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I'm looking for some information on any schools in Mexico City.

Also, I'm trying to decide between Chac-Mool, Anders and Uinter in Cuernavaca. I really like the sound of the Chac-Mool methodologies, which involves role-play, simulations, conversation, etc. Any input would be appreciated.

I went to Chac-Mool in October and had a great experience. In the summer there are around 150 students on 2 campuses, I was told. But the rest of the year, there are only between 5 and 15 students at any time. I loved the personal attention I got there. After classes, several of the teachers would usually go out with us in the evenings, and on weekends they would travel with us on day trips. That really helped us not to give in to the temptation to speak English in the evenings and on weekends, and I appreciated always having someone with me who knew the city.

My host family was wonderful and they lived very close to the school. The school itself is beautiful. What you see on their Web site is really what it looks like. Classes are outside in "palapas." The teachers were all very competent, and they did a good job of tailoring the instruction to what worked best for the students. In the morning the focus was on grammar, and in the afternoon it was on conversation. They used a lot of different teaching techniques and sometimes took us on outings around the city, like to the market or a museum.

I don't think you would be disappointed if you went to this school. Although I haven't been to any other schools in Cuernavaca, I really did a lot of research before I settled on Chac-Mool, and I think it paid off. Of course, it depends on exactly what you're looking for. I plan to go back again in October and stay with the same family.

I hope this helps you make your decision. If you want to know anything else about the school, let me know. Have a great trip!

Thanks. I am hearing a lot of good things about the school. So you took group classes? A lot of people say that taking all private one-on-one classes is the way to go (if you are willing to pay a bit more).

I like the idea of the teachers going out with you.

What were the ages of the students when you went in October?

I took group classes at Chac-Mool, though I did consider individual classes. There were only 2-4 (usually 2) other students in my classes, though. I have taken individual classes at another school before, but I wouldn't recommend them at this school because they are expensive and, in my opinion, not necessary. There's enough personalized attention that you'll get the same benefits of individual lessons in a group setting. You might want to try the small-group classes before you make a decision. Individual classes, even if you are very motivated, can be exhausting, and I don't think there's much of an advantage to them really. For me anyway, I find it hard to come up with things to talk about with the same person after spending so many hours with them.

Even though there weren't many students at the school in October, they came from several different countries and were different ages, from 23 to in their 60s. Most were in their 20s and early 30s, though. I still keep in touch with several of the students, one of the teachers and my host family through Facebook. I have a lot of great memories from that trip and I made some really good friends while I was there. With so few students most of the year, I suppose it's a gamble as to who you end up with, but I was really lucky and met some amazing people who all really enjoyed each other's company. I hope you have the same experience!

Do you plan to live with a host family? (I think mine was the best!) When are you planning to go to Cuernavaca, and for how long? If you're interested in other recommendations about what to see in Cuernavaca and weekend trips, let me know.

I recently joined Facebook actually. I don't use it much yet. Seems like a great way to keep in touch though.

I keep hearing varying strong opinions on small groups (2-4) versus private. I don't know what to do now.

I really like my independence, so I'm more likely to shy away from living with a host family. But one of the things that attracted me to Chac-Mool is that you can live in a family's guesthouse (with your own private entrance) and come and go as you please. That's probably what I'll do. Is that what you did?

>> If you're interested in other recommendations about what >> to see in Cuernavaca and weekend trips, let me know.

I am. What have you got?

My advice would be not to stress about the individual versus group approach. You can try the group approach at first, but you don't have to commit to it. Just see if it fits your needs. If it does, great, you'll save some money. If you think you'd prefer individual classes, I know the people at the school will work with you to make sure you get what you want. Just talk with them. One of my classes was a bit too advanced for me, so I talked with one of the administrators and the next day I was in a different class more on my level. Another option would be to take group classes in the morning and individual classes in the afternoon. But try the group classes first. You might like them!

One thing that might influence your decision is your current level. If you're just starting out and know little to no Spanish, that would be the one case where individual lessons might be worth the extra money.

I'd strongly suggest living with a host family because that's where you really get to practice what you learn at the school. I'm also a very independent person who needs private time every day. I had my own bedroom with a connected bathroom in my host family's house, so I could just shut the door whenever I needed to get away for a while, and no one bothered me. But I really enjoyed the interaction with them at meal times and in the evenings, and I could come and go as I pleased. They were very laid-back. They only asked that I give them the courtesy of knowing ahead of time if I wasn't going to be "home" for a meal. But if you are set on something more private, there are little apartments you can rent, and you can opt to just have meals with a family.

In Cuernavaca, I would suggest you visit Las Mananitas (if just for drinks). It's truly amazing. Another little restaurant I liked was La Gringa. Ask someone at the school about it. Los Arcos is a very popular hangout at night. There's always live music and it's right by the Zocalo. Be sure to see the Zocalo at night. It's a totally different experience than what you see during the day. Don't miss El Museo Casa de Robert Brady if you like art. El Jardin Borda is also a beautiful, tranquil place to spend an afternoon. Don't miss the art there, either. I would recommend going to the market at least once. I'd suggest having a teacher take you because it can be a bit overwhelming at first. And there's another really good art museum not far from there, but I can't remember the name of it at the moment. Your teacher will probably take you there, too.

As for weekend day trips, I went to Taxco, which is a quaint Spanish colonial city built on a hill that is known for its silver shops. You can get some great deals on handmade jewelry there. Another interesting place is Tepoztlan, which many people describe as "mystical." It's a hippie town, really, but the big attraction is a pyramid built on top of a mountain. It takes about an hour and a half to climb, but it's definitely worth the effort. Bring good shoes, though! And reward yourself with a "nieve" (ice cream) afterwards at Tepoznieves, which has hundreds of flavors. I really enjoyed Xochimilco near Mexico City. It's kind of like the Mexican version of Venice. You get on a gondola for a couple of hours, enjoy a drink and listen to mariachi bands performing as they float past. Afterwards, go to Mexico City's Zocalo and see the Cathedral and the impressive government buildings. If you like ruins, you can check out Xochicalco and Teotihuacan. At Teotihuacan, do not miss one of the most amazing restaurants I've ever been to called La Gruta. It's inside a cave and you'll get to see dancers from all around Mexico perform in traditional dress. It's pricey, but absolutely worth every peso!

That's what I did during my 3 weeks. When I go back, I want to spend more time in Taxco and Mexico City. I also would like to do a longer trip to Guanajuato. I hope this helps! :-)

What was your schedule like at Chac-Mool? Do you think I should just eat breakfast and lunch with my host family, and keep dinnertime free for going out with teachers and students? Or did everyone just usually meet up after dinner with their host families? Is it easy to hail a cab or walk to the nightlife from your lodging?

Do you think it would be nice to stay in a private room at the school? What are the pros and cons versus a guesthouse with a family, or the apartments you mentioned? What is your level of Spanish.

What other schools / Spanish-speaking countries have you been to? I was also thinking about Mexico City at some point. The school I am looking at is the Frida Spanish School. I doubt it's as good as Chac-Mool, but the area is probably better for immersion. There aren't many schools in Mexico City that I am aware of.

OK, that's probably enough questions for this email. Sorry. Too much coffee today.

Here's the daily schedule: http://www.chac-mool.com/program.html

Most students have all their meals with a family, which is the most economical option, so I would suggest you do that unless you don't mind eating out by yourself. Plus, it's just easier. Occasionally, though, we made plans to eat out for dinner. The meal schedule is different than what we're used to in the U.S. Breakfast is at 8:00, then at noon there's a 20-minute break in classes. You'll be able to buy a snack at the school at that time. Lunch is around 3:00 and is the big meal of the day. After that, I usually took a siesta. :-) Dinner is around 8:00. People don't usually go out until 9:00 or 10:00.

It is extremely easy to get a cab at any time of the day or night in Cuernavaca. Just look at them and they'll stop. I've never seen so many cabs! Don't pay more than 25-30 pesos to go anywhere in the city, and Mexicans don't tip cab drivers. I either walked or took cabs unless I was going on a longer trip, in which case I would take the bus. Buses in Mexico, by the way, are far nicer than the ones in the U.S.

I could be wrong, but I don't think the school has its own lodging for students. If they do, it's on the campus that they don't use for classes during the off-season. I'd really recommend staying with a family or in a guesthouse. I can recommend the family I stayed with (with guesthouses nearby if you just want to have your meals with them), but I'd rather not post it here. Is there a way to send that information privately?

My level of Spanish is advanced. I learned a lot of the grammar in high school, but wasn't able to speak the language until I went to an immersion school in Quito, Ecuador, a year and a half ago. I'm convinced immersion is the best way to really become fluent.

After seeing Mexico City, I would absolutely NOT want to go to a school there. It's dirty, crowded and not very safe. Visit, yes. But as a solo traveler, I felt very safe in Cuernavaca and it was a big enough city that I had a lot of options so that I was never bored. And if you go any time other than the summer, you probably won't hear much, if any, English spoken there.

When are you planning to go to Mexico and for how long?

I just attempted to send you a private message with my email address.

I second Taxco. Theres a language school there too, but I don't know about the quality.

If you want private lessons, or need them, run to Quetzaltenango in guatemala or Antiqua. Its much cheaper there.

all the ideas about travel are good, and yes, language schools in Mexico city definitely is a life challenge, or can be. The good news is that if you find a good school, you can be lost without Spanish very quickly and as a result, learn faster. Also, its a really great city to live in for a while, if you like really big cities.

Yeah, I think I'll give Frida Spanish School in DF a try. (If anyone has tried it please let me know.)

There won't be much English spoken and I hear good things about the city.