About Me
Born in Bolivia to a university professor, José was raised in a family that valued education. He spent his teenage years studying English each day after school at a private institute and put those English skills to use as a translator working for Plan, an organization sponsoring underprivileged children in Bolivia.
After receiving his university degree in business management at San Francisco Xavier University in Sucre, Bolivia, he took advanced training in teaching Spanish as a second language. He taught for a number of years in local Spanish immersion schools until opening the Sucre School of Spanish in Bolivia. At the Sucre School he designed instructional materials, trained teachers, and administered the school programs.
In 2012 he moved to Squamish where he has taught Spanish to many local residents. His students have admired his sense of humour and patience in the classroom and his ability to draw them out through dialogue and conversation. He makes learning easy and interesting by using audio-visual aids and participatory activities, and enjoys working with students in a diverse learning environment.
Our Courses
BEGINNERS 1
At the end of Level 1 (CEF A1.1)
I am able to introduce myself and I can ask and give personal information (nationality, profession, telephone number, address, etc) I can describe my family and its members (their physical appearance and their character) I can also describe my town. I can buy something in a shop. In grammar, I can conjugate regular verbs in Present Tense, use the verbs “ser” and “estar” in different contexts, differentiate between “tú” y “usted”, identify the gender of nouns and adjectives, know the numbers from 0 to 1000 and understand question words (cómo, dónde, cuándo, etc).
BEGINNERS 2
At the end of Level 2 (CEF A1.2)
I can describe my house and my neighborhood (location, characteristics and things they have) I can ask and answer about the weather, the time and seasons. In grammar, I can conjugate all the Present Tense (regular, irregular and stem-changing verbs), I know the difference between the verbs “saber” and “conocer” and I can express frequency (siempre, nunca, a veces, etc).
BEGINNERS 3
At the end of Level 3 (CEF A1.3)
I can express my likes and dislikes. I am able to talk about my daily routine. I can talk about my habits, activities in my free time and my job. I can express opinions, and agreement and disagreement. I am able to describe what I did yesterday. In grammar, I know the conjugation of verb “gustar” and similar verbs. I am confident using the Present Tense and reflexive verbs , I can use verbs to express obligation and wishes (querer/necesitar/tener que/hay que + Infinitivo) and I know the conjugation of verbs in the Past Tense (Pretérito Indefinido).
INTERMEDIATE 1
At the end of Level 4 (CEF A2.1)
I am able to express what I am doing right now, to buy clothes and describe what people are wearing and to talk about trips and biographies of famous people. In grammar, I am confident using the Pretérito Indefinido (regular and irregular verbs), I know the Present Progressive (estar + gerundio), and I can use some important prepositions (de, desde, hasta, a, por, en). I am also able to identify the Direct Objects Pronouns (lo, la, los, las).
INTERMEDIATE 2
At the end of Level 5 (CEF A2.2)
I can have phone conversations and arrange a date. I can ask for information about transport (buying train, bus and plane tickets). I can express what I did last weekend and give opinions about those past events. I can describe objects talking about material, shape and colour. I am able to describe people and places in the past. In grammar. I know the “Pretérito Imperfecto” to talk about habitual actions in the past. I understand the Pronouns such as Posesivos (mío, tuyo, suyo, etc), Objeto Directo (lo, la, los, las) and Objeto Indirecto (me, te, le, nos, os, les).
INTERMEDIATE 3
At the end of Level 6 (CEF A2.3)
I can express the duration of actions that started in the past and continue in the present (desde hace, desde que, etc). I can describe the situation where an event happened. I can tell stories in the past. I can talk about the future making predictions and expressing probability. In grammar I understand the difference between the two past tenses “Imperfecto” and “Indefinido”. I can conjugate verbs in “Futuro Simple”. I can use Relativos “que” and “quien” to describe people and I know reciprocal verbs such as “conocerse”, “caerse”, “darse” and “hacerse”.
ADVANCED 1
At the end of Level 9 (CEF B1.3)
I can describe health problems and give suggestions and recommendations about them. I can talk about advantages and disadvantages of different topics such as living in a city or a village. I can take messages and pass the information to their recipients. I know vocabulary about technology and Internet. In grammar, I am able to use Subjunctive for giving recommendations and opinions. I know “Imperativo” (afirmattive and negative) I can conjugate verbs in Conditional to give advice (yo en tu lugar, comería/hablaría/iría…).ADVANCED 2
At the end of Level 11 (CEF B2.1)
I can talk about films (genres, plots, actors, film reviews, etc) I can discuss about the quality of life and change of habits in our society. I can try to convince someone and set conditions in order to do something. I can express wishes that are not very likely to happen. In grammar, I am confident using the Present Tense of Subjunctive. I can conjugate the “Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo” with Conditional (si tuviera vacaciones, viajaría a México) I can use some “perífrasis verbales” (ir/acabar + gerunido, dejar de + infinitivo, etc).
ADVANCED 3
At the end of Level 12 (CEF B2.2)
I can debate about problems such as pollution, economic crisis, unemployment or immigration. I can talk in depth about ecology (its problems and suggestions to solve them) I am able to formulate hypothesis about the past. I can describe important moments in a person’s life and I can express feelings and the reason why I have those feelings. In grammar, I can use some expressions in Subjunctive and Indicative to express feelings and emotions (¡Qué pena que + Subj., ¡Con lo que + Indic., etc). I know “Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo” (yo haya aprobado).
Upcoming Classes
Beginners 1 - TUESDAY
Course length: 7 weeks / Lesson duration: 1.5 hours
Lesson time: 6:00 – 7:25pm
September 12 to October 24
Cost: $255
Max size class: 3
Beginners 2 - WEDNESDAY
Course length: 7 weeks / Lesson duration: 1.5 hours
Lesson time: 6:00 – 7:25pm
September 13 to October 25
Cost: $255
Max size class: 3
Intermediate 1 - THURSDAY
Course length: 7 weeks / Lesson duration: 1.5 hours
Lesson time: 6:00 – 7:25pm
September 14 to October 26
Cost: $255
Max size class: 3
Create your own class
All you need is at least 3 people at the same level interested in taking classes together and we will set up a day/time that works best for you. Contact us more information.
Testimonials
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Cost and Duration
Private Spanish Classes (one-on-one)
$40 / hour
- The length of course and time spent at each level depends on the individual´s rate of progress. There are several options available to accommodate personal interests or time schedules.
Semi-Private Spanish Classes (two students)
$25 / hour
- Suitable dates and time to be agreed upon at the student´s convenience and teacher’s availability.
Group Spanish Classes
$200 / for 7 sessions of 1.5 hours each
- The schedules of group classes depend upon level. Your starting level will be determined by an assessment or by a telephone conversation with the instructor prior to your first lesson.
Contact Us
Email:
info@spanishvancouverisland.com
Call:
+1-604-3298385