in-person group classes

If you are interested in taking a group class, please fill out the new student form and we will get in touch to schedule an assessment to determine your level and get you on a waiting list for the next course. Our next course will begin the second week of February, 2025. Current students have the priority to continue in their current group to the next level (usually the same day & time) before we invite new students to join those groups. Thank you for your interest!

Courses are organized in 9-week sessions, meeting once per week for 1 hour 15 minutes. Tuition is $350, which includes 11.25 hours of in-person teaching, extra practice and resources every week, and attendance at one of our Saturday coffee & conversation groups or another social event during your course dates (this is a $15 credit and it expires after your last class).

upcoming classes

beginning 1

Designed for true beginners who have never studied Spanish or took very limited Spanish in high school or college (0-1 semesters).

-Grammar: Pronunciation, question & sentence structure, subject pronouns, definite & indefinite articles, gender and number agreement between article/noun/adjective, regular present tense, and the irregular verbs ser, estar, and haber.

-Vocabulary: Greetings & Farewells, interrogative words, descriptive adjectives, emotions, colors, numbers up to 60, days, months, seasons, telling time, basic locations.

Beginning 1 - Self-paced online course

For students who cannot get into a group conversation class at this time due to schedule conflicts or the class being full, we offer a self-paced online Beginning 1 Spanish course. The course is designed to last at least 8 weeks, but some students may finish it more quickly and others more slowly. The course includes eight lessons with the following materials: A vocabulary list for each lesson, a video for each concept, a worksheet and answer key for each lesson, and extra resources to practice each lesson. You can find more details and sign up information here.

Beginning II

Designed for those who have had very limited exposure to Spanish, such as 1 semester in high school or college.

-Grammar: Reviews regular present tense, more in-depth practice with uses of ser, estar, haber, and an introduction to irregular verbs gustar, tener & ir, and an introduction to the near future tense.

-Vocabulary: More regular verbs, common nouns for hobbies & interests, descriptions, immediate family, more locations, adjectives & special tener expressions.

High BEginning I

Designed for those who have had very limited exposure to Spanish, such as 1-2 semester(s) in high school or college.

-Grammar: More practice with present tense (including regular & irregular verbs), irregular yo forms, stem-changing verbs, indirect object pronouns, & more verbs like gustar.

-Vocabulary: Food & drink, irregular stem-changing verbs related to food & cooking, numbers up to 101, weather & body parts & sickness.

High Beginning II

Designed for those who have had very limited exposure to Spanish, such as 2 semesters in high school or college.

-Grammar: Continue working on regular & going more in-depth with irregular present tense verbs, gustar-type verbs (reviewing indirect object pronouns), reflexives, direct object pronouns, and present progressive. Introduction to equal & unequal comparisons, saber vs. conocer, and por vs. para.

-Vocabulary: Extended family, hobbies, colors, materials, clothing for shopping, numbers up to 1000, footwear, accessories, stores & products.

Intermediate I

Designed for those who have had 2-3 semesters of high school or college Spanish.

-Grammar: An introduction to the past tenses (preterit & imperfect). First half of the course focuses on the imperfect tense and the second half of the course focuses on the preterit tense, including the irregular verbs ir, ser, dar & ver.

-Vocabulary: Childhood activities, city, holidays & celebrations.

Intermediate II

Designed for those who have had 3-4 semesters of high school or college Spanish.

-Grammar: A continuation of Intermediate I, we continue learning the past tenses (preterit & imperfect). Review of the imperfect tense & its uses. More in-depth study of the preterit tense, including the uses and an introduction to rules for stem-changing verbs, irregular yo forms, and "basement" verbs. We also start using direct object pronouns & reflexive pronouns in the past tenses.

-Vocabulary: City & directions, more food & drink, socializing & leisure, nature & the outdoors & reflexive verbs.

Intermediate III

Designed for those who have had 4+ semesters of high school or college Spanish.

-Grammar: A continuation of Intermediate II we continue working on the past tenses, with a particular focus on the most irregular forms of the preterit tense (stem-changing verbs & other irregular forms). We also go into more specific & tricky situations of when to use the preterit vs. the imperfect.

-Vocabulary: House, chores & indoor activities, high school & college, everyday activities & important life events, and describing people’s physical traits and personalities.

Intermediate IV

Designed for those who have had 5+ semesters of high school or college Spanish.

-Grammar: Intermediate IV is the final course which focuses entirely on the preterit & imperfect tenses. Students should feel confident with the uses and conjugations for both tenses and just need more practice using them in conversation. We will review and practice the uses of ser and estar, specifically in the context of the past tenses, practice describing trips that students have taken in the past and asking follow-up questions, and learn the accidental “se” construction.

-Vocabulary: Review of ser and common adjectives for physical & personality descriptions, review of estar with emotions, conditions, and locations, more advanced adjectives for describing places, common verbs & nouns for accidents or unintentional actions.

High Intermediate I

Designed for those who have had 6+ semesters of high school or college Spanish. This level is ideal for those who are very comfortable with present, past and simple future tenses.

Grammar:  Review of the present progressive and introduction to the past progressive, the present perfect & the uses of past participles. Thorough review of reflexive, direct and indirect object pronouns in context with these tenses.

Vocabulary: Hobbies & leisure, reflexive verbs, gardening and plants, reviewing kitchen & cooking, emotions, conditions & status, body & sickness, film & television.

High Intermediate II

Designed for those who have had 6+ semesters of high school or college Spanish. This level is ideal for those who are very comfortable with present, past and simple future tenses.

Grammar:  This course focuses on informal & formal commands. Thorough review of reflexive, direct and indirect object pronouns, and how to use them with positive & negative commands. Introduction to double-object pronouns (reflexive & direct object pronouns and indirect & direct object pronouns) with commands.

Vocabulary: Family, stress & remedies, health & well-being, house & chores, clothing & style, city, prepositions & directions.

Advanced I

Designed for those who have had 7+ semesters of high school or college Spanish. Students should be comfortable with present, near future, present & past progressive, present perfect, and commands before taking this course.

Grammar: This course focuses entirely on the subjunctive mood. We review what the subjunctive mood is, how verbs are conjugated, and when to use it.

Vocabulary: Descriptions, Verbs like gustar, emotions, cinema & theater, seasonal activities, verbs of doubt & certainty & impersonal expressions.

Advanced 2

Designed for those who have had 8+ semesters of high school or college Spanish.

Grammar: This course picks up where Advanced 1 left off, focusing on more complicated situations with the subjunctive (including adjective clauses, relative clauses, and time conjunctions).

Vocabulary: More complicated uses of ser & estar, advanced cooking terms & kitchen supplies, leadership, nature, the environment, and the 21st century.

High Advanced 1

Designed for those who have had 9+ semesters of high school and college Spanish. This level is ideal for those who are very comfortable with all tenses, including the present subjunctive, but need more conversation practice to improve fluency.

Grammar: This course picks up where the Advanced 2 course left off, introducing the past subjunctive mood and its uses. We’ll also focus on “if” clauses, which require a thorough review of many tenses, including present indicative, preterit, imperfect, future, conditional, and past subjunctive.

Vocabulary: Students are asked to come up with conversation topics and vocabulary units of interest.

High Advanced Topics

Designed for those who have had 10+ semesters of high school and college Spanish. This level is ideal for those who are very comfortable with all tenses, but need more conversation practice to improve fluency.

Grammar: This course format changes on a rotating basis, but it is 100% in Spanish and focuses on conversation, culture and improving your fluency, advanced grammar, and vocabulary.

Vocabulary: Students are asked to come up with conversation topics and vocabulary units of interest.

about us

Class options & Sign Up

fill out the form below for new student below to let us know that you are interested in classes. We’ll get in touch promptly to schedule an assessment and talk more about class options.

Social Events

We have hosted a number of social events, including cooking nights, happy hours, game nights, coffee & conversation, as well as holiday parties over the years. We are starting to ramp up our social calendar, so check out the offerings for upcoming social events and sign up today!

CONTACT US

(512) 297-9594

hello@languagehouseatx.com

4411 Avenue B

Austin, Texas 78751

Please fill out the new student form so that we can schedule a level assessment and get you signed up for classes!

Oaxaca, Mexico immersion

Upcoming trips:

March 15-23, 2025: (full) intermediate - Advanced level students

May 24 - May 31, 2025 (5 spots left): Intermediate -Advanced Level students

May 31 - June 8: Beginning 2 (4 spots left)- Intermediate 1 Level Students

Our 8-day, 8-night immersion programs provide you with a unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the Spanish language and Mexican culture in the breathtaking city of Oaxaca, Mexico! Discover the vibrant charm of Oaxaca, where colorful streets meet rich traditions. We’ll visit gorgeous neighborhoods, eat world-class cuisine, and explore bustling markets filled with artisanal treasures. From its historic center to its lush valleys, Oaxaca offers an unforgettable blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. You’ll take three hours of Spanish class every morning (M-F) with local teachers, while enjoying cultural visits to markets, museums, and city landmarks in the afternoons. A local expert will take us on two full-day guided trips to explore the neighboring towns, visit several markets, see artisan’s workshops up close, and eat in unique restaurants. Each trip is capped at 10 students so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice your Spanish with the other students and the two Language House teachers leading the trip. You can enjoy breakfast each morning at our beautiful hotel before walking to the nearby language school. We’ll have lunch together every day and most dinners are included, as well as a cooking class and a mezcal tasting. We hope you’ll join us for this unforgettable experience in Oaxaca!

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Oaxaca & Welcome Meeting, Dinner Together

Upon arrival in Oaxaca on Saturday, everyone will take local transportation and meet at our hotel. You'll have some time to get settled in and refreshed before we have our orientation meeting over drinks and dinner together in the evening.

Day 2: Full-Day Guided Visit to Tlacolula de Matamoros, Santa María el Tule & Teotitlán del Valle

On this full-day excursion, we’ll begin with Tlacolula de Matamoros, a small village about 20 minutes outside of Oaxaca. We’ll start the visit with the chapel of the “Lord of Tlacolula” and the bustling Sunday market. Next we’ll head to Teotitlán del Valle, where we’ll visit weaver Jacobo Mendoza Ruiz’s workshop, see a full demonstration of natural dying and weaving and have the opportunity to buy masterpieces, made with fine wool and natural dyes. We’ll have lunch in a Zapotec restaurant famous for its Prehispanic food. Finally, we will visit the biggest tree in the world, the giant tree of Santa María el “Tule”, before returning to Oaxaca, where you’ll be free to rest and have dinner on your own.

Day 3: Classes Begin! Lunch, Walking Tour, Dinner

Today you’ll start your Spanish classes! We’ll walk from the hotel to the school and then let the learning begin! After class, we’ll have lunch together and then a walking tour of the top spots to see in the city, including the main pedestrian street, Macedonio Alcalá, Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the Zócalo, Cathedral of Oaxaca, and Mercado Benito Juárez. You can walk back to the hotel with us or explore the market on your own. We end the day with dinner together.

Day 4: Visit the Museo de Culturas & Botanical Garden

After your morning class, we’ll gather to have lunch together. In the afternoon we’ll visit the Museo de culturas, a former convent in the Baroque style, constructed between the 16th and 17th centuries by the Dominican order. The museum offers visitors an immersive journey through the region's history, including significant archaeological finds, exhibits focusing on Oaxaca's colonial era and the diverse indigenous cultures that have shaped the region. We’ll also visit the ethnobotanical garden with a guided tour. You can either walk back to the hotel as a group or spend some time perusing the many shops along the way back before meeting up for dinner as a group.

Day 5: Cooking Class with Casa de los Sabores, Free time

Following your morning classes, we’ll head to the restaurant Casa de los Sabores, for a hands-on cooking class together. The cooking class includes includes a market tour where we’ll learn more about local ingredients, cooking instruction of a full menu, and a mezcal tasting. You’ll also receive the recipes for everything we make. After lunch, you’ll have free time for the rest of the afternoon. We’ll offer an optional Spanish conversation and happy hour in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own.

Day 6: Mercado Benito Juarez, Art Museum, Art Coop

After your morning classes, we’ll walk to the Mercado Benito Juarez for lunch together at one of the market stalls. After lunch, we’ll visit the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (MACO), housed in a 17th-century colonial mansion and focusing on global contemporary art & traditional local art. Finally we’ll visit La Casa de las Artesanías de Oaxaca, a cooperative space where master artisans from Oaxaca's eight regions converge to showcase and sell their handcrafted products. After some downtime in the hotel in the evening, we’ll head out for dinner together as a group.

Day 7: Free time to shop & explore, Mezcal class

After your morning class, we’ll have lunch together as a group. You’ll have the afternoon to explore the city and do any last-minute shopping or sight seeing in the city. We’ll meet up as a group for a mezcal tasting and then you are free to have dinner on your own.

Day 8: Full-Day Guided Handicrafts Tour

Today we’ll enjoy a full-day guided tour! First, we’ll visit the open-air market in Ocotlán de Morelos. Next we’ll head to Santo Tomás Jalietza to see the home of Crispina Navarro Gómez, one of the finest weavers from México. We’ll enjoy lunch in San Martín Tilcajete to taste the traditional food of that region. Next, we’ll see a demo about the “alebrijes” (wooden carvings) in the workshop of Jacobo & María Ángeles. Finally, we’ll visit San Bartolo Coyotepec where we will visit the workshop of Doña Rosa Real de Nieto to see how they make the black pottery by hand. You’ll have some downtime back at the hotel in the early evening to pack your bags and then we’ll enjoy our farewell dinner together that evening.

Day 9: Flights back to the U.S.

It’s time to say goodbye amigos! The program ends today and you’ll head to the airport to take your trip back home! Hasta la próxima, Oaxaca!

PRICING:

8-day, 8- night trip starts at $3700, single occupancy; Double occupancy (limited availability) for discounted price; Final prices determined by number in group.

TRIP INCLUDES:

• Transportation for all included program activities.  

• Spanish classes M-F, 3 hours per day.

• Full program of cultural activities organized by The Language House.

• Cooking class & mezcal class.

• Bilingual trip leaders and local guides.

• Breakfast each morning, 6 lunches, 5 dinners.

• Entrance fees to museums and activities in itinerary.

• Meals include non-alcoholic beverages and limited alcohol.

• All gratuities for activities in itinerary.

TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Round-trip airfare from the U.S. to Mexico.

• Transportation from airport to hotel on day of arrival & departure.

• Personal items such as laundry, fax or telephone calls, room service, excess baggage charges, medical expenses and private transfers.

• Activities not included in itinerary.

• Trip cancellation fees.

• Travel insurance.

• Unlimited alcohol at meals.

• Any increases in the in-tour airfare (included as part of the program cost), airport taxes, security, or fuel surcharges imposed after the initial pricing of this program are not included.