don Quijote: Methodology

don Quijote methodology incorporates the use of interactive teaching principals based on learning by practice. Emphasing conversation as well as grammar, reading, listening and writing...

Grammar is one of the building blocks of a language and is essential to the continuous interaction between teacher and student. Don Quijote has refined the communicative teaching method continuously through years of experience and constantly evaluating and applying student suggestions.

A successful implementation of the interactive method depends completely on the personal attention the teacher is able to give to you. A group never consists of more than eight students in all intensive and Super Intensive courses. The school determines the make-up of the group according to the students' abilities. The first day of the course begins with an oral and written test. If you are a beginner you will start directly in a beginners group.

The lessons at the don Quijote schools are lively and varied. In class, teachers make use of overhead projectors, video and other audiovisual materials. To ensure that the lessons are as practical as possible, the instructors use newspaper articles and they teach you how to conduct a telephone conversation in Spanish. Films and documentaries will also be viewed, songs will be listened to and menus read. In addition, you will give talks and take part in role-play situations.

On the first Monday you are expected at school at eight o'clock. As a beginner (a third of the students are beginners so you are not the only one) you will start lessons immediately. You will notice that by the end of the lessons, you will already be able to speak a little Spanish. If you already have some knowledge of the Spanish language you will take a level test first so that you can be classified at the right learning level. The lessons then start immediately afterwards.

Each day you have a minimum of four lessons with a half hour break. A class lasts approximately 50 minutes. The class schedule can be either in the morning or the afternoon. This depends upon various circumstances (current number of groups, the level of the student etc.) and will be determined on your first course day.

	Morning	Afternoon
Class	9am - 10:45am	3pm - 4:45pm
Break	30 min.	30 min.
Class	11:15am - 1pm	5:15pm - 7pm

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