First Day at Instituto Cervantes Manila Learning Español

August 20, 2009 | By TheBachelorGirl In Blubbering Gibberish |

The increase of Spanish speaking readers in my other blog, A Twilight Kiss, prompted me to enroll in twice a week night classes to learn Español at the respected Instituto Cervantes in Manila.

Our first class on 18 August 2009 already had the thirteen students speaking in Spanish in mock conversations of faux first time meetings, greetings, introductions and farewells. Our teacher, who requested us to call her Señora Trini, spoke in Spanish half of the time. Truly, it was not a tepid toe in the water type of experience but a plunge in the deep end.

Señora Trini encouraged us to dive headlong into the waters of speaking Español and to just laugh at our mistakes. ‘Venga,’ she would cry out encouragingly.

it is terrifying, truth be told, but also exhilarating. And, tonight, we start learning verbs, which is a complicated business in the Spanish language.

Nouns are easy, but verbs are tough. Pilipino just adds “ay kumakain” whether to ako, ikaw, siya, tayo, kayo, or sila (I, you, he/she, we, you-plural, or they). However, Spanish has at least 16 different verb forms, plus progressive tenses and imperatives.

¡Venga!

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15 Comments so far

  1. doomstrik on September 6th, 2009

    hi, im planning to enroll at instituto cervantes,

    is the beginner course gives you a lot of spanish things?

    thanks

  2. TheBachelorGirl on September 6th, 2009

    Hi doomstrik. Yes, the course will immediately plunge into Spanish on the first day. You will learn a lot. :)

  3. doomstrik on September 9th, 2009

    hi again,
    thanks for the reply

    im confused with the courses

    there are three choices
    intensive, semi-intensive, & extensive programs,
    im only available on saturdays, is it okay if im going to choose the extensive program?

    thanks again

  4. doomstrik on September 9th, 2009

    i mean, can i still learn lots of the Spanish language with just once a week? :)

  5. TheBachelorGirl on September 9th, 2009

    Hola doomstrik. Yes, of course you’ll learn. The only difference among the three is the length of time. It will just take you longer to finish the course, but, it doesn’t mean you’ll get “less.” It’s the same number of lessons and using the same curriculum, which are standardized. I really suggest you call the Instituto at 526-1482, since they are more qualified to answer your concerns. Hasta luego (see you soon)!

  6. doomstrik on September 10th, 2009

    woah, gracias muy bien…

    now im beginning to get excited. ^^

  7. sam on September 17th, 2009

    Hi!
    Are you enrolled already? I had my Course 1 over. It’s cool and comprehensive…

    Good luck.

    :)

  8. toni on October 21st, 2009

    me too, i want to learn spanish language. is the conversation class different from the usual beginners class? or do they integrate some conversation class in the beginners class?

  9. TheBachelorGirl on October 22nd, 2009

    Hi Toni. The beginners classes will have you in several Spanish conversations during the very first meeting. :)

  10. toni on October 23rd, 2009

    uhmmm… i have just enrolled in the institute and i wasn’t able to see where the rooms are located. hehehe.. and may i ask, in case i wasn’t able to attend one of my class, am i allowed to enter into another class to compensate for the class i have missed. and if i feel like repeating or advancing a class am i still allowed to enter another class with a different schedule?

  11. TheBachelorGirl on October 24th, 2009

    Hola Toni. In general, only under special situations will students be allowed to attend another class to make up, such as in the aftermath of Ondoy. Please ask Ronald in the administration office regarding any other concern. :)

  12. Andrei on January 13th, 2010

    Hi,

    This will really be helpful. I will be enrolling a week after next and I hope I will have more fun than difficulty learning a new language. Thanks!

  13. Andrei on January 13th, 2010

    But I have a question though. How do I go to Instituto from if I drop off from United Nations Station? Do I need to ride a jeeney or can I take a long walk from there?

  14. TheBachelorGirl on January 13th, 2010

    Hello Andrei. That’s great. And, there’s no need to take a jeep. Simply walk towards the Masagana store at the corner. If it has rained heavily, there might be slight flooding, in which case, you can ride a pedicab to avoid immersing your feet in water. Have fun!

  15. Instituto Cervantes- Manila, Académica on February 3rd, 2010

    ¡Hola a todos!

    Hello everyone!

    Instituto Cervantes de Manila is pleased to know that you are spreading the word about learning Spanish on the blogsphere!

    For those who have any inquiries, you may visit the website at manila.cervantes.es , or become a member of the official Instituto Cervantes Facebook group to receive updates on both academic and cultural events:

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=250519383077&ref=ts

    Gracias, BachelorGirl. ¡Esperemos verte en el centro!

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