It is with much anticipation and excitement that Amauta School announces the opening of our NEW school in Buenos Aires! In March of 2008, we will be expanding to Argentina where students can experience another flavor of South America. Many thanks to each of you who gave us your thoughts and ideas in order for us to make this happen! With more than a 40 percent vote from our students here at Amauta Peru, we are eager to show you why Amauta Argentina will be the best school to study at in Argentina!

Why study Spanish is Buenos Aires? There are reasons galore! Buenos Aires is the largest and most beautiful city in Argentina. With a population of more than 13,000,000 people, this city is not at a lack for anything! Buenos Aires is said to be the ¨Paris of South America¨ with a European influence and charm combined with a Latino flare! This incredible city is filled with excitement and culture. You can stroll along and witness tango dancing in the street or enjoy a night out on the town and experience some of the greatest opera performances in the world at the Teatro Colon. The sky is the limit! With the new school opening, students will be able to learn the Spanish language firsthand while enjoying this busy cosmopolitan city. The school will offer classes of all levels of Spanish so it will not matter if you are a beginner who is looking to start courses or a pro who wants to brush up! As well as offering all levels of Spanish classes, we will have an excellent volunteer and internship program to fit all of your goals and needs. The school will have accommodation for students, volunteers and interns in the independent student flats or if you prefer a more intense immersion, you can stay with a local family in the city! To get into the groove of the city, Amauta Argentina will offer tango classes and Argentinian cooking classes so you will feel just like a native. If you are interested in doing a bit of travel before or after your studies, our travel agency, Dos Manos will be offering thrilling treks and fantastic tours for people with all interests.

If you would like more information please click here. See you in Buenos Aires in 2008!

REMAR.- Our volunteer project highlighted for the month is REMAR, a non-governmental organization that stands for the rehabilitation of socially rejected people. It was founded in 1982 in Northern Spain and was created with the wish and the hope to help all kinds of people throughout society. It is a Christian organization that has helped over 100,000 addicts, those with prostitution, and criminal behavior. They have been restored spiritually and physically and have returned back to their families, professions and to more fulfilling lives. REMAR is an organization that is working in over 58 countries across the world. They have been helping many needy people from alcoholics, abandoned children and single mothers. About 4 years ago, REMAR came to Cusco and is now located about 20 minutes away from the center of the city. There are other REMAR homes spread throughout Peru such as Ica, Lima, Arequipa, Tacna and Trujilo.

In Cusco, the project of REMAR now has housing for about 25 children and several of their mothers. There are dormitory rooms, an outside patio, a library and study room and a play area for the younger children. The director and his wife have been here for 2 years now working with the children and providing shelter, food, education and support. REMAR would like to see the children here become more self-motivated and educated through self-discipline and encouragement in self esteem. Through service work in education and cultural activities volunteers can make a difference in this project that will change the lives of many for years to come.

NAME: EVA SAGRARIO LLOSA
STAFF POSITION: HEAD OF STUDIES
LENGTH OF TIME AT AMAUTA: 3 MONTHS

• Tell us a bit about why you came to Peru.

  Peru has a certain type of magic to it that is different than any other country in South America. I was enchanted by the Andes mountains, the food and the culture and felt that Cusco would be a city full of opportunites for the type of work I wanted to do.

• What do you like about working in Amauta?

  Amauta is a very organized school with a great staff. One of the things that I enjoy most is watching the students when they first arrive and seeing how they improve through their time here in Amauta. Amauta has the feeling of home as soon as you walk in with a beautiful view of the city and peaceful terrace upstairs.

• What are some highlights about living in and working in Cusco?

  A great thing about working in Cusco is everything you need or want is very close in proximity. You have the restaurants, museums and the ruins all within walking distance of each other so you are never bored. I feel that being here in Cusco gives me the chance to learn something new everyday and is a city that draws people from all around the globe. I love being a part of that.

• What goals to you hope to accomplish through working in Amauta?

  I want to do the best possible work here at AMAUTA that I can do and that means being committed to the students here and to their language development. I believe that our students will always be able to return to their Spanish, be it through their travels, their relationships or their careers.

• Explain some of your background and studies before coming to Peru.

  I am originally from Spain from the region called Andalucia. I have travelled much though throughout the world, but mostly in Europe and in Central America. I have lived in many countries and love being a citizen of the world. I spent years living in England, Scotland, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. My years in Great Britain were fantastic though and also helped me to improve my English so I know firsthand what it is like to live and study in a foreign language country.

NAME: GIOVANNA ALEGRIA
STAFF POSITION: PROFESSOR OF SPANISH
LENGTH OF TIME WORKING AT AMAUTA: 6 MONTHS

• How long have you been working at Amauta and what do you like most about it?

  I have been working at AMAUTA as a teacher since May of 2007. I like working with students from all over the world and learning more about their culture and the politics and the favorite traditions of each of their countries.

• Why did you want to become a teacher?

  Teaching Spanish to foreigners allows me to travel without actually travelling! I get to learn and see their country through their eyes and learn alot that way. I have always been a communicative person and outgoing and love being with people so being a teacher is a great fit for me.

• Why is AMAUTA a great school to work at?

  There are many different actvities for the students such as dance classes, lectures, cooking classes etc. so students can embrace the culture of Peru and not just the language. Each week, every teacher has classes that are at full capacity due to the number of students that we have here at the school.

• Why makes studying Spanish in Cusco different and better than studying in other parts of South America?

  The Spanish spoken in Cusco is clear and articulated so it makes it easier to learn and to understand. Many students enjoy travelling after they are done their studies to Machu Picchu which is now one of the 7th world wonders. Cusco is a great place to be for these reasons.

• Explain a typical class for a student and what activities or ideas you use to help students learn.

  I like to get to know my students and more about their lives and then discuss the reality of life here in Peru. I like to work with cards and images to help make class more fun. Higher levels enjoy learning through music, reading and movies which the students really enjoy.

VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHTED
NAME: LAURA WELLINGTON
PROJECT: CENTRO DE SALUD BELEN PAMPA
LENGTH OF TIME IN PROJECT: 2 MONTHS
HOME COUNTRY THE UNITED STATES

• Why did you choose to work in Peru and more specifically in Cusco?

  I chose Peru because I wanted to gain fluency in the Spanish language and felt that Cusco would be a great place to learn. On top of that, I have always wanted to go to South America and explore the Sacred Valley.

• Explain to us what a typical day for your work in your project is like.

  I begin my day at about 8 in the morning and get to choose which doctor I work with during the day or I work in triage. Triage is where they view all patients that come in and give basic nursing care. I spend my day working with a variety of patients of all ages and illnesses and see a variety of acute sickness and injury.

• What have you already learned during your time in your project?

  Working in the clinic has helped me learn and improve my knowledge of medical spanish. I have gotten to see first hand how the medical system works in Peru and am more trained in the medical issues that are currently effecting this country.

• What goals or changes would you like to see happen in your project?

  My hope is to present a positive example of a medical student and be able to teach some of the people here the preventative medical methods that are available to them. This can hopefully influence them in their future to make healthier choices. My desire is that through my work at the clinic I will be able to contribute my knowledge to the Peruvian medical system.

• How do you feel this experience will benefit you once you return back home?

  I hope that as my Spanish improves and I become more fluent, I will be able to help a more diverse range of people from all over the world. Doing medical volunteer work in Peru has given me a new international perspective to medical care that will help my future work and career goals both abroad and in the United States.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTED
STUDENT: VICTORIA TODD
HOME COUNTRY ENGLAND
AGE: 22
LENGTH OF TIME IN AMAUTA: 4 WEEKS

• What do you like most about the classes and the school here at Amauta?

  I like that the classes at Amauta are small and that everyone has been placed in their correct level of Spanish. The teachers are great here and there is a feeling of community between the teachers, the staff and the students. I wanted to be at a bigger school so I knew Amauta was the way to go.

• Why did you choose to come down to Cusco to study Spanish?

  I have spent time here in Cusco before and wanted to come back to see some friends. Cusco, is by far one of my favorite places to be in South America. I knew it would be a great place to return to in order to perfect my Spanish.

• What is your favorite thing about Cusco and the country of Peru?

  I love sitting in the plaza in Cusco and looking at the scenery around me. It is really beautiful here. The people are warm and friendly and make you fell at home right away. There is also a great nightlife here in Cusco with bars and dance clubs and live music so there is always something fun to do.

• What have you learned since you arrived here?

  In my classes here at Amauta I have perfected certain grammatical aspects and feel much more confident in my conversational Spanish. I have learned more about the culture here in Peru, discovered new Peruvian dishes that I love and have really adapted to the way of life down here in Cusco.

• How do you feel that your studies here in Amauta will influence you once you return home?

  I believe that through studying here at Amauta, I will be well on my way to being fluent in Spanish once I return back to England. Learning Spanish will give me more job prospects in the type of work that I want to do and will give me the ability to work or study in a Spanish speaking country. It is also one more way that I will be able to communicate with friends from all over the world.

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