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Student Comments on Online Classes

Dear Friends,

I'm (writing you this) as I know that you either have an interest in improving your Spanish or may know others who do.

I traveled to Cuernavaca, Mexico twice to study Spanish in the past couple of years. It is one of the great centers of Spanish language study in the Americas. Both times I spent part of the time studying with Paulino Velazquez. When I returned home the second time Paulino offered me an interesting option: to continue my studies with him via the internet.

As you are aware, part of the secret to success in learning a language is to practice it so you don't lose what you have acquired and you build further on it. Paulino has provided me with an easy way to do this. Weekly we converse in Spanish through Yahoo instant messenger using microphones plugged into our computers. When I am having trouble understanding a word or phrase or construction, Paulino
can type it and it appears on my screen. This has proved to be both a great discipline for me and also an enjoyable way to spend an hour.

By US standards, Paulino's fees are a great bargain. I pay him once a quarter and this helps me maintain my discipline as well, as I want to do the lessons I have paid for.

If this sounds interesting to you, I invite you to (explore) his website, which is www.SpanishTutorOnLine.com. If you or someone you know would like to hear more about my experiences feel free to call me. Or contact Paulino directly through his website.

I hope you are well and enjoying life.

All the best,

Ira"

Ira Chaleff
9621 Hillridge Drive, Kensington, MD 20895
Phone:  301 933 3752
Author of: The Courageous Follower: Standing up to and for Our Leaders
Lessons of A Revolutionary (www.lessonsofarevolutionary.org)

I have been studying with Paulino Velasco for the past 9 months and have made tremendous progress in my Spanish speaking skills, as well as my oral understanding of Spanish. We work at reading, writing and grammar during the course of our lessons and work at my pace using articles, books and grammar points of interest and importance to me. It is a great way to learn a language. I returned to school in Mexico this summer and my teachers were very surprised that I hadn't "lost" any of my Spanish and had in fact, advanced quite nicely.

I look forward to the lessons and have fun while I am learning.

Sincerely,

Joyce B."

The three months in Mexico with Professor Velasco were very intensive days for me. I was almost always tired after working as a volunteer during the day and went to study at 3 or 4 pm. But the way Paulino introduced Spanish to me was always fresh and interesting. First, I would like to comment on how we proceeded the class, and second, what I can do with Spanish now.

We always began the class reviewing my homework. Most of the time the homework was to make some sentences or compositions using what I learned the day before. He corrected them and I learned a lot from what he corrected, because when I was struggling with the homework alone in my home, the sentences were so awkward and not clear how to construct in Spanish way. Secondly, he did a lecture
(explanation) for the main concept of the day’s topic (for example, “preterito” or “verbo reflexibo”, etc). After I understood the concept, we started exercises in my textbook. The most useful exercises were “preguntas y contestas”. He asked me some questions and I answered by using the new technique. Since I had a difficulty to listen and understand at the same time what people say, it was very challenging, but very effective. At the end of August, I realized that I understood a lot of people’s conversation if they speak slowly and clearly. After the exercises, if we had some time, he let me read lectures (lecturas). All the stories that he wrote by himself and used from students works were very interesting and very effective to learn new vocabularies. Most of the time after reading lectures, we discussed about the issue. I liked the class that we read an article from a newspaper that related to my interested area (education). I learned a lot about Mexican education and problems of government by discussing with him. He also talked about cultural, historical, and social perspectives in Mexico. These were very interesting and impressive for me because I am concerned a lot about the poverty and inequality in Mexico. Thus, 4 hours everyday have gone so quickly.

After 2.5 months classes, I am now able to speak very basic conversation, to write very simple documents, and to read some articles with a help of dictionary. I also learned a lot about Mexican culture, history, society, and politics. I am very content with my improvement and understanding.

It was good that Paulino offered other materials from his own textbook and visual materials. I also preferred more pictures at the beginning to memorize the vocabulary with visual images. But overall, as I said before, I am happy with what I learned in these 2.5 months. I would like to thank to Paulino who taught me very hard with a lot of amusement.

Gracias Paulino!

Yoko Takimoto / Japón / Agosto 12, 2002"

Velasco has been at this for a long time. In addition to teaching you the Spanish language, he often injects tidbits of Mexican culture into the lessons. Having said that, if you are interested in spending a great deal more of your time learning about culture, he is more than willing to accomodate you. In fact, he insists on tailoring his lessons to suit your interests.

Whether you want to study grammar, conversation, culture or even politics, Velasco wants you to feel comfortable with Spanish . . . Real Mexican Spanish.

Ben Martin

Wichita Falls, Texas"

Laura Navidad, September 2005

"Hola Fellow Spanish Students,

In the summer of 2001, when my wife and I were studying onsite in our Cuernavaca, Mexico school, Experiencia, Professor Paulino Velasco and I fell into a discussion of a topic of mutual interest that we discovered we had each been thinking about independently: Developing live online Spanish classes using immersion language philosphy and instant messaging technology and email. This led to our exploring this option upon my return to the United States. This effort was the first effort that we are aware of that utilized live online internet-based Spanish classes in an immersion study format. Our initial classes involved sending weekly email homework to Paulino and his sending back corrected homework complete with added accent marks and corrections in another color. Another facet, was the use of Yahoo Messenger for live chat once a week for an hour. We have since moved on to using live voice through Yahoo Messenger and other similar options. We have live voice based classes with specific emphasis on what we would like to learn or based upon Paulino's recommendations. The classes are always lively and fun. He is an interesting and an engaging conversationalist. We talk about world affairs, cultural issues, and other interests that we share. I also enjoy his sense of humor. What has been helpful is that we do not lose the investment of our in-country immersion experience. Quite the contrary, as these live classes each Sunday morning over the past 4 1/2 years have helped to continue growth in fluency. We also use this time to consult with Paulino on cultural issues related to clients we are working with in mental health treatment.

The use of these online classes is flexible and adaptable to your unique learning needs. We have sent "Lino" many students over the years including a lawyer who studied 3 times a week for two hours a session; an author who was interested in translating a book he had written into Spanish; a university student wanting help with a Spanish literature course he was taking; a psychotherapist who wanted to improve his Spanish to pass a bingual exam for a county mental health department so that he could improve his linguistic competency to provide psychotherapy and case management in Spanish and many more each with their own specific learning needs.

We look forward to many more enjoyable Sunday mornings with Lino!"

~Charley Hodson, MSW, LCSW
Director, AVENTURAS: Educational Travel Adventures (www.LanguageAmigos.com)
Adjunct Faculty, San José State University, School of Social Work

"Dear Prospective Students,

This is a very unusual offering since most language programs consist of a batch of cd’s or tapes or a computer program with the process of learning consisting of memorization and mimicking the sound of words and phrases. With this packet of lessons the student actually converses with the professor in Spanish thereby actually learning to use the language from the beginning of the first lesson. This type of lesson allows for very rapid learning to actually speak and understand the language changing the process from a sterile process of memorization to an exciting process of communication." ~Morris Ford, Student, 2005-2006