Intensa

Your First Day

On the first day of class each student is interviewed and assigned to a group that matches his or her conversation level, ranging from beginner with no Spanish background to advanced. A student may subsequently be moved to another group as his or her needs are better identified.

How We Teach You

Your practice in the classroom will be centered on your spoken and listening skills with short readings providing context. Our goal is to help you become a proficient speaker of the Spanish language.

New materials are first practiced in what we call an open group with the teacher modeling pronunciation and structure as needed. This allows the individuals in the group to try out the new material without being singled out. Next comes pair work for more practice. This is the moment when the teacher gives special help to individuals. After the group and pair work, individuals are ready and able to try using the new material on their own.

Applying What You Learn

The environment in and around Intensa provides ample opportunities to practice what you learn. Conversing with local people in town, your host families, and experiencing the exciting travel adventures (featuring Spanish speaking tour guides) gives you invaluable practical experience with the language beyond what can be taught in a classroom.