I have been taking private Spanish classes from Vive La Experiencia for over a year now. I had…read morebeen searching and searching for a "serious" school for adult learners of Spanish as a second language that would also accommodate my tight work schedule and commute. This school is a hidden gem in Campbell. They bent over backwards to accommodate my schedule, offering me Saturday afternoon classes, and I have been extremely impressed by the professional level of instruction I have received by all the instructors.
Before studying here, I had tried to learn Spanish at several other community schools for adults. I was constantly disappointed that the instruction was too relaxed at the other schools, there was barely any homework or progress exams, and most of the other students did not end up progressing past the beginning level. When I started studying at Vive La Experiencia, I could speak mostly only in the present tense, and had just started to learn the imperfect and preterit. Now I am fairly comfortable with the past, future, compound tenses such as present/past perfect, passive voice, and I am in the midst of further practicing the subjunctive, including imperfect and past subjunctive. My grammar, speaking, and comprehension have grown by leaps and bounds.
Moreover, they tailor the instruction to your preferences. I wanted a lot of homework and progress exams, as well as emphasis on covering grammar, so I got it. Of course, all students are different and your class could be very different, depending on your preferences.
During class, we also spend time listening to and translating popular and classic Latin American music, watching and discussing video/movie clips, and learning about cultural traditions such as holidays in Mexico and Latin America. I have had the opportunity to participate in several hosted social events where I was able to meet many native Spanish speakers, as well as other learners like myself.
Of course, the highlight was my participation in the Immersion Trip to Puebla, Mexico in July of 2019. It was my first time ever visiting Mexico, and I was absolutely in love with the the city, the people, and the FOOD! I heard Spanish spoken everywhere and was astounded by how much I could already understand and communicate with the locals. We visited many churches, parks, historical sites, markets, and the best restaurants. It was great getting to bond with other students like myself.
If you are looking to learn Spanish at any age (I am 44), I highly recommend classes at Vive La Experiencia. Your eyes will be opened to a whole new world of culture and experiences!