Prerequisites: Must be completing grades 9-12 and have at least one year of high school Spanish or equivalent. Academic Information: School: Centro Intercultural de Queretaro Curriculum: Spanish Grammar, Conversation, and Culture. Classes are taught Monday-Friday, 4 hours a day, by teachers who hold advanced degrees in teaching Spanish to foreigners. Classes are with other program participants and are broken up by skill level. Academic Credit: Students receive 40 hours of classroom credit on their transcript which they can use to petition for up to 4 hours of college credit. Centro Intercultural de Queretaro: The center is located in the heart of Querétaro's Historical Center, surrounded by a number of cafes, art galleries, museums, shops and internet cafes. Classes are held in a typical colonial building with a beautiful patio. The Centro incorporates a communicative approach to language learning in an ambiance of continuous contact with the language and culture of México. They maintain a very low student to teacher ratio with no more than 10 students per class to ensure that students receive personal attention. As part of the daily classes, students will go on various excursions throughout the city to practice their Spanish under the guidance of Mexican teachers. Students will have access to the library/study room facilities as well as computers at school. The school also helps provide optional cultural activities in the afternoons that students may participate in such as theater outings, local festivals, cooking classes, etc. Homestay Family: The homestay families are carefully selected by the housing coordinator at Centro Intercultural as well as screened by SPI. The families are well experienced in hosting foreign students and are committed to help in learning the language, serving you excellent Mexican food, and adopting you into their way of life. Remember that families come in all shapes and sizes and an open mind to try new things is important!   In Queretaro, your homestay family will provide you with 3 meals a day and all homes have and use purified drinking water at all times.

Summer 1&2 Day 1 Depart USA for Queretaro.  Arrive Queretaro and meet your homestay family.  Enjoy your first evening at home getting to know your new 'familia.' Day 2 After breakfast with your homestay family, meet the group for your orientation tour around Queretaro.  We will visit many of the sites, parks, and landmarks around the city's historic center.  We'll finish the day off with a fiesta at Centro Intercultural with your other group members and new teachers.  Enjoy an evening Sunday stroll around one of Queretaro's many plazas with your homestay family. Day 3 Classes Begin.  Each morning you will have 2 hours of classroom instruction and 2 hours in the field using your Spanish on various local excursions with your Mexican teachers.  Afternoon activities will include art classes, salsa lessons, outings to local theater events, markets, movies, sports, etc. Days 4-7 Regular Classes & Afternoon Activities.  The people of Querétaro love music, food and sports - all of which you will find in the city's many park areas. Bring your soccer or volleyball with you and you will soon make new friends. Day 8 Full Day Excursion to Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende.  Explore the history and enchantment of colonial Mexico's finest cities along the Ruta de Independencia (Independence Route).  Day 9 Enjoy a relaxing Sunday with your homestay family.  This afternoon we will soak up some sun and rest our feet at Queretaro's exclusive country club swimming pool. Days 10-14 Regular Classes & Afternoon Activities.  As your Spanish improves this week we will travel to El Bernal, only an hour away from Queretaro, to visit one of the tallest peaks in all of Mexico.  Continue your Spanish education by enjoying afternoon activities such as shopping for handicrafts and art at the local markets, meeting with local students for a social mixer at an outdoor cafe, and sharpening your salsa skills! Day 14 Enjoy your final evening in Queretaro.  At night have a final fiesta with your group and homestay family.  Remember to pack your bags for your early flight back home. Day 15 Buen viaje!  Depart Queretaro with wonderful memories of Mexico and your new friends.

Derryl Lee New Tech HS, Coppell, TX