Hosting school groups for immersion experience and Spanish language acquisition

www.spanish-school-herradura.com

My daughter Shannon

Can you spot Shannon again in this picture to the right?  Also the second picture on the bottom is the District 200 Woodstock, IL school group.  I'm the one on crutches. 

I first came to learn about the school - The Spanish school of La a Herradura a year and one half ago when I traveled here as a chaperone for my daughter Shannon's 7th grade dual language class.  We stayed with host families throughout the town and attended class every morning from 9-12 each day.  My group consisted of myself and my daughter and three other girls.  My group stayed with Rosi in a three bedroom apartment right next door to the school and on the beach.  The rest of the students and chaperones were scattered throughout the town.

My group was particularly lucky with our location.  However, no one had to walk very far to get to school as everything in La Herradura is accessible by  foot.  The school provided our teacher from District 200 Dual Language program, Katie with a private tutor.  The other chaperones in our group had class at a level geared towards beginners, while I attended class with my daughter and the other 7th and 8th graders from Creekside and Northwood middle schools.  Our teacher Joanna made learning fun creating games and competitions between groups of students for integrating the material.  After school we relaxed on the beach then had lunch that our host families prepared for us typically taken around 2 PM during the 2-5 PM siesta that is the custom here.

After lunch we participated in activities the school had planned for us as a way of enhancing our immersion experience here.  We went kayaking one day, hiking up the mountain another day.  On Friday we went to the market in Almunecar.  As we were fortunate to be in La Herradura during the town holiday we were treated to fireworks and carnival rides for the kids on another day.  A soccer game was organized by one of the interns of the school for after school activities for our kids on another day.  Stefan had been a semi professional soccer player when he was younger so the kids enjoyed his tutorage in the sport.  Our seven days in La Herradura was too short as many of us cried upon departure in saying goodbye to our host families and teachers from the school of La Herradura.  It was then that I decided that I would return to the school one day to study Spanish. 

First day of school

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

First day of school

I had my first day of school yesterday.  It was a group lesson during which we learned vocabulary to describe characteristics of people.  I was pleased with the subject because it is my goal to expand my vocabulary for use in my professional setting as a mental health therapist.  In the process of learning people traits the conversation expanded to include some discussion of the unique traits of the people of Spain.  Apparently the people who live in the south of Spain in particular are muy supersticioso.  Seeing an open umbrella in a house was provided as an example.  I confirmed the existence of this trait later in talking with my new Spanish friend Begonia who indicated that she feels an overwhelming sense of doom when she sees a black cat.  ! Que Extrano!

I am looking at a 10 day forecast of 80 degrees or higher every day with full sun and no rain.  I feel so lucky!

www.spanish-school-herradura.com
Email info@spanish-school-herradura.com

Estoy aqui!

Estoy aqui! (I am here!)

I am here!  For me the Spanish school of La Herradura is a destination.  The name of the school includes the location for a reason.  There is no better place to study Spanish than here in this coastal town in Spain.  The setting is stunning and absolutely glorious.  As I write this under the protection of a canopy on the patio of El Bambu restaurant on the beach I am overcome with a sense of gratitude for all that I am experiencing.

My view outward is of sunny, blue skies, sparkling waters, people relaxing on the beach, a fisherman with four poles with lines cast hoping for a catch with the coastal mountains framing the beach giving the town the reason for it's name - La Herradura (horseshoe).

My view inward gives me the a sensation of anticipation in contemplating all there is to learn here.  I came here to learn and practice my Spanish.  I intend to create my own immersion experience by being here alone in this little Spanish town set on the Mediterranean Sea.  My schedule is such that I will have group lessons twice a week and private lessons on the remaining days primarily en la manana leaving me with the afternoons for independent study and to practicing the language by talking to the people that I encounter during my day.  I am thrilled when I am successful in communicating an idea and in understanding what I am being told.  I genuinely hope to leave here more fluent than when I came - having taken my language acquisition to the next level.  We shall see.  I have three weeks to make this work for me.  Follow me on this blog and I'll keep you informed as to how things transpire.  Hasta luego!

For those of you at home who are reading this you may know that my nickname in Los Estados Unidos is "buena" as given to me by my dear friend Jane.  As I am in Spain now and the first person that I encountered here told me my name is "Carolina" in Spanish rather than simply Carol, you will note that I am now referencing myself as "Carolina". 


www.spanish-school-herradura.com
Email info@spanish-school-herradura.com