STUDENT COMMENTS Read what others have to say about el Instituto de Lenguajes...
	Group lessons catered to your needs	Henny Venekamp - "I have taken classes at I.L.P.E 4 different times now, and all the times have just been great. For me Puerto School is the perfect place and the perfect location (open air with a view of the sea) to study Spanish. What I like most about the school is that you can study Spanish at whatever pace you like; whether you want to focus on grammar or if you just want work on your speaking skills, it’s all possible. You can decide to take classes in groups or have private lessons. You can for whatever amount of hours per day and days per week that you want. Just let them know, they will facilitate whatever you want !! For me the school has all the ingredients for a perfect place to study and work on my Spanish. I always have a great time and learn a lot thanks to the excellent and friendly teachers ! ". Henny Venekamp, Amsterdam, Holland
	Travis Phillips -"After studying Spanish in high school and college, I was ready to take my Spanish skills out of the classroom and put them to work in the real world. Studying at I.L.P.E. and living in Puerto Escondido helped me to do that. The instructors quickly identified my weakest areas and helped me to improve my skills. Moreover, the one-on-on instruction allowed me to progress faster than I ever had in Spanish classes back home. I soon found myself speaking Spanish better and more comfortably than ever before. As a veteran of more than a few Spanish courses, I can say that I.L.P.E. offers some of the best instruction I have come across. I'm grateful for the time I spent studying at I.L.P.E. Living in Puerto Escondido only added to the experience. The locals are welcoming to visitors and seem to be very appreciative of foreigners who are taking the time to learn their language. As my Spanish skills improved, I was able to interact more and more with Puerto's residents. Whether it's due to the tropical environment, beautiful Pacific Ocean, or comfortable weather, I found the people all along the Oaxacan coast to be friendly and utterly charming. You just can't go wrong living in Puerto. ". Travis Phillips Sara Wilson - "My name is Sara and for the past 6 months I have traveled alone In South America, Central America and now Mexico. I personally highly recommend Instituto de Lenguajes Puerto Escondido, Spanish school in paradise, for its highly professional attitude toward learning, its excellent teachers who are extremely patient and friendly and its superb location overlooking the gorgeous Zicatela Beach. After an initial assessment I was placed with a teacher and a program was set and tailored to suit my individual needs. I'd previously had Spanish lessons in Bolivia and Argentina, with limited success, but my progress here has by far exceeded my expectations which I feel is due to the structure of the lessons and quality of the teachers. Puerto Escondido is a fantastic place and once here, you won't want to leave. One big upside of this place is that it feels safe for a female traveling alone and where I've been, that is a pleasant change." Sara Wilson Margo Horowitz - "The only thing I would have changed about my experience in Puerto was an extension of my time there. One week is just not enough time to spend in such an incredible place. The staff and instructors were excellent and wonderful people to spend time with. I couldn't have asked for a better view of the beach from the school. Our host family was great and we enjoyed spending time with them and their children. We even had the opportunity to travel and hang out with them because they were on a vacation from school the week we were there. I hope I have the chance to go back and study for a longer amount of time." Margo Horowitz Geralyn Leannah - "My experience at Instituo de Lenguajes Puerto Escondido was extraordinary. I was treated to very convivial one-on-one lessons tailored exactly to my needs. The instructor was attuned to my successes and frustrations alike in an extremely low stress setting. The studio apartments for the students was superb in its comfort and location nestled cozily just a few short steps from the ocean. Probably the most memorable and long-lasting learning experience was the excursion. Our guide was knowledgeable, funny, accommodating and extremely conscientious about our need to communicate, etc. She had a profound impact on my 17 year old daughter, who wants to be just like her some day. We are scheduled to be back in Mexico this summer!" Geralyn Leannah Sylvain Baril - "It was an improvised situation for me to take Spanish lessons in Mexico during my trip and it ended up being what was probably the most satisfying experience. The teachers were very competent and friendly. The school was well managed and very flexible. My stay with the homestay family was just perfect, same comments about them, competent, friendly, flexible and careful. I was planning a week, I stayed for 5 weeks." Sylvain Baril, Canada Hannah Arnoldi - "I.L.P.E. provides quality instruction to students, from beginner through advanced. It is an environment that lets you make of it what you desire, be that an immersion experience for several months or just a few lessons to help you get by. My experience with I.L.P.E was of great help in preparing for the upper level university classes that I had the following semester. Puerto Escondido captured my heart as a funky, off the well-beaten path, little town with friendly locals and an eclectic traveler-surfer scene. However, the most telling statement...I enjoyed myself so much the first time, I returned nine months later and used Puerto as a base for the rest of my travels that summer." mailto:hannabanana20@yahoo.com
	Sebastian Job - "In my experience all Spanish language schools in Puerto Escondido are equally full of nice, friendly people. But as a friend of mine said, ´You aren´t paying for nice´. You are paying, rather, to learn Spanish. And when it comes to teaching Spanish some of Puerto's schools are definitely more equal than others. From the evidence of my visit in 2005, the Instituto de Lenguajes Puerto Escondido doesn´t really have any competitors in the good teaching department. The staff is interesting to talk to (in español of course!), and they really know what they are talking about. If you want to concentrate on grammar, they have teachers who won´t get their present and past participles mixed up, and if I conversation is what you crave, you can find someone who will make space for YOU to talk!" hansjjtas@yahoo.com
	Greg Zawislawski - "I really enjoyed my 4 week stay in Puerto Escondido and - what is even more important to me - I really made great progress in learning Spanish. I had some experience speaking this beautiful language during my travels across Spain and Latin America, but it was limited to topics like hotels or restaurants. Now I feel confortable talking about any subject - elections in Mexico, the future of the air transport, the history of Indian population in Mexico or whatever. I like the concept of changing teachers every week - it allowed me to meet more interesting people. All of the teachers were really great but with different personalities. I have learned a lot - not only about the language, but also about the Latin American culture. The school is a place where learning Spanish is fun, and Puerto Escondido is the place you want to stay during the cold European winter. Greg Zawislawski Warsaw, Poland " kocurek@chello.pl Ryan Skvarla - " This is a great school. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn Spanish. I have been studying for years and I made some of my greatest improvements with Puerto School's patient teachers. They are intelligent, kind, and insightful. They really focused on how I could be more fluent as well as taught me about Mexico. The view of the beach is beautiful and the location is perfect for surfers. It was easy to set it up, get there, learn, and enjoy it. You won't miss any good waves. I will take classes there every time I visit." rskvarla@hotmail.com
	Jeff Woldrich - "Great for all levels and paces. I learned more in less time than in any other program and with an open air view of the crashing surf de bout. The program is firmly rooted in an immersion style, but the few-on-one class sizes make it flexible and fun. Study hard or relax on the beach it's up to you. "¡Va a aprender muchÌsimo!" jwoldric@itsa.ucsf.edu Kent & Judy Polk - " We want to thank all of you at I.L.P.E for the enjoyable week we spent in Puerto Escondido. My husband and I had NO background in Spanish and we are well past the "optimum learning window" age for language acquisition. Our instructor did a great job teaching us the mechanics of the language and helping us acquire basic vocabulary. He was so patient with us and his lessons were very sequential. We covered so much in just one week. My daughter and her friend had several years of high school/ college spanish and their instructor was able to determine their level and build upon it. Puerto Escondido is a wonderful vacation spot. We do not enjoy typical U.S. style resorts but we do look for certain qualities and Puerto fullfilled these expectations. The scenery is beautiful, the food is great, the people are very warm and friendly and we felt safe. With the recent bad press the US state department is giving Mexico, we were somewhat concerned, but we felt much safer in this city than in parts of San Antonio. The girls met so many young people from all over the world and from a parent standpoint, we were able to relax when they stayed out late. Now, if we will just practice, maybe we won't forget everything that we learned. Kent & Judy Polk judy@goathill.org Chris Wilson - "I found Puerto Escondido to be the perfect balance between big city and small town Mexico. There are a lot of great things to do but the town isn't just another tourist resort. My Spanish classes were designed to fit my learning style. The personal attention I received helped me to get as much as possible from my time in Puerto". Chris061080@aol.com Ricarda Schibli - "The Instituto de Lenguajes en Puerto Escondido is a perfect place to learn Spanish at all levels. You can choose to study as hard and for as many hours as you like, even on week-ends. Even better yet, you can combine the studies with vacation. That was perfect for me. It was very important for me to be able to speak Spanish as I don't have any possiblity here in Switzerland. My teacher helped me to do exactly do that. She was not only a good teacher, but she was a wonderful friend too. I did enjoy a few lessons with another teacher also. Those classes took place outside of the classroom on the beach in the municipal building, something different and special. The school has wonderful and lovely dogs; the school would not be the same without them. They are lovely friends and I miss them too... The school’s director and administrator did everything possible to make me feel welcome and at home and were so kind to accomplish all my extra wishes. Thanks for the good time I enjoyed. I will certainly be back if I have the chance. Ricarda Schibli, St. Gallen, Switzerland... ". ricarda.schibli@stadt.sg.ch Ben Schatz - "When I was researching various Spanish schools around Mexico, I was trying to find a school that would not only give me the intensive Spanish instruction that I was looking for, but that would allow me to enjoy my vacation as well. Puerto Escondido appeared to be a place that I could have a great vacation, but I was somewhat apprehensive that ILPE would be serious enough for me. What I found at I.L.P.E. was instruction that was as intense as I wanted it to be, but relaxed enough to allow for a great vacation in a beautiful place. The balanced pace of the classes was complemented by excellent instructors who tailored their lessons to my interests. As far as Puerto Escondido is concerned, I can't think of a more perfect place to study Spanish. The town has great restaurants, very friendly people, and plenty of things to do. Brian set up several excursions such as rock-climbing, a trip to a nearby ecological project, and of course, surfing. Brian also set up a "pseudo-homestay" with an incredibly friendly family. The pseudo-homestay gave me the freedom to come and go as I pleased, but also gave me plenty of opportunity to practice my Spanish with the family". benschatz@yahoo.com Jody Borzilleri - "If you want to learn Spanish in a relaxed atmosphere at your own pace, the Puerto School is the place to go. Classes are held in the fresh air with very knowledgeable staff. I was happy to be able to choose how many hours a week I wanted to study as well as what time I had my classes. It was great to be able to chat with instructors about many different subjects while they worked to recognize what parts of the Spanish language I need more help with and then taught me what I was lacking. It was fun, practical and I plan on attending the school again in the near future. My homestay was also great! It was another opportunity to practice my new skills, learn more about Mexican culture and laugh with some locals. The school organized a day trip to a waterfall. This was a bonus made even better when we stopped at a private home on the way to the falls and got to watch them make tortillas, then help to make them! After that we were rewarded with a snack of quesadillas made with tortillas that we had just made. All in all the school was a wonderful experience; I learned a lot of Spanish, met some great people (students, staff and my host family) and even got to surf!". jodyborz@yahoo.com
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	Learning Spanish while making tortillas	Michelle Fisher - "From my perspective, Puerto Escondido is a perfect place to study for those who are looking for a town off the beaten path. Although Puerto Escondido is not 'third world', it also is far from resembling the U.S. or even Mazatlan. Maybe all the Mexican resorts used to resemble Puerto Escondido way back when before the big corporations moved in. Ma and Pa shops and hotels abound and people are extremely friendly, especially if you want to practice your Spanish. I made friends with two women who owned a tienda just by stopping by for a cold beverage every afternoon. Additionally and importantly, as a single woman traveller in Puerto Escondido, I felt safe for my entire visit. My pseudo homestay with Las Salinas was exactly what I wanted: they supported my efforts as a language learner by listening lots, helping me laugh at my mistakes, and explaining many expressions or words that weren't in the dictionary, only in common conversation. They also gave me space when I was too tired to form a sentence. At el Instituto, the professors developed classes specializing in my personal needs and at a self-determined pace (when I tried to take the easy way out, the professors would challenge me even more, they were also committed to my goals as a student). Because we used my experiences outside the classroom and materials chosen between the professor and I, I feel that I learned quickly due to relativity and interest, rather than just following along in a textbook. Sometimes we went on field trips to the cafes to get out of the classroom, even though the view isn't all that bad...waves, beach, and sun. If I had it my way, I would have stayed all summer, three weeks flew by and I was just tapping into Puerto Escondido as a town and community". mishlfish@hotmail.com
	Benito Juarez market provides fresh produce.
Mark Blickenstaff - "Brian has developed an awesome language school surrounded by great waves and a beautiful culture. The school is within walking distance to the beach and great waves. It's an awesome getaway where one can learn, and enjoy, surfing, the language and the culture". mblickenstaff@eagleschools.net Jesse and Jenn Stowell - "Thanks for such a great experience. Your school was a more perfect situation than we ever could have dreamed up ourselves. The individualized instruction was so efficient - we both were better Spanish speakers by the end of the week for sure. By the way thanks for the surfing lessons". jstowell@northernpower.com
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Lauren-Taylor Naples - "I found Instituto de Lenguajes after a backpacking trip through southern Mexico with a few American friends. Puerto Escondido seemed like a quaint town with a surprise around ever corner. The entire culture of Puerto is a bit slower-paced...so a nice vacation, even if you are studying. It is very easy to just walk up and start talking to people. In addition, Puerto is close to the city of Oaxaca (the capitol of the state Oaxaca) and there are many important places to travel closer to the Yucatan Peninsula other travelers will be sooooo happy to tell you about. The school is intimate and a wonderful little hang out. The teachers can really work to your needs because the classes are smaller. My teacher and I went into town a lot and worked on shopping, asking questions, clothing sizes, asking directions, ordering foods, and of course how to catch the 'colectivo' instead of wasting too much money on cabs each day. The small classes really help you focus on your specific language needs...grammar, conversation, reading, and even listening skills (it is easier to speak than to hear it). And of course the teachers are very helpful and do NOT make you feel nervous. They are so excited for you to be learning their language. GOOD LUCK TO ALL...you'll love it in Puerto!!!!!!!!!!!!" NaplesLT@aol.com Patti Cogswell - " I went to the Spanish language school with my daughter who needed a refresher course as she is working, teaching Spanish to children this semester. We only had 6 days but I thought Brian was such a great instructor when I took his classes in Vail, that he could cover alot quickly. He has a Masters in Second Language Acquisition which helps when teaching pronunciations. He has a feel for English speakers learning Spanish. My daughter went to Middlebury College which is known for languages and thought Brian was better than any of her professors. The school is small but very accommodating. The town is wonderful. We loved Puerto. The beach is beautiful, food delicious and people very friendly. We stayed at The Santa Fe Hotel which was excellent. I also wanted a vacation and I loved having a pool, bar and restaurant. We met alot of people there. It was very hot. Our hotel was 90 dollars a night but there were cheaper ones. We could walk to school. I'd go to Puerto if you can, you would like it all. Good luck". patticogswell@hotmail.com Kathy Smith-Wenning - "I spent 10 days working with the people from the Puerto School during Christmas vacation. You cannot beat the atmosphere or the approach to language acquisition. They use an organic or whole language approach. Children do not learn one verb at a time and neither do adults. The instructors will develop a program with your input. You just tell them what you want and hope to accomplish and they will do the rest. Trust me, they have been doing this a while so they know which techniques are the most successful. They are open and always willing to adapt a teaching approach to your style of learning. My instructor was knowledgeable, intelligent, and a native Spanish speaker. I not only learned Spanish but left Puerto Escondido with a new friend. Brian has done a great job setting up his school and choosing his faculty. I cannot recommend Instituto de Lenguajes enough and hope to return next year. Please feel free to contact me with your inquiries". smithwenning@aol.com Matt Ball - "I originally e-mailed the director of Instituto de Lenguajes Puerto Escondido, Brian Vander Kooy a couple of months before heading down to Puerto with some general questions in regards to the area and for a little bit of information about the school. I wanted to go somewhere that I could learn to speak Spanish and get in a little surfing. Then I found out about the possibility of staying with a Mexican family, which I.L.P.E. arranged for me. I was very impressed by the level of professionalism at the Spanish language school and the dedication of the staff. I not only feel like I learned a decent amount of Spanish while I was there, but also that I had made good friends. They not only took the time to teach me Spanish but also took an interest in making sure that I enjoyed my whole stay in Puerto. I can honestly recommend I.L.P.E. and am looking forward to being able to attend at a later date". service@vipmountainholidays.com Kristen Knox - "I would highly recommend Brian's surf classes. He teaches you what you need to know in order to continue surfing (safely) on your own after his class. This is very different from other surf lessons that I saw when I was out on the water - in these classes, the teachers took their groups out and pushed each student into a wave, or had them ride in on white water. The goal seemed to be to ensure that each person stood up a few times, not to teach people how to catch waves on their own. After two lessons with Brian, however, I was able to go out on my own and catch waves in Pto, and I'm planning to continue at home in San Francisco. I would also recomend the language school, particularly for people who have specific goals in mind. I needed to work on doing medical interviews in Spanish, and needed introduction to some verb forms etc which I hadn't studied before. I was able to work one on one with an instructor, with classes tailored to what I needed, and everyone was incredibly flexible. Kirstin Knox". kknox1@gmail.com Dee Dee Emmer - Hola! I'd just like to share my experience in coming to Instituto de Lenguajes Puerto Escondido to attend classes and live with a family. My experience may be a little different than others, as I came down with two of my children, ages 10 and 11. Never having taken children to a foreign country, I was a little nervous about what to expect, especially taking them alone. However, through emailing the Institute’s director, Brian and other students who had studies at I.L.P.E. in the past many of my questions were answered. When we arrived we went right to our homestay, where the family took us under their wing and took us out that evening to show us the town. The homestay was wonderful! The food was excellent. The accommodations were very clean and comfortable, and my children loved playing with the children from the homestay family and practicing their new Spanish vocabulary with them. It was so important for my children to have someone their age with whom they could speak in Spanish. I'm not sure that they would have felt comfortable speaking with the adults on a regular basis. While the children played daily, I was able to visit (in Spanish) with the parents who were so patient with my limited Spanish. We opted to take two hours of Spanish instruction four days each week for a total of three weeks. This left us plenty of time to do other school work (which we had to bring with us), and spend entire days exploring the area. My children had new instructors each week and all were fabulous! My children were so comfortable being with them, and hated to say goodbye at the end of each week. All of the instructors worked in a different way with the children, and gave them such a rich experience in the language! I appreciate them so much! I worked one-on-one with my instructors and each taught me so much about the language, while showing a lot of patience with my frustrations at the various past tenses. I'm very grateful for their diligence! Our classes were set up and arranged so that, the children and myself could take classes at the same time. Everyone at the school was flexible in their schedules to allow for that. The size of the school allowed for the opportunity to get to know the instructors and other students, not only in the school, but out in the community as well. It was so exciting for my children to run into one of their instructors outside of the school. While in Puerto, we were able to figure out the various modes of transportation, where to swim, which internet cafe had air conditioning, where to do laundry, buy snacks and other things that we just take for granted in the U.S. Each time we figured out something new, it was a reason to celebrate and grow in our confidence to try something else and use our newfound speaking skills to ask questions in the community. We went on some excursions that the school offered and went to el “Mercado” many times. We learned to make a “piñata” from scratch, and celebrated a traditional Mexican birthday party. Someday, we'd love to go back not only to practice our Spanish more, but to visit our family there and explore a little more. Puerto Escondido is so beautiful with all of its beaches, vegetation, hills, and people. We'd love to see what else it has to offer, as we feel that we’ve just skimmed the top of it. We're very grateful to Brian and the staff for providing us an experience that we'll never forget! I'd encourage anyone to go to the school to learn and live, and bringing kids along is definitely a great time for all! Dee Dee Emmer eagleemmers@ropircablevision.com
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