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SMALL GROUPS
Max. 8 students per group
BASE's Spanish program has truly small groups, a maximum of 8 students, and consists of the following levels: preliminar, básico, intermedio, avanzado.
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Your Spanish classes
The curriculum for your Spanish
study in Boston Area Spanish Exchange draws from a number of resources,
allowing for personalized learning, and will be guided loosely by a
textbook that is used over the span of the small-group program, from
introductory to conversational, encouraging as much independent study
as possible outside the classroom, enabling us to focus on the
contextualization of what is being studied, by introducing the material
and vocabulary into speaking/listening and reading/writing skills
practice.
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Communicative classroom
Your Spanish classes with BASE are communicative, meaning: what you learn is in context, which is how one naturally learns any language as a child. This is a practical, perfomance-based, results-oriented method.
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Personalized learning
Spanish acquisition is different for adults, and some structure is
necessary, but the method in which our students learn the necessary
structure cannot be uniform. For example, Bill loves grammar and is a
"grammar guru"; he loves to learn, analyze and teach it, but every
student/group has particular needs, just as every teacher has his or
her particular style, strengths/weaknesses, and not everyone loves to
analyze and learn grammatical structures as he does. Sometimes the
learning of structure needs to be very subtle, or in cases in which
some language students simply reject structure, language learning must
be approached from different angles and in a personalized manner.
Your classes are personalized,
not only in terms of style, but content. For example, if you need
theme-based learning for your profession, or just a crash-course, or
maintaining your conversational level and improving, the curriculum is
designed to fit your needs.
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Small-group Compatibility
There will be small groups of no more than eight students
in order to maximize genuine oral production (speaking) and
conversational skills in Spanish, while continuing to maintain an
affordable cost for tuition, motivating Spanish language learning in
the Boston area.
The right group
You will be placed in a group with students whose needs, personalities,
interests, learning styles and schedules are compatible with yours.
Some students' needs change or have different learning style, and these
points are taken into account in order to continually evaluate
small-groups' compatibility and adjust them when necessary.
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Free No-commitment Assessment
Fill out BASE's Registration and do the writing sample or Assessment on the Registration. You can also contact us
in order to schedule a no-commitment initial meeting, including a 20-30
minute conversation in Spanish, to determine your Spanish-learning
needs and the most appropriate group for you.
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Invite-a-friend-FREE! continues! Register for Spanish classes with BASE and invite a friend free. Find out more.
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The main BASE program has a
duration ranging from four to twelve courses depending on the
intensity: four Intensive courses, seven Semi-intensive courses, or
twelve Weekly courses. The names of the levels are references of
structural knowledge and proficiency in order to maximize small-group
compatibility and conversational opportunities:
- Básico - The
foundation ("la base" in Spanish) is set at this level in order to
break down inhibitions and fears of actually using Spanish. You will
learn to be able to use a great deal of practical vocabulary and how to
ask and answer questions. You will be able to use greetings and
introductions, get by in a restaurant or café, describe your and
others activities, and identify and describe people and things, express
likes and dislikes, describe emotions, request information, talk about
schedules and holidays, and give directions. In a communicative
context, there will be a focus on cognate identification, agreement,
regular and irregular verbs in the present tense; there will be a brief
overview of verb forms.
- Intermedio - You will build upon your previously-gained
knowledge of the Spanish language with gaining fluency with describing
daily routines, your plans, past events and times (e.g. your
childhood), giving advice/recommendations, and an introduction to
idiomatic usage. All of this builds on structure developed in the
contexts of various lexical groups ranging from exercise, to historic
and current events.
- Avanzado/Conversacional - Having already acquired
fluidity, this level has the objective of maintaining the level you
have acquired, as well as reaching a fluent conversational level. With
more confidence and a broader range of skills further complexities in
the Spanish language are learned in the contexts of students'
particular interests, as well as culture. Students will be able to
express opinions in not only real-life contexts, but also in
hypothetical contexts. As with in the Intermediate level, you may
personalize your learning further with a particular non-program
elective, such as film, music, phonetics, grammar, literature, current
events, etc.
- Culture courses - Students at an intermediate or advanced
level can take advantage of further opportunities to maintain and
improve their Spanish with BASE's
Culture courses.
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Tuition
Course tuition varies depending on the intensity and schedule. Find out more.
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For "Preliminar" through "Avanzado"
levels, Boston Area Spanish Exchange, BASE, maximizes personalization
by guiding learning loosely through use of Heinle & Heinle's "Tú Dirás" (3rd edition).
The text comes with unique audio
CD's following a natural learning method and of cultural interest to
Spanish learners. Another unique aspect of "Tú Dirás" is
the solid recycling of activities, not merely building on previously
learned points, but also reviewing them in a variety of interesting
ideas. The text can be purchased through BASE for $100+, and also can be
purchased on the internet assuring that you purchase a 3rd edition copy
(ISBN #0-8384-2505-4). If you are unable to purchase a text, contact us
to discuss alternatives.
The following websites are not affiliated with BASE. You may find a good copy of the textbook at a discount (as low as $3) on these sites:
(ISBN #0-8384-2505-4)
BooksAse.com
www.alibris.com
www.cheapesttextbooks.com
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
Conversational levels, as well as other classes do not follow the above-mentioned text and draw materials from various resources. Contact us if you have questions.
Find out about: Our program | Class schedules | Tuition (new page)
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See the BASE Course schedule for next session and contact us to let us know what your availability is.
Can't find a schedule right for you? You're not alone; there could be a group compatible with your needs arranged at a time good for you. Contact us to let us know what your availability is.
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Flexibility: Learn Spanish in classes in Boston with BASE at your
convenience. Small-group compatibilty for your Spanish study is the
highest priority in our school. "Compatibility" refers to taking into
account your needs, skills, interests, goals, and schedule. As opposed
to conforming your Spanish classes in Boston to your school's needs,
your free assessment gives BASE the tools needed, so that you can study
Spanish based on your needs.
Schedules are available in the evening Monday through
Thursday, or Saturday mornings with one (Weekly program), two
(Semi-intensive program) or four (Intensive program) classes per week.
If you are unable to commit to a small-group schedule, consider private classes alone, or with one, or two other Spanish students.
Classes can start at 5:30 pm or 7:15 Monday through Thursday, and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.
Small-group Spanish classes meet for 1.5 or 3 hours and may study from:
- 5:30 to 7pm or
- 7:15 - 8:45pm or
- 5:45 - 8:45 Mon thru Thurs,
- 10am - 1pm on Saturdays (w/ a break)
Friday and day schedules are in low demand, but may be arranged upon request.
Culture and Conversation
In addition to these classes you will be able to select from a number
of electives with varying durations, intensities, class-sizes, levels,
etc., a few of which may be phonetics, grammar, reading, among others,
or Spanish for specific purposes, such as medical, legal or business
Spanish; these additional classes further personalize your learning and
may be taken singularly or in combination with your program. Find out more.
Free no-commitment assessment
Contact us to learn more about your
Spanish classes and/or set up a no-commitment initial meeting,
including a brief conversation in Spanish (20-30 min.) in order to
determine your Spanish-learning needs. We can also discuss the best
schedule, intensity and group available for you to have your classes.
Invite-a-friend-FREE! opportunity! Find out more.
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Private classes, one-to-one, or up
to three students with similar needs and learning styles. Dates and
schedules for private classes are determined according to your
convenience.
Contact us to
learn more about your Spanish classes and/or set up a no-commitment
initial meeting, including a brief conversation in Spanish (20-30 min.)
in order to determine your Spanish-learning needs. We can also discuss
the most convenient, and comfortable time and intensity for you to have
your classes.
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