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You've decided to study abroad to learn a foreign language or to improve your foreign language skills, and now it has come to choosing the best school for your purpose. The task can be daunting with so many choices.  Here a few things to consider when making your selection. Class size Class size is one of the most important considerations in choosing a language school along with the credentials of the teaching staff.

Robert Levy is the directory of IPEE Spanish Language School in Costa Rica IPEE has a website at: http://www.ipee.com Tel/FAX:  813 988-3916  e-mail:  ipee@gate.net Escape From America Magazine Newsletter Index More on Costa Rica Submit an Article to EFAN Subscriptions are Free

Small Group Classes

A misconception is that many people think that private classes or one on one instruction would be better than small group classes.  The opposite is true in most cases, especially for a beginning or an intermediate student.  Small groups (less than six) is superior to individual classes for the following reasons;

1.  When assimilating new information, repetition and reinforcement are imperative.  When in a small group an individual student has the opportunity to think out each question or response presented others in the group.  As the other students respond to a question the student has the opportunity to answer the question to their self, thereby having to opportunity to respond 4 or 5 times mentally before having to respond verbally.  As the student hears the questions and responses they also hear the corrections to the other students reinforcing or correcting their own errors. 

2.  Individual attention to students can still be maintained if the class size is small.  Students can still ask any questions they have without interrupting the flow of the class and remain on 
subject.

Private Classes Private classes definitely have their place and can be extremely effective in instances where a student has a particular problem understanding a certain aspect of structure syntax or grammar. Also, private classes can be very effective for more advance students that have a firm grasp of the basics of the language and wish to focus on a particular aspect.  Professionals that need to learn vocabulary or the vernacular of a specific profession can benefit greatly from private classes.

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Standard versus Intensive Classes

Often you'll find schools offering both Standard and Intensive courses.  Both should follow the same syllabi.  The Standard Class usually runs for 4 hours per day, and the Intensive Course 
for 6 hours.  You don't learn anything different in the Intensive class, you only receive more instruction.  If you do elect to take an Intensive Course consider limiting yourself to a few weeks a most.  Six hours a day of new information is just too much to assimilate for a very long time, be very wary of "burn-out". A student that has a fresh and eager mind will acquire more information than one who's mind is still numb from weeks of six hours a day.  Just as an athlete must rest to let their muscles grow and their skill level increase, so must a language  student rest, contemplate and digest new information so that a solid base will form on which to build further learning.

IPEE- A Spanish Language School, Costa Rica
The fastest way to learn Spanish is to "live it".

By Robert Levy