The Iowa Institute has been selected as one of the Rotary Foundation's study abroad programs, the British Embassy, many international companies sending employees to Venezuela, universities, various junior colleges, and high schools world wide.
The Iowa Institute offers Spanish classes beginning every Monday of the year except for Holy Week, Christmas vacation, and national holidays. Classes are for those wanting comprehensive knowledge of Spanish to use for personal interest, future studies, and/or tourism. Classes include grammar, reading, writing, focused listening, and above all - conversation.
Spanish classes for specific purposes can also be arranged. Conversation courses, youth classes, and activities for young children are available. Courses are offered at eight levels and from one week to six months. All students are tested (both oral and written components) to determine classroom level. Classes are limited to a maximum of six students. One - to - one instruction is also available.
General Interest Courses are for those wanting comprehensive knowledge of Spanish to use for personal interest, future studies, and/or tourism. 72 classroom hours per month, workbooks, conversation partner and 2 field trips. Classes include grammar, reading, writing, focused listening, and above all - conversation!
Faculty Information:
The owner-director of the Iowa Institute, Cathy Jensen de Sánchez, has a Master Degree in Linguistics and over twenty years experience in foreign language teaching. Her experience includes eight years at the University of Iowa , U.S.A., a Fulbright award, and being an Invited Professor at the University of the Andes.
Cesar González is the Spanish Coordinator and has been working with us since 1992. He obtained his undergraduate degrees in Modern Languages and Education from the University of the Andes. He recently completed his Master Degree in the Teaching of Reading and Writing in a Foreign Language.
The teaching staff consists entirely of native speakers with university degrees in Modern Languages, Linguistics, or Education. All have further specialized in the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language. They have all completed the required three month training program at the Institute and thereafter work closely with both the coordinators and the director.
Classes given at the Institute are guided by current research, coupled with the firm belief that learning languages is a human activity of which we are all capable, if given ample and appropriate opportunities. Rather than being restricted by a set of mass-produced text books, our materials are original and have been developed to be used with the Spanish speaking community of Mérida, Venezuela.
Other Activities:
The most common "out of town" activities are camping, fishing, hang-gliding, mountain biking, and hiking. Spectacular, (and I do mean spectacular) hikes are right around the corner.
Facility Information:
Four blocks up from the plaza, yet still downtown, you will find the Iowa Institute in its own 180 year old colonial building. The typical indoor patio often turns into a dance floor when conversation hour talk turns to local music. To the beat of "salsa" and "merengue" our students experience the spirit and hospitality that has earned Merida the name "City of Gentlemen".
Notes:
* Group: $740.00 per four weeks (maximum of five students per class)
* Private: $860.00 per four weeks (one to one instruction)
* Materials included. No registration fee.
Also see Vacation Schools in:
Language Schools
South America
Venezuela
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