Spanish and Culture

I had 3 teachers, and they all had a slightly different approach and taught me different things. One focussed on verbs, and I’m finally spitting out the past tense. The second, who ran the school, focussed on the history of Guanajuato and we walked in the streets a couple of times. I appreciated that instead of sitting all the time. The third teacher focussed on pronunciation and diction, a good compliment to grammar. My home stay was a lovely older lady(my age!) who fed me well and helped me with my Spanish. My room was comfortable and large, and the home was 10 minutes from the school , which is right in the centre of town half a block from the Plaza de la Paz, the main plaza. Be warned that Guanajuato is very vertical and the streets are stone and uneven.
I had homework often , and the friendly owner of the restaurant in the same building helped me with it while he made sandwiches. They was a godsend, as some of the homework was quite difficult- set and estar in the past tense

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience as a student at Plateros Spanish School. We got our 5 hours of lessons each day which were well balanced between grammar, speaking and listening skills. Our teachers, Manuel and Mali, were outstanding. They were professional, very knowledgeable, and both had a great sense of humour. They made our classes so pleasant and fun and for myself, I learn best when I'm enjoying myself. They were on time for all classes and never in a big rush to end the class. I felt they were really there to make sure we got the most possible out of these classes. The location of the school is in Centro of Guanajuato so it was perfect for visiting the area afterwards and during our lunch breaks. I left the school after 3 weeks, not necessarily speaking a lot better, but with a lot more knowledge and information and more confidence. Now it's up to me to practice what I learned! The only thing I would say that could be improved is putting a fan in the classroom. It was extremely warm and at times difficult to focus.

We loved our time at the Plateros School in Guanajuato. We chose the 3 week intensive (25 hours/week) schedule and it was a good decision. By the end of the 3 weeks, we were satisfied and "full". The teachers were exceptional and were very knowledgeable and experienced about teaching Spanish to foreigners. It was a lot of fun and we had many, many laughs. Guanajuato is an excellent city to study Spanish in because it's small, is a walking town and has many great hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel are close by for weekend trips.

I studied during the low season. So I paid for a group class, but most of the time I was in private class. Every teacher is great and flexible. The school has Wifi, water and toilets. There are several classrooms to accommodate different study groups. They helped me to structure each class to meet my objective which is to pass DELE B1. I really recommend Plateros Spanish School. Guanajuato is a safe cultural city, where you can benefit from immersing yourself in Mexican culture through events and festive seasons. During the festive weekends, the school usually organized a small city tour so that I could understand better the culture in Guanajuato. I felt my Spanish skills had progressed just after 2 weeks of learning here because the class was full in Spanish.

With only one week in Guanajuato, I still learned a lot. Teachers are great and begin the day with a plan / daily goals. I very much liked this structural approach. Great learning material provided and on top of everything else, we had great fun in class.

Outside activities as mentioned in the description did not take place, apart from one visit to a restaurant on the last day of the week.

Homestay was great. I liked the food and the location and the hospitality of my host.

All in all, a great experience.

Mehrzad 65 years
As a beginner student I learned so much. The teachers were talented, helpful, interesting and friendly! they we’re very professional in their job. My homestay during 3 weeks was fantastic. My host was super kind and an excellent cook. The school location is close to everywhere. Guanajuato is a hidden gem! Very authentic and cultural city. Overall I had the best experience ever.

Very friendly teachers.
Adaptation of courses to the level.
Small groups (2 to 4 people)

Very happy with the result in 15 days!

Der Unterricht hat mir sehr gut gefallen, es gab kleine Gruppen mit maximal 4 Personen. Der Unterricht war abwechslungsreich, interessant und lustig, aber auch sehr anstrengend im positiven Sinn, da man immer gefordert war. Ich konnte mein Spanisch sehr verbessern und viel dazulernen, auch über die Kultur von Mexiko. Die Schule war gut organisiert und die Lehrer waren sehr engagiert und kompetent, nett und um jeden einzelnen bemüht.
Die Schule liegt sehr zentral in der historischen Altstadt von Guanajuato. Dies hatte den Vorteil, dass man in den Pausen und nach dem Unterricht schnell viele Möglichkeiten hatte zu essen oder einzukaufen. Der Nachteil aber war, dass sehr viel Lärm in das Klassenzimmer eindrang: Verkehr, Baustelle ... Das Fenster zur Straße konnte man nicht richtig schließen.
Es gab keine Aktivitäten außerhalb des Unterrichts. Ich hätte mir einzelne Unternehmungen von der Schule gewünscht, wie z.B. Stadtbesichtigung, Ausflug, Barabend...
Die Einrichtung der Schule hat mir sehr gut gefallen: viele Farben, schöne Pflanzen, schöne Deko.

Teachers were very kind and talented but there was no curriculum, so the classes were very flexible like the teachers, the materials, the themes kept changing day by day but i like flexibility so i didn’t mind. Although its bathroom was awful, the location was one of the best part of the school. It was at the center of the city and was very close to every attractions. And also they provide every material that you need for classes so basically i didn’t have to bring my own note or book.

Loved the city, my host family, class activities, & teachers’ teaching methods & friendliness! The locations of the school & the host family are very convenient to walk to & are also quiet enough although there had been this traditional singing & joke telling festive events almost every night at the near-by plaza, they were happy, joyful, & pretty music & sounds to my ears & wished that I had energy to join them! I was also particularly surprised by how safe I felt on the streets in the center of the city, even in the early evenings, which was the opposite of what I had read online concerning the crime report before my trip there! All in all, I highly recommend studying Spanish at such a wonderful school & beautiful city of Guanajuato!

The teachers were great. I had a chance to work with several of them (Rocio, Gabi, Romano, and Manuel). I primarily wanted to practice conversation and they helped me spend most my time doing that, but also diving a little into grammar as it can't be totally neglected. Location is great near the historic center, classrooms are nice. The one part of the school facility that is not ideal is the shared bathroom with the business below that wasn't always stocked. There weren't any school organized social activities, but they did help me connect with a weekly conversation hour in the evenings that were great for making friends. Everything else was great and would definitely recommend!

To begin, our teacher, Chio, was phenomenal. Totally amazing, patient, fun to be with in class. Classroom was fine. Bathroom facilities not so great.
What I did not like was the fact that Manuel, whom I believe was the Administrator of the school, did not introduce himself to us. He did not even talk to us once in the two weeks we were there. It would have been very helpful if - on the 1st day - he welcomed us, introduced the staff & told us how classes would progress for the following two weeks. All of us students were nervous to begin with & Manuel could have done a lot to alleviate our anxiety. It was, after all, a small school. It could have been a much nicer & warmer experience. Disappointing. Kudos to Chio, our teacher, for filling in the gaps.

Had a wonderful experience with both Manuel and Rosio who helped me tremendously in the advancement of both my conversational and grammatical abilities with the Spanish language.

The teachers were very good. I had 3 hours of private lessons with 3 different teachers each morning. They were all great and kept me engaged, which I never would have thought possible. Plus, I spent 2-4 hours on homework and other learning exercises in the afternoon. It was a ton of work but I really learned a lot. Most important, my comfort in and ability to speak Spanish improved a lot. We are planning to go back next year.

I am somewhat above a beginner, meaning I can function on the streets and in the markets, but my grammar is horrible. I took private lessons for three weeks. Teachers, for the most part were excellent, as was the “feel “of the school. We are very active, retired, politically engaged and many of the other students were like us. Guanajuato is also a great city. We are going back next year. Also interesting to note that many of the other students had been at the school previously. Highly recommend.

Everything was excellent - the quality of instruction, location of the school, friendly staff. The family I was housed with was very charming and the apartment itself very private and comfortable beyond expectations. Highly recommended. Loved the teachers, the city and the people.

Our lodgings were within a five minute walk of everything. We had to loft with a private bathroom. Our family was terrific. Gloria and Pepe Cardona are both at the university and their six children were all in university with ambitions to be doctors, veterinarians or other noble enterprises. Breakfast and comida always included interesting conversations.

The maestros were all great. Rebecca, Lety, Manuel, Mary and Gaby. Ann felt that she had achieved her goal and they pushed me beyond my capabilities into a higher level. I am still absorbing Verbos de cambio and other esoteric conjugations.

Guanajuato is a fabulous city. We ate our cena in great restaurants, attending a Mozart/Hayden symphony for 15 pesos at Teatro Juarez and other free concerts at el Teatro Principal. The centre core is a buzz of activity every night.

My son Nick Jones purchased one week of private Spanish classes at Plateros Spanish School in Guanajuato for me as a gift. These were my first Spanish lessons, so I don’t have much experience, but I was happy with the teachers and the level of instruction. They did a good job assessing my level of understanding and making sure the lessons were appropriate.

The school is located in the center of this small old town, which means you can easily access to many places worth visiting, from historical areas to lively streets near a big University. The town has a different atmosphere from huge cities, in that people are kind and relaxed. I stayed for only one week in Mexico, and I was a complete beginner of Spanish at first, but the teachers here were very kind and taught us very slowly, so I soon come to feel familiar to Spanish. Unlike most of Mexican people, all the teachers here understand English, so I was able to make my questions clear in the class. Finally I became able to construct sentences and speak a little during such a short-term stay. On Fridays, they hold a language exchange at a cantina difficult to find for strangers, where you can enjoy good Mexican foods and mezcals while talking with your classmates and teachers. It is so much fun.

The people at Plateros are fabulous and I love the small class size. I wish they would spend more time reinforcing a skill instead of just moving on to the next one. I assume you’re supposed to do that on your own but isn’t that why I am in a class? For example, “tengo que” was introduced on my first day and it was never pointed out after that, even if it was printed on a worksheet. Also, the worksheets...they just seem like random pages copied from a book.

The two-week experience started with a written language assessment that was good. I was then assigned to a classroom with only three other students which facilitated active engagement throughout the entire two weeks. I liked that the students stayed in one room, and the teachers rotated; that made it more efficient. Each teacher was assigned a focus area based on our combined skill level, and it seemed pretty accurate. Much emphasis was placed on conversation and immediately applying grammar instruction to relevant sentences and stories. Most of the teaching was excellent. There was one teacher who definitely improved over the course of the two weeks but probably could have used more coaching on the side. I wonder what the professional development is like for the teachers there? As a educator myself, I feel it is important and perhaps could have had more of an emphasis. The teachers did talk outside of class to help focus their individual sessions on our collective progress as a class..

The facility is very centrally located but could use a few coats of paint and some soundproofing between classrooms. That said, the atmosphere is extremely friendly and welcoming. It might be a good idea for the school to offer some type of formal welcome to the city by recommending activities and possibly sponsoring some themselves. It would be good to have the different classes get together after class once a week for social interaction in Spanish.That said, I would definitely go back there myself to continue my learning.

My homestay offered excellent accommodations and meals. My hostess was very hospitable and walked me to the school when I arrived so I wouldn't get lost. Conversation in the home was difficult because we did not all sit down at once and eat/talk. She was often in the kitchen preparing meals for others staying in her home. The walk back after school was very vertical and made it difficult to engage in activities back in the center of town in the evening. I would prefer to stay in the center of town next time.

There was a glitch in my pre-arranged transportation from the airport. I waited two hours in the airport because the driver assigned to me had a car that broke down. There didn't seem to be a Plan B for incidents like that and there was no good number to call. I found a number on an old email and left a message but the response was in Spanish. We worked it out, but there should be a back up plan for incidents like this.

Guantajuato is a wonderful city and a great place to practice Spanish as it is not easy to get by with English...a great plus! I would definitely go back to Plateros and this city. Two weeks is the minimum amount of time I would recommend for anyone interested in language study. If time had permitted, I would definitely extended my stay.

(I am not rating social activities below because it is not applicable. My classmates got along very well and went out together frequently, but it was not sponsored by the school.)

The location of the school was in Central Guanajuato and easy to find with many attractions very close.The staff and teachers were helpful, pleasant and it seemed there major objective was to help the students and me become more proficient at speaking, reading and writing in Spanish..Overall experience was one of the best learning adventures with all the cultural activities as an extra plus. Staying with a local family made the experience even more special..The family were all patient, helpful and overall possibly the highlight of the entire learning experience....Yes, I would certainly do it again and recommend this program to any of my friends as well as anyone that asked my advice on whether to do this or not.***** stars

The person assigned to me for my private classes was an administrator;
he was unable to answer any grammar questions and had no plan prepared. he offered me a free return to the school.

It would be very helpful to students visiting Guanajuato and the school, to be told it is 10- 15 degrees colder in the building, So that extra layers of clothing are required indoors
After my test, I received no feedback nor was my specific needs discussed. Why bother with the test?

I never got to have a study abroad experience and this was exactly what I hoped it would be. I was able to stay in a studio apartment up the hill from the school, a five minute walk. I took classes for 6 hours each day and each of my instructors was great. I was able through many opportunities to practice my speaking as well as having extensive grammar lessons. I was there for three weeks, it was great!

The school, housing and most activities were close by in the center of town. The town is accessible with taxis or Uber available everywhere. My host family was very gracious and took the time to talk with me daily and allowed me to experience the great food of Mexico. Fresh fruits, vegetables, quesadillas, tacos, chilaquiles and much more.
The school was in an older building with teachers who challenged me to converse, read, write, listen and learn the grammar, history and culture of colonial Mexico. There was time for short trips on the weekend and there was always something new to explore. Overall a great experience.

Plateros school was great in terms of of location, hours of operation and the instructors. I benefited greatly from its location in the Zona Central. The fact that during the month of October there was the Festival, De Cervantino as well as the Dia de las Muertas and Catrina made my experience fantastic!

The school in a central location close to everything you want to see and do. The opportunity to meet with individual teachers in restaurants and cafes was a real plus. I would recommend Plateros to anyone who wants good teaching and a memorable experience in Guanajuato.

I spent the most amazing three weeks learning Spanish at Plateros School in Guanajuato. I went without knowing a sole and with very little Spanish. Within a day, I was connected to a group of other students and native speakers and realized that I was learning immediately. I took four hours of classes in the mornings and the time flew by. Emphasis was placed on commonly used Spanish that I would need to communicate and to understand others. Although there was emphasis on grammar and verb conjugations, there was several opportunities to speak and write to develop greater fluency. The school is located right off the central plaza so the location is ideal. The school is colorful and welcoming. Plateros arranged a home stay for me, which was truly wonderful. The home was welcoming, clean, centrally located and only Spanish speaking. The senora was a master chef! I was able to take a cooking class with her as well. I can honestly say, it was five star dining every day. Most importantly, Plateros was extremely flexible. If I wanted to take more classes, they made that work or less, they made that work as well. They arranged a pick up and drop off at the airport making it easy and welcoming to get to Guanajuato.

Plateros arranged several school outings, which were very fun and provided opportunities to really get to know other students and native speakers. We spent a day hiking up in the mountains that overlook Guanajuato. Every Wednesday, there is a social for all the students to gather at a local bar for food and drinks. There is so much happening in Guanajuato - there was a week-long international film festival while I was there - that students are constantly organizing outings to various museums, concerts and cultural events. Guanajuato is a university town so there are so many adorable cafes, restaurants and bars and the streets are always filled with people walking and socializing.

I plan to return to Plateros and to Guanajuato and would recommend the school and the city to anyone who wants to learn Spanish and experience a truly lively and authentic Mexican city.