I love Mesoamerica! I took the fast beginner course (3 sessions a week for a month) and it was a great way to get the base to develop my Spanish to where I want it to be. My professor was Adriana. She's AMAZING! She was always positive and patient. I definitely recommend this institute :) read more

Arturo is a patient and calm teacher. He helps you understand the language easily and converses with you so you can practice speaking what you've been taught. It is nice having classes with other students and allows for more opportunity to speak the language. He also provides notes for each lesson plus grammar practice. If you want to learn Spanish and have fun while doing it - this is the place for you! read more

I am travelling to Spain this summer, where I will take an Spanish course, and in preparation, I thought I would enroll in a class here. I'm taking classes right now, and while the first week was great, I'm really not so into it now. I'm in the advanced beginner level, as I took Spanish in high school (about ten years ago). I am not fluent at all, but have some vocabulary, and can conjugate in present tense. Pros: 1. Right now, it's just me and the instructor. So, I'm stoked about personal instruction for just $14 per hour. (Cost depends on length of course. Check the website for more info. http://institutomesoamerica.com/) However, I don't believe this is the norm. 2. Instructor seems to be patient with me, as I try to figure out how to conjugate the past tense. UPDATE: He's not so patient anymore... see below... 3. Must think of third "pro" Cons: 1. Teaching method is not creative. I have dittos, from which I conjugate verbs. Sometimes they are in sentences, sometimes, just the verb. Today we did this for over 2 hours of the 3 hour class. So freaking boring. 2. Sometimes I feel like the instructor is SUPER bored. Which makes my selfconciousness kick into high gear. 3. I do not feel that there is enough interaction between me and the instructor. 4. Instructor claims to use a NATURAL teaching method, and a NEW approach to teaching Spanish. Ummm. What?? Reading off a ditto is natural and new??? 5. Instructor IS bored! He taps his fingers, stretches and is not patient. Corrects me before I have the chance to correct myself. 6. Misspellings on the dittos. Gets annoyed when I don't understand the words, which happen to be in ANOTHER LANGUAGE AND ARE MISSPELLED. 7. Doesn't follow along on the dittos. Corrects me even when I'm right, as he's not looking at the ditto. 8. Somehow thinks that I will remember EVERY word we've used previously. Thanks, but I'm not magic. But I will definitely try suggesting some other activities to the instructor, and asking about specific things that I would like to learn, such as practicing being at a hotel/train station/restaurant. Hopefully, the instruction will improve. UPDATE: I added a star, because I felt satisfied with the resolution I recieved. I was unhappy with this particular school and recieved a refund. Very honest and wanted to resolve the problem, and I appreciate that. read more

I didn't have a great experience with this place. It was ok: not horrible, not stellar. Keep in mind, I am basing this review off of just one class experience, because I only went once and never returned. I sent in an application online (including paying a deposit) and never heard back from anyone for 2 weeks. When I finally sent a follow up email, they had me come in the same day for the first class. I would have appreciated a more professional follow-up. Still, the teacher was very nice. I took classes at the Oakland campus. I had a really hard time figuring out what level class I should be in. I started at beginner just to be safe, but was incredibly bored -- I guess I should have tried intermediate instead. The actual class was loosely structured around reviewing grammar, which was helpful, but I personally expected a more conversational atmosphere. It really would have been nice or helpful if they gave a placement test or something to help with figuring out the best fit for you. Instead, I wasted two hours in my first class reading off worksheets. Speaking of the worksheets. The actual work in class was reading off worksheets, taking turns reading words off a paper that was badly formatted (failed copy/paste, obviously). Considering the price of the classes, I would have really appreciated something more professional. All that being said, the teacher was happy to have me come back and audit the intermediate class to see if it would better fit me. I just personally decided not to, in the end. I think these classes could be really great for beginners, who have little or no exposure to Spanish grammar structure or pronunciation. But if you are intermediate or above, I would expect you would be better off practicing on your own (or at least starting off at intermediate level). After just 1 class, I decided quickly that learning on my own would be much more fun, faster, and cheaper (and I was right!). Best of luck in learning Spanish! read more

A teacher is coming to our workplace and giving a class, we laugh a lot and are learning. I am taking a lesson on my day off too. Here are some tips.... these things are helping me.... be patient with yourself, learning a language is sometimes not easy... yet you may hit your stride and feel suddenly much more confident and comfortable. Read or speak it 6-7 days a week. 30 minutes or more...... Read books from the library which are for kids...some have english and spanish side by side which helps vocabulary....and is fun I recomend these two books: The history of colors La Historia de los colores (subcomandante marcos) light foot pies ligeros (Toledo) A bit harder are Gracias a Winn-Dixie - English version is Because of Winn-Dixie (Kate Di Camillo) Confidencias de un superheroe (jaime alfonso sandoval) this is a satire about being a super hero and is very funny. Musica bien: Suni Paz Bandera Mia Flash cards between lessons are good too. If you are interested in a free time to practice spanish check out Meetup and your city, people meet and talk ...have dinner or play games. This is a great adjunct to lessons. Buena Suerte! read more

I purchased a voucher for the Mesoamerica Institute after reading such wonderful reviews about how helpful these classes have been. Due to my rigorous grad school/work schedule I was unable to redeem the voucher, until recently. I have been calling this place and leaving messages (3-4 times a week) for almost two months now and have yet to receive a return phone call. I will be requesting my money back from Amazon TODAY!!! I'd rather pay for tutors and get one on one tutoring than to give my money to a establishment that knows nothing about business etiquette. read more

I've been taking classes with Arturo for almost 3 years now. I really love the style and how patient he is. There are never more than 6 people in a class...sometimes just me and him, where I get 1:1 instruction, but I find it's better when there's at least 1 other person who may ask questions that I wouldn't have even thought of. But overall it's very personalized and customized to the group, which is great. Lots of conversation and good, informative exercises. Sometimes we study the same thing over and over, but this is good to really get something into your head...learning a language requires lots of repetition! A new language is incredibly difficult to learn, especially when you're not immersed in the language...Arturo makes it fun, challenging, and engaging. I feel motivated when I'm not in class to study on my own so that I can come to the class and hopefully keep improving - although you do hit plateaus here and there, it just comes with the territory. I try to be patient with myself too and keep trudging along. It's a slow and sometimes painful process, but it's worth the effort and having Arturo as my guide through that has been wonderful. read more

I didn't even get the chance to start classes here, but I had a terrible experience just trying to get started. I paid an enrollment fee to start an 8 week class according to the class schedule listed online. I went to the 1st session and was told that class was cancelled because the other person was sick and class has to be a minimum of 2 persons attending. I received a phone call and was told to just show up the next week and I will still get 8 sessions. The next week, I showed up again and was told that the class was not going to be held at all! No communication, just the entire class is cancelled. I do not recommend wasting your time. read more

For people wanting a discussion class, I think these classes may be good. For a new student like me, it was a bad experience. I paid $350 but only took 4 classes--they were such a waste of my time. Laila was clearly a great teacher, but the class was above my head. I had Arturo--solo--once, and told him I wanted to work on the preterite tense, and instead of helping me practice, he (bored), kept pointing at a poster on the wall with the conjugations. Another teacher used the class to "sell" his classes in Mexico. As a teacher myself, it's easy to recognize when instructors are dialing it in. And, like others, I had appointments that were never kept. I switched to Centro Latino, which is much more organized and has more students and better fits for various levels. But I wish I had been more careful and not wasted my money and time. read more

I couldn't agree less with the other reviewer. My wife and I took the fast beginner course at Mesoamerica and were very happy. The instructor taught us at a pace that was only as fast as we were absorbing the information. Sometimes it was fast and sometimes it was slow and required a lot of repetition to make sure things sunk in. Thats how language is. There were three of us in the class and often we simply had conversations using what we had learned so far. It was a very comfortable and friendly environment. We had lots of laughs and it was very easy to develop a personal friendship with the instructor. He really is a great guy. The timing of classes can be very flexible and personal to suit your schedule and preferences. This was such a bonus compared to other locations. When we return from vacation we will continue our lessons at Mesoamerica. We can't wait! read more

I had a fabulous time taking spanish conversation with Arturo this year and am really looking forward to starting again this fall at his supercool second location in Oakland! (Conveniently located near delicious Cosecha where you can go continue practicing your spanish after class) He is a very smart and lively teacher- passionate about the Spanish language and latin american cultural history. I improved enormously while going weekly and was able to better connect with my spanish speaking patients which was a huge boon. He has valuable teaching aids for learning irregular verbs and so forth. My fellow students tended to be really interesting people which is an added bonus. I recommend him highly to all and especially to professionals who would benefit from using spanish at work. read more

100% turn around, some problems with the web site posting a class at 7 am, but who wants a class that starts that early! I started in advanced beginners but found I was not as advanced as I thought. I took the beginners class on Monday's, much more my speed. The instructor seems very competent and with such a small class I get a lot of personal instruction. read more

We were a bit stressed about finding a Spanish tutor for our high-school son, but he needed one. The language was just not coming alive for him. Fortunately, we went with Arturo at Mesoamerican. It's a nice place and he's a nice guy and he knows what he's doing. And I can tell you -- as a parent that sits in the office while my son has his session and other classes go on -- that the other teacher knows what she's doing as well. This is a good deal, this place. Wish I could say it in Spanish. read more

My 13 year old son took beginning Spanish with Laila over the summer. She was very patient and kind, always encouraging of him. Today he passed the test to get into Spanish in 8th grade without having taken any Spanish since 3rd grade! He is really happy that he can join his friends at his own grade level. Highly recommend Mesoamerica Institute! read more

I am a big fan of Mesoamerica Institute. I have taken lessons from both Arturo and Laila, and they are both excellent. Classes are a perfect mix of conversation, grammar, and reading. I used to take Spanish classes at a school in San Francisco, and now that I've found Mesoamerica Institute, there's no going back. Outside of studying Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country (as I did in Guatemala), this is the way to go. read more

Excellent classes and caring teachers. Also the institute gets a lot of wonderful students. Would highly recommend Mesoamerica if you are interested in learning or refreshing your Spanish speaking skills. There are two locations....one in Oakland and one in Berkeley. Arturo makes classes fun and the way he teaches makes learning simple and consistent. read more

They have an excellent style of conversation mixed with grammar and group reading. Very laid-back approach that has quickly taken me from feeling "proficiebt" to nearly fluent in a few month (just once a week). Im now thinking in Spanish a lot! Great place to learn Spanish in the East Bay read more

Arturo gives my daughter Celeste lessons every Monday and he is friendly, knowledgable and keeps her moving forward at a fast pace. My only complaint is that I have to get most materials myself and I feel I am not always the best judge of what to get. That being said, most of it works out very well and she is happy with her progress. He is patient with her and focuses on her weak areas while keeping it light and easygoing, which is exatctly what she needs. read more

I should have read all the reviews before I signed up for an 8 week course. As others have noted, it's not a 'class'- there is no structure, no class plan. It's comparable to a meet-up group where random members with wildly varying Spanish speaking abilities gather together to chat. But unlike the free meet-up groups, this is costly, especially since it's just chatting. Arturo, the head of Mesoamerica Institute indeed does present as very burned out on teaching. He is impatient, sour, and usually acts bored. Worst of all, he is not honorable. He committed in writing to a refund and then reneged and sent only a partial payment, noting I could take it or leave it. All that ill will for a difference of $33. It made me feel sorry for him. There are wonderful structured and progressive learning classes at Centro Latino- and I'll definitely go back there. I only went to Mesoamerica due to a time conflict. Waste of my time and money. read more

I have been studying Spanish with Arturo at the Mesoamerican Institute on Strawberry Creek just off Bonar for several semesters. Arturo learned how to teach Spanish to English speakers with Ivan Ilych in his native Cuernevaca MX decades ago at the radical CIDOC (Center for Intl Cultural Documentation) modelled after the Defense Language Institute's methods in Monterery CA. What I appreciate most about Arturo Rodriguez is he is willing to teach the way you learn best. So I learn best through dialogs and flashcards, phrases that incorporate the conjugations in context. As a bonus, he is a thoroughly nice human being. read more

I am a beginning Spanish student and have been taking classes at Mesoamerica Institute for 8 weeks. I have made tremendous progress under my teacher, Laila. She is very, very patient and understands the struggles which a new language learner encounters. What I find has helped me the most is that the classes are small(2 or 3 people). The teacher has time to hear me speak, correct me, and tell me what I am doing correctly and incorrectly. I can't hide: with only 2 people in the class I have lots of opportunity to speak the language and improve. This has been a great experience. Roger D. read more

I had a great experience this past summer at the Mesoamerica Institute. I took one of their 4 week intensive intermediate language classes. Our instructor, Arturo, was a good teacher. He is extremely knowledgable about the history and culture of Mexico. I learned a lot and was also able to practice my conversational Spanish in a small group of people. I agree with one of the other reviews that said the instructor sometimes seemed bored during the grammar drills, but he was very animated and engaged when we were having conversations about history or current events. More interesting for everyone anyway. read more

I took two months of the intensive Spanish class in October/November and couldn't be more satisfied. Arturo, Margarita, and Raul are all excellent instructors, and very patient. The classroom setting (and I hesitate to say "classroom" -- I never had more than 3 students in any one "class") is engaging and offers plenty of one-on-one instruction. I hadn't taken Spanish since high school 10 years earlier, and my skills improved immediately. Really enjoyed the whole experience, and it was a great deal too. Highly recommended. read more

I had a great experience learning Spanish with Arturo at Mesoamerica Institute. The Spanish classes are a nice blend of conversation and instruction. Arturo gives everyone a lot of time to speak and practice the concepts we are learning. He's a good man and a great teacher - patient, positive, kind, knowledgeable. I learned a lot in a short amount of time. read more

I learned Spanish for Health Care workers with the Mesoamerica Institute in 2007 and again in 2008. The classes are interesting and the professors are talented and have great learning materials. These courses really helped me to better understand the latino culture and communicate with my spanish speaking patients . I recommend the Mesoamerica Institute to all health care professionals working with spanish speaking clients! read more

I have been studying Spanish with Mesoamerica for two years (and one year at another school). I am learning Spanish never having studied the language before. It is quite challenging! I am now at the low-intermediate level. Arturo Sosa has taught the majority of my classes and (as the star rating indicates), in my opinion, he is an extraordinary teacher. Arturo focuses on grammar as well as the history and culture of Latin America. He is extremely patient and genuinely understands that it is necessary to review and practice - sometimes teaching the same concepts week after week until the class is ready to move on. That's just the nature of language instruction. Arturo's classes are interesting and fun. The classes never exceed 4-5 students and the conversation can be quite lively with lots of laugher. Arturo recently organized a trip to Cuernavaca, Mexico during the Día de Los Muertos celebrations. I was lucky to participate, along with several other students, in this amazing immersion experience which included home stays and daily language instruction. If you want to study Spanish with interesting students and excellent teachers, Mesomerica is for you. read more