ADULT CLASSES and PRIVATE CHILDRENS’ CLASSES:

¡QUé VIVAl EL ESPAñOL was founded to reach out to adults and children in Santa Fe, NM who can greatly benefit from learning the Spanish language and about Latino culture. Janine Johnston-Somma and Consuelo Byrd bring a unique perspective to language learning by incorporating language skills adults can use everyday and while traveling.  Unique lessons are tailored to the students’ knowledge base and learning style, by utilizing technology, creative lesson plans, and fun activities based on total physical response techniques (mimicking first language learning by following commands with physical movement).  We have developed group and individual educational models to facilitate the learning process, including weekly sessions focused on the students’ production of the language called la mesa española (the Spanish table). As instructors, we believe that every adult has the ability to learn new language skills, opening doors into new cultures, and we seek out methods that work for each individual. 

Our classes are conducted in our comfortable one-room school.  Up to 6 people spend one to two hours per week (one hour per day) learning new grammatical skills, producing the language, exploring Latino cultures and making new friends.   

OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE: 
  • Nuevos (Newbies)--for those who have little to no exposure to the language, these classes offer the basics about the Spanish language and language learning, in general. 
  • Oxidados (Rusties)--for those who have learned Spanish at some point either in a school or university setting or through use, these classes offer a review of the basics at a slightly faster pace, utilizing, at times, grammatical tools common to school-based language learning. 
  • Hablantes (Speakers)--for those who speak, read and write Spanish with some fluidity but who need to clarify the rough patches like when to use por o para, ser o estar, and some of those more obscure tenses like the subjunctive.
  • Familias-for families that want to learn together and with other families, these classes offer material appropriate for children and useful to parents (covering topics from waking up in the morning, to cooking in the kitchen, to the playground and beyond). 
  • Niños (Children)-Please see our Childrens' page for information on our children's programs.  The children's programs can be designed for small groups of children or private lessons outside of the school setting, too. 
Each of these programs can be tailored to
  • una persona sola,
  • un grupo chiquito (2 á 3 personas)
  • or un grupo grande (6 á 8 personas). 
Your tuition is free, if you can round up 4 or more friends for a class.  We also offer customized classes for people who don’t feel they fall into any of the above categories and/or for any need that may arise: yoga classes in Panamá, cooking classes in México, tango classes in Argentina, or the need to speak with fellow Santa Feans about anything <<ya>> (now).  We also offer tutoring, for current students needing help in other language learning environments.


To register for an adult class. And to pay online.

Around the world the majority of people speak more than one language.  Second language learning offers numerous benefits: providing a deeper understanding of one’s native language, offering a more thorough experience of other cultures, opening doors to one’s neighbors and better preparing one for the global economy.  The community of Santa Fe, New Mexico is a rich home to many dialects of Spanish, and its culture is entwined with both Spanish and Latin American roots and branches.  With QVE students will learn to appreciate and participate in the cultural and linguistic richness surrounding them.