Language Studies

What is special about MACC's Language Program

• individual placement tests and oral interviews
• flexible programming
• adult learning with individual, personal evaluations
• basic and comprehensive language skills
• professional communication skills
• small classes and individual attention
• ethnic diversity of participant population
• cross-cultural relational skills
• experienced teachers
• multicultural experiences
• vocabulary lessons suited to your career
• pastoral and liturgical vocabulary practice for those in ministry

Intensive Pastoral Spanish (IPS)

Intensive Pastoral Spanish (IPS) is offered during the day, year-round, in 3-week blocks. The program offers adult learning in a multicultural faith community with outstanding, experienced faculty, and small, non-threatening classes. The curriculum is designed for persons who are involved in, or planning for a ministry within multicultural settings. Classes focus on conversation for cultural and pastoral communication, and participants develop skills that are useful in multicultural parishes, ecumenical groups, ministerial alliances and social service settings.

IPS is taught at four levels: beginner, beginner plus, intermediate, and intermediate plus. All levels emphasize listening and speaking and include presentations on cultural and pastoral subjects. The daily class schedule encompasses conversation, phonics, grammar, pastoral vocabulary and lab time.

Intensive Spanish

An immersion program for persons who require Spanish for business, travel or other settings not related to ministry. The curriculum includes intensive study of grammar and conversational practice, as well as additional practice with business or other vocabulary appropriate to the needs of the particular student.

Upcoming Classes for Intensive Pastoral
and Intensive Spanish

(Please confirm dates with the MACC Registrar before registering.)

• No classes Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 22-23, 2001 and Nov. 28-29, 2002.

• Special cultural and religious activities are scheduled in lieu of classes on Holy Thursday and Good Friday: Apr. 12-13, 2001 and Mar. 28-29, 2002.

• All language programs begin Sunday afternoon and end at noon on Friday.

• We suggest that language students take note of the pastoral workshops offered during break weeks. For example, MACC's Border Witness Program is scheduled during Spring and Fall Breaks; this workshop enables participants to visit the Rio Grande Valley and better understand the crisis and opportunities faced by communities along the U.S./Mexico border.

Curso Intensivo de Inglés Pastoral
/ Intensive Pastoral English (IPE)

El Curso de Inglés Pastoral es un programa intensivo diseñado para personas cuyo idioma nativo no es el inglés. Se anima a los principiantes a estudiar por lo menos dos sesiones consecutivas de tres semanas cada una.

En general, se terminan los dos niveles de principiantes en un semestre (12 semanas) y los dos niveles intermedios en el segundo semestre. Sería de mucha ayuda que los principiantes estuvieran en clase de nueve a doce semanas para lograr un fundamento sólido y adquirir la confianza necesaria para hablar y leer en inglés. Las clases se concentran especialmente para desarrollar la habilidad de conversar en situaciones pastorales por medio de metodologías activas que animan a los participantes a usar fuera de clase el idioma que están estudiando.

Intensive Pastoral English

Intensive Pastoral English is an intensive program designed for individuals whose first language is not English. Beginners are encouraged to take at least two consecutive 3-week sessions. Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced sessions are offered. Beginner and Intermediate levels are offered in three-week blocks, all year.

In general, the two beginning levels are covered in one semester (12 weeks) and the two intermediate levels in the second semester. It would be most helpful for beginners to attend class for at least nine to twelve weeks to gain a solid foundation and become confident in speaking and reading English. Language courses emphasize developing pastoral and conversational skills through active methodologies that encourage the participants to use the language they are studying.

Advanced English students will enter a specially designed tutoring program with pastoral ministry experience in a local English-speaking parish.

Fechas para el Inglés Intensivo Pastoral

* No clases Descanso de Acción de Gracias: 22-23 Nov, 2001 y 28-29 Nov, 2002.

** En Jueves y Viernes Santo, hay actividades culturales y religiosas programadas en lugar de clases: 12-13 Apr, 2001 and 28-29 Mar, 2002.

Todos los programas empiezan el domingo a las 2:oo de la tarde y terminan a las 12:00 el viernes de la tercera semana.

Spanish For Hispanics

Become truly bilingual. This one-week intensive course targets the needs of people who grew-up speaking Spanish--or Tex-Mex--and English, but never really learned or studied the Spanish language formally. If you are fluent in English, but just 'get by' in Spanish, or are only comfortable speaking to your family in Spanish, this class is for you. This class will improve your confidence, accent, and knowledge of the Spanish language. Classes focus on spelling, grammar, pronunciation, accentuation and other language needs. Both oral and written practices are provided. Students from San Antonio may want to follow this workshop with Spanish Tutoring.

Guadalajara Immersion Experience

Advanced Spanish students are encouraged to attend MACC's Immersion Experience in Guadalajara, Mexico. Students are invited to enrich their experience and deepen their understanding of language, culture, ministry, people and faith, while improving oral and written language skills.

The program offers:

• flexible schedule--one week to one year
  
• non-institutional apartment living
  
• daily opportunity for ministry experience
  
• daily tutoring

Cultural and recreational trips are also available throughout the state of Jalisco.
Call the MACC Registrar to reserve your dates.

Spanish tutoring program

Two types of programs are offered, one for local people wanting a few hours of tutoring a week and one for students staying at MACC.

Option 1. Conversational Spanish:

• Personally tailored for you.
  
• Particularly useful for business people, local seminarians, and Hispanics needing to improve their pronunciation and grammar.
  
• Arrange the hours to meet your schedule.

Option 2. Advanced Spanish students:
Students in residence at MACC have two study choices:

• a specially designed tutoring program with a pastoral ministry experience in a local Spanish-speaking parish.
  
• a local San Antonio Pastoral Immersion Program where the Spanish language is practiced in active ministry
  each choice is complemented with one hour of tutoring (equivalent to two class hours) each day.

Call for further information: 210-732-2156, ext. 7111

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Mexican American Cultural Center
3115 West Ashby Place
P.O. Box 28185
San Antonio, Texas 78228-5104
Phone (210) 732-2156 • Fax (210) 732-9072