COURSES

Yelapa English Spanish Institute (YESI) offers a Spanish study program of small classes in Yelapa, Mexico designed for you to learn to speak Spanish quickly. Yelapa is a short boat ride from Puerto Vallarta , Mexico where you can study in small groups at your level of learning or privately. Study Spanish in 3 hour classes from Monday to Friday, or less for children and family groups. Learn the most important Spanish grammar units for speech; learn essential vocabulary by theme, and start practicing. We emphasize largely talking Spanish in class during oral exercises, games, Spanish songs, readings , with some practice in writing to reinforce learning. It's easy to follow-up study after classes, with audio CDs, Spanish movie DVDs, readings, songs. Do more than parrot phrases. After a few short weeks of Spanish study through classes, activities and home stay, you'll be able to express yourself. The class setting of the school is casual, with a relaxing atmosphere on a sunlit patio at an authentic palapa at the edge of the jungle.

After Spanish classes, maximize your study at a Mexican home stay in Yelapa. Learn the stories of Mexico through native Spanish speakers. Enjoy a comfortable private room with a private bath, great meals and a chance to make new Mexican friends through Spanish conversation over dinner, while watching TV, and meeting the relatives! Private accommodation can also be arranged along with meals, And you can practice Spanish on a guided tour with a Yelapa guide.

We offer guides to study Spanish with, who reinforce the Spanish learned in classes. Guided tours or activities with local Mexicans is a very interactive and fun Spanish learning experience to maximize your Spanish learning experience. They can take you whale watching, boating or fishing , hiking , horseback riding , paragliding among other activities . You can practice your Spanish while having fun outdoors. We'll make time for a variety of social activities in the village weekly that are free - such as weddings, quincinieras (15th birthdays for girls), a variety of festivals (e.g. Revolution Day Nov 20, Guadalupe festival in Tuito), children's birthday parties with lots of piñatas, school concerts, etc.

Groups - If you have a group of five or more at one class level that you'd like to bring, we can five the fifth student free studies. We can also customize your studies, block time outside of the posted dates, and/or teach at your accommodations. Please inquire for these special arrangements.

We can also arrange private Spanish conversation classes by the hour for those wishing to practice with a native speaker.

Medical Spanish , including observations in the clinic and vocabulary and terminology training, is offered in the fall and spring months (usually November and April) or customized to your schedule. See (see G below) or Medical Spanish .

YESI offers Spanish on the Road , travel and study at a few select towns, features and events – either one week or weekend, with transport, accommodation, guides and studies all arranged for you!! ( see H below ).

COURSE DATES

i) Intensive Spanish Weekly Course Dates 2010 - 2011(Sunday to Saturday) *

See Summer Schedule below

* Spanish Courses outside indicated dates can be arranged with notice.  

ii) Summer Spanish Courses 2010 *

* Spanish Courses outside indicated dates can be arranged with notice.  

iii) Medical Spanish – November 7-14, 14-21 (Level 1 & 2).), April 10 – 17 (Lev 1) , April 17 – 24 (Lev 2).

Inquire for other dates, especially if you have a group of 2 or more  See G below  or Medical Spanish

iv) Spanish on the Road 2010 - 2011 ( see H below ) Inquire for special dates!

1 (a) Pátzcuaro - Cultural Tour (Inquire)

1 (b) Pátzcuaro – Day of the Dead/ Noche de los Muertos – October 28 to November 3, 2010

1 (c) Pátzcuaro – Patzcuaro culture and nature tour and Monarch Butterflies Winter Sanctuary – February 20-27, 2011

2. San Sebastian to Talpa Mountain Tour – December 5 to December 11, 2010

3. San Blas Beach and Mangrove Jungle to Tepic , including Huichol Village , and Mexcaltitlán (home of the Azecs) – March 6 – 12, 2010 or Inquire

REGULAR AND SUMMER PROGRAMS - SUMMARY

• A.  Weekly Spanish Intensives for Adults: - 2 locations to choose from.
          1.  Yelapa, 1 hr from Puerto Vallarta , on the coast ( Regular and Summer Program )
          2.  San Sebastian , mountains 70 km near Puerto Vallarta ( Summer, Spanish on the Road - see H )
• B.  Spanish for Birders ( Regular - 2 hrs language 1-2 hrs tours)
• C.  Spanish Summer Adventures Program ( Full Day - Summer )
• D.  Family Group Spanish ( 1 hr language, 1 hr language activity ) ( Regular and Summer )
• E.  Children's Group Spanish (1 ½ hrs) ( Regular and Summer)
• F.  Spanish for Teachers (Beginners, Intermediate - Summer only )
• G.  Medical Spanish (10 Hrs/Week Grammar, 5 Hrs Vocabulary Training, 3+ Clinical Visits, 1 Medical Plant Tour, Vet visit and/or surgery)

SPANISH STUDY AND TOURS - SUMMARY

•  H.  Study Spanish on the Road (One Week and Weekend Tours) (See www.StudySpanishontheRoad.com ) for details -  Tours  summarized below.

One-Week Tours :

1.  A. Pátzcuaro –Purepechan Culture and Nature tour of central region of Michoacan , OR B. Pátzcuaro Region and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations OR C. Lago de Pátzcuaro region and El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Winter Sanctuary - Purepechan Culture, Arts and Crafts and Monarch Butterfly Wintering Area Tour

2.    San Sebastian del Oeste, Mascota to Talpa – picturesque colonial village proposed for UNESCO World Heritage Site, mined since the 1600s, a few hrs from Vallarta in the high Sierras. Mascota agricultural village, colonial, famed Archaeological museum, higher mountain villages unique in area, and a Virgin of Guadalupe pilgrimage site in Talpa de Allende, small village with unique history and crafts.

3.     Tepic and Huichol Indian Culture, Mangrove Swamps , Jungles and Beaches of San Blas – Small city of Tepic rich in Mexican tradition and lifestyle. Adjacent Huichol village of Zitacua Surrounding natural region of volcanoes, crater lakes. One hour away is the jungle, beaches and estuary town of San Blas on the Coast - rich in birds and other wildlife, steeped in Huichol traditional worship of Aramara, Goddess of the Sea . Another hour north is the origin site of the Aztec Indians – Mexcaltitlán – Place of the Herons, a small island, located in a large estuary, unique village and surroundings.

Weekend Tours :

1.   San Sebastian del Oeste – mountain villages, UNESCO World Heritage proposed site

2.   Tuito - Virgin of Guadalupe festival Jan 12 2009 to LasJuntas y Los Veranos Botanical Garden & Canopy Tours

3.   Puerto Vallarta – Shopping off the tourist track

4.    Las Palmas Hotsprings – near Puerto Vallarta

5.   Tepic – Traditional Mexican city, Huichol culture

6. San Blas, Nayarit – Fun and vibrant small town - Beaches, estuaries rich with birds, reptiles and wáter life, mangrove swamps – kayaking, boat rides, bird watching, surfing!

REGULAR AND SUMMER PROGRAMS – DETAILS and SCHEDULE

A. Weekly Spanish Intensives for Adults

1. Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico (near Puerto Vallarta ) (Regular and Summer)

Winter: Regular Group Spanish classes run from November to end of April, and then in the summer months (July - August), and by request, other months. The climate is ideal for beach life and lots of activities. Study Spanish classes outdoors in a jungle setting with ocean view just a minute from the village. Groups are small, classes casual and fun with an emphasis on spoken Spanish, but with lots of Spanish structure to hang vocabulary!

Summer: Yelapa is verdant green and lush, hot and humid, with often afternoon and overnight showers and amazing electrical storms to cool things off. In July and August we teach from a few localities to maximize opportunities to dip into cool pools in the rivers, sit in the breezes in the shade, and enjoy the patios and views of our favorite restaurants, while learning Spanish and enjoying the summer life here. We combine the Spanish grammar studies, games, exercises and songs and then apply them in the field in a group activity for under an hour: a visit to a small farm, a nature hike, a tour of the Rosewood factory, or the water factory or tortilla factory, the stores, the medical clinic, among other locations.

2. San Sebastian del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico (1 hr east of P to. Vallarta) ( Summer Spanish – Min. 2 Pers .) (Spanish on the Road - Dec 6 - 12; and Weekends - see H below .

Only 70 kms from Puerto Vallarta , San Sebastian is an old colonial town, built at the peak of gold and silver mining in the 1600s with lots of Mexican history and myth. Once a rich town of 30,000, today it's a village of only 600 people. The houses are of adobe and clay tile roofs. The Spanish colonial architecture with central town square, inner court yards and gardens, tile and cobblestone, stone fences surrounding fruit orchards and fields, make this a scenic treasure. It's surrounded by pine forests, agave and cornfield, mountain trails leading to old mines, smaller villages and viewpoints. It has a hot dry climate with mild evenings, except for the sunny, cooler winter months (Dec - Feb).

Summer Program : Inquire re: dates of interest

We'll stay and study at the Hotel del Puente – a 500 year old colonial building with inner cobbled courtyard with peach trees and flowers, and arched portals for outdoor seating. It's a peaceful and serene setting at the edge of town near the river, one block from the main square. We'll combine some local activities such as hiking and touring the museum, church, local creek-side trails and, for a small additional charge, plan some longer guided excursions into the mountains.

•  road trip up to Real Alto, visit chapel with legendary Virgin del Rosario
•  hike or guided road tour to Bufa, the peak above the village
•  walking tour of town sights, colonial buildings
•  birding, wildlife and nature interpretation tours

B. Spanish for Birders (Regular)

We'll learn Spanish on the forested hillside school of YESI which is one of the best locations in Yelapa for birding. Birds regularly fly through and sit in the treetops and past the class. We'll learn birding vocabulary; focus on Spanish verbs related to bird behavior in addition to regular grammar study and exercises for two hours daily. Then we'll take a minimum of one hour daily to watch birds, identify them and learn their natural history in various habitats

At least one trip will be taken in the estuary , one upriver to the waterfalls , one up the road to Chacala to experience the various habitats. Some unique birds we can expect to see: military macaws, elegant trogon, summer tanagers, mot mots, painted and varied buntings, magpie and San Blas jays, and most of the North American herons.

Course Dates - Based on Demand

C . Spanish Classes - Summer Adventures Program (Inquire for Availability)

For those who want a committed Spanish language guide or Spanish classes and follow-up activities, we offer 3 hour classes with 4 hour guided activities . The week's guided schedule is pre-arranged, and you'll have one person dedicated to your instruction and adventure daily from Monday to Friday. Additional activities can be added on the weekends. (Pricing Variable depending on selected activities - See Activities page ).

D. Family Group Spanish ( Regular and Summer) )

To allow children and their parents time together as a group, we've arranged a 2 hr Spanish course for parents to study with their children. The only requirement is that the children can read and write (approximately 7 years of age). Younger children can accompany us, but the focus will not be directed to them. See E. below for Children's Group Spanish .

We will spend the first hour learning simple grammatical structures, then use pictures for vocabulary building, games and Spanish songs for learning. In the second hour, we will do an activity that allows use of that Spanish vocabulary and structure (eg. farm visit, riding burros, tortilla making on an outdoor stove, a visit to a grocery store, tours of water factory and tortilla factory and rosewood workshop, cooking class).

E •  Children's Group Spanish ( Regular and Summer)

Spanish Classes for children will be offered Monday to Friday for 1.5 hrs for ages five and up. We'll learn simple grammatical structures and practice them through games, readings, crafts, activities and songs. Please inquire for longer class times, if interested.

F. Summer Spanish Classes for Teachers (Summer)

A summer one week or two week Spanish class (5 days per week of three hour classes) is designed for teachers during the summer holidays. Week 1 is Beginner´s (Present Tense) and Week 2 is Intermediate (Past Tenses). Three hours of grammar and vocabulary through exercises, readings, games and songs. For intermediate level – 2 hrs grammar, then one hour of conversational practice daily with a native speaker. Please inquire for advanced study.

Enhance Spanish learning through accommodation arranged with a host family. This includes a private room, comfortably furnished, with private bath. Two meals per day are included in the home stay. We can also arrange private accommodation, with or without meals.

G. Medical Spanish Classes (see more info here )

H. Study Spanish on the Road - One Week and Weekend Spanish Study Tours - see below
see www.StudySpanishontheRoad.com