Learn Spanish while backpacking in Mexico at the Yablo Language School in Mexico City
Posted: February 28, 2024 | Tagged: Mexico
Nomadic Backpacker Goes Back to School
Learning Spanish while backpacking in Mexico at the Yablo Language School in Mexico City.
Yablo is a language school in Mexico City that specialises in teaching both Spanish and English; Spanish for foreigners and English for the locals. They have teachers from Mexico, the US and the UK.
Since I left school in 1984, I did 2 years of French in the early 90s at Bletchley College and 3 months of German in 2002. In 2007 I did 2 weeks of French at a Language School in Biarritz, France.
French was always tough for me. I could speak fairly well but always had a hard time understanding what was being said to me though I can survive in Francophone countries.
German I found, much easier. I spent 16 seasons working in Switzerland.
I could speak confidently. I even had a German woman think I was Swiss which for me was a huge compliment.
I spoke Hoch Deutsch with a Swiss accent with a few words of Swiss German in various dialects that I had picked up, thrown in for good measure.
Going back to the subject of learning Spanish, I had already dabbled with a very popular language app. It was good for learning words and a few phrases.
Learning words was easy. But it didn't teach you grammar, it didn't give you exposure to different accents or everyday Spanish or the Spanish spoken here in Mexico. Yeah, it is not the same.
I needed to go back to school.
With Miss CDMX, I discussed the various available options. In-person or online.
I wanted to be taught in person, where my teacher could see my progress or lack of it and set me straight. I needed a teacher who could see when I hadn't understood. And I am prone to having lots of questions. I needed the human aspect.
I needed someone who knew how to teach Spanish. I didn't just want someone who thought they could teach Spanish just because it was their mother tongue.
Miss CDMX had seen an advertising board:
Learn Spanish ¡Ahorita! at the Yablo Language School in Rome Norte, Mexico City.
Since I left school in 1984, I did 2 years of French in the early 90s at Bletchley College and 3 months of German in 2002. In 2007 I did 2 weeks of French at a Language School in Biarritz, France.
French was always tough for me. I could speak fairly well but always had a hard time understanding what was being said to me though I can survive in Francophone countries.
German I found, much easier. I spent 16 seasons working in Switzerland.
I could speak confidently. I even had a German woman think I was Swiss which for me was a huge compliment.
I spoke Hoch Deutsch with a Swiss accent with a few words of Swiss German in various dialects that I had picked up, thrown in for good measure.
Going back to the subject of learning Spanish, I had already dabbled with a very popular language app. It was good for learning words and a few phrases.
Learning words was easy. But it didn't teach you grammar, it didn't give you exposure to different accents or everyday Spanish or the Spanish spoken here in Mexico. Yeah, it is not the same.
I needed to go back to school.
With Miss CDMX, I discussed the various available options. In-person or online.
I wanted to be taught in person, where my teacher could see my progress or lack of it and set me straight. I needed a teacher who could see when I hadn't understood. And I am prone to having lots of questions. I needed the human aspect.
I needed someone who knew how to teach Spanish. I didn't just want someone who thought they could teach Spanish just because it was their mother tongue.
Miss CDMX had seen an advertising board:
Learn Spanish ¡Ahorita! at the Yablo Language School in Rome Norte, Mexico City.
"Ahorita" is a Spanish word which means later, sometime soon or maybe never. And yeah, this word was extremely apt for my wavering reluctance to start learning Spanish, properly.
So after our 2-week vacation in Zipolite, we contacted Yablo, and arranged a meeting where we could discuss my requirements and Ximena, one of the partners at Yablo who ended up tutoring me for the first 4 weeks, could asses my ability or lack of.
So after our 2-week vacation in Zipolite, we contacted Yablo, and arranged a meeting where we could discuss my requirements and Ximena, one of the partners at Yablo who ended up tutoring me for the first 4 weeks, could asses my ability or lack of.
Yes, I had a fairly good vocabulary for a beginner but my grammar was almost non-existent and I had no confidence to even attempt to utter the few short sentences I had mastered in secrecy.
I was a few points off being a complete novice.
Kitted-out with material for going back to school at the Yablo Language School in Mexico City:
I was a few points off being a complete novice.
Kitted-out with material for going back to school at the Yablo Language School in Mexico City:
With Yablo, I wouldn't have to wait until the beginning of a new term, they do a range of intensive classes to suit the student.
I committed myself to 2 weeks, to see how it went. I would attend classes for 3 hours a day from Monday to Thursday and Fridays were given to culture immersion.
Then I did a week of one on one.
In the 3rd week, I started doing just 2 days a week with plenty of self-study at home. You need to put the work in.
I committed myself to 2 weeks, to see how it went. I would attend classes for 3 hours a day from Monday to Thursday and Fridays were given to culture immersion.
Then I did a week of one on one.
In the 3rd week, I started doing just 2 days a week with plenty of self-study at home. You need to put the work in.
I supplemented learning at the Yablo Language School, with a fantastic app called EllaVerbs.
It starts off with regular verbs and then eases you gently into the crazy world of irregular verbs.
As the weeks progressed, I found myself being able to use the extra verbs I had learned in my own time, in the classroom to good effect.
Some days, I was happy with my progress but some days I'd go home feeling I hadn't understood a thing but Ximena and her business partner Tomas, were very understanding and supportive, suggesting various podcasts that could be beneficial.
We were using Aula internacional Plus. And I signed up for Google Classroom and we'd get sent the unit for the next week, which I got printed at OfficeMax at just 1.5 pesos per page.
As the weeks progressed, I found myself being able to use the extra verbs I had learned in my own time, in the classroom to good effect.
Some days, I was happy with my progress but some days I'd go home feeling I hadn't understood a thing but Ximena and her business partner Tomas, were very understanding and supportive, suggesting various podcasts that could be beneficial.
We were using Aula internacional Plus. And I signed up for Google Classroom and we'd get sent the unit for the next week, which I got printed at OfficeMax at just 1.5 pesos per page.
Nomadic Backpacker at the Yablo Language School in Mexico City:
Fridays were given to experiencing Mexican Culture. Here we are on my first #CulturalFriday at the Biblioteca de México:
At a small fondita at the Mercado de San Juan:
Sampling a mezcal laced with scorpion at the Mercado de San Juan:
Every Friday, a different venue. The Museo de Arte Moderno, the Museo del Templo Mejor, the Museo de Franz Mayer, and the Museo del Objeto.
At the Museo de Arte Moderno, in front of "Las Dos Fridas", a double self-portrait oil painting:
At the Museo de Arte Moderno, in front of "Las Dos Fridas", a double self-portrait oil painting:
Students and teachers from the Yablo Language School at the Museo del Templo Mayor in CDMX:
Contact details:
Yablo
Colima 220, Interior 301
Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc
Mexico City
06700
General inquiries:
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +52 56 5117 2161
Website: https://www.yablo.mx/
Yablo
Colima 220, Interior 301
Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc
Mexico City
06700
General inquiries:
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +52 56 5117 2161
Website: https://www.yablo.mx/
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