I learned of ASLI Spanish Institute when I was a doctoral student at the University of California,…read moreLos Angeles. At the time, I was seeking lessons in Nahuatl as well as Spanish instruction in preparation for fieldwork in Morelos. Paco and Maru arranged for private tutoring in Náhuatl and as well as advanced instruction in Spanish. While I have a unique case, in that I have been engaged in fieldwork while taking classes, I have been deeply impressed by the care that the institute takes to ensure that all visiting students have a cultural immersion in Mexico and in the local history of Morelos, the historic epicenter of the Mexican Revolution. In addition to instruction, students are taken to cultural and historic sites throughout Morelos and Mexico City: teachers have the option to visit local schools in Morelos to learn of the conditions of public and private education in Mexico. The institute boasts a range of high quality teachers with the ability to teach across ages and levels-- instruction that far exceeded my experience of language education in primary school in the U.S. Students are offered the option to stay among local families. From my experience, the majority of students leave with a heightened knowledge of the socio-cultural history in Mexico as well as a working knowledge of Spanish in conversation. This level of care, as well as the cultural experiences that Maru and Paco work to provide, is truly exceptional. I highly recommend the institute for all looking to learn or improve their Spanish, and especially for teachers in the U.S seeking Spanish instruction and intercultural exchange.
