Spanish Study and Immersion in Santo Domingo

  Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo

Term: Throughout the year 
Dates: Start dates every Monday, all year round

Description: The school is situated in the district of "Zona Universitaria" and faces the campus of the largest Dominican University (USAD).

The institute itself is small in size and houses seven classrooms that are cooled with ceiling fans. The school has a small garden where classes may commence for a change in atmosphere. Terraces surround the school building and students may enjoy their break time here. No Internet access is available at the school but there are cyber cafes nearby.

The majority of the students who have studied at our school come from Europe, about 65%. The rest come from North America (30%) and Asia (2%). More than 60% of the students are female.

Students who attend our school have the opportunity to come in contact with other Dominican students who are studying German in our institute. Locals can also be met in the neighborhood by hanging out at one of the local street cafes or kiosks.

The location of the school makes it easy for students to explore other areas of interest. The ancient and historical part of town "Zona Colonial" is just a 10-minute bus ride away.

Standard: (20 lessons per week).
Intensive: (30 lessons per week).

Our programs cater to all language levels from absolute beginners to the more advanced, there are 4 levels of language. These levels are Beginner, Beginner with basic knowledge, Intermediate and Advanced.

Each student will be expected to take a placement test on the first Monday morning of the course (unless a complete beginner), to determine the students' language level and ensure placement in the correct class. Maximum class size 7 students.

The teaching method used in our school is a combination of grammar and conversation lessons. The school teaches the grammatical basis of the language, the Castellano. Teachers mainly focus on conversation lessons by allowing students to have more opportunity in class to practice speaking the language. Linguistic differences with Spanish spoken in Latin America are also taught through out the course.

If only one student is registered for a group course and the school is unable to form a class for the required level, then the student will be entitled to 15 lessons per week instead of 20 lessons for the standard course or 25 lessons per week instead of 30 lessons for the intensive course

Host Family: (single room with bath) 2 meals daily.

Living with a host family is probably the best and most effective way to become fully immersed into the language and culture of your chosen country.

All families are chosen after a careful selection procedure and are visited regularly by the school to ensure that high living standards are maintained. As many of our host families live in the surrounding neighborhoods, the trip to school, is usually not more than 20 to 30 minutes away.

Students have access to all living areas in the house and in most cases, will be expected to share the bathroom. All bed linens and pillows will be provided, however we suggest you bring your own towels. Access to laundry facilities in home.

Highlights: The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean Island located 600 miles from the coast of Florida. Santo Domingo, the capital and chief seaport, was founded in 1498 by Columbus' brother Bartolomé, and was the first capital in Spanish America. UNESCO has designated Santo Domingo a World Cultural Heritage site (Patrimonio Cultural Mundial).

In the old part of the city, many fine early 16th-century buildings have been restored and have made the area very attractive, with open-air cafés and pleasant squares. The Dominican Republic offers warm, friendly people with a unique culture, influenced by Africa, Spain, France, Germany and England. The country has a tropical climate and has countless beautiful beaches.

The colonial area of Santo Domingo has been carefully restored to retain its original charm, and is home to the first university, cathedral and hospital built in the New World. The modern city of Santo Domingo, by contrast, is a thriving port city, equipped with discotheques, gambling casinos, shops and the Cultural Plaza which houses the Gallery of Modern Art and the National Theatre.

Cost in US$: Varies depending on length of course.

* Use of teaching materials including textbooks and additional instructional documents.
* Host family, single room, 2 meals daily.
* Cultural and social activities.
* Language proficiency certificate at end of program upon request.
* Airport pick-up at the Santo Domingo airport.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to World Wide Participants.

Participants Travel to Dominican Republic Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of Max. 7

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application