** Oaxaca, Mexico and Cuenca, Ecuador this summer?

Greetings all,

I have about 3 or 4 weeks this summer that I want to spent in Latin
America, studying Spanish and experiencing the land and culture of the
place.

Based on recommendations I think I'm down to two places at this point:
Oaxaca, Mexico and Cuenca, Ecuador.

I plan on homestay and regular group language classes during the
week with some excursions on the weekend. I would prefer a place that
is not *overun* with tourists, though of course there will always be
visitors from other countries (like myself). I just want to avoid
rampant commercialism and speaking English :-)

I suspect traveling to Mexico from the US (OH) will be cheaper than to
Ecuador -- but I'm not sure - and that would be only one factor.

I've started reading about both places, and they sound nice, so if you
have any more info on both/either it would be very helpful! Comments
about homestay situation or recommendations for schools would be
great!

Esmail

ps: 3 years ago I did something similar in Herdia, Costa Rica and
it was a wonderful experience. I would like to try a new country
this time

"Esmail Bonakdarian" <ebonak-a@t-m> wrote in message
news:myDcg.8651$kR6.8394@trnddc05...
> Greetings all,
>
> I have about 3 or 4 weeks this summer that I want to spent in Latin
> America, studying Spanish and experiencing the land and culture of the
> place.
>
> Based on recommendations I think I'm down to two places at this point:
> Oaxaca, Mexico and Cuenca, Ecuador.
>
> I plan on homestay and regular group language classes during the
> week with some excursions on the weekend. I would prefer a place that
> is not *overun* with tourists, though of course there will always be
> visitors from other countries (like myself). I just want to avoid
> rampant commercialism and speaking English :-)
>
> I suspect traveling to Mexico from the US (OH) will be cheaper than to
> Ecuador -- but I'm not sure - and that would be only one factor.
>
> I've started reading about both places, and they sound nice, so if you
> have any more info on both/either it would be very helpful! Comments
> about homestay situation or recommendations for schools would be
> great!
>
> Esmail
>
> ps: 3 years ago I did something similar in Herdia, Costa Rica and
> it was a wonderful experience. I would like to try a new country
> this time

I've been going to Oaxaca for 15 yrs, and I love the place. My wife and I
have studied Spanish at Bacari and had good experiences there. We've met
other people that have used other schools and they liked them. Depending on
what you're after, any school will probably give you a decent experience.

Oaxaca is lovely. The central historical district will keep you busy for
the entire time. It's an major art and craft center, and there are numerous
cultural events. The central valley is filled with smaller villages that
specialize in various crafts.

I've heard similar things about Cuenca, but we have never traveled there.

If you want more specific info about Oaxaca, feel free to ask.
Regards,
Terry

"Esmail Bonakdarian" <ebonak-a@t-m> wrote in message
news:myDcg.8651$kR6.8394@trnddc05...

> I have about 3 or 4 weeks this summer that I want to spent in Latin
> America, studying Spanish and experiencing the land and culture of the
> place.
>
> Based on recommendations I think I'm down to two places at this point:
> Oaxaca, Mexico and Cuenca, Ecuador.
>
> I plan on homestay and regular group language classes during the
> week with some excursions on the weekend. I would prefer a place that
> is not *overun* with tourists, though of course there will always be
> visitors from other countries (like myself). I just want to avoid
> rampant commercialism and speaking English :-)

I was in Oaxaca last September to do exactly what you describe and there
were (obviously) plenty of tourists in and around the school, and it was
very easy to hang out with them and speak English but it's also quite
possible to break away from that scene and speak Spanish with the locals,
who, in my experience, seem quite willing to have a chat with anyone who
wants to talk with them in bars, at the zocalo, in stores, wherever. I
wouldn't worry about rampant commercialism in Oaxaca.

Oaxaca is a great base for plenty of day (and half-day) trips to places like
Yagul, Monte Alban, etc. It's also close enough to the beach that you could
probably make a weekend trip out of it.

> I've started reading about both places, and they sound nice, so if you
> have any more info on both/either it would be very helpful! Comments
> about homestay situation or recommendations for schools would be
> great!

I've done two homestays: one last September in Oaxaca and the other a few
years ago in Guanajuato. Both were positive experiences. If you don't speak
Spanish well enough to communicate the details of your arrival by phone,
make sure that the school does it for you so that your hosts know when to
expect you.

I studied at a school called Solexico. I picked it because it wasn't too
big, the prices looked good, they offered the flexibility I wanted in my
class schedule and they had extra activities like movie nights, cooking
classes, salsa classes, weekly school parties, intercambios, etc.

Wherever you choose to study, if you're not sure how many hours you want to
spend in class each day, I'd suggest that you sign up for fewer than you
think you will want/need. Schools are more accommodating to students looking
to buy extra classes than they are to those wanting refunds and lighter
courseloads. Not to mention that some instructors are willing to give
private lessons outside the school at rates lower than those you'd pay if
you went through the school, and there's no way of finding that out until
you enroll and start your classes.

Richard

Hello Richard,

> I was in Oaxaca last September to do exactly what you describe and
> there were (obviously) plenty of tourists in and around the school,
> and it was very easy to hang out with them and speak English but
> it's also quite possible to break away from that scene and speak
> Spanish with the locals, who, in my experience, seem quite willing
> to have a chat with anyone who wants to talk with them

That sounds great.

> Oaxaca is a great base for plenty of day (and half-day) trips to
> places like Yagul, Monte Alban, etc. It's also close enough to the
> beach that you could probably make a weekend trip out of it.

I have never been to Mexico before so this is great news as I plan to
explore .. while the main reason is to learn more Spanish, a close
second goal is to learn about Mexico and meet new interesting people.

In terms of demographics, how would you describe the students
attending the schools. It would be nice to know that there is a good
age mix (in addition to national/cultural origins).

> I've done two homestays: one last September in Oaxaca and the other
> a few years ago in Guanajuato. Both were positive experiences. If
> you don't speak Spanish well enough to communicate the details of
> your arrival by phone, make sure that the school does it for you so
> that your hosts know when to expect you.

Yes, I plan to arrange this through the school.

Are you familiar with posadas? What exactly are they, and how much are
costs/logistics etc? I am not familiar with this at all from my
experience in Costa Rica. Everyone I knew there did homestay, though
one week we were at the beach campus some took motel rooms (me
included), others continued with homestay. To be honest, I really
enjoyed having a space just for me, so I'm thinking 3 weeks homestay,
one week in a posada??

> I studied at a school called Solexico. I picked it because it wasn't
> too big, the prices looked good, they offered the flexibility I
> wanted in my class schedule and they had extra activities like movie
> nights, cooking classes, salsa classes, weekly school parties,
> intercambios, etc.

Solexico sounds good .. ICO seems to offer a lot of those extra
activities too.

> Wherever you choose to study, if you're not sure how many hours you want to
> spend in class each day, I'd suggest that you sign up for fewer than you
> think you will want/need. Schools are more accommodating to students looking
> to buy extra classes than they are to those wanting refunds and lighter
> courseloads.

Excellent advice, thanks, I will keep this in mind.

> Not to mention that some instructors are willing to give private
> lessons outside the school at rates lower than those you'd pay if
> you went through the school, and there's no way of finding that out
> until you enroll and start your classes.

I am considering this as a possibility if I find that there are some
weak points I need to have specific help with.

I look forward to the experience!

Esmail

"Esmail Bonakdarian" <ebonakDUH@m> wrote in message
news:QsCdg.13154$ix2.6400@trnddc03...

[on Spanish schools in Oaxaca]

> In terms of demographics, how would you describe the students
> attending the schools. It would be nice to know that there is a
> good age mix (in addition to national/cultural origins).

I'd say that roughly half the students were Americans, perhaps a third were
Germans or Swiss and the rest were from other countries. The vast majority
of students were in their 20's or 30's.

> Are you familiar with posadas? What exactly are they, and how
> much are costs/logistics etc? I am not familiar with this at all from
> my experience in Costa Rica. Everyone I knew there did homestay,
> though one week we were at the beach campus some took motel
> rooms (me included), others continued with homestay. To be honest,
> I really enjoyed having a space just for me, so I'm thinking 3 weeks
> homestay, one week in a posada??


Not at all, sorry. Other than homestays, I've relied on youth hostels,
hotels (try and seek out the ones that have lots of common areas...) and
I've crashed at a few of the houses/apartments of Mexicans who I befriended
along the way but I've never stayed at any place that called itself a
posada. FWIW, my dictionary translates the word as "an inn".

Richard

In article <QsCdg.13154$ix2.6400@trnddc03>,
Esmail Bonakdarian <ebonakDUH@m> wrote:
Hi there,
My husband and I have been going to Oaxaca for many years-usually do 2-4
weeks of language school while there. We have tried ICC and Becari and
for the last 6 or so years have stuck with Becari. For us, the teaching
style and class organization are ideal. We do what they call the
intensive course. It is 4 hours per day divided into a 2 hour grammar
class and a 2 hour conversation class with a 15 minute break in between.
You get a different teacher for each and in the break they communicate
about what has been taught in the grammar class so that the conversation
class reinforces it. If you stay for more than one week you would
likely have different teachers again each week. This exposes you to
different teaching styles and prevents getting stuck with someone with
whom you don't "click". All teachers are good and seem to stay year
after year-to us this seems to indicate that they are treated well.
Class sizes are never more than 5 and have been as few as just the 2 of
us-depends on who turns up each week and what level they are at. The
mix of students varies from year to year-everyone from college
students/backpackers to whole families with kids to retired people. We
are Canadian and have been in classes with Americans, Swedes, Germans,
Brits, Aussies, Kiwis,Japanese, etc. We still email some of these
people. Having said all this, most schools in the city would give you a
good experience and most are about the same price. As for lodging, we
have never done a homestay because one of Oaxaca's great attractions for
us is the wonderful cuisine and inexpensive restaurants. We have never
wanted to get locked into meals "at home". We also like our privacy.
We have stayed at several small local hotels over the years but for the
last several years have settled on Hotel Las Mariposas, a small
family-run place a few blocks from the zocalo-just far enough to be a
bit quieter but still easy walking distance. Includes a simple breakfast
in a communal patio where you can meet lots of interesting travellers.
They also have free wireless internet if that's important to you. For
slightly more you can get a room with a small kitchenette to cook your
own food from the market if you like.
We also have been to Cuenca and it is a very Oaxaca-like place. we
thought it was the nicest city that we visited in Ecuador. Didn't do any
classes there but did hear about the one-on-one aspect. I think that
would be very intense-sometimes it's nice to have someone else answer
questions while your brain reels and tries to collect its thoughts! It
would be a nice place to spend some time though.
Kerry


>Hello Richard,
>
>> I was in Oaxaca last September to do exactly what you describe and
>> there were (obviously) plenty of tourists in and around the school,
>> and it was very easy to hang out with them and speak English but
>> it's also quite possible to break away from that scene and speak
>> Spanish with the locals, who, in my experience, seem quite willing
>> to have a chat with anyone who wants to talk with them
>
>That sounds great.
>
>> Oaxaca is a great base for plenty of day (and half-day) trips to
>> places like Yagul, Monte Alban, etc. It's also close enough to the
>> beach that you could probably make a weekend trip out of it.
>
>I have never been to Mexico before so this is great news as I plan to
>explore .. while the main reason is to learn more Spanish, a close
>second goal is to learn about Mexico and meet new interesting people.
>
>In terms of demographics, how would you describe the students
>attending the schools. It would be nice to know that there is a good
>age mix (in addition to national/cultural origins).
>
>> I've done two homestays: one last September in Oaxaca and the other
>> a few years ago in Guanajuato. Both were positive experiences. If
>> you don't speak Spanish well enough to communicate the details of
>> your arrival by phone, make sure that the school does it for you so
>> that your hosts know when to expect you.
>
>Yes, I plan to arrange this through the school.
>
>Are you familiar with posadas? What exactly are they, and how much are
>costs/logistics etc? I am not familiar with this at all from my
>experience in Costa Rica. Everyone I knew there did homestay, though
>one week we were at the beach campus some took motel rooms (me
>included), others continued with homestay. To be honest, I really
>enjoyed having a space just for me, so I'm thinking 3 weeks homestay,
>one week in a posada??
>
>> I studied at a school called Solexico. I picked it because it wasn't
>> too big, the prices looked good, they offered the flexibility I
>> wanted in my class schedule and they had extra activities like movie
>> nights, cooking classes, salsa classes, weekly school parties,
>> intercambios, etc.
>
>Solexico sounds good .. ICO seems to offer a lot of those extra
>activities too.
>
>> Wherever you choose to study, if you're not sure how many hours you want to
>> spend in class each day, I'd suggest that you sign up for fewer than you
>> think you will want/need. Schools are more accommodating to students looking
>> to buy extra classes than they are to those wanting refunds and lighter
>> courseloads.
>
>Excellent advice, thanks, I will keep this in mind.
>
>> Not to mention that some instructors are willing to give private
>> lessons outside the school at rates lower than those you'd pay if
>> you went through the school, and there's no way of finding that out
>> until you enroll and start your classes.
>
>I am considering this as a possibility if I find that there are some
>weak points I need to have specific help with.
>
>I look forward to the experience!
>
>Esmail