In-company Spanish courses

Ateneo 21

Ateneo 21 is a language school that offers intensive tailor made Spanish courses in-company. Courses aimed at motivated people who want to develop their communication skills through a stimulating programme that gives rapid results.

Sunflowers, Mendoza, Argentina, © Secretaria de Turismo

Course formats• Language courses in small

groups (4-5 students recommended for rapid progress).

• One-to-one programmes.

• Intensive (6 hours per day with an hour lunch-break), semi-intensive (3 hours per day to cover two lessons of 1.5 hours each) or extensive programs (1.5 hours per week).

Bahía de Lapataia, Ushuaia, Argentina, © Secretaria de Turismo

Programme• You will learn using authentic materials

(films, newspapers, videos, songs, TV, radio, telephone conversations); that is, all of the means of communication that you will come across from day one when abroad. You will progress faster if you learn through doing something that you would do in your own language.

• You will speak Spanish from the first day to communicate meaningfully in practical real life situations.

• We teach universal Spanish (as used in Spain), taking important variations into consideration.

• Courses explore culture and society in Spanish speaking countries to enhance the learning experience. Carnaval, Corrientes, Argentina,

© Secretaria de Turismo

The methodology• Task based learning

We use innovative methods, up to date materials and inspiring activities adapted to each student. And because we all learn best by doing, emphasis is on learning to communicate through talking - as kids do. Most class time is devoted to opportunities for learners to use the language in real world situations.

• Topic basedLessons are topic based as once you know the context it’s far easier to learn the initial vocabulary, expressions and grammar speaking in Spanish. Then you will practise, read, watch and listen to Spanish media taking the time to focus on the grammar - understanding this is important. Through these steps you consolidate your learning. At the end of the lesson you will use the language you’ve learned to tackle a task in the real world.

• Learning strategiesWe will also teach you strategies for out of class learning and encourage you to attend our recommended language rich events so you can take advantage of the Spanish speaking environment around you.

Vineyeards, Mendoza, Argentina, © Secretaria de Turismo

A typical lesson

• Step 1: create a activities that introduce the initial vocabulary, language and context for the task.

• Step 2: practise the target language vocabulary, structures and functions.

• Step 3: provide authentic listening practice (as spoken by native Spanish speakers).

• Step 4: look at the grammatical structure - understanding the system is important.

• Step 5: provide freer, more creative practice.

• Step 6: pedagogical task - so the delegates use what they have learned in order to do something that they would have to do outside the classroom.

Class time needed: 1.5 hours for 1-4 students.

Molino, Cachi, Salta, Argentina, © Secretaria de Turismo

Task based learning: the sequence or “story”

Levels: Basic UserA1 Breakthrough Spanish! Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

A2 Waystage Spanish!Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

Course duration: 30 hours.

Europe Unties TonguesLevels and curriculums are set by the Common European

Framework for Languages and defined by the Instituto Cervantes

Levels: Independent User

B1 Threshold Spanish!Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

Course duration: 60 hours.

B2 Vantage Spanish Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Course duration: 60 hours.

Levels: Proficient User

C1 Proficiency Spanish Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

Course duration: 100 hours - Open ended.

C2 Mastery Spanish Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

Course duration: 100 hours - Open ended.

Tutor profile• Native speaker.

• Postgraduate degree.

• Teaching qualification.

• Experienced in providing highly motivating classes for demanding professionals.

• Periodically retrained in the most up to date teaching methods.

Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina, © Secretaria de Turismo

Course schedule

• Once a week courses: 1.5 hours per week during lunch breaks, early mornings or afternoons.

• Semi-intensive and Intensive courses: Several hours per day.

Concert in a winery, Mendoza, Argentina, © Secretaria de Turismo

Course fees• 1 Delegate: £60 for 1.5 hours per week

in order to start making real progress.

• 2 Delegates: £65 for 1.5 hours per week. And £5 extra for extra person in a group of 4-5.

• Intensive courses (6 hours per day) or semi-intensive programs (3 hours a day) cost £40 for the first hour, £30 for the following hours, regardless of class size.

• Recommended group size for rapid progress: 4/6 adults per group.

• If groups are more than 6, the recommended fee is £12 per student, per lesson, payable per month in advance or a maximum of £108 per class per group. San Lorenzo, Salta, Argentina,

© Secretaria de Turismo

Delegate’s Reviews• “I was looking for intensive, fast-moving classes in

Spanish in order to move into real communication as fast as possible. Not just tourist stuff with hotels and trains, but really to get to grips with and use the language for business and personal communication. This is the place. Carolina’s classes are small; the pace is lively, intense and adaptable, with fine tuning for the requirements of each student. I have only been learning Spanish about six weeks with Ateneo 21 and I am managing to get through the switchboards of Spanish companies, read stories and newspaper articles and quickly becoming an Almodóvar aficionado.” Robert Freilich, sales director, Finchley, London, 10 June 2007

• "I have worked with Carolina for 6 months and found her an able and adaptable teacher. She has a sound knowledge of the structure of Spanish, is always well prepared and uses a variety of imaginative teaching methods. Her lessons are tailor-made to my particular needs. I have been impressed by the way in which she has practised various skills with me, including speaking, pronunciation and reading, as well as drilling me on certain idiomatic expressions. There is always something new and challenging in her approach and I feel that any student would benefit from a period under her tutelage". Terry Dodsworth, financial journalist, Hampstead, London, 7 October 2008

• "There are many different reasons for learning a new language and what motivates me is conversation. But where do you begin? During my first session on the ‘Breakthrough Spanish’ course, Carolina brought us straight into expressing likes and dislikes and opinions - basically, 50% of any conversation. We were talking already! I knew that I had made the best decision coming to Ateneo 21 and left exhilarated; Carolina has created a relaxed environment for learning with classes of 4 people. The Spanish lessons are broken up with activities that are fun, helping to absorb what is taught at a much quicker pace than in any normal classroom. I can now converse and read and am falling more and more in love with the Spanish language".Aengus Rathbone, Media Technician. Fitzrovia, London. 4th September 2010 Aengus Rathbone, Media Technician. Fitzrovia, London. 4th September 2010

• “Spanish lessons at Ateneo 21 are extremely beneficial and useful for me. The policy of keeping the class size small means that the students have proper opportunities in using and understanding the language during the course, as well as being able to communicate with the teacher constantly. I have a great interest in South America and its culture, and it definitely is a huge benefit for me to be taught by staff who are full of insight and knowledge of the continent. I would like to recommend Ateneo 21 to anyone who is considering learning such a fascinating language in an attentive environment.” Junko Fuwa, art director and journalist, Camden, London, 9 June 2007

Some of our clientsAteneo 21 designed a “Spanish for Current

Affairs” course to train the foreign desk editor to read the Spanish newspapers

published around the world in order to select news stories and brief correspondents

abroad.

This was a semi-intensive course (3 hours per day) aimed to take the delegate to an

advanced level of Spanish in order to have an effective working knowledge of the

language to promote an Argentine related brand in London and conduct business trips

to Argentina.

Ateneo 21 offered an in-company Spanish course to prepare the owner and two

directors to deal more effectively with an increasingly international clientele.

Estancia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, © Secretaria de Turismo

Contact Ateneo 21

• More information on: http://www.ateneo21.com

• Call Carolina on: 020 7837 6578

Polo in the snow , Río Negro, Argentina, © Secretaria de Turismo