Spanish Classes

Peru is considered one of the easiest places to learn Spanish because Peruvians have a clear and smooth way of speaking that facilitates practical conversation. Additionally, the warmth and friendliness of the locals creates a comfortable but real-life environment where you can practice your Spanish, regardless of your level, without feeling the least bit judged or intimidated.

To complement this advantageous native Spanish environment, PV Travel has created an easy method for learning Spanish that enables our volunteers and travelers to fully grasp the opportunity to quickly learn and practice Spanish during their time in Peru.

PV Travel encourages volunteers to take advantage of our Spanish classes. Our levels range from Beginner to Advanced Conversation and focus on practical conversation which efficiently improves your Spanish language skills. Depending on your level you will be placed in the appropriate class to receive the greatest benefit from your lessons. Our professional Spanish teachers and small classes ensure that every class is suited to your personal level, learning style, and grammatical and vocabulary needs.

Methodology and Philosophy

Our goal is not to teach Spanish; our goal is to teach you Spanish.

PV Travel Spanish School uses an innovative, result driven methodology which we continue to refine. Reflection is an important part of our job and both the teacher and the student are asked for input. It is important that our courses are not only developed by the teachers but also by the students opinions, difficulties and questions. Teaching another language is not only about the transmission of concepts; the student also has to apply the concept, both verbally and in writing. Spanish grammar is very extensive and from our experience we know the frustrating gap between ‘school Spanish’ and the Spanish of everyday life. Understanding everything you have been taught does not mean you are able to apply all the rules and vocabulary while speaking. We help you get there!

Listen, Understand, Speak!

Together with teaching grammar, our interactive method is focused on teaching you to listen, understand and speak. Therefore we use materials other than the standard grammar book such as articles, movies, music and newspapers. Our teachers speak to you from the very first moment only in Spanish in order to drive you to think in Spanish from the start. Included in every course is what we call ‘Practical Spanish’ in which you leave the classroom with your teacher to practice the studied theory in the street.

You’ll also get even more conversation practice and an interesting view on local culture during our exchange conversation program with local Peruvian university students.

Personal Assistance

Finally, we also offer unique personal assistance. Included in every course is our daily tutor hour, lead by our academic director. During this hour we can help you with personal questions that you might have and we keep an eye on your personal development at the same time!

Standard Courses

- all levels -

- Individual: minimum of 5 hours per week

- Group*: 10 or 20 hours per week
- Combination program: 15 hours per week- classes in the morning or in the afternoon

- free course material
- free exchange program with local university students
- extra daily assistance hour from our academic director
- Group classes begin every Monday; individual classes begin every day

Classes and schedule

You can choose between private or group classes; we offer standard programs of 10 and 20 hours per week and a combination program of 10 hours of group and 5 hours of private classes. Classes in the morning or the afternoon are available and we shall adjust your schedule to suit you; flexibility is guaranteed. Did you order group classes but can’t we form a group on your level? You’re lucky: you’ll get private classes! We won’t try to force you in a group that isn’t exactly of your level.

Placement test

Your level will be tested in our placement test upon arrival in Peru

Levels

PV Travel Spanish School works with five basic levels: beginner, intermediary, advanced, superior and perfection. These basic levels can be subdivided in sublevels. Each sublevel lasts about a week.

Beginner 1
You’ve never studied Spanish and don’t know a word of it. We begin with teaching basic social uses and expressions. You learn for example to present yourself (name, nationality, etc.) and to use regular verbs and some irregular verbs in the present tense. Our goal is that you can hold a basic conversation in the present tense.

Beginner 2
You’ll study more irregular verbs in the present tense and also practical vocabulary with words that you can use to ask question or buy things. You also learn to use special verbs that express preferences and desires.

Beginner 3
You’ll learn the Presente Progresivo that is used to express actions that are happening now. We also study the reflexive verbs that will help you to talk about daily activities. During this part of the course you’ll build up your vocabulary and grammar step by step and you’ll learn different expressions of time during the verbal practices which are highly emphasized.

Beginner 4
In this level you’ll learn the future tense and one of the past tenses, after which you can express yourself in the three basic tenses of Spanish. In this week you will also learn another past tense, the Pretérito Indefinido, of the most common verbs.

Intermediate 1
In this level you study the past tenses. An large part of the class is spent on the correct use of the tenses Imperfecto and Indefinido, one of the biggest obstacles for Spanish language students. Also do readings and learn to talk about the past, describe situations and write stories. As always this goes together with an increasing vocabulary that you acquire from the readings which you study with your professor.

Intermediate 2
You learn to use the imperative that is used to express requests, orders and suggestions and continue to expand your vocabulary and practice the Spanish you have learned.

Intermediate 3
You practice thoroughly everything you’ve learned before. You’ll also get an introduction to the Subjuntivo Presente with which you can express desires, feelings and doubts.

Advanced 1
We focus on the Subjuntivo that is used to express feelings, opinions, desires, doubts and presumptions, and to give and ask for advice. In addition we’ll spend time on reading comprehension and writing skills. In this level you also develop a professional vocabulary, based on your personal demands.

Advanced 2
You learn the future and conditional tenses and you’ll study the four past tenses and the present tense in greater depth, so that you can make a comparison with the Subjuntivo.

Superior
You’ll get a complete, more profound revision of Spanish grammar. The superior level is meant for students who already know all the grammatical tenses but who wish to revise them and who have to learn to communicate using all these tenses in order to be able to talk about every single subject.

Moreover, we study the indirect style; this style is used to transmit messages or moments from the past into the present. We emphasize oral expression through conversations about complex themes. Linguistic expressions, as always according to the student’s personal interests, will also be studied.

Perfection
See special courses.

Special Courses

- individual and, if possible, in group*: 10 to 20 hours per week- classes in the morning or in the afternoon

- free course material
- free exchange program with local university students
- extra daily assistance hour by our academic director
- begin: every day

Survival Spanish
This course will teach you to express yourself in basic Spanish as quickly as possible. The grammar will be reduced to a minimum, although certain knowledge is essential. The idea is that you can survive on your own in a Spanish speaking environment within a minimum of time; an ideal course for backpackers!

If you are planning to volunteer or travel for a short period of time, survival Spanish migth be perfect for you, to provide you with the necessities of navigating around Cusco and the all of Peru. These survival skills will prove to be very helpful in your volunteer placement as most projects are operated in Spanish, providing you an excellent opportunity to practice Spanish. Please also note that our Host Families are a great resource for practicing Spanish during your stay in Peru.

Perfection+
If a student has passed the superior level, we can perfect his Spanish. In this course we can prepare the students for the DELE exam, the only exam for Spanish language that is accepted by the Spanish government.

Spanish and Latin American Culture and Society
Do you also want to learn something about the interesting Latin-American culture and society in addition to your Spanish classes? In this course we learn more about the complex socio-cultural reality of the region by studying the geography, history, art, traditions and customs; and also the political, economical and social issues.

Spanish and Volunteering
Handy for those who want to volunteer during or after their Spanish course. Depending on which kind of volunteer work you want to do (working in childcare, medical or music, or sports for example) we focus on the necessary vocabulary and you’ll get ideas and practice standard situations in our practical classes.

Spanish for Tourism+
This course is developed for students who need special communication skills in order to work or study in the tourism sector, for example in travel agencies, restaurants and hotels. You will practice making commercial phone calls and preparing professional correspondence, and talking about rates, conditions, etc.
The student needs to have at least a high intermediary level of Spanish in order to be able to follow this course. A complementary internship in Cusco can be arranged upon request.

Commercial Spanish+
This course is developed for students that need commercial skills for their job or study. We focus on the real life: you’ll learn for example many standard expressions used in the commercial sector and to write formal letters. You will also practice holding (commercial) presentations and making phone calls with different people.
The student needs to have at least a high intermediary level of Spanish in order to be able to follow this course. A complementary internship in Cusco can be arranged upon request.

Medical Spanish+
This course is developed for students that need to speak Spanish with their patients. Together with the student, our academic director will determine what has to be studied and which specific vocabulary the student needs.
The student needs to have at least a high intermediary level of Spanish in order to be able to follow this course. A complementary internship or volunteer job in Cusco can be arranged upon request.

* - a maximum of 4 students per group

+prerequisites required for this course