Instituto Cultural Oaxaca
Good for: Learning Spanish, Learning Spanish and traveling, All levels of Spanish, Fast learning, Great teachers
- Address
- Juárez 909 North of City Center
- Website
- Phone
- tel, info: 951 515 34 04
- Price
- main program per 1/2/3/4 weeks US$160/US$265/US$365/US$465
Lonely Planet review for Instituto Cultural Oaxaca
ICO's popular seven-hour-a-day program includes intercambios and workshops in arts, crafts and culture; many classes are held in the school's spacious gardens and terraces. There's a US$55 registration fee.
Traveller reviews for Instituto Cultural Oaxaca (6)
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Innovative language learning in Oaxaca!
escocia111 recommends this,
Good for: Learning Spanish and traveling
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Would not recommend this language school
travelbites does not recommend this,
I have not been impressed with my ICO experience. The group classes are run for periods of 4-5 weeks at a time, so when you start your class you join a class that is already running. Inevitably there are students at different levels in the class, and in my case we were going very slowly for several weeks because of a student who was not at the same level of competence. I thought it would be OK with smallish groups, but when you have up to 10 students in a class, this can become very onerous. Several other students have complained to me that they didn't really learn anything in their group classes due to the structure of the course (and they left ICO for other schools) - while this was not my experience I feel I should pass on this feedback.
A couple of other things I don't like about ICO - they are closely involved with EnVia and every few days during classes shove the trips down your throat, trying to get more people involved (ie more money). This also goes for their weekend excursions, which they flog at every opportunity. They are not cheap - and in fact it's cheaper to do the same trip independently in most cases, so after a week or two it becomes tiresome.
On top of that I have not found them to be all that flexible with changes to classes etc. On their website (and in correspondence) they tell you that you can pay in advance for classes and take them whenever you want to, but in practice that is not the case. I have taken a few days here and there to do some sightseeing and have been told essentially that as it was my choice not to come to class on those days, those days are forfeit. If you give them advance notice that you want to take a week off though, they can apparently accommodate that, but I certainly don't have that kind of time.
Overall I get the strong feeling that ICO is just a money-making venture and will bleed you every opportunity they get. They're not so concerned with the quality of teaching or learning and not at all flexible if you are not happy with the way things are going. I find it incredible that they won't start a new class for a few students but will provide a class with iPad 2's as a learning tool - seriously, I can't afford to buy an iPad and they have boxes of them. I am really sorry that I chose ICO. It had been recommended to me, but my experience and that of several other of my classmates, has been disappointing. I certainly don't feel like I have learned as much as I should have in the time and with the money I have spent and I regret that very much.
On the other hand I have heard very positive reviews of Amigos del Sol - who do private lessons and very small classes - and Ollin Tlahtoalli, which also does private lessons. They are more expensive, but in hindsight I wish I had spent less time on more intensive study and gotten better value.
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Excellent Teachers, Accommodating Staff, Beautiful Location
kevin1393 recommends this,
After 6 months in Mexico, much of which has been spent taking classes at ICO, I can offer the school my full recommendation. The teachers are superb. Most offer tailored curriculum that includes a mixture of conversation, activities, games, grammar lessons, and oral and written exercises. The support staff is also very committed. They have been willing to accommodate my needs and requests (changing a class level, requesting a specific teacher, etc.). The grounds of the school are gorgeous - I almost feel back in Cambridge, UK, as I lean back against the trees (albeit, palms) with my intercambio.
I recommend any aspiring language-learner in Oaxaca visit ICO and decide if its the right fit for them. For me, it was, and continues to be.
Good for: Learning Spanish
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I loved my time here – the teachers are incredible!
sammiewattson recommends this,
The teachers are actively engaged in your learning, figuring out your strengths and weakness, and then helping you succeed. I left class everyday not only filled with new vocabulary, a deeper knowledge of Mexican culture, and a head hurting from all of the information, but also with a better understanding of the language.
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The best language school out of 4 that I've attended.
shelleytennyson recommends this,
For me, the approach of this school is the best! I teach English as a second language at a university in Mexico, and I plan to incorporate some of the lesson ideas into my teaching. The curriculum weaves a mixture of the superbly rich Oaxacan culture with grammar and vocabulary. It was an intellectual challenge to understand the diversity of Mexican politics and character through authentic readings by Mexican authors. The teachers were all very intelligent, patient, and enthusiastic, and I found myself having the most amazing conversations in Spanish with them and my classmates. I was studying at a more advanced level, but my friends at beginning levels were also very pleased with the program.
Good for: All levels of Spanish, Fast learning, Great teachers
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I loved my classes at the ICO! Excellent teachers!
travele recommends this,
I took classes off and on for 9 months at the ICO, and I really loved it. I was very impressed with all of my teachers during that time, and having studies several languages in many places, I can say that some of the ICO teachers were among the best I´ve had anywhere.
The school also offers a ton of extras - an intercambio with a local students, dancing, cooking, Day of the Dead mask-making classes - that really help with practicing the language and getting a much richer sense of the culture of Oaxaca. They also support a great non-profit anti-poverty organization that is based at the school, and host other responsible tourism events like chocolate fairs.
I highly recommend this school to anyone who both serious about learning Spanish, and who wants to take advantage of everything Oaxaca has to offer!
Good for: Groups, Families, students, a good steak, Learning Spanish, cultural exchange, language learning, people traveling alone, nonprofits, responsible tourism
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