My experience of studying at Ollin for one month was a true joy. The students and the staff were very gracious and friendly to us, as were the other townsfolk. And what a beautiful spot on earth! Mountains surround the town, the houses are painted in bright colors, the air is crisp and clear. Truly, Oaxaca is a festival, with the Zocalo being the meeting place for people from all over the world there to celebrate! Music, sights, sounds and dance say to one and all: "We welcome you!" -
Don Beaudreault, Venice, FL

Oaxaca is amazing.  I spent two weeks learning Spanish, enjoying the colors and foods lining the street during the New Year's Festival, and learning about Oaxaca's unique culture of activism.  Someday I hope to return to continue the conversations I had with local activists and Carmen my host mom.   

Erin Peot

SIT Graduate Institute

As a home stay student in Oaxaca I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the city and of the kindness of its citizens. To be in a city that bridges so many cultures, languages and epochs was fantastic! Every day I would discover new places to explore, foods to eat and histories to learn. Sitting in the Zocalo (the city center), observing people, listening to the musicians and appreciating the architecture was enough to make you lose your sense of time for hours. If I had to summarize my month long experience in three words it would simply come down to this: Oaxaca is timeless. 
Sara Loan, Masters in International Education - Candidate, SIT Graduate Institute

"...This small operation is quicly earning a reputation for pragmatic language learning and progressive volunteer programs that focus on indigenous cultural preservation and tutoring programs for Oaxacan artisans interested in learning English. Ollin is the best option for students interested in getting beyond chalkboard grammar lessons and into the surrounding communities".

                                                                                   Lonely Planet Mexico 2010 Edition

Finding the Right Language School in Oaxaca by InZaneTimes / 2010

Ollin Tlahtoalli Center for Mexican Language and Culture

I’m glad I spent enough time Googling to find Ollin Tlahtoalli, which advertises no tours, cooking classes, or salsa dancing, and whose web site is hard to find unless you type the school’s name into your browser. Instead of amenities, Ollin emphasizes language instruction and connections to indigenous communities....

Read More

Ollin Tlahtoalli: one of the best places to study Spanish:

From Matador Study, an on-line magazine that offers in-depth profiles on study abroad programs plus roundups of recommended schools and opportunities organized by country.

The Best Places and Programs for Studying Abroad in Mexico

I highly recommend taking classes or volunteering with Omar Núñez Méndez at the Ollin Tlahtoalli: Centro de Lenguas y Cultura Mexicana A.C. Oaxaca, Oax., México www.ollinoaxaca.org.mx
tel/fax (52) 951 51 4 55 62

He has a grounded, thoughtful, approach to classroom grammar lessons and beyond the great delivery of that, relevant subject matter and interesting themes. Omar made an effort to find reading material and movies that fit my specific interests, and the personal attention in the small class really helped my Spanish progress. The school has well thought through reciprocal volunteering programs with rural artisans and their families. Your modest tuition goes to subsidise and support activities that help the artisans with negotiation vocabulary to gain more for their work. There are also FREE English classes for local Oaxacans at the center, taught by volunteers...I have been recommending the school for learning English too.

Posted by Caitlin Kelly Henry, July 2008  contact:   caitlinkhenry@gmail.com
 

I was involved in a teaching exchange with AHCOTE through Simon Fraser University and Ollin Tlahtoalli Center for Language and Culture.  Omar Nunez went out of his way to make sure we had a rich and varied cultural experience.   We visited many villages and learned about many of the traditional cultural that are being lost here.  If Omar was unable to personally take us to historical or cultural sites he made sure we had someone very knowledgeable in Mexican history to do so.   On time off from classes Omar went out of his way to ensure we were never left without something to see or do. He either gave us suggestions of where to go and what to do or took us to villages or places he thought we would be interested in.

Spanish classes were taught with humour and a great deal of patience. Teachers at Ollin ncluded the basics mixed with lessons on cultural sayings and traditions.  The schools we were placed in were extremely accommodating, the staff and students immensely helpful.  I was especially grateful for this as my Spanish is very limited, but everyone was willing to help.

I never questioned my personal safety in Oaxaca.  With all the rumors heard in Canadian media about drugs, protests, etc. in Mexico, these issue never arose.   I always felt safe walking by myself all over town.  Like in any city however late at night I would take a cab, which are very cheap.  We were placed in homestays with families who were wonderful, helpful and very safe.  If you have any questions feel free to email me at gubbygub@yahoo.ca

Linda Glenn / May, 2009
Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE) / Simon Fraser University

Studying Spanish at Ollin Tlahtoalli was more than a language course.  The city of Oaxaca is rich in culture, history, and is surrounded by natural beauty, and Ollin Tlahtoalli offers students the opportunity to experience many aspects of the rich tapestry that is Oaxaca.  As part of our course, we visited Oaxaca´s famous Museo Regional de Santo Domingo, as well as traditional markets where we sampled huaje, tejate and other flavors that have shaped the area´s unique cuisine.

I also had the opportunity to spend a weekend in the mountain town of Cuajimoloyas, one of many picturesque villages in the Sierras surrounding the city of Oaxaca.  There we caught a glimpse of traditional rural life in the mountains of Mexico, as well as the incredible countryside.  A course at Ollin Tlahtoalli will provide you with a real immersion experience that goes beyond the classroom setting.  While the classroom aspect will enrich your understanding of the Spanish language and Oaxacan life, you will learn about language and culture by experiencing it, being in it, rather than simply talking about it in class.

Brian Horstman:   callidix@hotmail.com
 

I came to Oaxaca for three weeks this summer to visit a friend who lives and works in the city.  I was basically taking a vacation, but wanted to do a bit beyond the standard tourist routine.  I was hoping to have a more enriching and educational experience than you usually get when traveling.  I knew that I wanted to take Spanish classes, but with all of the schools in Oaxaca I found it difficult to decide which was the best option.  I was also interested in finding some short-term volunteer opportunities that would allow me to work with a local organization and perhaps interact with part of the local community.  I was able to do all of these things because I was lucky enough to get in touch with Omar at Ollin Tlahtoalli.

            While in Oaxaca I attended daily one-on-one Spanish classes with Omar for two hours a day.  These classes were very helpful mostly because Omar personalized them to my needs as well as my interests.  We spent a lot of time simply chatting about politics, society, and language, among other things.  Omar also gave me the opportunity to volunteer at Ollin Tlahtoalli as an English tutor for a group of artisan women who were taking classes there with the SIT English teacher training program.  This was perhaps the most rewarding experience of my three week stay. The women I tutored were incredibly sweet and really just a lot of fun to work with.  They were often frustrated by the difficulties of learning a new language, but were always good-natured and we spent a lot of time laughing at each other.

            I am very grateful to Omar and Ollin Tlahtoalli for giving me the great opportunities they did.  More than that, I’m grateful to Omar for being a great person and a friend.  I give much of the credit for my great experience in Oaxaca to Ollin Tlahtoalli. I would recommend this organization to anyone going to Oaxaca who wants to learn not only the Spanish language, but who wants to go a bit deeper into the culture, history, and people of Oaxaca.


Matthew Nelson:    mnelson@lclark.edu
 

I really enjoyed Oaxaca and Mexican culture. There was no shortage of things to do, so being bored was difficult to do. Many events, such as Lucho Libre and various dance contests will occupy your time if you will allow them to. If there are no events to see, just taking a tour can prove exciting. Oaxaca is lovely, with many beautiful Cathedrals and buildings, the botanical garden, markets and shops on every corner. There are constant vendors ready to sell you some delicious food that has made Oaxaca so famous. Musicians will be playing their instruments and singing during events around the city and in crowded areas at night.
I enjoyed our trip to Monte Alban and Mitla, two important archaeological sites.  I found Oaxaca to be a very safe place. Wandering around at night sparked no sense of fear by any stretch of the imagination.

The program itself is a lot of fun. We spent the first two weeks taking language lessons with two experienced teachers for a few hours a day, and the last two weeks were spent in elementary classes, teaching English to grade fives and sixes. We also took part in an Inter cultural Education class in which Omar taught. He had several of his students join us for these sessions, and we were able to get some insight from native Mexicans.
               

Dayle Peters : daylepeters@hotmail.com

May, 2009
Alaska Highway Consortium on Teacher Education (AHCOTE) / Simon Fraser University