A stay at a language school abroad is an important part of a comprehensive Spanish learning experience.  We believe the value of study abroad is greatly enhanced when the student is able to review and progress after the immersion experience is over.  This requires that the school be using a structured program which progresses beyond what the student learns during a school stay, and that those materials be available to the student when she/he returns home.  We also believe that the opportunity to experience more than one school and location, even during a two-week stay, can make the student's experience more enjoyable and more rewarding.

We are developing a network of schools abroad and in the United States where students can either continue with Platiquemos if they've started on their own or in a class, or begin with Platiquemos and continue either on their own or at another school.  Should you wish to spend time at more than one location on the same trip, the schools will assist you in arranging the transfer so that you can continue where you left off.  [Sorry about the digression, but schools interested in joining the Platiquemos Network are invited to contact us.]  Among benefits to the student are:  a) preparing for the sojourn abroad with the same materials she/he will be using there; b) review and continue to progress with the same program after the stay abroad is over; and c) experience a different school in a different location on the same trip.  One registration includes all the schools in the Platiquemos Network, and the schools will facilitate transfer from school to school, ensuring that the student's progress is not interrupted.

At present we work with schools in Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica who are familiar with the Platiquemos program and are willing to use it with their students. 

The Cuernavaca Language School  Mexico's oldest and most respected language school (since 1960).  CLS uses the Platiquemos program as its primary means of instruction, and has over 40 years of experience with Platiquemos and its predecessor, the Foreign Service Institute Basic Spanish Program.  Cuernavaca is conveniently located, about an hour from Mexico City, and excursions to the many cultural and historic sites in the Mexico City area are available.

Tlatoani Language School  El Tlatoani opened its doors in 2002, and is in Buenavista de Cuellar, a traditonal Mexican pueblo (small town) about an hour beyond Cuernavaca on the road to Acapulco.  El Tlatoani uses Platiquemos as its primary medium of instruction, but offers a very different environment from the other schools in our network.  If you're interested in exposure to a more traditional Mexican lifestyle (in addition to learning the language), El Tlatoani is ideal.

Casa Xelajú Language School  Casa Xelajú is in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala's second city and famed for its delightful climate and variety of cultural and natural points of interest.  In our opinion, Casa Xelajú is one of the best-managed and most professional of the plethora of language schools in Guatemala.  Casa Xelajú offers a special program using Platiquemos as the primary means of instruction.

OLE is in Querétaro, a colonial city a little over 100 miles from Mexico City.   Querétaro is a fascinating colonial city, and close enough to the Mexico City area to take in the many cultural and historic attractions.  OLE is very well managed, and very serious about helping their students really learn.  OLE has an excellent program of instruction, and is willing to work with students using Platiquemos.

Note: To make a permanent registration for all schools in the Platiquemos network (including those to be added in the future), you need to return to our site and register through Platiquemos.  Here is the registration form.  Please bookmark the site to facilitate your registration for the entire network.  Should you initially register for only one of the schools, we can arrange your registration for all of them later, at substantially less cost than registering individually.  If you decide to register directly with one of the schools, please be sure to tell them you learned about them from Platiquemos.

ew count started October 23,2004