I know one thing for sure. Lots of people take Spanish in the classroom. It’s required in most school districts. But after two years, how much does the average student retain? Ten years later, what’s left?

You can’t compare sitting in a classroom to visiting and living in the country where the language you’re trying to learn is spoken. Fluency comes from practice, from immersion, from surrounding yourself with chances to learn and speak. It might take years to learn what happens naturally in just a few weeks immersed in the culture and language in the country itself. The world becomes your classroom.

I’m a Spanish teacher. I’ve taken my classes on prepackaged tours and have been disappointed. Instead of immersion we received the tourist’s eye view of a few monuments and famous places as we drove by in the bus. The tours were in English, the food was prepackaged—many of my students missed the whole point—having a chance to experience the culture first hand, because what they received was a watered down, sightseer version of reality.

Terra Australis is completely different. Here we combine classroom study, with guided tours and home stays as well as plenty of time to wander around and get to know the neighborhood. And everything is in Spanish—no cheating. In three weeks I see students emerging with actual speaking, listening, reading and writing skills—more than a year’s worth of sitting in a classroom 50 minutes a day back home. With helpful pre-trip activities, a full curriculum on a CD and follow up connection to add to the consummate travel experience you’ll receive, you’ll be more than impressed. You simply can’t find this kind of service anywhere else. You and/or your students will immediately feel part of your new Chilean family and you’ll make friends that will last a lifetime. Join us, for an experience you’ll never forget."

Dr. Cindy Savage has a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, a Master’s in Education, Teaching credentials for Spanish, Biology and English, a Bachelors of Science in Spanish and another in Ethnic Studies. She has 40+ published books for young middle-grade readers, hundreds of published articles and she teaches writing for publication for the Institute of Children’s Literature. She currently divides her time between the U.S. and South America, teaching, consulting, writing curriculum and just plain having fun being with people and in places that she loves. Oh, and by the way, her six kids have become world travelers, too.

Chile un pais al sur del mundo.ppt 12,5 MB

Presentación con Videos.zip 21.3 MB