YPW Spanish Workshops
YPW Offers beginner to advanced level Spanish workshops for you and your young people from preschool, high school to adults.
“Full-Immersion” means the workshops including all instructions and activities are conducted entirely in Spanish. Even beginner students quickly become comfortable with this method of learning and absorb the Spanish language at a much quicker rate that if learning by hearing two languages concurrently.
As with all the workshops at YPW, the Full-Immersion Spanish workshops are “hands-on” fun. Young People learn trough singing songs, role-playing, and playing games. Visual aids help further the learning process. Each student is encouraged to participate verbally during question-and-respond sessions.
We also offer non-academic Spanish and Culture program for high school and adults. This program is specially designed to meet your individual goals. While participating in meaningful and practical activities.
Thanks to our carefully developed curriculum, special method, small classes and our excellent team of native speaking teachers, you or your young people will learn Spanish naturally, in a fun, engaging environment
Programs
CHIQUITOS Ages 3 to 5 – Mommy and Me Workshop – Class size: 4 to 10 students
This is a weekly 45 minutes series of mixed-aged workshops for preschoolers.
Spanish is fun! Parents join the young people learning Spanish through songs, playing physically active games such as “Simon Says” and charades, creating artistic projects, and playing games like memory, bingo and dominoes. A vocabulary based on words encountered in daily life is the building block of this YPW Full-Immersion Spanish program for Young People. It is common for young people in this age group to repeat workshops before gaining full mastery of the material.
CHICOS: Ages 5 to 12 – Class size: 4 to 10 students
This is a weekly 90 minutes series of mixed-aged workshops for kinder to third grade and fourth to sixth grade students.
Students learn Spanish through story telling, games, songs, and activities related to their own experiences. The Chicos workshop is designed to gradually enable students to attain proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Young people will be fully exposed to the Spanish language and benefit from learning in this “Spanish-only” environment. It is common for young people in this age group to repeat workshops before gaining full mastery of the material.
The 1.5-hour weekly session is divided into 3 segments:
1st segment @35 minutes: Students are taught new vocabulary and new sentence structures while exploring engaging topics of interest and through hands-on activities and musical experiences from an intercultural perspective.
Focus on developing Spanish speaking skills.
2nd segment @35 minutes: Phonics / Phonemic Awareness. Reading, developing a sight word vocabulary and to applying knowledge of phonics while writing developing skills
in encoding and spelling.
For more advanced/older students focus on improving reading, comprehension and writing skills.
3rd segment @20 minutes: Students participate in one or two of the following cultural activities: Art & Crafts, Cooking, Dancing and various STEM projects. They will focus on the vocabulary and sentence structures students have learned.
MUCHACHOS: Ages 12 – 18 – Class size: 4 to 10 students
This is a weekly 90 minutes series of mixed-aged workshops for seventh to twelve grade students.
This program has 5 levels. By the end of Level 4, the student is ready to take the AP Spanish test and SAT subject Spanish test. In average, it takes 5 years to finish the 5 levels. Students take this class once per week for 1.5 hours.
Levels
Level 1 => This level is designed to introduce the student to the Spanish language through listening, speaking, reading, writing, and culture. There is a very strong emphasis on oral communication skills. Classes will be conducted primarily in Spanish. There will be occasions in which English is used (such as explanation of a concept or classroom management). The goal, however, is immersion in the target language. Upon successful completion of Spanish I the student should be able to communicate using the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the range of Novice-Low to Novice-High according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
Level 2 => This level is a continuation of level 1. This course continues the emphasis on oral communication based on the framework set up in level 1. Listening, reading, and writing will also continue to be developed. This level includes the study of cultures of Spanish-speaking countries.
Level 3 => Level 3 Pre-AP focuses on concentrated practice of the language skills. Spanish is exclusively the language of this workshop. English is used by the teacher to clarify difficult concepts. Active participation by the student is an essential part of this workshop. Emphasis is placed on the student’s communicative skills and fluency. All four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, continue to be developed as well as a better understanding of Hispanic and Spanish cultures.
Level 4 => Level 4 is a continuation of Level 3. This workshop emphasizes communicating in three ways or “modes”: understanding Spanish when you read or hear it (interpretive communication), being able to present information in Spanish either by speaking or writing it (presentational communication), and communicating back and forth with someone else in Spanish (interpersonal communication). The goal for students is to be able to understand and communicate about simple, everyday topics. Communication is guided by the learned vocabulary and support structures taught throughout the workshop. Class participation in the target language is essential in order to develop this oral proficiency. Language is presented within the context of the Spanish-speaking world with some emphasis on geography and culture of Spanish-speaking countries.
Level 5 => This level is designed for students wishing to continue the study of Spanish without participating in the Advanced Placement program. Students will continue to develop communication skills through a variety of written and oral activities as well as increase their knowledge of Hispanic culture and history. As in Spanish IV, Spanish is used exclusively by the teacher and students. Active participation, especially speaking, by the student is an essential part of the course.
ADULTS: Ages 18+ – Class size: 4 to 10 students
This is a non-academic Spanish & Culture Program, meets weekly 2 hour a week. We offer private or group classes. Private classes are highly customized to each student’s needs. Students can start any time. Group classes focus on conversational and reading skills.
Level 1: Basics
At the end of this level students will be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the needs of basic survival Spanish. Students will have the tools to introduce themselves and others and to ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know and things they do. Students will be able to interact in a simple way when the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Level 2: Beginner
At the end of this level participants can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). They can also communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. They will be able to describe in simple terms aspects of their background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
Conversation topics seen at this level include but are not restricted to:
Talking about themselves and others as well as asking and answering questions about their personal history: place of origin, occupation, leisure activities, address and phone number, weather, time and date, and likes and dislikes. They should be speaking Spanish 25%-¬¬50% of the time in class at these level.
Basic grammar concepts and vocabulary introduced:
Students will speak in the Simple Present tense, Present Continuous Tense, and will be introduced to the Past tense. Vocabulary lists will be given in accordance to class topics.
Level 3: Intermediate
At the end of this level students can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Students can deal with most situations, including traveling in an area where the language is spoken. They can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. And finally, students can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Conversation topics seen at this level include but are not restricted to:
Talking about a short story. Students are introducing themselves, ordering meals, asking directions, and making purchases. Students should be speaking Spanish up to 75%-¬¬100% of the time in class.
Intermediate grammar concepts and vocabulary introduced:
Beginner level grammar is reemphasized and most common verb tenses have been covered but at the end the focus is on conversation, and speaking in connected paragraphs. Students are reading articles all in Spanish. An extended vocabulary lists will be given in accordance to class topics.
Level 4: Advanced
At the end of this level students have to be able to understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in a field of specialization. At this level students can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Students can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
Conversation topics seen at this level include but are not restricted to:
Complaining and apologizing as well as communicate facts and talk casually about topics of current public and personal interest. Opinion topics will be explained in detail and hypothesize. Students will be speaking Spanish virtually 100% of the time.
Advanced grammar concepts and vocabulary introduced:
Advanced grammar of all tenses will be studied at this level, but the emphasis is on increasing the vocabulary in different subjects. An extended vocabulary lists will be given in accordance to class topics.
Schedule
Chiquitos Ages 3 to 5 – Mommy and Me Workshop
– Class size: 3 to 10 students – 45 minute class –
Chicos: Ages 5 to 12 – Class size: 3 to 10 students – 1 to 1.5 hour class –
Muchachos: Ages 12 – 18 – Class size: 3 to 10 students – 1 to 1.5 hour class –
Adults: Ages 18+ – Class size: 3 to 10 students – 1 to 1.5 hour class –
Flexible class schedule. For workshop time availability, please send us an email at: YPWworkshops@YPWkids.com
Locations
YPW Workshops are available remotely via Zoom
or
At the following locations for in-person learning :
YPW Westlake YPW Central
3640 Bee Caves Rd 8014 Mesa Drive
Austin, TX 78746 Austin, TX 78731
Registration
You may register for YPW Workshops by fax , email or mail. Email or Fax registration is preferred. We don’t take registrations over the phone.
Fax / Email / Mail Registration
• One registration form must be completed for each student you are registering.
• Registration forms with incomplete or inaccurate information will not be processed.
• If your first choice is unavailable, we will register your second choice. If your second choice is unavailable, we will contact you for more information.
• Forms may be faxed , emailed or mailed. Please do only one!
• Fax to 512-366-9333 ; email at YPWworkshops@YPWkids.com or mail your registration forms to:
YPW Workshops
3640 Bee Caves Rd Austin, TX 78746
Download YPW Adult Workshops Registration Form here.
Download YPW Child Workshops Registration Form here.