Schools in SJDS

Submitted by Henry on 6 June, 2006 - 15:48.

Im presently attending the San Jan Del Sur Spanish School, which is located on teh beach at the South end of the main drag. |I also went and spent an hour or so at the Latin America Spanish |School up by the Parque Central. I didn't take classes there, tho.

So far-two days-and I'm happy with the level of instruction, but I think this is a better 'fit' for someone who has no Spanish when they start. My instructor keeps trying to review regular verbs in present tense, but if you're directive, you can move them away from their 'program'.

The best part of this is the homestay. It allows me to have a room in a secure home, 3 meals a day and I don't have to look for restaurants or hotels. And all for only $190/wk. The bus system is bizarre, but no worse than other central american countries (DON.T USE THE MANAGUA MUNIUCIPAL BUSSES!) for getting around the countryside.

Cell phones are about the same in cost, but coverage is good. Electricity goes out here in SJDS about daily for periods that have to do with the number on a pair of rolled dice. No sense at all.

I'll continue to report. And also on my search for real estate.

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Spanish School SJDS

Submitted by kgeorge on 6 June, 2006 - 16:38.

Henry, Your post caught my eye. Will be following in your footsteps next month. I'm interested in your observations on the school. I need to move beyond those regular verbs too. How long are you staying? I wanted more privacy this trip and am talking to Veronica about renting a furnished apartment. Look forward to your blogs. Hope to hear from you. Karen

SJDS

Submitted by casper on 7 June, 2006 - 19:04.

I attended school there for two weeks in February. While I´ll give general pluses (Veronica and staff are really nice people and the homestay experience is great) I would say that the instructors are not necessarily experienced in teaching. We tended to jump around and a lot of assumptions were made about my knowledge level. And while I appreciate the concept of immersion there were times when just a little English would have been helpful in clearing up confusions. Unfortunately most of the instructors had little or no english either. Not to be negative, just thought you might like to know. I´d still give it at least a b-plus or a-minus.

Spanish School SJDS

Submitted by kgeorge on 7 June, 2006 - 22:29.

Casper, Thanks for the information. Unfortunate that the instrutors are not well versed in English. I appreciate the heads-up.I would appreciate any additional information on your visit that you would care to share. KarenG.

SJDS Spanish Schools

Submitted by 1960 on 12 September, 2006 - 16:29.

I am considering breaking up two weeks that I have available to study Spanish in Nicaragua between two schools -- SJDS and the one at Laguna de Apoyo. For those of you who've studied Spanish in Nica: do you think this is a good idea or a bad one? Will I be hurting my Spanish instruction by working with two different systems or helping it? I'd like the chance to see a bit more of the country. thanks!