My daughter is 17 and has taken Spanish in high school for 3 years now. Book wise, she does well...but she cannot carry on a conversation for the life of her. Since we own a small place in the HZ, I thought it might be a good idea for her to spend a month this summer volunteering a few or more days a week at a place where she would be immersed in the Spanish language. Any suggestions? Again, this would be volunteer work - not for pay. Hotel zone preferred because she would be taking the bus, but downtown is also great as long as it is on a bus route. Just checking out possibilities right now as she would have to receive permission from her coaches to get time off from volleyball and basketball team sports. Thanks for your help...
You might try the Casa de Cultura as well, I don't know if they have any opportunities, but if she is athletic, she may be a benefit to them with their children's programmes. I think the hotel zone is pretty "English-centric", if she is really looking to immerse, downtown would offer the most possibilities. Perhaps her coaches know of a team or organization that could use her expertise as well.
I also was going to recommend the Ciudad de Alegria but there are so many restrictions on available time, location, etc. that I can't think of anything. Ciudad de Alegria isn't on a bus line and it is downtown. Maybe an immersion Spanish program might work.
Ciudad de la AlegrÃa has some restrictions on volunteering, they only want you if you can commit to them. And like Jim said they are pretty far out. But they do great work and are arguably the best-run local charity. Caritas is a great charity and has a downtown office (one block off the bus line), no idea what their volunteer policy is like http://www.caritasqr.org/ I have a contact there (who speaks some English) if you want someone to talk to there. And RAP Animal Rescue always needs help. The director speaks English but the vet and workers there do not, so there are plenty of chances to speak Spanish when you are volunteering there. http://rapanimalrescue.org/ RAP is in Bonfil, the bus can get you within a few blocks of it. There's a location map on the Contact page.
Sorry to take it off topic but I love their directions. "Then take the second left, going west, at the intersection with the tree in it" Im a Land Surveyor and I love directions like that.
Gonzo - I know that sounds stupid, but in that hood the easiest landmark for that street is the tree growing in the middle of it... I did make a map too though, so you can count the cross streets if you want...
Oh no not stupid at all, RiverGirl, in fact there is a Y intersection near me with a huge Oak right in the center of it and everyone knows what you are talking about when you say "Go past the Y with the Oak". I have always wondered how many have piled into that tree. No deaths that I am aware of. Nothing like a great landmark!
