SAN DIEGO SPANISH CLASSES * THE SPANISH INSTITUTE

Fantastic experience: "I arrived from Spain two years ago with very little English, but thanks to the effort and support I found at the Spanish Institute, I was able to integrate quickly. A special thanks to my teacher, Monica; I couldn't have done it without her." +1

Fantastic experience: I studied Spanish at The Spanish Institute for almost two years with Professor Monica, and it was a wonderful experience! When I started, I could not speak Spanish. I had one class per week for an hour, and we practiced grammar and a lot of speaking. Professor Monica was always very patient, nice, had very good ideas to practice specific concepts, and made the classes fun and enjoyable. Thanks to her, I can now speak Spanish confidently and understand everything. I am really happy with my progress and highly recommend this school and Professor Monica!

Negative experience: I have already purchased classes and have attempted to reach out multiple times via phone, email, text, WhatsApp, and direct messages, but I have received no response or support at all.

Negative experience: Loved my teacher but this school is very shady. I signed up under a promo rate (1 class a week for $99/month). After a while the other student left the class. Despite being in my class for 7 months I was suddenly put in another class with another teacher & started back at day 1 so I wouldn’t be in a “private” class. They didn’t make an effort to ensure I was at the same level as the other students. When I contacted the school, they canceled my monthly plan without replying to my email. I had to text them to finally get a reply. They have good teachers but HORRIBLE customer support & interactions. Until this week I’ve never needed to communicate with the school in the 7+ months I’ve been a student. Yet in one week I went from a happy student to a former one. Interesting reply from the school, especially since I have all the emails I sent saying I was fine with being in another GROUP class. As a student I am not responsible for maintaining enrollment or ensuring there are other students in my class. If this school can not ensure classes are full that is a reflection of this organization. My job as a student is to log onto the zoom link. I always expected to have other students. The low enrollment is their problem not mine It’s a precarious position this school put itself in by lying on their reply. Libel is illegal and we both reside in California. I have copies of everything. My emails, and this reply should they change it. TLDR: they will not honor any promo rates. If you end up being the only student in your “group” class they will accuse you of “taking private classes and taking advantage of the system” and will move you into the wrong class or cancel your rate so you’ll pay more. Just avoid them. Which is sad cuz they do have good teachers. Alejandra and Daniella were great.

Fantastic experience: I am presently taking private classes from Daniela from the Spanish Institute, and I am so impressed with the quality of instruction. I am a teacher and have taught for 37 year--please trust me when I tell you that Daniela is an absolutely amazing teacher. These classes are with every penny!

Fantastic experience: If you're eager to learn Spanish, look no further than the Spanish Institute! Diego is an outstanding teacher who cultivates a supportive and comfortable learning atmosphere. His lesson plans strike the perfect balance between challenging and enjoyable, making every class a rewarding experience.

Fantastic experience: I just completed a 4 day/16 hour private immersion with Monica. It was a great and unique experience because we used several cities as our classroom. As we toured, there was Spanish conversation and vocabulary growth in real situations. I will always remember el ayuntamiento/city hall and el muelle/ the wharf, because I was there. We toured many venues and each day was different. Inolvidable/ Unforgettable Lorena Cunningham

Fantastic experience: Moni's class is fun, friendly, and always engaging! My girlfriend and I did an hour long class weekly and ejoyed it thoroughly. Our conversations touched on everything from modern Latin American culture to the architecture of ancient structures. We worked with her to structure the class to fit our learning needs and were given a reasonable amount of homework to fill in the blanks. Overall a great experience that I would highly recommend. I can confidently say that I am a much better Spanish speaker for having taken her classes.

Fantastic experience: I had a great experience working with Moni. My Spanish skills have improved tremendously and I couldn’t have done it without her guidance and support. I would definitely recommend ☺️

Fantastic experience: I've been taking private classes with Monica twice a week for over a year now and I absolutely love working with her. She is always super engaging and mixes up my classes to keep me on my toes - sometimes we work on a specific linguistic topic, other times she surprises me with grammar drills, and sometimes we just chat for the whole hour. I'm a super busy professional, so the fact that she's found a way to be flexible around my schedule (I don't always have my books) is so helpful and adds a ton of value. I know that Monica offers a variety of different kinds of classes through The Spanish Institute, so I would recommend her to students at any level, with any language goal. She's the best!!

Fantastic experience: The spanish immersion class with Monika is what I have been looking for from a long time. The one-on-one classes have really helped me so much, it took me to this place in my vocabulary and confidence where it would have taken me forever with Duolingo or another language classes online in only a span of 3 classes. Monika is a really sweet lady and has this beautiful radiant smile all along that keeps the environment of learning so much positive. She is a brilliant teacher! She not only helps you build your language skills, but also helps you gain confidence to face the language and really encourages you to thrive! If you are looking for a Spanish class and a brilliant teacher, look no more!! I recommend Monika for all your spanish language skill learnings hands down!

Fantastic experience: I have been taking online classes with the Spanish institute for about 5 weeks now and I must say, I love it. I was so nervous to sign up for classes because I am very shy about speaking Spanish for fear of not pronouncing things correctly. I have never felt more comfortable speaking Spanish in a group setting like I do in these classes with the Spanish Institute. The class sizes are small, the people I have met are super friendly, encouraging, and funny. Moni is a very caring teacher and genuinely wants to see you excel in speaking Spanish and she too is very encouraging and helpful in correcting your grammar when needed. I look forward to class every week and I love that I get to take them in the comfort of my own home. I would 100% recommend anyone wanting to learn Spanish to give them a try, you won't be disappointed. ~SG

Fantastic experience: I was searching for a Spanish class near my home, but wasn't able to find anything that worked with my schedule. Since the Spanish Institute offers classes over Zoom, I'm able to work with Moni even though we don't live in the same city. It's been a huge benefit to take classes over Zoom because I can practice conversation and work through grammar just as I would in an in-person class, but without a commute and adapted to my work schedule. I highly recommend these classes!

Fantastic experience: Been wanting to refresh my Spanish speaking skills and found the Spanish Institute online. So happy with my class and with the instructor, Moni! I'm in a private one hour zoom session 2x weekly and my Spanish is advancing much quicker than I thought would happen. Learning so much, so fast! Lots of conversation about fun topics. About anything you want really, just to speak. She will help with pronunciation and correct your grammar. With zoom, we can use the chat to see vocabulary spelling, conjugations, etc. Really like this format of learning because it is conversational which is what I need and wanted. Have to speak it to learn it. Give it a try!!

Fantastic experience: Love, love, love this Spanish class and setting. It is now completely online, but this comes with great benefits. First, there are small classes (usually no more than 5 or 6) and a highly dedicated + consistent teacher. There are students from all over the US, but we meet regularly with the same students. In the class we converse with one another only in Spanish and we get to know each others backgrounds, lives, stories, etc and actually become friends with one another. The teacher verbally corrects you as you speak or in the chat, no matter what level you are. I started out knowing very little Spanish, now after 6 months I am talking to people in Spanish every chance I get. The classes are not intimidating and always feels very welcoming. Don't even think about it, sign up online and start learning Spanish at the Spanish Institute asap.

Fantastic experience: Senorita Moni was amazing!! She made class so fun and I enjoyed every class. I learned Spanish so quickly and couldn’t have done it without her. I highly recommend her as she is the best teacher out there!! Moni is truly amazing!!

Fantastic experience: I’ve learned a lot of Spanish grammar and vocabulary from taking a college class and lots of self-study, but when faced with a native Spanish speaker, I really struggled with confidence and actual conversation. Since taking the conversation class with Moni in November, my confidence is much better. I’ve also learned useful conversational structures and expressions, whereas on my first class meeting, I was afraid to open my mouth to speak! I look forward to my conversation class every week, as they are fun and informative. Moni creates a safe space for everybody, no matter what your level is. I feel like I am on a bicycle, and my conversation classes at The Spanish Institute are like my training wheels. I’m inspired to watch even English programs on Netflix with the audio changed to Spanish. This past week I finished two seasons of ‘The Politician,’ watching almost exclusively in Spanish. I’m excited to rewatch it and use the expressions in class. Moni helps a lot in clarifying my usage, tweaking as necessary. I really like it when I learn new idiomatic expressions from her that make me a more creative and native-sounding Spanish speaker. I need to ask her again how to say “eye-popping” next week. ¡Muchas gracias, Moni! ¡Le agradezco mucho a usted!

Fantastic experience: The Spanish Institute conversation groups are wonderful! My skills are improving and I love being able to learn and practice while making new friends. Moni is the best moderator! She gently encourages and quietly corrects, always infusing the experience with her positive energy.

Fantastic experience: I loved my experience, I had a lot of fun with Monica and enjoyed he variety of ways she taught- exercises, conversation, drill, group and solo time. The weekly conversation is so much fun!

Fantastic experience: Monica’s immersion classes via zoom are fun and super challenging. She asks great questions and poses lots of ways for you to express yourself depending on your level. I spoke more Spanish in her 6 week class than I spoke the entire 6 months I studied the language before that. Game changer if you need practice speaking and listening. ~~ gracias Moni

Fantastic experience: I’ve been working with Monica for at least a year now. My Spanish has dramatically improved over that time. I finally feel I have a better understanding of conversational Spanish and my grammar is much better. I’m able to speak using 7-8 verb tenses consistently and I didn’t think that was ever possible. I look forward to each lesson and Monica continually challenges me in new ways. I’m about halfway through my first book written in Spanish and I can understand the majority of a Spanish speaking show on Netflix. None of that would be possible without Monica’s expert help. Best of all, she is easygoing and our lessons are a lot of fun. Estoy tan feliz que yo he descubierto el instituto español!

Fantastic experience: Mi objetivo es poder hacer negocios en español en aproximadamente un año a partir de ahora. La metodología y las clases de Monica y Spanish Institute me ayudan de muchas maneras, una en particular es el enfoque en la gramática y los tiempos verbales como imperfecto, condicional y subjuntivo, y poder usarlos en una conversación.

Fantastic experience: If you want to learn Spanish or build your confidence to speak more, this is THE place to go! My experiences here were unforgettable, and I can't recommend The Spanish Institute enough. Monica is incredibly sweet and a brilliant teacher. I had some knowledge of Spanish from high school, and I expressed to her that I wanted to freshen up my skills before I went on a trip abroad. She personally shapes her classes to best fit your goals and needs. She provides resources to practice grammar in class and at home, as well as opportunities to learn and speak with other students. She gave me that extra push to immerse me into conversations about, well, everything! Monica created an environment that not only allows her students to excel and build confidence, but one that makes you want to keep coming back to class to learn more. I don't regret signing up one bit, and I recommend anyone interested in learning or practicing Spanish to sign up ASAP.

Fantastic experience: When I first started looking for a Spanish course I was drawn to the Spanish Institute*Immersion Classes because of their excellent reviews. When I reached out to set up classes the communication and service was prompt and informative. Moni was also thorough in assessing my needs and helping me understand a good place for us to start based on my existing Spanish skills. I signed up right away! Since starting a couple of months ago, I am able to say and translate phrases much more smooth and accurate. I feel challenged in a good way and can hear the results when I speak in and out of class. I was transitioning to work on advanced grammar in short period of time as well. The classes are always fun and never a dull moment. Lots of laughs and quality learning. I say you look no further and give Spanish Institute*Immersion Classes a try!

Fantastic experience: The primary reasons for me attending The Spanish Institute was the affordable classes and prime location. After completing four months of classes I have increased my fluency, conversation, and overall confidence in the Spanish language. The teachers are friendly, personable, and very passionate about teaching. I highly recommend The Spanish Institute to all skill levels!

Fantastic experience: I am currently enrolled in the on-line offering where through FaceTime I interact with my teacher, Monica. This has so far worked out really great for me as I am out of the area periodically. Monica has been an exacting, highly professional and results oriented teacher. I highly recommend her and the institute! I have fun and am learning Spanish. Great combo.

Negative experience: reviewing carlsbad site only. The teacher Monica was beyond unprofessional and the environment she created was extremely tense. I came from another school in san diego and she was outright hostile to me and the other student. she was completely disengaged. what a downer.

Fantastic experience: The Spanish Institute is as close to an immersion level course as one can get without actually traveling to a Spanish speaking country. I started Jan 2018 in the Basic level Spanish class, which assumes that you possess little to no exposure to the language, though I did have some Spanish from high school. By summer I was able to progress to Monica's lower advanced class. I went from struggling with basic verb tenses and conjugations to being able to speak confidently about food, culture, and even politics and current events in the space of 5 months. I credit two factors for my fairly quick progress. One is that unlike many other language courses that overemphasize grammar and vocabulary, Monica first encourages all her students to speak Spanish as if they were in an immersion environment, even in the basic class. 70-75 percent of class time is devoted exclusively to group discussions in Spanish only, with the rest of the time focused on grammar. I could literally feel my brain rearrange itself after each class, to the point that I would instinctively speak Spanish to my very confused wife when I get home. And the second factor? Monica's classes are fun. So. Much. Fun. Monica creates an open and relaxing environment that has none of the stress of a classroom. My sides hurt as much as my brain did after each class from bouts of uncontrollable laughter (all while communicating exclusively in Spanish might I add). Every language should be taught and modeled after the Spanish Institute's model, with an emphasis on speaking, small class sizes (5-6 people limit to each session), and lots of fun.

Fantastic experience: I can't recommend The Spanish Institute and specifically Monica highly enough. She was amazing!!! I decided kinda last minute that I wanted to do the 15 hour immersion course. By the time Monica and I connected it was already Monday afternoon of the week I wanted to begin. She was super nice and told me I could come the next day. I ended up going Tues, Wed & Thur and asked her if I could come back for my last 2 days in a couple weeks. She graciously accommodated my schedule. That 1st week was so cool. Each day was a different experience and I feel like I learned so much because of it. One day, I was in a class of 3 other students who all were definitely ahead of me; another day I was with 1 other student who was behind me and another day it was just Monica and me and we ended up walking around Carlsbad talking and conjugating verbs. LOL It was all so natural. I felt like I was just hanging out with friends. I would highly recommend Monica. :)

Fantastic experience: The weekend immersion program with Moni was stellar! In all, I had 10 total hours of exclusively speaking Spanish. This experience complemented two years of learning Spanish and was the ideal culmination of total immersion. We had focused conversation along with targeted drill work in the grammar areas that needed enhancement and development. It is without reservation that I recommend this language acquisition program for all levels. In addition, Carlsbad is a beautiful seaside town and swimming and bodysurfing in the ocean was a highlight! Thank you to Moni and The Spanish Institute for a terrific and highly useful experience!!

Fantastic experience: Wonderful experience here taking the 5 day long immersion course with Moni! I came in with zero Spanish knowledge and by the end was able to use complex sentences both in speech and writing! Moni was fabulous, and kept the long 6 hour sessions entertaining, really tailoring the learning and teaching experience to the student! Thank you!

Fantastic experience: I live in Northern California and am happily and successfully learning Spanish with Monica at ‘The Spanish Institute’ (Carlsbad). I have chosen to do this via on-line (Skype) classes interspersed with Immersion Weeks as my schedule permits. The Skype lessons have been a revelation, it is such a relaxing and pleasant way to learn Spanish. I sit at home with my dogs, practicing conversation, conjugating verbs and learning new vocabulary which centers on my work, my family and my interests. My recent 30 hour immersion week has moved my Spanish -receptive and expressive skills on substantially. It was also great fun, I laughed a lot. Monica is phenomenal. She is a skilled, effective teacher, she understands education and her students. She is also incredibly interesting, which helps a lot when you spend 6 hours with someone.

Fantastic experience: A great place to learn Spanish as well as a great place to improve your Spanish if you have taken time off studying or are looking to take your decent Spanish to a higher level. Monica is an amazing teacher ... I have been taking classes off and on for years, and have taken both group and private classes. The small group classes are fun and interactive and the private classes are perfect if you have different schedule or need to focus on specifics for work and or travel or medical Spanish ect... My wife and I have also scheduled private classes together to focus on medical Spanish and those have been extremely helpful as well. I came into The Spanish Institute only knowing a couple of words and quickly felt comfortable in basic phrases , questions, directions, and numbers while traveling. I now feel fully conversational running calls at work and or traveling both in Mexico and Central America and Spain also. I couldn’t recommend it more .... I’ll be continuing to take classes to keep improving my Spanish.

Fantastic experience: I have been taking Spanish group classes with Monica for four months once a week now. It has been a lot of fun learning Spanish from scratch with her guidance. Monica is excellent at getting the class at ease and talking. You never feel, like it is not ok not to know things, but at the same time she will challenge you to learn and use what you have learned to communicate with your fellow classmates. I am loving my experience!

Fantastic experience: I've been taking Spanish classes here for about 2 months, and the whole experience has been truly amazing. For about a year, I had been trying to teach myself Spanish using online websites and other resources, but found my progress lacking. I decided to try The Spanish Institute to take the next step, and the help has been incredible. Working with Monica, I feel immensely more secure in my understanding of the Spanish language and have progressed forward to new heights. The classes are a nice mix of fun while being challenging and helpful, and Monica has been so great about tailoring the classes to the medical profession to help me better communicate with some of my patients. I would highly recommend The Spanish Institute to anyone trying to learn the language. No matter what level you are. This is one of the best ways to learn short of full immersion in a Spanish speaking country. I'm so happy with the amount of progress I've made, and I can't wait to see how far I'll have come in 2 more months!!!!

Fantastic experience: My colleague and I attended the one week intensive program with Monica. I had some previous experience from taking Spanish classes throughout school; however, my colleague had not learned any Spanish previously. Monica did a great job of catering to each of our different levels within the same class! I expected the class to be entirely in the classroom; however, as the three of us all enjoyed walking, we spent a good part of each day walking around the (super cute) town of Carlsbad and along the beach as Monica quizzed us on grammar and vocabulary. By the end of the week, I had remembered most of the grammar that I had learned in school and was able to have almost full conversations with Monica (with her help on the words I didn't know yet), and my colleague had learned the basic grammar and vocabulary. Monica was such a wonderful and fun instructor, and by the end of the week, she was also a good friend. I highly recommend this program!

Fantastic experience: It was a wonderful welcoming! For me as a not speaking Spanish and not native English speaking person it was a great experience and loved to learn with Monica: )) I learned so much in such a short time. THANK YOU so much!

Fantastic experience: I took online private lessons with Monica and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I felt I was able to correct mistakes I make in speaking as well as improve my confidence generally. I highly recommend, you can't beat the price and quality. Thank you Monica!!

Fantastic experience: I love this place! I have learned so much Spanish in my 2+ years going here Yo puedo hablar casi todo en espanol ahora! Monica makes learning lots of fun. The class sizes are always small and a nice mix of conversation and grammar. I have tried other methods of learning Spanish but Monica's classes are by far the best.

Fantastic experience: I took the one week immersion course, followed by a handful of 3 hour private lessons. It was a great experience. My instructor, Monica, did an exceptional job assessing my level and challenging me from there. She was patient, encouraging, and fun. She made it a point to get to know me and teach me Spanish according to my goals and learning style. I would highly recommend the Spanish Institute for anyone interested in learning or improving upon their Spanish.

Fantastic experience: I wasn't sure whether I wanted to take a class at Mira Costa or try The Spanish Institute. I am so glad I chose The Spanish Institute! We get much more conversation practice with our group and Monica is there to correct us. We have fun practicing together and Monica makes us feel comfortable and keeps us going. The second part of each class focuses on grammar (verb tenses, pronouns, etc.) so we learn how to speak correctly. I can't imagine you would be disappointed with The Spanish Institute so my recommendation would be to give it a try!

Fantastic experience: I take classes with Monica once a week, she is wonderful! The class is not like a typical academic course where one scours over text books and passively listens to a grammatical lecture in English. The class sizes are small and they are entirely taught in Spanish (with interjections of English as needed to clarify points). Monica is patient and she works in a way that naturally develops reading & listening comprehension and speaking abilities. Be prepared for an interactive learning environment that challenges the student grow their knowledge and grasp of the Spanish language.

Fantastic experience: I've been a student at The Spanish Institute for about 4 months now and the improvement in my Spanish has been remarkable! The classes are well-structured and Monica is a great instructor. She keeps the class light and fun but at the same time, very focused as she keenly listens to everything said and is good at correcting and explaining. The classes are a mix of conversation and grammar lessons so we learn new things and get to put them to practice. Originally, I had hoped to have private (1:1) lessons but have found the small group setting (~3-4 other students) to be far more effective since one gets to learn from hearing the others build on their Spanish as well!

Fantastic experience: I took a week intensive at the Carlsbad location with instructor Monica. I thoroughly recommend this course. Much of the time was one-one, though there were opportunities for group conversation with other students at my level. Monica was an attentive teacher, well prepared for the classes. My program was the perfect mix of grammatical review, vocabulary, and conversation. I stayed in an air bnb apartment nearby and found Carlsbad to be a great place to locate for the class. My Spanish has improved so much, including needed practice in vocabulary specific to my profession.

Fantastic experience: I really enjoyed the Spanish class with Irma Zender. She is incredible! I came without any Spanish knowledge, and she made me talk from the first lessons. The lessons are very interesting and a lot of fun. I highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: I have never written a review for any product or service before, but the experience I have had here has truly been amazing and has compelled me to share this with whomever may be looking to learn spanish. I have been taking classes at the Spanish Institute for less than 6 months and the progress I have made has been astonishing. It was exactly what I was hoping for. The classes are tailored to your needs, your pace, and filled with encouragement. They make you feel extremely comfortable so you can focus on learning in the way that best suits you. I was looking for something that was interactive and with instant feedback, compared to a traditional classroom setting where you would be bound to the pace of the entire classroom; The Spanish Institute is exactly what I was looking for. This is the best and only way to learn spanish, and the only place to do it is at the Spanish Institute.

Fantastic experience: Over many years, I've taken various Spanish classes, but I have never been able to really speak Spanish. Over the summer, I took several weeks of intensive Spanish classes at the Spanish Institute and am continuing currently. These classes have finally helped me get over the hump so that now I can speak Spanish! Monica is an absolutely fantastic teacher who mixes the classes up with a combination of conversation and grammar. She is always engaging and fun, and doesn't allow any English to be spoken which is perfecto! Gracias Monica and Spanish Institute!

Fantastic experience: My husband and I had a wonderful experience at the Spanish Institute in Carlsbad. Both Monica and Lilly were thoughtful, intelligent and creative in their style of teaching. We found our textbooks to be helpful as well as flashcards. We hope to return for additional training in 2016.

Fantastic experience: My wife and I had a great experience at the Spanish Institute. Our teacher was great! We highly recommend The Spanish Institute. Dave & Jacquie

Fantastic experience: I have been taking Spanish at the Spanish Institute for the past four weeks. I began in March of 2015. In general, it has been a great experience; and my teacher Erma, is very good at making the lessons fun and interesting. Given more time, I would love to join future classes. Best, Danielle Jackson-Grillo

Fantastic experience: I have taken Spanish on and off over the past 10 years using a combination of self-teaching with books and CD's, immersion classes and travel in Spanish speaking countries, and most recently at the Spanish Institute in Carlsbad. I have had 2 previous instructors at the intermediate/advanced level at the institute: one focused mostly on grammar and de-emphasized conversation, and the other did the opposite. My most recent teacher, whom I have now had for 5 weekly 1.5 hour evening lessons, is Irma Zender. Irma provides a refreshing blend of conversation, exercises in speaking and pronunciation, listening comprehension and reading, and grammar. She also adds in interesting cultural information and regional linguistic differences about the language. She mixes things up well and makes the class fun, and she is an advocate of getting students to relax and just speak the language using the tools they know, rather than memorizing words and grammar and doing endless drills in the more traditional manner of language instruction. At first I was concerned that I wasn't learning at the level of my last class, but in the past couple of sessions the pace has been picked up. Irma is a really great teacher.

Fantastic experience: I have been wanting to learn Spanish for a while now and I found the Spanish Institute in my neighborhood so thought I would give it a go. It was a fantastic experience. I had Irma Zender and she threw us right into the Spanish speaking world. I took the six week course and I could see improvements from week to week. We had some homework to do at home and some materials for review. I highly recommend this class at the Spanish Institute if you want to start learning or improve your Spanish.

Fantastic experience: After a week of Spanish Immersion at The Spanish Institute, I was able to interview for a job which required proficiency in Spanish and I got the job! I came into the week without knowing much Spanish but needing to learn for work. I thought it was a long shot that I would be able to speak well after a week, but the instructors made it a reality! The best part was that I had a wonderful time while learning. The instructors are dynamic, skilled, attuned and incredibly supportive. Their commitment to their students is well evident. My friends were shocked and impressed by how much I had improved in just a week. If you want a success story with regard to learning Spanish, go to the Spanish Institute. You can absolutely learn Spanish without leaving the country.

Fantastic experience: After twelve weeks of group lessons in Monica's class, my understanding and speaking of Spanish has greatly improved. She encouraged conversation and corrected misused words and phrases, including explanations about slang expressions. Her teaching style is fun and engaging and I would highly recommend the Spanish Institute for anyone who wants to learn the language.

Fantastic experience: I recently completed a one-week immersion program with The Spanish Institute in Carlsbad and my entire experience was fantastic. I took a basic-level program with Monica as part of my preparation for traveling to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago and it was mi buena suerte that Monica has walked the Camino twice. Apart from that, she quickly figured out my strengths and (many) weaknesses with Spanish and skillfully adapted her vocabulary to match and stretch my level. I progressed as much in a week as in a full semester of community college classes. I’m confident that I will be able to understand and communicate the basics. In addition, Carlsbad was a wonderful setting right on the Pacific Ocean for my immersion week. Everything I needed was a short walk from my hotel, including the Institute. While my family and friends back home in Ohio were shoveling snow and battling single-digit weather, I was practicing my verb conjugations while walking along the beach.

Fantastic experience: My wife and I have spent two weeks at the Spanish Institute and although it is a long haul for us (coming from Tucson) it has been a good experience. We both speak the language reasonably well but are not completely fluent and our Instructor Monica quickly honed in on our weaknesses. With drills mixed with conversation and continued study outside of class we have definitely made some progress. We hope we can make it make back for more.

Positive experience: It's been 20 years since I took Intro to Spanish in college, but I needed to get up to speed due to a new medical job in Southern California. After a week of Intensive Immersion classes with Monica (six hours per day), I was getting compliments on my Spanish by native-speakers. My Spanish is still a bit rough (what else do you expect after only a week?), but I'm confident I could survive without a translator if need be. Monica was also great about drilling me in medical Spanish, in preparation for the new job. She was patient and enthusiastic, and I'll be back.

Fantastic experience: I have been taking classes at the Spanish Institute Carlsbad for 10 months. I love it. When I started I knew very little Spanish, only what I remember from High School...not much. Now I can speak confidently with members of my class as well as native Spanish speakers. I have made good friends with my fellow classmates, we have fun and talk about everything in class. The small class size makes you feel at ease. I travel often to Costa Rica, and my friends there can t believe how fast I have learned. Monica is a very kind, fun, patient, warm, smart, interesting teacher. I would highly recommend The Spanish Institute to any one, any age and level who wants to learn to speak Spanish. Buena Suerte. Darcie