Also a nice opportunity to work on your Spanish skills or acquire some basic Spanish. Usually the group is made up of mostly teachers from Oregon, of all ages, and with some non-teachers, too. All are welcome. Really a fantastic deal and a great experience. If you’ve been thinking you want to explore Mexico at some point, I highly recommend it as an “intro course” in that. I have the application, so e-mail me if you want it. Click here to read blog entries or here to view photos from the summer before last, when I experienced this program for myself.

TEACHERS!
OTHERS!
SHARPEN YOUR SPANISH IN MEXICO

OIC SUMMER SEMINAR 2008

COST INCLUDES …
SPANISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION PLUS
WEEKLY CULTURAL TOURS, HOMESTAYS, OPTIONAL TEACHING METHODS COURSE FOR COLLEGE CREDIT

Location: Puebla, Mexico, with tours to various cities/sites
4 Week option: July 3-August 1
2 Week option: July 3-July 21

Presented by the
Oregon International Council
Graduate Credit Pending from Oregon State University

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The OIC/ COFLT Spanish Seminar in Puebla, Mexico, plans its 14th year in 2008, offering a unique learning opportunity for language teachers, and for all others interested in expanding their linguistic and cultural horizons. Spanish language classes in small groups, instruction in proficiency-oriented teaching methods by a Master Teacher from Oregon, living with Mexican families, a variety of local field trips, and a three-day tour of Mexico City make this program a rich experience for all.

Instruction takes place at the English/Espanol Training Center (ETC), a private institution with long-time Oregon connec­tions. Puebla, Mexico ‘s 4th largest city, two hours from Mexico City , offers many examples of pre-Columbian culture as well as traditional and modern Mexico, moderate climate, and clean air off usual tourist routes. Accommodations are in Mexican homes. Weekend trips to other areas in Mexico are optional extras.

The four-week program provides 80 hours of language instruction and 20+ hours of teaching methodology, enhanced by living with Mexican families, while experiencing city life and many local field trips and in-town activities. The two-week option involves the same classes and activities for the first two weeks, totaling 40 hours of Spanish and 10+ in methodology.

Oral assessment interviews before and after the seminar have indicated significant progress in communicative proficiency by most participants. This program has been approved for ten graduate quarter credits by Oregon State University.

Recent participants have offered the following comments on the program:
“..it opened doors for me to a whole new world.”
“..many of us anticipate returning to this program and plan to recommend it to our peers.”
“I can’t say enough about the program; it was wonderful!!”
“Rich culture immersion; wonderful & hospitable family; excellent upper-level teachers…”
On seminar leadership: “ Anne Mueller is absolutely superb…glues it all together into a perfect whole…Her attentiveness to participants .and.. details of the program make the difference between a seminar that is satisfactory and one that is outstanding.”

FACULTY
Language instruction is provided by native speakers of Spanish trained in language teaching methods, many with ad vanced degrees. Seminar Director Anne Mueller, who has led the program since its inception in 1995, is an experienced teacher of Spanish at all levels, elementary through college; many of her students have demonstrated remarkable performance in local and national assessments. She has taught language teaching methods in Oregon and in other states, at national and regional conferences, and internationally.

COSTS
Basic fees: four weeks – $2,600; two weeks – $1,900: covering instruction, materials, pre- and post-seminar proficiency assessments; room and board (double occupancy), local field trips, and a 3-day Mexico City weekend. The credit fees are: 10 quarter credits – $600; 5 credits – $350; course designation – SPAN 508. Family members may accompany as space permits, at costs adjusted to specific program needs. Funding note: Participants have often been able to obtain financial assistance for this program through school or district Continuing Education or other funds.