back to Armando's page
Oak Hill School Spring Spanish Program in Guanajuato, México
The Spring Spanish Program is designed to provide serious Oak Hill
Spanish students with an opportunity to use their Spanish language skills, to participate in
social community work and experience Mexican culture. The program includes classroom
instruction, a homestay with a Mexican family, and visits to sites of cultural, geographical,
and historical interest in the state of Guanajuato.
The city of Guanajuato, located in the state of Guanajuato, is in the
heart of Mexico. (It is a 5 hour bus ride from Mexico City.) Life in
this community of 150,000 inhabitants revolves around the family and old
Mexican tradition. The character of the area is enhanced by the annual
Festival Cervantino, an internationally renowned week-long festival of
song, dance and theater, which brings in visitors and performers from
around the world. Guanajuato has a rich history dating back to
pre-colonial times. Its architecture reflects the period of Spanish
colonization, with its narrow cobbled streets, and the numerous Catholic
churches and monasteries. There is a silver mine close to the town which
has provided economic support to the community, and there is the
University of Guanajuato where many foreign as well as Mexican students
attend. The people of Guanajuato, like most Mexicans one might meet, are
immensely proud of their town and will gladly tell its legends to any
Students attend classes Monday through Friday mornings each day in a
Mexican school “Presidente Benito Juarez”. Students will be taught by
Mexican teachers and the classes vary each year. Some of the basic
classes include: folk dance, ballet, arts and crafts, music (guitar,
piano), and sports activities (soccer, karate, P.E.).
The Spring Spanish Program includes several field trips. Students visit
Archeological sites of the State of Guanajuato, historical museums in
the city, and visits to villages and cities in the state of Guanajuato
which produce pottery and hand crafts.
During their stay in Guanajuato, students live with a Mexican family,
speaking Spanish and experiencing the hospitality of Mexican culture
firsthand. Many of the families have been housing students since 1985,
and have been central to other program’s success. Most students keep in
touch with their Mexican families through the years, and many return to
