The School - Llama Education - Spanish classes in Arequipa, Peru

We are in the Footprint South American Handbook 2010 Pga. 1369- Peru/Arequipa Listings:

"Recommended LLAMA EDUCATION, Casabella A- 6 Cerro colorado. Professional, with personal attention, owner Maria Huaman is very helpful. Individual and small group tuition, home stays and cultural exchanges."

Llama Education - The School

Language school lessons

In order to give optimal attention to each pupil, Llama Education teaches in small groups. Students can choose either one-to-one tuition (which is recommended) or to learn with another student. The maximum number of students we will teach in a group is six as this allows for more rapid progress in learning Spanish. The main language for tuition of students is Spanish but, if necessary, explanations will be given in English. The books that Llama Education uses to help students explore the language include information about Peruvian culture, history and customs.

The standard program consists of four hours of lessons from Monday to Friday. Two hours in the morning from 9am - 11am which include learning the theory of the language (e.g. tenses and grammar rules) with a specialist teacher, and a further two hours from 3pm - 5pm taken with practical study. The practice sessions are conducted by a second (different) teacher who helps students to apply what they learned in the morning session by engaging them in conversations about Peruvian life, including history, cooking, and culture. Some practice sessions may take place, if the student wishes, outside of the school. The classes last for the full two hours.

If students prefer to study for a block of 4 hours either in the morning or the afternoon to allow more time for sightseeing this can also be arranged.

Cultural Exchange from Arequipa to Cusco

In this package students can combine their studies in two Peruvian cities, Arequipa, and Cusco the imperial capital of the Incas.

Students study for 4 weeks (2 weeks in each city) and gain a certificate from the Peruvian Ministry of Education. Language Center in Cusco is one of the city's oldest and finest institutions with over 14 years experience in teaching Spanish.

This package includes:

Accommodation and meals with the founder family in Arequipa plus 4 hours of daily classes. Whilst in Cusco students stay with a local family who provide accommodation (including private bathroom) plus 3 meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students receive 4 hours of lessons a day. This offer is available to a group of up to 4 students at $780 per person.

This intensive program lasts for 4 weeks and is the latest addition to our range of Spanish courses.

In this program students spend 3 weeks in Arequipa studying for a total of 70 hours, and then 8 days and 7 nights in Manu. Whilst in Manu students take 2 hours of Spanish lessons each day. In total there are 80 hours of classes.

A teacher from Llama Education, who is familiar with Manu, travels with the student(s) and also acts as a guide to the area.

We work with one of the best Manu tour operators - Atalya Peru. Their owner, Magdalena Ruiz, will also be in contact with your chosen Spanish teacher during your stay there to ensure that you are happy with your experience.

Maria, the school’s owner, may also travel with the group to supervise arrangements and to ensure that you settle comfortably into your new environment.

We are in Footprint South Ameriacan Handbook 2010 Pga. 1369- Peru/Arequipa Listings

The instructors

Llama Education is a regular participant in language teaching training courses and is currently completing a Master's course to obtain a degree as a teacher of foreign languages at the Iberoamericana University of Spain. We are sure students will warm to Llama Eduction immediately.

Like the school´s founder, Maria, teachers is sensitive to the needs of each student, and understands personal differences in ability. Maria can tailor the material presented so as to enable each person to learn Spanish effectively in as little time as possible.

The courses are interactive and personalised -- tailored to suit the requirements of each student. Course material will be determined by the level, experience, and interests of our students.

All of our teachers have a lot of experience iteaching Spanish to foreign students. We encourage students to practice the language to help build confidence and develop fluency; focusing upon grammar and writing skills.

The courses are interactive and personalised - tailored to suit the requirements of each student. Course material will be determined by the level, experience and interests of our students.

VIEW OUR TEACHER PROFILES

Chistabel Chavez Alvarez

Lic. Educación - lawyer
UCSM - Arequipa - TELF Teacher - Spanish
Years Teaching: 3 years
Countries Taught: England, Holland, France, and Germany

Miguel Villanueva Coaguila

Educación
UCSM - Arequipa - TELF Teacher
Years Teaching: 5 years
Countries Taught: Peru

Patricia Bellido Zamudio

Enfermeria
UCSM - Arequipa - TELF Teacher - English -Spanish
Years Teaching: 10 years
Countries Taught: England, Holland, France, Israel, and USA

Roy Zenteno Bouroncle

Bachelor industrial Engineering
UCSM - Arequipa Professor of Physics and English
Years Teaching: 5 years
Countries Taught: USA

Accommodation in Arequipa

Llama Education understands that the decision to live on another continent and study another language and culture is a big step, even if just for a few weeks or a month. For this reason, we emphasise cultural interaction in terms of the accommodation in which students stay.

While learning Spanish in Peru, students can choose to live in hotels, hostels or furnished rooms. However, it is recommended that they choose a live-in package, staying with a local Peruvian family specially selected to match the students´ needs and interests. This arrangement helps students to adjust to a new culture and language in the comfort and safety of a home-like environment. It also gives students ample opportunity to talk with their family and to put into practise what they are learning in their lessons.

Staying with Llama Education´s founders

For students who wish to have a bit more privacy and comfort it is possible to stay for a period of time with the founder of Llama Education, Maria Huaman, who is Peruvian and who leads the school.

Students reside in comfortable bedrooms on the third floor of the Huaman’s home in a secure, gated neighborhood in Cerro Colorado, a 10 minute taxi drive from the Main Square. Students have their own student lounge offering all modern conveniences such as internet access, a cable television and a library. Both student bedrooms have their own bathroom with hot water and a private balcony with their own hammock in which they can enjoy the sun. Meals feature traditional Peruvian cuisine, but Maria is also used to accommodating special diets such as vegetarian. While staying with the Huamans, many students improve their language skills by conversing with Maria´s two daughters, Diana (9) and Sonja (7).

Staying with a Local Peruvian family

For students who already speak some Spanish it is possible to stay with a Peruvian family. You live with a friendly middle class family and are welcomed into their home as part of the family. You have your own bedroom, but the other rooms are shared with the family, the bathroom has hot water.

The Salina - Meza family live in the pretty and urbanized Yanahuara district of Arequipa, just minutes from the city center by taxi. Supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, and banks are in close proximity to the family home. The parents are Electronic engineer and they have son one daughters (16) and boy (12).

The Meza- Romero Family live in the pretty and urbanized Yanahuara district of Arequipa, 10 minutes from the city center by taxi or by safe city buses (which pass directly by the house). Supermarkets, restaurants, shops, and banks are all within walking distance of the family home. They are farmers and have a daughter who lives with them, as well as two granddaughters.

Our accommodations are located in the best urban areas of Arequipa: Umacollo, Yanahuara, Cayma, and Cercado (downtown). The types of accommodations available include:

Staying in Llama Education’s city centre apartments

In March 2006 we acquired a new residence in downtown Arequipa - just minutes away from the city center – and very close to the Cathedral and the Main Square which enables us to offer more individual and group courses for students. Students can choose to either have their lessons in the apartment if they wish or to go daily to the main school 10 minutes from the city centre – (it is easy and cheap to take either a bus or taxi to the school).

The apartment is very comfortable with 2 bedrooms, a large dining room, lounge, kitchen and bathroom with hot water. Meals can be taken in the apartment and students are also free to use the facilities to cater for themselves. The apartment is in a secure block and is very quiet – an ideal place for studying! The lounge is equipped with a television and a CD player for students to use whilst relaxing. The apartment is very centrally located, just a 5 minute walk from the Main Square and close to shops, museums, restaurants, internet cafes, tour agencies and the main city centre supermarket.

Your choice of accommodation

We accommodate all of our students in the type of accommodation they prefer, whether that is with a family, in a city centre apartment, hostel or hotel. Simply tell us which option you prefer and we will arrange this for you.

Why Arequipa

Arequipa is located in the foothills of the Western Andes. It is surrounded by spectacular volcanoes, the most famous of which, Misti Volcano (5821 m), is a symbol of the city that can be clearly seen from Llama Education, and is flanked by two other volcanoes: Chachani volcano (6075 m) and Pichupichu Volcano (5425 m). Arequipa is known as “the White City” because the white colour of the sillar (a volcanic stone used in many colonial buildings). It is the capital of the present-day Department of Arequipa, founded by the Spaniard Garcí Manuel de Carbajal on 15 August 1540. The originality and variety of the landscapes (impressive volcanoes, terraces, valleys and canyons), pre-Hispanic traditions and art, the mild climate, the great food and the impressive ecclesiastical as well as civil colonial heritage, make the city and its surrounding regions one of the most attractive touristic centres in Peru.

The urban layout of the city follows the traditional square pattern which the Spanish introduced to America, organised around the Plaza de Armas from where the main roads begin. The colonial buildings in the city were initially made of adobe and straw which were destroyed by an earthquake which affected this region in the seventeenth century. The reconstruction of ancient buildings, as well as the construction of new ones, was performed with white volcanic rocks referred to as sillar (ashlar), which is very common in the area due to the eruptions of the enormous volcanoes surrounding Arequipa. The malleability of the volcanic material provided the builders in the region with dense, abundant decoration for the façades of the buildings.

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The city contains several monuments from its colonial past: convents, churches, monasteries and large private homes, all of which are a clear reflection of the Spanish presence. However, the city also reveals evidence of its original mestizo influence and mestizo Baroque art. In 2000, its centre was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List on account of its beauty and harmonious mingling of European and indigenous architectural traditions.

As one of South America’s safest and most attractive cities with 300 days of sunshine a year, Arequipa is an excellent place to study Spanish. Peruvian Spanish is among the clearest and easiest to understand in the Americas and many Peruvians consider the country’s best Spanish to be spoken in Arequipa. As an important commercial and cultural centre, Arequipa offers students the opportunity to practice Spanish in a variety of settings. In addition, Arequipa is well located for students who wish to continue their travels to the Sacred Valley and Puno, or to Bolivia and Chile.

Health and safety in Peru

Unfortunately, some parts of South America have gained a bad reputation in the media where safety is concerned. While it is true that there are some parts of cities in Peru that are as dangerous as the worst parts of New York, London or Amsterdam, crime is limited for the most part to minor robbery and pick pocketing and there is little threat of any violence. By taking sensible precautions, adverse situations can be avoided. Arequipa is generally a very safe city for students to walk around alone.

During the introductory "getting to know each other" day, Llama Education provides a full briefing on how to avoid any safety issues. However, should an incident occur, there is always a 24-hour support service available from Maria. This support is also available for any health issues that may arise during your stay in Peru.

Price Information

You may pay in U.S. dollars or in Peruvian soles (using the day’s exchange rate for exchanging soles for dollars – “compra.”)

Note ** Only Spanish Lessons - Groups of 4 or 6

We will open group courses for Misti and Chachani level, two week duration on the following dates:

Extra costs

SPANISH AT THE BEACH (“VAMOS A LA PLAYA”)

COST US $ 290

Price includes:

Notes

Opportunities for Interaction with Peruvian culture

In order to progress in Spanish whilst learning its theory, Llama Education can arrange for students to have the opportunity to practice their language skills whilst taking part in activities with the local people.

1. Dance classes

Between 5 and 6pm each Tuesday and Thursday, students can take salsa dance lessons in an authentic Peruvian dance school. Fellow dancers include not just other students, but local people who only speak Spanish.

2. Free cooking lessons

Between 2 and 3 pm each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, students can watch and even help your Peruvian cook (Maria) prepare a meal in a traditional kitchen. This Peruvian chef will share some very tasty Peruvian recipes, such as Lomo Saltado, Palta Rellena, Estofado de Pollo and the very typical Arequipenan dish, Rocoto Relleno.

Llama Education
Spanish in Arequipa
Casabella, lote A6
Cerro Colorado
Arequipa - Perú
Tel:	(+51) 054 274069
Mobile:	(+51) 054 95 9 289895
E-mail:	info@arequipaspanish.com