Special Courses
OPI Spanish Test Preparation
Our founder, Guadalupe O’Brien as a former Certified Spanish Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) tester and a testee herself, understands the fine print of the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale and the structure of the interview, which most find intimidating.
What is the Oral Proficiency Interview? Who needs it?
The OPI test measures a student's speaking level of functional ability, from beginners level through advanced following the standards of The American Council on the teaching of Foreign languages (ACTFL).
OPI official scores are needed for jobs which require a certain language proficiency or teachers and students language certification.
How can we help you reach your desired level of proficiency?
Guadalupe O’Brien has extensive expertise and experience in the process of assessing students’ language proficiency level by the ILR standards. She prepares them to reach their full potential, which has translated into our custom-tailored preparation sessions. We arrange authentic materials and practices to the format of the test. We will guide you through your oral presentation and editorial discussion, or will work on your interactive and non-interactive listening skills and dialogue production.
Conversational Spanish (Intermediate/Advanced)​
We select the cultural topics or books you’re interested in and customize the class emphasizing the oral communication skills.
Our conversational groups are kept to a maximum of six students, which ensures everyone has an active participation and exchange. Students will interact with each other, and the instructor will guide and moderate the conversation. The purpose is to maximize the practice time of students and effectiveness.
At the end of each session, the instructor will provide individual feedback on the practice.
Survival Spanish
Going on vacation to a Spanish speaking country? Trying to decide if Spanish is for you? Trying to impress a loved one?
Survival Spanish is designed to teach the basics of everyday conversational Spanish. This course introduces practical vocabulary and simplified grammar along with the most frequent phrases used in daily conversations.
This course will give you the functional Spanish to survive in a wide range of everyday situations: E.g. greetings and introductions, description of self, family and background, hobbies and routines, weather, time and directions, food and eating out, shopping, and clothing, and health.
Social-Cultural Meetup/Tours (DC Metro Area)
Boost your Spanish while you enjoy cultural sites in the DC metro area. Do you want to experience an afternoon in a museum or art gallery while you practice your Spanish? A stroll through the city’s Hispanic historical landmarks? A culinary experience at a Spanish restaurant?
Active learning increases the acquisition of language and promotes the individual’s motivation.
Our educational DC tours include something for everyone's interest. The nation’s capital is rich in Spanish cultural heritage and nothing will immerse you in the culture better than a personalized tour led by an experienced educator and native speaker of Spanish.
Visits to historic landmarks—(statute of Pablo Neruda, Simon Bolivar, Benito Juarez)— and the Library of Congress Hispanic Reading Room are just a few of the wide range of activities we offer to immerse you in the Spanish language and culture.