Before classes begin at 9 a.m. you may enjoy a light breakfast with fruit, cereal, and various beverages provided by Spanish on the River, along with other goodies that students usually volunteer to share with everybody in the group.  We take a short coffee break each hour.   Lunch is usually around 12:30 and dinner time is at 6:30 p.m.  Every class is taught in Spanish with corresponding translations in the beginning levels.  ONLY Spanish will be spoken in the MASTERING PAST TENSE and ADVANCED CONVERSATION workshops.  Each workshop contains introduction and practice of new language patterns, listening and comprehension exercises, games, etc.

Our advanced workshops extend the focus of earlier courses. Students participating in these workshops already speak Spanish fairly well.  We expect that all our students will noticeably speak Spanish more comfortably and proficiently at the end of the workshops.  The advanced conversation workshops include all tenses and introduce a variety of expressions that are necessary to achieve fluent speech.



Our teachers are university trained and are native speakers of Spanish. They come from different countries and regions, so you can learn subtle differences in language accent and usage.


We find that groups larger than 6 people, particularly in the beginning level,  do not provide  sufficient time for each   student to be actively involved in the learning-to-speak process.   Our teachers are trained to teach the overall group while giving  special attention to students individually.  Every student in our   workshops will have the opportunity to participate in every exercise and receive individual attention during the learning sessions.  Students who for personal choice, decide not to   participate in some drills or are not sure they fit the particular workshop criteria can  audit the program. One can learn so much by listening only.  After all, that is exactly how we acquired our mother tongue.


We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the workshop content and expectations.  Reviewing these materials at home before the workshop will improve your  language experience.  We will make final additions to the workshop content after receiving your enrollment application and deposit. The curriculum will be sent to you via e-mail, fax, or regular mail.



Housing



The workshops are conducted in "La Casa Amarilla" (The Yellow House), which is used exclusively for hosting our workshops. This house has 3 bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a T.V. room and 2 full baths. Weather permitting, learning activities can take place on the generous deck overlooking the McKenzie River. The one-acre property includes 200 feet of riverfront and a large lawn area.



 Student comfort is a primary concern. We always work to meet our students’ preferences and special needs.  Be sure to let us know what your preferences and needs are.  Otherwise, the rooms will be distributed by order of the participants' arrival.

We strongly encourage weekend students to remain overnight. We find that a great deal of learning occurs during the times when students are interacting outside more formal sessions. Also, we have noticed that it is difficult for students who didn’t stay to attain the same rhythm of learning they had the day before.  It seems that when students go to their homes, distractions and daily worries take over. We strongly advise you to remain at the Spanish on the River home, where you can detach from your daily life and open to fully welcome this extraordinary experience.  Of course, we understand there will be times when it is important for a student not to spend the night.  Please let us know your preference in advance.




Yes, there is plenty of space on the property to park an RV.  Just let us know in advance to give you an idea of where you can park.




General Questions


No one is ever too old for our workshops. Fun and learning are not reserved for any particular age group.  We understand that it can be a terrifying idea to “go back to school” after so many years.  We assure you that after attending the workshops you will be happy you did.  The BBC news in 2004 showed the result of a scientific study which declared that learning another language improves our memory for the latter days of one’s life. What a great discovery!  Even if you are not planning to travel to Spanish speaking countries in the near future, let’s learn Spanish to keep our brains young!




Our workshops are always geared to the interests and needs of our students.  When you complete the enrollment application, you can let us know your interests and objectives.  Your answers let us know the style of learning you are looking for.  Some students prefer an intense focus and approach.  Please let us know your learning style preference so we can try to accommodate it in the best possible manner.



That is the intention and goal of our Survival Workshops.  Our approach in this particular workshop is entirely situational.  You will drill repetitively a target dialog for each of the different situations you might encounter while traveling.  Each repetition drill is design to help you get familiar with the speed, inflection and rhythm of the language.  By learning effectively each dialog, you will be able to control your interactions with any Spanish speaker and obtain the answer to your requests.



An easy answer is that they are fun and very effective. There is more than that. At Spanish on the River Workshops you will be immersed in a totally different learning experience. In each workshop you will notice improvement in your listening and speaking ability. You will have the opportunity to interact with your native Spanish teacher; you will meet interesting people who are in the same life path with you towards becoming bilingual. Finally you will eat delicious Mexican food. And all of this happens while in a relaxed environment on a beautiful setting by the McKenzie River.




Yes. Please call Beatriz at 541. 896- O155. She will be pleased to respond to your questions.




We prefer for you to enroll one month prior to the workshop commencement.  The total number of spaces in workshops is a limiting factor. There are minimum numbers for each workshop, too.  So early registration helps.  It can ensure a place in your preferred workshop. And it helps assure folks who have enrolled that there will be enough members in the group to hold the session. Should there be open spots in a workshop, enrollment could occur at any time before the workshop begins.




Cash or checks addressed to Spanish on the River are the methods of payment.  Thank you.




It is an excellent learning event when family members can attend a workshop together.  If children between the ages of 5 and 12 are part of your family group, we take a brake every 30 to 40 minutes of class.  It is important to set aside time in the afternoon for siesta or for play time.  You and your spouse can resume classes while your children are resting. Also, parents are free to join their kids in the afternoon play time.  There is enough space on the property for activities such as fishing, playing ball,  badminton, picnicking or simply resting in the hammocks or going up to the tree house.  Let us know in advanced to make the necessary  arrangements for a family workshop full of fun!