About Us

"I have attended Jan Castillo's school for the past two years during the winters while we
were living in Manzanillo. I have appreciated the small class sizes and the attention Jan has
paid to placing students in at an appropriate level. Because we are in an intermediate level,
the students are committed to learning Spanish and come prepared, which is an expectation
of Jan's and which creates a fertile learning environment. Jan has always suggested that a
student learns more by challenging themselves, so our class has always been one where we
have to dig a bit deeper into our minds (and our books) to "keep up". She supplements our
classroom work with cultural facts and the idiomatic language we need to really
communicate with our Mexican friends....all in all, it has been a very positive experience and I
will be studying with her again this winter."

Sue Ellis
High River, Alberta, Canada
(403)652-2543

"During the Summer 2006, I and three of my grandchildren, ages 15, 18, and 19, attended
four weeks of intensive Spanish instruction from Jan Castillo Languages in Manzanillo,
Mexico.
Because each of the four of us was at a different level of experience with foreign language
and specifically, Spanish, Jan Castillo and another member of her teaching staff , tailored the
instruction to allow the four of us to learn Spanish together. This must have been quite
challenging for the teachers but they accomplished it very effectively. Although the course
challenged us at different levels, it was always interesting and enjoyable throughout the four
weeks. A variety of instructional strategies were used. Homework was assigned daily and
directly related to what we were learning in class. Further, homework was reviewed in class
each day and it reinforced our learning tremendously.

Both teachers began speaking Spanish early in the course to get us used to listening
carefully to the language. It allowed us to pick up words and phrases in Spanish more quickly
and understand their meaning. Individual and group projects were assigned to us that were
practical and interesting. For example, taking us to a grocery store and learning names of
food so we could more easily shop and ask for the location of specific items. Another
assignment was to develop a restaurant with all the details of types of food, staffing, costs,
location, specialties and information about persons working there. As one homework
assignment, after instruction and practice of using the telephone and speaking Spanish over
the phone, we had to make calls to various government entities and get information. Daily,
the last several minutes of each class involved an activity to reinforce what we were learning in
the class. The use of playing a card game and requiring us to speak the numbers and
comments in Spanish is an example.

The experience of taking the Spanish instruction at Jan Castillo's school, was most enjoyable,
very interesting, somewhat challenging and quite practical. As a retired professional
educator, I can attest to the fact that Jan and her staff were professional at all times,
effective instructors, and tolerant of learner differences. They adjusted the instruction so we
could participate and learn together which enabled me to have a unique experience with my
three grandchildren that I would never have had. I would, without reservation, strongly
encourage any person or group, interested in learning Spanish effectively, to enroll in classes
with Jan Castillo."

Dr. Richard J. Rigg
Retired School Superintendent, California