Presentation: Hermilo Brito De La Ideal Language School In Cuernavaca – Making Spanish Learning Fun
One of the reasons why he decided to move to Cuernavaca this past April was that it is one of the world's centers for Spanish teaching. Cuernavaca has more than 40 language schools and attracts students of languages around the world to this beautiful city with almost perfect climate. After all, Cuernavaca is "City of Eternal Spring", the eternal city spring.
During my first week in Cuernavaca, I had the opportunity to study Spanish at the Ideal School for Spanish and enjoy my instruction I join Estela, one of the most experienced teachers Ideal. With humor and patience got me through the usual torture of the Spanish subjunctive "be ESTAR Y" and many other grammatical nuances launches Spanish to us non-Latinos.
During my stay at the Ideal I really liked the environment, our first guided tour with one of the teachers by the school in our first day (with first-hand instructions on how to use the bus system) on our trip studies (for the opening of a gallery), at coffee time, some of the savory snacks served authentic Mexican (chilaquiles, for example), the birthday a number and go-celebrations. The atmosphere was very personal and friendly, almost familial.
The school is located in a beautiful residential neighborhood with a tropical courtyard. My room was outside under a palapa (a palm leaf, straw umbrella Mexcio) and Spanish learning outdoors, in the midst of flower and song Bougainville of the birds was an experience in itself.
Let me introduce Hermilo Brown, the creator of the Ideal School for Spanish, and also the president Association of Spanish Schools in Cuernavaca.
1. Please tell us a little about yourself and your personal history. How did you get involved in the field language teaching?
Now for many years in the '60s, I had the great opportunity to work in the center of first teaching Spanish in Cuernavaca. This center was created Ivan Illich, philosopher and Catholic priest, the center was named CIDOC (Centro Cultural Documentation.) It was not really a school, center is well known in the university and intellectual circles, to discuss innovative ideas about the end of last century. Among the activities were sending CIDOC of volunteers to countries in Latin America, volunteers had to learn Spanish, so it was an important department CIDOC teaching Spanish. In CIDOC, who served as a teacher of Spanish, Coordinator, Director of Spanish Programs and General Manager.
In 1975, Ivan Illich decided to close the center, representing an opportunity for IDEAL (Institute of Latin American Studies) and a Spanish school, following the path that had begun in CIDOC doing what I love: teaching my language.
During all these years I continued my training to improve my skills in the field of language teaching, take courses and attend conferences related to this issue. My concern has been to improve and develop our methodology in order to become a leader in our area.
2. You AIPEC is the President of the Association of Spanish Schools in Cuernavaca. Please tell us about the association and Cuernavaca as language learning destination.
The Association of Spanish Schools in Cuernavaca, was organized 11 years ago, 12 schools interested in turning our city a global center of learning Spanish enlisted the help of the Mexican government to promote Cuernavaca. After 11 years, the cleanup of Cuernavaca has improved we have more tourist services available to foreigners, the city is safer, we talked to our colleagues in the travel services to coordinate our efforts to offer the best to our visitors, we have organized shows and cultural events for all students of Spanish, and are in contact with different offices Cuernavaca government to promote "The World Center of Teaching Spanish," among other activities and challenges.
Cuernavaca is the world the second largest city in the teaching of Spanish as a second language. The success of the schools in Cuernavaca, and the development of a teaching methodology appropriate also the result of excellent location in town, we are 1 ½ hours away from the world's largest city, Mexico City, and near several places where students of Spanish language and Mexican culture can get to know the different facets of this country, through activities ranging from visits cultural museums and archaeological sites to recreational destinations such as Acapulco. Visitors can choose from a wide range of places to visit.
Cuernavaca itself it offers numerous cultural and tourist attractions. Above all, Cuernavaca offers the opportunity to admire and learn about different periods in Mexican history. Above all, Cuernavaca is best known for its climate, local temperatures are between 20 and 30 º C (68-86 º F), almost all year round.
3. Tell us about the history of their school, Ideal Latin America.
Our school, IDEAL, was established in 1975, after the CIDOC (Documentation Center Cultural) of the finished project. The CIDOC many teachers and people trained to teach Spanish as a second language. I was one of the people involved with Spanish teaching activities and, along with a colleague, we have established IDEAL (Institute of Latin American Studies). With the enthusiasm of the early years, we reached our goal to create a place where students from all over the world could meet each other to learn Spanish and learn about Mexican culture.
In 1996, due to teaching and the distinctive philosophy of the school, I continued this project by myself with my son, who continues the tradition of teaching in Spanish. We both have in mind for develop the best method that will allow students to learn the language better and more dynamic way.
4. Tell us about your Spanish classes class facilities, the weekly program and its faculty.
The aim of our courses is to introduce students of Spanish as a second language, as many have studied as a foreign language in their countries of origin. Another objective is to promote immersion not only in language but in culture and everyday life.
Our IDEAL program begins in the Spanish individual with no more than 5 students and optional extracurricular activities are strongly recommended to comply with the program. Every week including talks (informal talks) and conferences, roundtables, songs and movies in Spanish as well as cooking classes, dance classes, coffee social and excursions to places of historical and cultural interest among many other options.
We teach Spanish to 9 levels, each level emphasizes communication and language training where appropriate for each student's level of competence, using various interactive techniques that allow the student to speak and communicate in Spanish from day one.
IDEAL five-student capacity classroom (and teacher), some of them are in the garden (palapas, small areas roofs covered with palm-). IDEAL offers two conference rooms with capacity for 18 and 60 students respectively. The meeting zone in IDEAL is the cafeteria, where students socialize and enjoy the "Coffee Time", the time that the school offers coffee and snacks (at 11 hours), Monday through Friday. Students are invited to enjoy the gardens and areas within IDEAL time classes are through, they can watch TV, watch a movie or surfing the Internet (wireless) included in the services offered.
A key part of IDEAL is our teachers who will accompany you every step of the way into the adventure of learning Spanish and discover a new culture.
IDEAL teachers are specialists with university education or teaching experience of many years of Spanish to foreigners or both.
When teachers begin to work on IDEAL receive a course on "Techniques for teaching Spanish as a second language, which covers fundamental aspects of the method used in IDEAL. Every year we offer training courses in which teachers learn new techniques and theories, methods discuss existing teaching and strengthen the teaching methods we use.
However, what distinguishes our teachers is his work ethic teamwork and enthusiasm for teaching and making the atmosphere pleasant and supportive IDEAL.
5. Please tell us about your teaching methodology Spanish language and its programs to improve pronunciation.
The IDEAL method is directed toward developing the student's ability to communicate in Spanish, especially in the spoken world. From day one students will be able to immerse themselves in the language and culture. In this way students will become familiar with how we live, our beliefs, our history, our politics, our party and why celebrate it, and more Mexican culture and social life.
According to Stephen Krashen ( http://www.sk.com . br / sk-krash.html): "You can learn or acquire a second language informally, in the same way is acquired first. Formal, structured lessons represent another learning process and not are indispensable in the process. " For this reason our method is based on this approach, "natural" (target = "_blank"> http://maxpages.com/thena/The_Natural_Approach) and try to channel the teaching – learning process in this direction, so that students learn through interaction: teacher – student, student – teacher, student – Student, student – environment.
Also, our work focuses on maintaining an atmosphere of civility and confidence in the classroom and the institution in general. Here the teacher is crucial as it is to create an environment in which students feel relaxed and comfortable, which in our opinion, is the best way to learn a language.
In IDEAL emphasis is focused on the process of immersion in the culture of students, for points of reference access offers. For a student to develop appropriate communication skills, you need to assimilate cultural elements of the country or region where you learn a language. Moreover, the language and culture are inseparable.
In the beginner's level, the pronunciation is not a big issue, since only focus on correct pronunciation when it becomes an obstacle for communication. In the more advanced levels of our program, pronunciation is more important, because the intermediate to advanced students need to improve the way they pronounce the words and how they modulate when they speak Spanish. Above all, Ideal is able to develop a specific program to improve pronunciation if a student or group request. We had worked for many years in the pronunciation before I realized that it is essential when people speak Spanish as a second language.
6. Please explain your "Spanish for Professionals' program for us.
Each year our student body includes managers, lawyers, doctors, nurses, school teachers, policemen, firefighters, engineers, ministers, seminarians, nuns and people in many other professions for which is essential for learning specific vocabulary in their respective professions.
This program includes 4 hours of Spanish classes designed to strengthen general knowledge of the language, and a 1 hour private lesson to Spanish professional studies. Professional Spanish vocabulary consists of the aspects of Mexican culture visits to places of professional interest to the student, analysis and discussion of documents and written information when needed, and meetings with professionals in the field the student, if necessary.
7. They also offer a "Family Program at their school. What is this program about?
Well, this program has now passed to a second term now, since they are pushing new programs: Basic Program (only 4 hours), Basic + Private Program Cuernavaca – Cancun Program, and Volunteers Programme, among others.
The "Family Program" is aimed at complete host families (parents and children) who offers a complete solution to their needs, such as classes for children, foster families for children, activities for children, and others. The Family Program has not been as successful as hoped, however, must assist families to study ideal we can offer them the best.
To read the article complete, including photos, please visit
http://www.travelandtransitions.com/interviews/ideal_school.htm
About the Author
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of Travel and Transitions (
http://www.travelandtransitions.com
), a popular web portal for unconventional travel & cross-cultural connections. Check out our brand new section featuring FREE ebooks about travel.
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