being taught Spanish, from being lead on city tours to places off the tourist path (to places our teachers loved), to having a group so willing to become friends. I just can´t describe how satisfied I am to have found this program. I could stay in Buenos Aires for my entire trip... and I know I will find my way back to visit you all again!
Thank you for everything!
Sharon Bergquist
Ben Moore - San diego, U.S.
My experience at this small school was simply amazing!! The school, the teachers and the environment allowed me to learn more Spanish than I thought possible in my time there, and Spanish was only one aspect of this great school. The teachers are incredible! My time in Buenos Aires and South America has been enriched immeasurably by the time I was lucky enough to spend with these teachers. Devoted, warm, sincere, funny are only a few words I can ascribe to this unique environment created by the schools owner, who you also get to know.
This school has so much to offer anyone of any age looking to learn Spanish. The great tangible aspects of the school such as; the great location in Palermo, a quaint endearing neighborhood with shops, restaurants and cafes everywhere, the flexible school schedule, the reasonable pricing, and of course the great personal touch to learning Spanish, made it an ideal place for us to learn Spanish before traveling in South America. I did not expect to get as much out of my time there as I did, and all because of the teachers and this small school.
I honestly can not write enough kind words about this place. I have been recommending it already to friends I´ve met in my travels down here, and they are enjoying this great place.
Shanteka Sigers - Chicago, U.S.
I know where you are.
You've taken Spanish before. You know the present tense (sort of). You had a basic vocabulary, but over the years it has faded. You read and write better than you speak because you feel like an idiot speaking your broken, slow Spanish aloud. Even in class, you don't listen to the other students doing their exercises aloud because you're too busy piecing the answer together before it's your turn. And let's not talk about the panic that sets in when someone speaks to you at a regular conversational pace...
So even after years of Spanish, you secretly think you belong in a beginner's class.
Yup. That's me. Or that was me before The Spanish Way. I traveled to BA alone, and thought that a little language refresher would be a nice way to occupy my time. I didn't expect to take such dramatic leaps forward in just two weeks. Here's how:
There were two people in my class. There was nowhere to hide.
I had to read aloud. A lot. And though I HATE sounding barely literate, the corrections really improved my comprehension of spoken Spanish and my own speaking.
Breaktime was a welcome moment away from our workbooks, but not away from Spanish. Snippets of conversation were so interesting that I was working extra hard to keep up. And when I dropped behind, it was an environment where I felt okay asking the speaker to repeat or rephrase. Eighteen times.
We tackled the past and imperfect tenses. Our teacher took us quickly but thoroughly through them. I felt a sense of accomplishment everytime I looked at my well used workbook.
I found that topics I struggled with during class only congealed after I left the school, went shopping, got lunch, went home and did my homework and reviewed the lesson. The homework is invaluable.
I told my teacher about my difficulties comprehending Spanish speakers. Her homework assignment for me? Cable TV. In BA, I had no choice but learn - either read long with the Spanish sub-titles or try my ear at following Los Simpson in Spanish.
Overall, the Spanish Way taught me more in two weeks than an eight week, twice a week course at home. It was a potent, concentrated dose of Spanish that still left me time to shop in Plaza Serrano (a Pamela suggested excursion).
But will Pamela and her wonderful staff make you suddenly fluent in two weeks? Nope. But just two weeks will reward you with new skills to practice, and enough confidence to practice them. And that's truly the way to learn Spanish.
Helena Nilsson Tapper - Sweden
Before I came to Buenos Aires, I wasn’t speaking any Spanish at all. But thanks to Pamela and her school I got the opportunity to learn a new language and improve it in a professional environment.
Well educated teachers, good structure of the textbook, which also contained grammar and exercises, and you get lots of time to spend with your own private teacher.
You choose how many hours and for how long time you would like to study yourself, which will give you plenty of spare time to explore Buenos Aires, and everything the city has to offer; like theatres, restaurants, nightclubs, museums, monuments, different activities, the parks, sports events, why not go to a famous and worldclass football game? Here is something for everyone.
However, I did four weeks, in total 60 hours, and that has been giving me surprisingly much more knowledge than I thought. I was also able to communicate with the Argentineans during my one-month trip travelling around the country, which of course makes your trip more fun and interesting.
I am well pleased, and would like to continue learning the third most spoken language in the world, as I start University in London this coming autumn. I am very grateful to Pamela for picking me up at the airport, helping me with accommodation, taking me out to “typical” Argentinean places, and for being a good friend!
Finally, I must say that I highly recommend taking Spanish classes and to choose this regarded school. I have been very satisfied and know that more students have been so too.
Good Luck!
Rahul Gohil - India
The Spanish Immersion course in Buenos Aires exceeded all my expectations. I remember how little I understood and thought that it would be impossible for me to learn a new language at the age of 26. The first week was tough, but by the end of the program even I was surprised at how much I understood.
I think that there were many strengths to this program. First of all, the student faculty ratio was very important. Having only one other student was great because we each got the appropriate attention and nobody ever felt lost or left behind. Secondly, program director was extremely responsible and attentive to the students needs...especially in regards to finding housing and transportation. Thirdly, the setting was spectacular and affordable.
I only wish that I had more time because the longer I stayed the more interested I became in seeing some things outside of the city... For those of you planning to come to Argentina, try to set aside at least 3 months so you can not only pace yourself in class, but you can take some weeks off to travel around the country. I definately plan on returning the next chance I get.
Gerrit Stolze - Holland
Normally, I hate to learn languages, because I´m really bad at it. In High School they were my worst nightmares, I failed many tests.
But now I found that learning a language, Spanish to be exact, can be done and can be fun, and even both at the same time!
We had a very good time meanwhile learning a lot from “la profesora” (the teacher) at The Spanish Way.
The teachers are professional and friendly, and even take you to nice places in Buenos Aires (like historical places and trendy clubs) to improve while speaking with locals!
So, we from Holland like to recommend: Go to The Spanish Way!...Best Regards!
Mario Gioia - Jornalista e editor de livros - São Paulo, Brasil
Um bom curso de línguas pode ser avaliado por dois elementos fundamentais: a qualidade dos professores e a adequação do material didático. Nisso, o The Spanish Way escola é exemplar, porque a qualidade dos seus professores é elevada, e os textos literários, letras de músicas e outros materiais de apoio são muito bem escolhidos, casando bem com o estágio do aluno. Por exemplo, eu, que estava em um nível avançado, pude me 'aventurar' entre textos de Cortázar, Borges e outros nomes do mesmo quilate, aprendendo espanhol de um modo muito mais interessante. Por isso, recomendo a escola, dirigida de uma maneira muito profissional e eficiente.
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