Buddah LogoThe Spanish Guru

Group Classes
Semi & Private Tutoring
Cooking Classes in Spanish
One-week Immersion Intensives!


Spanish Intensive*
* This intensive is best suited for Intermediate students.


SCHEDULE   -   ACCOMMODATIONS    -   CLASS MATERIAL   -   HOW MUCH $?
 GETTING THERE   -   IS MEXICO SAFE?   -   HOW DO I SIGN UP?

SPANISH INTENSIVES are an INCREDIBLE learning experience!

NEXT INTENSIVE is scheduled in SPRING 2012.
STAY TUNED FOR DATES.

Join us for a MEMORABLE week of FUN, learning, friendship!



WHAT BETTER PLACE THAN GORGEOUS SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE!
The FLORENCE of Mexico!

TRAVEL, REST, LAUGH and LEARN all in one glorious week.


If you've never been here, you are guaranteed a feast for all of your senses ~
a truly memorable experience you will cherish for years to come.


These are PHOTOS of the most recent Intensive, designed around
Dia de los Muertos, 2011


Dia de los Muertos Group
    We built our own altar and each student spoke about
      their dearly departed (in the preterite and imperfect!)
      It was a bitter-sweet moment for all, yet incredibly honoring.
  
      We purchased calaberas, pan de muertos, incineso de copal
      papel picado, velas, y varias ofrendas, so everyone had
      an opportunity to use their Spanish in the real world as
      they interacted with vendors en el mercado.


Cemetary decorated graves


We all went to el cementerio
and were thoroughly impressed by the amount of people decorating tumbas, gathering with their relatives to remember their loved ones. There were more flores than we had ever seen.



                                        

Eli and Joy doing make-up

   The CATRINA PARADE is the MOST amazing experience, and the   
   highlight of the extra-curricular activities!  It's everyone's 15
   minutes of fame. It feels like a Hollywood Premiere, filled with
   Paparazzi.

   First we got together to put on maquillaje y disfraces.
Catrina group
            




            

   






Ivy and Eli

 Then we took to the streets and had hundreds of photos taken.
 As close to being una celebridad as ever!Adela y Vicky



On the last day we had a delectable Clase de Cocina Mexicana!

First una clase de vocabulario de cocina, and then our lovely Chef Adela and her assistant Vicky taught us the secrets of home-made Mexican delicacies!


Chiles en Nogada, Sopa Azteca, Sopes, Salsa verde, Calabaza con Piloncillo y Ponche Navideno...



      This truly was a spectacular time, enjoyed by all.
Muchas gracias a todos los que participaron!


 
     

WHERE DO OUT-OF-TOWNERS STAY DURING INTENSIVES?


We secure a private residence in colonia San Antonio for the week of your stay. It is actually two houses connected by a very sweet courtyard. It is very well located about 7-10 minute walk from El Centro and La Parroquia in a neighborhood consisting of a nice blend of Mexican and ex-pat families.

HOUSE #1: 3 bedrooms (1 KING w/ private terrace, 1 with 2 TWINS which can convert to a KING w/view of Centro, 1 with a PRIVATE DOUBLE bed, downstairs, view of courtyard). Each bedroom has a private bathroom with a shower and a tub. Two levels. Two terraces, living room, dining room, small kitchen.

  Vergel ENTRYVergel HOUSE  Vergel Living
           House #1 ENTRY                                  EXTERIOR for BOTH HOUSES                                House #1 LIVING ROOM

HOUSE #2: 2 bedrooms (1 KING w/ private patio, 1 QUEEN). This is brand new construction, therefore kitchen is much larger (This will be our communal kitchen and dining room) and it also has a beautiful POOL (available to all.)

     KITCHEN   Vergel Living2   POOL
           House #2 KITCHEN                        HOUSE #2 DINING & LIVING ROOM                                   House #2 POOL

Both houses are lovely, although House #2 is a little bit higher-end, therefore a bit more $, reflected in the overall price below. Please be advised: Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis, with KING and QUEEN rooms reserved for couples. (Unless you don't mind sleeping in the same bed with a new roomie...)

NOTE: IN THE EVENT THAT THIS VENUE SELLS-OUT, WE WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER OPTION, EQUALLY AS WONDERFUL...

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WHAT IS COVERED IN CLASS?


ClassAn intensive situation of this type is best suited for students who have at least a basic foundation. That means familiarity with the present tense, and basic conversation skills. The idea is to EXPAND and TURBO CHARGE your current base.

My approach is quite different than traditional schools and teachers. Though we will study grammar, my focus is CONVERSATION. Helping you become more confident, relaxed & conversational. My tag line is: Sound like a Person, not a Text Book! I say that for a reason. You will learn SLANG, colloquial expressions, and how to link words together and mispronounce things on purpose. Just like we natives do. That will help not only you sound more natural bu also to increase your comprehension.

My initial goal is to CLARIFY and DEMYSTIFY lingering issues so we can all be ready to move forward together. These may include Direct and Indirect Object pronouns, Por y Para, Reflexive pronouns, etc.

 If we're ready and want to do it, spending a considerable amount of time on PAST PRETERIT and IMPERFECT will be in order.  If the group is already beyond that, we'll STRETCH where most appropriate. ALL done with a high degree of FUN, FOCUS and INTENTION!

Please visit the rest of the website to get a better sense of my teaching style. If you have any questions about your current level, please check out this section. If you still are unsure, contact me, and I'll be glad to help.


HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The cost for Out-of-Towners of this memorable experience includes:

Shuttle service, round trip, from Leon (BJX) airport
(if you fly into Mexico City or other airports, there will be an additional charge)

7 nights at our selected private residence
(House #1 and House #2 have slightly different rates)

Sunday Breakfast Welcome Reception at Posada Corazon
(organic, from their garden!)


6 Home-made breakfasts each morning from 8-10 AM

5 Intensive Spanish classes, 3 hours each
(designed to meet the needs of the group)

Mexican Cooking Class
(all ingredients and fabulous farewell lunch)

     Vergel Master 1HOUSE #1:  Price includes all above items.
    KING w/private terrace:  $1010/person  (add $75/night if private)
     KING or 2 TWINS:               $940/person (add $65/night if private)
       PRIVATE DOUBLE BED:     $1080 for single
       

   Dining 1  Terrace
              Master King or 2 Twins                                          Dining Room                                   One of two Terraces

                   HOUSE #2:  Master Price includes all above items.
KING w/ private patio: $1080/person (add$85/night for private)
QUEEN: $1010/person (add$75/night for private)                                                  
  QUeen   Loft
               Queen Room                                Loft above Kitchen/Dining                                Master King Bedroom

As a reminder: ALL bedrooms have private bathroom with shower and tub.

Room selection will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
In the event that the rooms above are sold-out, another beautiful residence is available.

PRICE FOR SAN MIGUEL RESIDENTS
(or if you have your own accommodations)

includes:

Sunday Breakfast Welcome Reception at Posada Corazon
(organic, from their garden!)


5 Intensive Spanish classes, 3 hours each
(designed to meet the needs of the group)


Mexican Cooking Class
(all ingredients and fabulous farewell lunch)

And all extra-curricular activities with the group.

Cost: $360 USD



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HOW DO I GET THERE?

PLane WingEasiest and fastest way to get here is to fly to the city of Leon (BJX).
If that's not convenient, then fly to Mexico City (MEX)

In either case your SHUTTLE will be waiting (BajioGo Shuttle)
Please schedule your own shuttle. The price is already included, so simply call to make your reservation. If you fly to MEX, there is an additional charge of $86.

The shuttle is a very reliable, door-to-door service.

Depending on where you're coming from, you may want to consider flying a Mexican airline. Especially if you can fly out of Tijuana, since it is considered a national flight and savings are substantial!

Two airlines that fly into Leon (BJX): Volaris and Aeromexico

EXAMPLE: San Diego - Leon    approx. $613  USD
                   Tijuana - Leon    approx. $350 USD!

If you fly out of Tijuana, you can have someone drop you off at the border in Otay Mesa. Simply walk across
and a taxi will be waiting to take you to the airport, 10 minutes away. It's all very simple and safe.

You may want to check flights and rates through:  KAYAK.com  and DESPEGAR.COM (to include Mexican carriers.)

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IS MEXICO SAFE THESE DAYS?
(for a great article on this subject, click here)

Unfortunately, Mexico has received quite a negative rap in the past few of years. We have seen a decline in tourism in San Miguel (and Mexico in general) which is truly regrettable. Mexico has a rich cultural heritage, and much of the country remains safe and as delightful, colorful and soulful as ever.

We have lived in San Miguel de Allende for three years. We feel safer here than in our own city of San Diego, CA. The people are warm-hearted, cordial and patient. Especially, when so much of the economy depends on extranjeros from all over the world.

If you didn't know it already, San Miguel is a World Heritage site. A lot of money has been funneled into the infrastructure, with new bridges and expanded roads, gorgeous five-star resorts, an extensive plan to bury all electrical wires underground, all while maintaining that charming and magical quality that makes you wonder if you are somehow in a dream.

If we felt that there was an increase in violence, or any threat to our physical safety, we and thousands of other permanent expat residents wouldn't still live here. It is a GEM of a town. We know it. You get to discover it!

   PArroquia angle1  Hands FountainInside Parroquia

So, please know that an amazing experience awaits you. That in San Miguel you don't need to worry about violence or danger to your person. And, though we cannot absolutely guarantee that all of your possessions will remain intact (after all, it is a city and one always needs to remain alert and use common sense), we are 99% sure you will have a wonderful time, without incident.

The tourists who have been coming here for years, and the "brave souls", those of us who live hear year-round, know that this is indeed a very special place on Earth, and we keep coming back, no matter what the tabloids say.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to talk to me about it.


 
HOW DO I SIGN UP?

The best thing to do is send me an email. Remember, Out-of-Towner room requests will be handled on a first-come, first served basis. That means, a non-refundable deposit ($250 USD) to signify your commitment. I will consider the date on the email to be the marker. 

For San Miguel residents: $100 USD non-refundable deposit to hold your space.

Remember: Capacity is limited to twelve students. If you want to attend, please reserve early!

If you have questions (which I'm sure most of you will) you can also call me at 619.574.0196 (U.S. Vonage #)  Please remember there might be a time difference.

All transactions can be handled in one of two ways: 1. You can send a check, or 2. pay by PayPal. For PayPal, I will send you an invoice and you can easily pay it with an electronic check or a credit card. (A 3% charge will apply.)

To thank you for being an early bird, I'll offer a 10 % DISCOUNT for those who sign-up by DATE TBD, 2012

Once we establish communication, I will send you an information packet with everything you need to know for your trip.

EASY, RIGHT?  WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU! We WILL HAVE A BLAST!

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