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Group Classes 

Join a community of learners to bring your Spanish to the next level!

Group Immersion Classes

January 6th - May 21st, 2025

Register Here.

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Group classes will meet once per week from January 6th - May 21st. 

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Monday In-Person Class Times:

Classes will meet at Crosstown Pub in Downtown Cary 154 E Chatham Street.  

 

Aventuras 4/5: 10:00am-11:00am

 

Aventuras 3:  12:30pm - 1:30pm

 

Aventuras 2:  2:30pm - 3:30pm

 

Tuesdays on Zoom: 

 

Aventuras 2: 10:00am - 11:00am ET

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Aventuras 3: 5:45pm - 6:45pm ET

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Aventuras 2: 7:30pm - 8:30pm ET

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Wednesdays on Zoom:

 

Aventuras 1: 10:00am - 11:00am ET

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Aventuras 3: 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET

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Aventuras 1: 5:00pm - 6:00pm ET

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Register Here.

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Which level is
right for me?

Aventuras 1:

This course is perfect for you if...

  • You're a true beginner (you can say "hola" and maybe count to 10 and that's about it...)

  • You took a couple semesters of Spanish in high school or college, but it has been a long time. You remember some words and phrases (maybe even random lists of words, like "airport vocabulary"), but can't put it all together.

  • You're not ready to speak. You can't speak spontaneously in full sentences, even to complete simple tasks. 

  • You have a good bit of memorized vocabulary but have trouble stringing words together

  • You are unable to answer simple questions in Spanish:

    • ¿Cuántas personas hay en la foto? 

    • ¿De qué color es la casa? 

    • En la foto, ¿la niña está corriendo o bailando? ¿A ti te gusta bailar?

    • ¿Cómo se llama la niña?

    • ¿Quién tiene la pizza? 

    • ¿Dónde está el hombre?   

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Aventuras 2:

The Aventuras 2 course is perfect for you if...

  • You can recognize the highest frequency words in context (hay, es, tiene, quiere, puede, va, ve, ya no, todavía, también, etc.)

  • You took at least 2 semesters of Spanish in high school or college and the information is still fresh in your mind. You can form simple sentences in Spanish.

  • You like to experiment with the very basic Spanish that you know. You can string some words together and communicate at a very basic level.

  • You can answer simple questions in Spanish:

    • ¿Cuántas personas hay en la foto? 

    • ¿De qué color es la casa? 

    • En la foto, ¿la niña está corriendo o bailando? ¿A ti te gusta bailar?

    • ¿Cómo se llama la niña?

    • ¿Quién tiene la pizza? 

    • ¿Dónde está el hombre?   

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Aventuras 3:

The Aventuras 3 course is perfect for you if...

  • You can recognize the highest frequency words in context (hay, es, tiene, quiere, puede, va, ve, ya no, todavía, también, etc.) in both the present and past tenses. 

  • You have taken the equivalent of 3-4 semesters of high school or college-level Spanish or at least 40 hours of class with me. 

  • You are able to understand long stories in Spanish in both the present and past tenses when the instructor speaks clearly and slowly (with the help of illustrations and gestures). 

  • You like to experiment with the Spanish that you know. You have fun stringing words together to see what you can communicate. 

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Aventuras 4:

The Aventuras 4 course is perfect for you if...

  • You are able to speak about a variety of topics (albeit imperfectly) using the most-frequently used words in Spanish (hay, es, tiene, quiere, puede, va, ve, ya no, todavía, también, etc.) in both the present and past tenses (sometimes confusing verb forms). 

  • You have taken the equivalent of 4 semesters of high school or college-level Spanish or at least 80 hours of class with me (or you have been doing a lot of at-home reading and listening in Spanish along with taking classes). 

  • You are able to understand long stories in Spanish in both the present and past tenses (with the help of drawings and gestures for lower-frequency words). 

  • You like to experiment with the Spanish that you know. You can retell a story that you have heard and hold a semi-fluid basic conversation about a variety of familiar topics. 

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Still unsure of your level?

Shoot me an email! I am happy to send additional resources or conduct a proficiency interview over the phone. 

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  • I've taken Spanish classes before without much success. What is unique about your course?
    We skip the ineffective and, quite frankly, boring tasks of memorizing verb charts and thematic lists of vocabulary, and instead focus on learning to use the highest frequency words in context. Did you know the 100 highest frequency words in Spanish make up over 50% of daily spoken language? Our courses introduce you to these words in Spanish through the rich contexts of stories and guided conversations. In a nutshell, we teach you how to USE the language right away! The language you acquire will stick in your long-term memory thanks to our brain-friendly comprehension and communicative-based methods.
  • Are there payment plan options?
    Yes! See options & policy below. If you wish to pay in installments, please contact me at info@spanishalive.org to set up a payment plan. Option 1: You can pay in 2 installments for 5% more. The first payment will be due a week prior to the start of the course. The second payment will be due 8 weeks after the start date. Option 2: You can pay in 5 installments for 10% more. First payment will be due a week prior to the start of the course. The following payments will be billed monthly until paid in full. ​ SA Pay in Installments Policy: If you select to register with multiple payments, you will be charged the first installment at the time of purchase, and all following payments will be automatically charged per agreed upon terms until paid in full. Registering for one of our courses is a commitment. You are responsible for the entire payment regardless of how many times you attend class. The more you go to class the more you will get out of our program! ​
  • How should I prepare for class?
    You will need a stable internet connection since classes will be conducted live via Zoom. Your video and microphone will be off when you log in. Please turn your video on during class if you're able to. We suggest using headphones to prevent echo and overall noise reduction. Find a quiet space with room to move; we may be behind screens, but we will still be getting up and moving around during class! You can choose whether or not you would like to keep a notebook & pencil nearby to take notes. Some learn better by writing and/or doodling while listening, while others are happy to get lost in the stories. Learner's choice! As long as you are listening, you will acquire the language! Feel free to bring a beverage or a snack, relax! You will acquire the language best when you are in a comfortable environment.
  • Will classes be recorded?
    Yes, starting in January 2022, all classes will be recorded and made available to you within 24 hours of class via our student portal. You will have access to these recordings until the end of the course.
  • If I have a schedule conflict, can I attend the other time option?"
    Yes, if there are 2 available time options for the course you are taking, you are welcome to hop into the other session whenever you have a schedule conflict.
  • What if I have to drop out of the course after it begins?
    Signing up to participate in this group course is a commitment. There are no refunds after registration closes (registration closes 1 week prior to the start of the first class).
  • Will there be quizzes or tests?
    ¡Qué va! No way! We try to keep things as stress-free as possible around here! Your progress will be measured by your level of comprehension, which I will monitor throughout the class.
  • What kind of Spanish do you teach (i.e. what variety)?
    Whether you will be using Spanish for work, volunteering or travel, or you want to be able to communicate with your Spanish-speaking abuela or la familia de tu novio, you can be confident that the Spanish that I teach you in this course will translate to any situation. My curriculum is guided by the 1,000 most-frequently used words in the Spanish language (words that are used among all parts of the Spanish-speaking population). Becoming comfortable with these words in a variety of contexts will help you form a solid mental representation of the language, no matter where you will be using it. ​ ​ Often when someone asks me this question, they are wondering if I teach the "vosotros" form that is used in Spain. For these community classes, I will not be using the "vosotros" form, but rather "ustedes" (which is also used in Spain!). If you wish to gain confidence using the "vosotros" form, I have plenty of resources for you!
  • Will I become completely fluent after this course?
    This is the million-dollar question! "Fluency" is a very general term used to describe one's comfort with expressing themselves in a language. Yes, you will gain some fluency in this course, and the results will vary from person to person. By the end of the course, you will be able to comprehend a large amount of high frequency words in rich contexts. Most importantly, you will gain CONFIDENCE in using the language. You will feel things start to "click" in a way that does not happen in traditional language courses. It is important to keep in mind that becoming fluent in a second (or third, fourth...) language is a long journey, no matter which way you slice it, and everyone's path to fluency will look different. Our common goal for the Beginner course is to achieve a Novice-High to Intermediate-Low level of proficiency in Spanish according to the ACTFL (American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages) Proficiency scale. The rate of language acquisition will vary from person to person and from one mode of communication to another (speaking, writing, listening, reading). This is completely normal and has nothing to do with intelligence. Many internal and external factors affect rates of acquisition (time commitment, motivation, stress, etc.). By signing up for this course, you can feel confident that I will give you the direction and tools you need to acquire Spanish as painlessly as possible for your unique situation.
  • How many people are in a course?
    Each course is capped at 20 participants to ensure quality and personalization of classes. ​
  • Do you offer private classes?
    No, we do not offer private classes at this time.
  • Will I have to speak in class?
    No, I will not make you speak spontaneously in Spanish during class if you don't feel comfortable doing so. You will get just as much out of the class as everyone else if you decide to just listen and interact with non-verbal cues. Similarly to how children acquire their first language, some adult learners need a longer "silent period" before feeling comfortable speaking spontaneously. More importantly, you will acquire the language much more easily if you are not anxious when you show up to class. Alternatively, if you do wish to speak, you will have opportunities to do so.
  • Will I receive a certificate after completing this course?
    I can issue you a certificate of completion upon your request. However, if you will be using Spanish for business interactions and need to formally demonstrate your proficiency level to an employer, or if you are looking for college credit for Spanish, there are various proficiency tests you can take from accredited institutions. Please feel free to email me at info@SpanishAlive.org if you would like to find out more.
Beginner Description/FAQs
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