Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
INSTITUTO ALLENDE
learn spanish in mexico
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MEXICO
I learned more Spanish in one month than I did in two years at my local
community college.
—Sherry, student at Instituto Allende's Language School
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Sure, you could pick up a few Spanish words and phrases at any number of language
schools in this country, but why not go for an immersion? Learning Spanish in Mexico is
more organic. Not only are you surrounded by Spanish—on the TV, menus, bus schedules, and
signs—but you get the opportunity to use it in real-life situations.
San Miguel de Allende is a charming, 16th-century cobblestone street of a town about
three hours north of Mexico City. Spanish, of course, is the predominant language, but because
more than 5,000 Americans have chosen to retire there (something about the weather resem-
bling early spring 352 days of the year), it's a great place to expose yourself to a new language
without feeling like you're on another planet.
There are at least a half-dozen Spanish language schools in San Miguel, all offering in-
expensive group or one-on-one lessons. The most popular and well established school is the
Instituto Allende, housed in the sprawling former palace of the Counts of Canal. In existen-
ce since 1950, this prestigious school offers about every type of Spanish class you could ever
think of: informal conversation classes up to accredited, semester-long courses. The institute
will even set you up to live with a local family if you want to speak Spanish all day long. Be-
cause the institute's historic buildings and garden patios are often used for art openings, poetry
readings, and other cultural events, you get to learn about the culture at the same time you're
practicing pronouncing it.
Groups of 3 to 12 can take Spanish lessons that last four weeks and range from $145 for
one hour of instruction a day to $520 for four hours. The institute also offers what it calls
“Total Impact Spanish,” one- to six-hour private lessons for $14 an hour. It can organize hous-
ing as well.
