LEARNING SPANISH

Spanish Language Courses
Each student´s Spanish language abilities are assessed upon arrival, teachers work with each student based on their individual needs. The student will develop basic skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will receive basic Spanish grammatical structures, as well as the necessary vocabulary required to communicate in the new culture. The course will address the needs of those students who are new to the language. The grammar exercises and directed conversations are designed to allow the student to progress rapidly and master Spanish expressions and constructions. Students will engage in dialogues and practice giving instructions and directions to improve their conversational skills.

Mayan Language Courses
We also offer language training in Mam, Quiche, Katchikel, and several minor languages of the area. It is strongly advised that the student be a competent Spanish speaker before beginning to study one of the Mayan languages. We can arrange for immersion home stays with local Maya families. For those students that are interested we can give classes on the Popol Vuh, the sacred text of the Mayans. also contemporary Post-Boom authors.

Special Education
Kie-Balam School compiled the first compendium of special education services done in Guatemala. Kie-Balam offers courses in the general, social and political aspects of Latin American literature. We cover the main literary movements, such as Pre-colonial, Colonial, Barroco, Modernism, Vanguard, Boom, Postboom, and Contemporary movements.

Teaching Approach

You will be assessed upon arrival, and your teacher will work with you individually. The courses described here are merely guidelines we use in the course of teaching.

Classes are held Monday through Friday. Classes are approximately five hours per day. Morning or afternoon sessions are available.

Students study individually with Guatemalan teachers who are trained as language instructors. The teachers are experienced in our immersion and interactive approach; and can adjust teaching curriculum to match the levels of individual students. They also teach small groups, but not often: our observations show the best results happen with individual teachers.

While they are usually held at the school, special events are planned each week, cultural excursions and traveling to nearby communities. Some activities depend largely on the collective desires of the current students.

Courses

Below is a brief descriptions of the different courses taught at Kie-Balam.

FIRST LEVEL

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this course is to provide the students with the basic Spanish structures, as well as the necessary vocabulary required to communicate in the new culture. This course will also reinforce and increase conversation skills.

The course will address the needs of those students who are new to the language. The grammar exercises and directed conversations are designed to allow the student to progress rapidly and master the most basic Spanish expressions and constructions. Students will engage in dialogues and practice giving instructions and directions to improve their conversational skills.

GENERAL METHODOLOGY

Different methods of teaching will be implemented according to the specific needs of the students, including audio lingual, audiovisual, magisterial, immersion and communication systems. TPR (total physical response method) and communication systems.

Beginning concepts include:

• Greetings, Introductions, Self-identification
  
• Definite and indefinite articles
  
• Agreement of number and gender
  
• Telephone manners and vocabulary.
  
• Possessive adjectives.
  
• The verb "to be"
  
• Present tense

Subsequent to the beginning concepts, we follow on with:

• "There is","there are"
  
• Idiomatic expressions
  
• Future tense (going to)
  
• Prepositions of places
  
• Past tense
  
• Gustar, and some verbs of the same structure
  
• Simple future
  
• Adverbs
  
• Prepositions
  
• Conjunctions

These are followed by:

• Present progressive tense, may be postponed depending on student level
  
• Direct and indirect pronouns
  
• Comparatives and superlatives
  
• Conditional tense
  
• Past participle
  
• Compound tenses (present perfect and past perfect)
  
• Subjunctive (present, imperfect, present perfect and past perfect)
  
• Conditional sentences
  
• Imperative mode

TOPICS: taken directly from our teaching workbook for beginners.

NIVEL I - SEMANA I

1. Mini diálogos
2. Vocales
3. Alfabeto
4. Pronombres Personales
5. Verbos Cognatos
6. Presente del Indicativo: Verbos Regulares.
7. Género y Número del Sustantivo
8. Artículo Definido
9. Artículo Indefinido
10. La Contracción del Artículo
11. Adjetivos Básicos
12. La Hora
13. Palabras Interrogativas
14. Palabras Negativas
15. Vocabulario de

- La casa, sala, dormitorio, baño, cocina.
- Días de la semana, meses del año, estaciones.

Ejercicios diariamente de:

- Lectura
- Escritura de oraciones
- Ejercicios de Memorización para hacer en casa

Dependiendo el avance del estudiante, empezará con los Verbos Irregulares en el Presente del Indicativo. Verbos ser, estar.

SALUDOS Y EXPRESIONES DE CORTESÍA
(Formas Tú y Usted)

Estas frases pueden ser usadas en: la calle, la escuela ó con la familia. Los tiempos más usados en las frases son: Presente, Pretérito y Futuro