FAQ
You are fully vaccinated, we are fully vaccinated
Here are the most frequently questions asked by our students:
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a question not answered here.
Q: Why Spanish?
A: Learning a foreign language, like Spanish, is becoming much more of a necessity in today’s society. Learning Spanish is easier and more enjoyable than ever with ASLI Study Abroad courses or online courses.
Spanish skills are vital in today’s interconnected world. Studying Spanish will be one of the smartest and most interesting investments you will ever make. More than 400 million people speak Spanish worldwide.
Q: Why ASLI – Spanish Language Institute?
A: See reviews on Tripadvisor
Q: How much notice do you need for me to enroll?
A: A four week notice is helpful, but we can sometimes do last minute registrations. The busiest times are December, January, May, June and July. If these are your study times and you have special requests, then the more advance time we have the better. At times we have wait lists in the summer months, so register early for summer dates.
Q: When can I start classes?
A: Any Monday year round.
Q: How can I stay safe in Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is a beautiful city and there is no reason to be alarmed. However, it is wise to take some steps to assure that your visit goes off without a hitch.
Advice for a safe stay in Cuernavaca
A: Be cautious of your belongings that you carry, especially in crowded areas, such as buses and marketplaces, where you are vulnerable to pickpocketing.
- Look both ways before crossing any street. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way and cars do not slow down for crosswalks.
- In the evenings, stay on well-lit streets and walk in pairs whenever possible. Do not walk alone at night. instead take a taxi, which are available at all hours of the day and night.
- Use ATMs located inside banks. The best banks are: Santander Serfín, HSBC and Bancomer.
- Do not carry all of your credit cards, debit cards or cash with you at once. Take the amount of money you will need for your outing and leave the rest in your homestay.
- Photocopy your passport and tourist card and use the copies as identification. Keep the originals at home stay.
- Do not take a taxi that has other passengers in it or someone else seated in the front passenger seat.
Q: Can I receive mail and packages at the institute?
A: Students are more than welcome to receive mail and packages at the Institute. Please use our mailing address to receive mail via the postal service, however this method can be slow and unreliable.
Mailing Address: ASLI – Spanish Language Institute Privada Prado 8, Colonia la Pradera 62180
For important mail and packages, we recommend that you use DHL or Federal Express.
Please be aware that Mexican customs may search your packages and that you may be taxed for what you receive through the mail.
Q: How can I call home?
AREA CODES AND PHONE NUMBERS
To call the US from Mexico dial 00 + 1 + area code + phone number.
To call Cuernavaca from the US or Canada dial 011 + 52 (Mexican country code) + 777 (Cuernavaca area code) + phone number.
To call long distance within Mexico dial 01 + area code + phone number.
Q: How can I check my E-Mail while in Cuernavaca?
A: The Institute provides free wireless, but students must bring their own computers.
Q: If I know no Spanish at all, how will I survive?
A: All the programs are designed to integrate complete beginners. The school orientation can be in English by request, and all the school staffs have at least one English speaker. Many host families have at least one family member who speaks English, although they are discouraged from speaking English to you except in an emergency or misunderstandings. In the classes the teachers are used to helping English speakers adjust to Spanish only classrooms.
Q: When is the best time of year to study?
A: We are less crowded in the fall and February through April
Q: Can I get academic credit?
A: We provide documentation of your study with a certificate of attendance. For some students this is all you need to move you up on a pay-scale, get reimbursement, or receive credit through your own school. However, we have partnerships with some universities that recognize our program already for academic credit.
Q: Do I need a passport?
A: Yes. Please apply for your passport well in advance as it takes authorities several weeks to issue a passport.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: Not too much — please! Bring one suitcase that you can handle yourself and a small carry-on or day pack. Size and weight limits plus costs on international flights can be very restrictive. When you receive confirmation for your flight they will give you the latest baggage information from the airline.
You need casual clothes for school and only one nicer outfit for special occasions. Inexpensive laundry service is available Bring a good pair of walking shoes. The streets in Cuernavaca are often uneven and paved with large cobblestones. You will be doing a lot of walking.
A light jacket or sweater for cool evenings and early mornings will do. A light travel umbrella and / or a rain coat are recommended for raining season May to October (It only rains mostly during the night).
Q: What about money?
A: Most students use an ATM card to get their spending money which is needed for transportation, excursions, eating out and pocket money. In all locations ATM machines are now reliable and safe to use, with some basic caution. It is wise to alert your bank that you will be traveling in another country with your card, as sometimes bank security will cut you off if taking out money in a different location. It is not a bad idea either to have two different ATM cards and to know the pin number for each, just as a backup. The schools will be very helpful in showing you ATM locations and advising you.
Q: How do I get to and from school?
A: The host family bring you to and from school by their own car.
Q: How can I avoid getting sick?
A: There are several factors that contribute to some visitors feeling ill when visiting Cuernavaca. Bacteria found in food and drink can cause nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Furthermore, Cuernavaca culture and climate will probably be different from where you are coming, which may leave you feeling tired. Please keep in mind that the city of Cuernavaca is at a fairly high altitude. While this is not in the “high altitude” category, some visitors from lower altitudes may experience some discomfort. Some feel no effects whatsoever, some experience a general tiredness.
ASLI suggests the following simple guidelines:
- Eat and drink lightly the first few days, especially alcohol and foods to which you are not accustomed. México is justly famous for its rich and varied gastronomy, but you do not have to try everything at once. Little by little, your system will accept different foods, as well as different eating and drinking customs, and you will be able to savor your experience.
- Please refrain from eating food sold on the streets as they can lack proper facilities to maintain hygiene.
- Take it easy at first and make sure that you get enough rest.
AVOID: Unboiled or untreated water or ice, food and beverages from street vendors, raw or undercooked fish and shellfish, uncooked and untreated vegetables.
ENJOY: Cooked foods that are still hot, fruits peeled or washed by the traveller (use Microdyn, iodine or a similar disinfectant), bottled or canned drinks, bottled water, food and drink in your host family’s house and in restaurants that cater to tourists, breads and baked goods.
Q: I am a vegetarian. Will I be able to find food that I can eat in Cuernavaca?
Absolutely! Fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables are everywhere in Mexico and other vegetarian foods like cheese, eggs, beans , oats, corn, etc. are easy to find. Additionally, your homestay family will be very happy to cook vegetarian food for you. There are oodles of restaurants that offer vegetarian selections and quite a few stores that sell “health food.” Many of our students who are vegetarian find that, with a little research, eating vegetarian in Cuernavaca is very doable.
Q: What should I bring to my Homestay?
The homestay will provide the students with towels and sheets, however, the students should bring their own toiletries. Although gifts are not necessary, it is often a nice gesture to bring something small, as a token of gratitude, for the family.
Q: How should I pay?
A: There is a deposit fee to pay in advance through PayPal once you register. Tuition may be paid in pesos or US dollars upon arrival. We are unable to accept personal checks, travelers’ checks or credit cards. Please do not send international Postal Money Orders.
Q: What day of the week should I arrive in Cuernavaca?
A: You can arrive at Cuernavca the day that is more convenient for you. You can arrive the Sunday before the Monday that you begin class.
Q: Why take an immersion course?
A: An immersion program is the most efficient manner in which to learn Spanish. Knowing grammar rules is just not enough for you to confidently interact. In large classes there’s not enough time to really communicate. Effective communication requires repeated practice in actual, purposeful conversation with other people, so learning a language in a country where it’s spoken is very effective. It’s an amazing feeling when you use what you have just learned in school at a local shop or with your host family, and it’s highly motivating.