Playa del Carmen

Program Outline

At our campus in Playa del Carmen, we offer different programs according to each student’s needs, making it possible to advance more rapidly in your knowledge and use of Spanish. We emphasize oral communication, conversation, and grammar in lessons tailored to each student’s level of ability. We use a variety of enjoyable and productive language learning exercises. Our teachers are professionals with extensive experience teaching Spanish as a second language.

In Playa del Carmen, we offer two basic courses done 5 different ways. We have group glasses that can be done 15, 20 or 30 hours/week. The 15 hour program is from Monday through Thursday, while the 20 hour program adds five more hours on Friday. If you want the 30 hour group program, you add two hour/day of group lessons each afternoon. The other main option is our combination courses, which have four hours of group in the morning followed by two or three hours of private lessons each afternoon.

Our teachers are professionals. Classes are held in the morning from 8:30 am until 1 pm, then 2 pm to 4 or 5 pm for those courses with additional hours. Combination courses run on the same schedule with the afternoon two or three hours.

Lodging

Students have three options: Homestay, Shared Apartment and School Residence.

Our spacious shared apartments with two or more bedrooms are our most popular form of accommodation. Apartments are within walking distance to the school and have a living room, TV, a large kitchen. These apartments are self catering, are cleaned once a week and linen are provided. Students must bring their own towels.

Another great option is our School residence, which comes with breakfast. Students have private rooms and share all common spaces. Double rooms are available for students traveling together only.

You can also live with a Mexican family. This lets students use their new language skills every day in real situations, while also experiencing Mexican customs and traditions. We select our host families carefully. Most of them are located in the downtown area, within walking distance to the school. Students will have two meals a day with their host family; breakfast and dinner. You are welcome to stay together in the same host family with a friend or partner. Should you have any dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, allergies, etc.), please state these on your enrolment form, so that the family can prepare for these needs as best as possible.

Cultural

The school offers a variety of cultural activities throughout the week. You start off with a Tour around Playa del Carmen to get to know the area. Other activities include dancing and cooking classes, lectures, sport at the beach, documentaries and weekend excursions (Mayan sites, diving, Meredia and other beautiful spots). Excursions are not included in the price.

There are also a number of additional Specialty Courses that can be added to your Spanish Program at an $85/week cost: Dancing, Culture, Cooking & Diving. Dance and Culture are available the 1st Monday of the month and Cooking is every 3rd Monday. The price for the diving option depends upon what you sign up for and can be done any week.

Location

Playa del Carmen is the 2nd biggest tourist destination in Yucatan after Cancún. But “Playa” as locals called it has not lost any of his charm or culture. It is filled with small family run hotels, charming houses, a good night life with bars and restaurants and of course the well known pristine beaches. There are a great deal of amazing scuba diving and snorkeling sports for water enthusiasts. The waves are perfect for surfers of all levels of ability. The 260 days of annual sunshine make Playa the perfect destination to combine a language course with a fun vacation.

Our school building is air conditioned and lies in the center of Playa del Carmen, just a few minutes away from the Caribbean beach. It is a typical Mexican building with nice garden, hammocks and a sunny terrace. The atmosphere at the school helps you study and enjoy your time in classes. Classrooms are modern and provide a great learning atmosphere. Students visit Playa and our school from around the globe. You may also take classes outside in the courtyard right by the palm trees and enjoy the plesant weather.

Climate

Most of the year, the average temperature in the city of Playa del Carmen is an ideal 27°C (81°F). As we say, 260+ days of sunshine make it a great desination any month of the year. This is especially true of the winter months in the northern hemisphere. Snowbirds flock to the warm sunner shores to relax and get out of the cold.

Points of Interest

Playa is known for having one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Additionally it is the best diving spot in Mexico with the second largest reef in the world at Cozumel, just off the coast. Also, for students interested in culture, there is a lot to see around Playa. There are a number of Mayan ruins in the area, including: Tulum, Cóba and Chitchen-Itza. The night life in Playa is famous all over Mexico and there are plenty of nice restaurants, bars and discotheques from which to choose.

Start Dates

We start a new course every Monday of the year. If you are an absolute beginner we recommend that you start on the 1st or 3rd Monday of the month. We are only closed on the official Mexican holidays; 1/1, 2/5, 3/16, 4/3, 5/1, 9/16, 11/2, 11/16, 12/25.