About Our School
Academia Falcon was founded in 1988 by Jorge Barroso who,
prior to pioneering Spanish language and Mexican culture
instruction in Guanajuato, taught at a local
university. Jorge decided to open his own language
school after spending four years studying in Oregon.
Wanting to replicate
the hospitality he had experienced as a foreign
student abroad, he founded Academia Falcon to provide a
much needed service to both local and foreign students and to
make a contribution to the global community. The school contributes locally by providing career training and employment opportunities for many people and internationally
with the exchange of cultural understanding. The success of Academia Falcon in these endeavors
can be
seen in
the number of satisfied students who return year
after year.
Our school is located just outside the center of town, in Guanajuato's most beautiful neighborhood "La Presa”. It occupies the houses and gardens of a former private estate
and provides a relaxed atmosphere and fun learning environment for our students.
The new classroom and dormitory building has stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Our Teaching Method
We believe it is imperative to use all four basic language skills when learning a new language: reading, speaking, writing, and listening. We use a wide variety of
study aids to practice and hone these skills. Instead of routine drills, students learn grammar by telling stories, discussing newspaper articles, and making short presentations. We teach in many different ways
and always focus on the students' needs.
Our individual approach to teaching is the result of
many years of experience. Jorge Barroso, our director, taught at a local university
for 19 years before founding the Academia Falcon; and
this experience taught him that the personal approach is
always the most effective. This is why we limit our intensive program classes to 5 students--so
that all can participate actively in the learning process.
For intermediate and advanced students, we also offer
many courses
on subjects such as Mexican politics, history,
and literature. We
also organize educational field trips including visits to museums, city
attractions, and spectacles of nature. The aim is to have fun while learning Spanish and local history and legends.
Our teaching method is defined and outlined in our own grammar and conversation
textbooks, which have been specially designed to
meet the needs of intermediate students. For beginners and advanced students we
only use the textbook as a supplement.
Our Instructors
All of our instructors are university graduates and have
been given special training in Spanish language
instruction. Most have studied other languages
and have degrees in various fields including Mexican
history, literature, law, international trade, tourism,
education, and economics.
Teacher training is an on-going process at
Academia Falcon, and we hold regular classes on
methodology and meetings to discuss how we can continue to improve the quality of our instruction.
Community Involvement
Unlike other schools, where students
remain isolated from the Mexican community, we
go out of our way to acquaint students with
local people. We often make a special effort to
introduce foreign students to locals who share
similar interests. For example, we hold a weekly conversation
exchange (intercambio). This bilingual workshop
gives foreign and Mexican students the chance to meet
up and chat. Throughout the week, and
particularly at weekends, we organize excursions, hikes, parties, games, and free movies.
Scholarships
We grant scholarships to students who are planning
to study for a long period of time, as well as to
returning students. In the last three years we have granted over $30,000 worth of scholarships. Please
inquire for details. |
