LANGUAGE & CULTURAL WORKSHOPS
PLAYFUL SPANISH WORKSHOP
“Playful Spanish” is our one standing workshop that we offer every week. We hold this weekly workshop because we believe that when you are learning a language, an important and useful part of this learning process is seeing the ways in which its speakers play with the language to express affection or frustration, to re-mix cultural influences and create something new, to poetically capture complex ideas in simple phrases, and lastly but most importantly, to call attention and assert resistance to long-standing societal inequalities, which are also embedded in the language and expressed daily in the language.
The workshop itself is currently made up of five 1-1/2 hour classes. Usually our schedule is from 4pm to 5:30pm throughout the week (on the rare occasion, we do make changes due to scheduling conflicts, holidays, etc. so, we recommend that you check with us to confirm):
Mexican Slang 101 (All levels welcome)
Cursing & Exclamations (Advanced Beginner and up)
Texting Slang & Memes (Intermediate levels and up)
Inclusive & Queer Spanish (Intermediate levels and up)
Mexican Idioms & Sayings (Upper Intermediate & Advanced levels only)
As a school we are committed to teaching Spanish in all of its forms, and overall are dedicated to equality for all people. This workshop is an expression of the complex history of language, from domination and appropriation to affection and resistance, as language offers a unique cultural window into the power dynamics and societal values of our shared past, present and future.
PRICE: $400MXN per student for each thematic 1.5-hour one-day class, and $1800MXN for a 7.5-hour workshop.
We request doing a language test with each student because word play, etc. can be difficult to understand and to give us an idea of the level of the students in each class. We will send an online exam, as well as request that each student do a verbal exam either by phone or in person.
CRASH COURSE WORKSHOPS
We also offer other two-day “Crash Course” Workshops on request including:
CRASH COURSE:
SPANISH FOR TRAVELERS
This class is envisioned as a 5-hour crash course (2 days-2.5 hours a day) for visitors who need to learn the ropes of Mexican culture as well as the Spanish language, but it can be adapted based on the students’ needs.
The class is dynamic and can focus on things that are particular to Oaxaca, or assist those who need to deep dive into all things practical for life in Mexico or Latin-America. Part of the time, you’ll spend in the classroom learning Spanish, the other part you’ll be in the field, practicing in real situations and seeing the places first-hand. We can work to adapt this class to various levels of Spanish.
Possible themes for the class include:
○ Shopping in the markets
○ Eating at restaurants
○ Public transit
○ Mezcal culture
○ Food culture
○ Art
CRASH COURSE:
CONTEMPORARY ART IN OAXACA
This class is set up to be a 5-hour crash course (2 days-2.5 hours a day) for visitors who are coming to Oaxaca to get a feel for its art scene but can be adapted as requested.
Like Spanish for Travelers, this class is dynamic and moves between the classroom, where you learn about the contemporary arts movement in Latin-America, Mexico & Oaxaca, and the field, where you visiting galleries and museums to see the art being made and in exhibitions currently in the city.
If you have particular interests in Oaxacan art today, our teacher can adapt the class to address your particular interest relating to contemporary arts within Oaxaca.
CRASH COURSE:
POLITICS IN OAXACA
This class is set up to be a 5-hour crash course (2 days-2.5 hours a day) for visitors who are coming to Oaxaca to get a feel get a basic overview of the historical and current politics situation in Oaxaca.
Like all of our crash courses, this class is dynamic and moves between the classroom, where you learn about the current situation in Oaxaca and its historical contexts (and can be varied to include a discussion of union politics, environmental protests, gender politics, etc.), and, if relevant, in the field, where you will visit a few places important to politics in Oaxaca currently, so that you can better understand what’s happening. The nearby Zócalo, since it is the center of government, is often a focal point for protests past and present.
If you have particular interests in Oaxacan politics, our teacher can adapt the class to address your particular interest.
PRICE:
CRASH COURSE (5 hours in 2 days): One-on-one class: $1900MXN; For 2 or more students: $1300MXN per person
OTHER GROUP WORKSHOPS
Additionally, many of our Specialty Classes are set up to run in one- or two-week cycles. We can create group workshop classes from these themes. If bringing a university or other group who wants specific thematic group classes, we can adapt our courses for your needs.
For instance, one of our most popular is our Latin-American Literature Workshop (possible two-week themes include: Latin American Poetry; Mexican Women Writers, Forgotten Women Authors during the Latin-American Boom, etc.). Please see our list of possible themes in the Private & Specialty Class page and we will happily adapt them to interactive group class.