Evaluation from sarahparkinson:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I can't recommend Rayuela highly enough. I had really good fun laughing and learning Spanish. The teacher I had really enjoys teaching and it showed in his classes. He actually managed to make grammar fun! I did a 5 week course and the time flew by. It's a small school and has a much more friendly atmosphere than the larger more bland corporate language schools that are around. Sarah Parkinson London

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Evaluation from lafgerald:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: My experience at Rayuela over the last 9 months has been invaluable in preparing me to become a "porteña"...a resident of this great city. Although my teacher and friend Alejandro Michel, never hesitates to hold my feet to the fire whenever I "forget" about my desire to speak the language fluently, I find his dedication to teaching and his ever-present encouragement to be just what I need. Anyone who wishes to truly understand the language...not just repeat words and phrases, cannot go wrong by contacting Instituto de Español Rayuela.

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Evaluation from silverdrukpa:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: We studied with Alejandro Michel 5 days a week, two hours a day, for a month when we were in Buenos Aires. We found him to be an excellent teacher and linguist. The fact that he was fluent in English was particularly effective in our sessions. The programme he designed for us was systematic and comprehensive covering not just every day useful phrases, but a sound foundation in the language. We have had experience with other local teachers but found him to be the most professional. While this may not be the cheapest option, we found him to be the best value for money because the experience far exceeded our expectations. As a testament to how much we enjoyed the experience, we are continuing our studies long-distance after our stay in Buenos Aires. We would not hesitate to recommend Rayuela.

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Evaluation from Tania:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I highly reccomend this school, after trying out a few other schools in Argentina I can really tell the difference in experience, quality and teaching ability. It may be a little more expensive than some of the other schools but you pay for what you get; superior teaching.

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Evaluation from waleed:

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Evaluation from parisaandsimon:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Rayuela provided us with a very professional setting for learning Spanish. Our classes were well organized and enjoyable. Our teacher was extremely knowledgeable. The Rayuela staff were fantastic and fun to work with. Simon and Parisa Saeedi-Mepham Teacher, Naturopathic Doctor Seattle, WA

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Evaluation from patwilli:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: With wonderful teachers and an intimate, friendly environment, Rayuela is a great place to learn the language as well as find one´s footing upon arriving in the city. Though the school feels quite small and informal, the courses are very well tought and the material top-notch. Small class sizes kept to even skill levels make for a cohesive and easily customizeable learning experience. Though above all, the quality of the teaching staff stands out as the greatest strength of this school.

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Evaluation from Davidjmckean:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Just a wonderful school! If you are in Buenos Aires this is where you should be studying Spanish!

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Evaluation from Greystone:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: A quiet, serious school with excellent quality teaching and flexible, personalised courses.

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Evaluation from mwestbrook:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Rayuela is a great program for people who want to learn Spanish in a comfortable environment. The teachers are fantastic and my husband and I made some friends through the classes. I liked that the school was flexible, changing the format slightly to meet our needs, but also professional. Some schools in BA feel a little bit thrown together, but this was a nice mix of professionalism and fun!

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Evaluation from Marion:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: When I arrived in Argenyina, I was pretty much lost! I could understand what the people where talking about being French but I could not take part to any conversation... Thanks to the program that Rayuela developed I made a lot of progress really rapidly in speaking but also writing... The fact that the group are small allows the teacher to focus on the difficulty of each of the students. The development of the classes is not planned in advance, it is up to the needs and problems of the students! Thoses who had recommended me that school were right: It is from far the best one.... Good luck!!!

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Evaluation from 123teachmeginny:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I would definitely recommend Rayuela to anyone wishing to learn Spanish. The San Telmo location is convenient and the teachers are very well trained (they all hold advanced degrees!). My boyfriend and I signed up for a shared-individual class and were pleasantly surprised by the level of personalized attention we received. In addition to individualized lesson plans, Rayuela offers specialized lessons on tango vocabulary or any other subject the student requests. (In fact, the school is right across from a society that hosts weekly tango lessons.) Rayuela also organizes cultural outings to milongas and soccer matches and even provides a free cup of coffee or tea at the beginning of every class. Perhaps the best part about Rayuela, however, is the warmth of the instructors and administrators. Our teacher, Mercedes, greeted us every morning with cheerful conversation, clever language games, and clear, structured lessons. Although she was fluent in English, she rarely strayed from Spanish and was able to give amazingly clear and concise explanations using our limited vocaulary. The school director, Alejandro, checked in on us regularly to be sure we were satisfied, and the administrative director Cecilia became my tango buddy and even bought me an empanada at a local milonga. These experiences really added to our time in Buenos Aires. Plus, by the end of two months we had gone from knowing nothing to conjugating the imperfect past tense and chatting with taxi drivers.

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Evaluation from ricopenwarden:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I took over 4 weeks of intensive spanish lessons, and as a teacher in the UK, perhaps had higher expectations than most. Mercedes, our teacher, was consistently enthusiastic, encouraging, knowledgable and well-prepared. What particularly impressed me was whenever any member of our class had a specific question or gap in their knowledge that they wanted to fill, it would be addressed in the following lesson without fail. Everybody who works at Rayuela is friendly, welcoming and polite. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone. Richard Penwarden

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Evaluation from LitzaJansz:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: The teaching was excellent and truly learner centred. The environment was confortable and care was taken to match the students to ensure they were of a compatible level. The teaching gave me confidence to start experiencing BA as a spanish speaker.

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Evaluation from TobyH:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Small, personal and effective, one is guranteed original materials and small classes in a friendly and welcoming environment. Vetting of teachers is strict, since the school is anxious to maintian its already excellent reputation, so I would be highly surprised if any pupils had anything but an immensly positive expereince here. Five stars.

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Evaluation from Claudia:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I strongly recommend the Instituto Rayuela for the high standard of teaching and the warm and friendly atmosphere. I chose Rayuela for its convenient location in San Telmo, a short walk from my flat, and was immediately taken by the professional approach and dedication of Alejandro, the director and Cecilia, the administrator. As the teaching schedule is flexible, I was able to start the next day. Our teacher Yael was highly qualified, knowledgeable and encouraging. The classes were well structured and interesting, tailor-made for my fellow student’s and my requirements, with a strong emphasis on speaking and grammar. Over the course of 2 months my Spanish improved a lot faster than I had dared to hope! What’s more, the lessons were very enjoyable and full of information about Argentine culture and practical tips for life in Buenos Aires.

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Evaluation from jerricarmo:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Located in wonderful San Telmo, Instituto de Espanol Rayuela is a wonderful environment to study Spanish while in Buenos Aires. Everything is about quality, and of course, charm. The staff is extremely helpful and caring and the instruction is serious but fun. Director Alejandro Michel accomodated my short stay in Buenos Aires by providing me with an assessment of my existing Spanish skills and a plan of action for the remainder of my stay. I would definitely return to Rayuela for future instruction and highly recommend this school.

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Evaluation from KarinPeter:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Very flexible, individual and intensive course. Superb teacher Daniela! We learned a lot and highly recommend this school.

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Evaluation from jbkosman:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I went to this school for the last 5 months of 2006. It made my rounds in terms of pricing, reputation (online), etc. while searching through the net, but I was hooked once I talked directly with Alejandro Michel at the school to gain view on what to expect there. By my calculation, the school is just a tad bit more expensive than the average, HOWEVER, it is MUCH more professional than anything else I have seen to date. These teachers know their stuff. Alejandro has dedicated his life to teaching and is educated in the topic. His side professors (Mercedes and Yael) are likewise of similar caliber and equally excellent and obviously carefully chosen. The classes are small, friendly, you will make friends. The school is in San Telmo, 10 minutes walk from downtown and 30 minutes by subway to well-known Palermo. In Buenos Aires, that is close. I want to go back and am planning to take classes once again with the school when I return. Some people exagerate, but I truly feel this school gets 5 stars in almost all areas. The only were the facilities, which were nice enough, but no Hilton hotel. If what you desire is honesty, hard-work, and real quality, this school is what you should look into. Say hi to Alejandro, Ceci, Yael and Mercedes for me when you get there! Jens Kosman from Czech Republic

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Evaluation from astclair:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Excellent overall program. I only studied here for one month, and it was my first go at Spanish. I didnt use them for accommodations so I dont know how they are. You can also get lined up with some tango lessons through the school.

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Evaluation from Faszikam:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I just returned to the Boston area after a month of Spanish lessons at Instituto Rayuela de Español in San Telmo. I enjoyed the city and what it offers a lot, not least being able to avoid the New England winter. I had found the Institute on the web, and liked the “gay-friendly” connection, as well as the school’s imaginative name. I made all the arrangements in advance via email and Messenger, with the Institute helping me arrange for an airport pickup as well as accommodation with a porteño family for the duration of my stay. The practical details came off without a hitch. It was a comfort to be able to depend on someone I “knew” and who knew the city to help with the logistics before my arrival. Alejandro and Cecilia were both very forthcoming in all regards. As an intermediate student, I did private lessons with Daniela, who tailored the topics of study to my needs, bringing a great wealth of knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and good cheer into the equation. We covered both serious topics as the subjunctive in all its mystery as well as street slang, both useful on a day-to-day basis. I recommend Buenos Aires, and Rayuela to anyone considering learning or improving skills in Spanish. JR Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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Evaluation from danallingham:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Brilliant school, very friendly and excellent teachers. The course is well structured and moves very quickly. From knowing very little Spanish, in 40 hours over 2 weeks, I am now happy conversing in Spanish. Our teacher, Ines, was very helpful and made the classes fun. I would definately recommend this school

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Evaluation from sjonvik:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: My husband and I attended this school in March 2007 in order to brush up our very rusty beginners´Spanish for traveling independently in South America. We could not have chosen a better place to start. We were extremely impressed with the helpfulness, professionalism and thorough competence of the staff. Our teachers were patient and the pace was tailored to our specific needs. The course is oriented to help students find a conversational competence in Spanish which is exactly what we were looking for. They were also very helpful in getting us settled in, first into a hotel and then an apartment, and went beyond the call of duty in helping us sort out our banking issues as well. The school administrator is a tango teacher and she organized an outing to a milonga club that gave us a glimpse of the wonderful tango scene in Buenos Aires far from the touristy shows. She also took pains to organize an outing to see the Boca Juniors, one of the best soccer teams in the world, play a home match. We loved the location of the school in the safe, bohemian, and eclectic neighbourhood of San Telmo that never seems to sleep. We are already planning on returning next year. Alejandro, Cecilia, Ivana, thanks again for all your help, and for a wonderful time.

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Evaluation from sIngrid:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I went to Buenos Aires because I wanted to learn and better my Spanish, so choosing the right school was very important to me. I can say I was more than happy that I went with Rayuela, it has outdone itself in so many ways. Extremely personalized attention, wonderful instructions, great teachers and administrator, love the location (San Telmo is an awesome, full of characteristics barrio)…all in all a fantastic fun environment to learn Spanish in. I had 4 hours of class everyday for 4 weeks and there wasn’t one boring or unpleasant moment. My teacher, Ivana, was always super patient with us and very encouraging. Even though she is fluent in English, she would not use English until it was absolutely necessary, and that really helped us to think in Spanish and not stuck in the translation. Their classes were pretty much tailor-made for each class and adjusted accordingly to our progress. Having met many great friends as well at the school, when we shared our thoughts about the school, we only had great things to say. I haven’t heard one complain. I really hope Rayuela keep up the good work because when I return I am going back for sure! So for all those who are looking for a Spanish school in BA, I highly recommend Rayuela! Ingrid from Toronto, Canada

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Evaluation from Lyndal:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I can"t rate Rayuela highly enough. I have recently finished a two week course there and it was wonderful, we learnt so much, our teacher (Iael) was just fantastic, very patient and a wonderful teacher. You certainly get value for money, it is great fun and there is a very warm and friendly atmosphere, especially with Cecilia popping in and bringing us "cafe con leche" all the time! And it is located right in the middle of San Telmo. Very very highly reccommended.

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Evaluation from sandrachris:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Especially our teacher Fernanda was wunderful. We learnd in the crashcourse these 5 days a lot in a funny and relaxed atmosphere. It is a little school with a family character and Alejandro was very helpful to give us the possibility to learn some spanish in a short time, although all the courses have started yet. We can recommend this school. Greetings from Germany, Sandra and Chris

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Evaluation from willitho:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Very good school! Flexible, excellent learning material and super friendly teachers/staff. The school is small as well as the classes are and for me it was the best envirorment to learn spanish quickly. 100% recommendable!

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Evaluation from marirollevensen:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I studied at Rayuela for eight weeks, and did know little or nothing Spanish on beforehand. After the two months at Rayuela, I was able to get around and conversate very well, in my own opinion. It's a bit more expensive than other language schools (especially the activities outside the school, you find them cheaper elsewhere), but it's really worth the money. Our teacher seemed great, understanding, fun, well educated and really dedicated to her work. The facilities are simple, but very nice, and all of the schools employees are warm and welcoming people. Other good stuff is that they keep the classes small – my class never extended four people. The teaching valuates the ability to speak, and what it more important than that? I warmly recommend Rayuela if you want to get somewhere with your Spanish, not just learn phrases to get you food and drink in Spanish-speaking countries.

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Evaluation from germanchicken:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Very good school with excellent teachers, the best ones to explain spanish grammar ;-) Situated in beautiful San Telmo in a great ancient building. Very very nice people who will help you with everything you need for beeing in Buenos Aires. The school works with very small groups so the climate is very familar and there is always a teacher around so you will speak spanish all the time!!!

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Evaluation from persdatter:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: My eight weeks at Rayuela was great. From knowing almost no spanish to speak with some level of confidence and make conversation. Not bad at all, and it is thanks to my great profesora, Yael, and a great program at Rayuela.

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Evaluation from kemonk:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: The teaching quality at Rayuela was of a very high standard and I would highly recommend this school to beginners and those wishing to improve their Spanish.

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Evaluation from Kieron:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: In general I found the teaching in the school to be very good, the teacher was very professional. The only issues I had were two-fold, like with most schools in the city the classes start early which if you live a bit of a distance away from the school makes it a bit of a nightmare to get there on a morning, as you have the usual problems of having to travel during the peak hour traffic.The second issue was that everyday there seemed to be either excessive noise just outside the classroom or blinding sunlight beaming through the window as there was no kind of sunblind to shade the classroom. I know these might seem little things but after a while they really do not make it an ideal environment in which to learn.

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Evaluation from wilsaar:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I spent almost three months at Rayuela earlier this year and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to study Spanish in Buenos Aires. When I was searching for a school, Rayuela was a bit more expensive than some of the other schools but proved to be well worth any difference given the quality of the program. It is definitely not one of the "corporate schools" that litter the city - but a small, independent school with friendly professors who take a genuine interest in your progress and aim to create a plan that suits your needs. For example, I had numerous classes with both a professor and the director of the school simply because they wanted to challenge me and ensure that my lesson plans were properly calibrated. Rayuela is located in a central area of San Telmo and has good facilities with all the necessities, including multiple classrooms, a lounge, a computer area and a kitchen where you can easily practice your Spanish with students and/or professors. I read where another student had issues with noise and think we may have overlapped because there was a bit of noise during my first few days at the school. This was difficult for a few days but to my knowledge was an isolated incident given that there was a bit of construction in an adjoining building. After my first few days, I had no further issues with noise and actually thought the classrooms were well placed far off the street. The classrooms were well appointed with white boards, tables, chairs and windows with large shutters in case the sun sets a bit early. I am still in touch with many of the people who I met at the school, including my professor Ivana - who is awesome if you are lucky enough to get her. Bottom line, if you are serious about improving your Spanish, Rayuela has to be one of the best choices in BsAs.

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Evaluation from giordac:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Over the course of one month, I took 80 hours of private classes here. I thought the environment was very conducive to learning. I found the facilities to be comfortable and my professor to be superb. I would highly recommend Rayuela.

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Evaluation from robandgemma:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: We chose Rayuela over many other schools we contacted because Alejandro gave up a lot of his time arranging "homestay" accommodation for us at short-notice, and also showed us some of the thorough monitoring work he carries out to ensure high standards of teaching and learning are consistently achieved. Prior to our trip neither of us could speak Spanish. However, 5 months of our holiday will be spent in Spanish-speaking countries. Therefore, we enrolled on the 2 week, 4 hours a day, intensive course. Our teacher, Jorge, took time to get to know us and was a very effective teacher. Material was adapted to meet our interests, homework was relevant and challenging and lessons were well-paced. We sincerely recommend Rayuela. Dr. R Foxall and Mrs GL Foxall

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Evaluation from CHARVS:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Really good school, probably needs more space! Jorge was a great teacher, and the programme was very well run. Andy

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Evaluation from indyfilmz:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: July 20, 2007. I have just completed 20 hours at Rayuela and I am totally satisfied with this school. The level of instruction is excellent. I always felt that the instruction was geared specifically to my needs and I didn"t get the "factory farming" feeling which is so often the case with larger schools. I do not have one thing to complain about. I myself am an English teacher and my students are people just like me--adults who want to speak another language and want to communicate in the everyday language of the native speakers. Being a teacher, I have very high standards and this school met all my standards. The building itself is a joy--maybe turn of the century, in a wonderful barrio of BA called San Telmo. My teacher was wonderful and all the people at the school were friendly and helpful. I liked it that everyone corrected me when I made a mistake! I was placed with a homestay family and that too, was a wonderful experience. My room was comfortable and the cost was reasonable. I cannot overpraise Rayuela because it was such a positive experience and my Spanish improved so much in just 2 weeks.

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Evaluation from LorenRice:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: We found this program to be well organized and managed. Our instructor was very helpful and patient with us since we knew very little Spanish and what we did know was of poor quality. The teaching materials were well presented and interesting. We entered the program with the anticipation of being able to speak and understand Spanish sufficiently well to get around Buenos Aires on our own for the three months we are here. After 20 classroom hours we were able to give instructions to taxi drivers, shop, read signs and newspaper headlines and even located and communicated with a dentist. We can respond to most questions and be polite. We met another student from the States and spent evenings having fun while practicing our newly learned Spanish skills. We highly recommend this program. Loren Rice Fred DeLeau Palm Desert, California USA

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Evaluation from justinirish:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I am very impressed with Instituto de Espanol Rayuela. The lesson objectives were tailored to meet my needs and the instruction was scaffolded to help me achieve a deep understanding of spanish grammar, phonics, and comprehension. I had a wonderful experience and learned much from the classes at Rayuela and will continue to attend classes there the next time I visit Argentina. The office staff and the director of the program are very hospitable and the instruction from my profesora was top notch (she is a true master teacher). I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in learning the Spanish language.

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Evaluation from wheely:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Rayuela is a great school, located in the charming neighborhood of San Telmo. The classes are given in small groups in a very friendly and quiet environment. I had a very energetic teacher called Ivana! I have had a great experience at this school and surely recommend it!!

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Evaluation from craigandstacie:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: This is a seriously good Spanish school and anyone considering studying in Buenos Aires should include this school in their top choices. The teaching is excellent. We had three different teachers (because we kept changing our plans) and two of them were exceptional and one was very good. There is free internet here and Alejandro, the director of studies is more than helpful in giving any assistance he can whether it be free print-outs or checking the footie schedule for the weekend. We have no real criticisms and we studied here intensivly for 3 weeks. It is a nice atmosphere in a good working environment and if you are lucky you will get lunch too! The Spanish itself is great. The teachers talk in Spanish all the time so it is really helpful for beginners to pick up pronounciation etc. It is hard work learning a language and the place makes all the difference, and this school located at of the nice suburbs - San Telmo - was perfect for us! Highly reccomended, thanks all!

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Evaluation from mooboleq:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I had an excellent experience with Rayuela. The teachers are very professional, and Alejandro (the guy who runs the school) seems intent on making sure that all his students have a good experience not only with the school but with their entire stay in the city. The materials are all developed for Rayuela specifically, the courses seem to be custom tailored to the needs of the students, and Alejandro consults with the teachers constantly to ensure everyone is learning what they should be learning. I of course can't compare Rayuela to any other Buenos Aires schools, but I have no doubt that Rayuela is the best school for anyone who wants to learn Spanish the right way from the beginning.

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Evaluation from ruthsene:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: We had 4 weeks of lesson at the school and it is an excellent choice for learning Spanish. Our teacher Paloma was really great and patient with us and tried to make the learning as fun as possible. We even played Bingo to help us learn numbers. They concentrate on teaching you grammer which gives you the foundations to carry on learning more. If you want to get to grips with the structure of the language rather than basic vocab, this is a good school. Ruth and Mark

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Evaluation from TonyaSmith:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I love the atmosphere here. The teachers are great! Over all, they try to accomidate you in every way you request....They also make learning spanish fun.....I will certainly refer all my friends to this school.....Also, you can take classes on line if you are not able to be in Buenos Aires......Honestly, I can't say enough about this school........

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Evaluation from ciaramckeown:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Hola! I have just completed a 2 week intensive spanish course with Instituto de Espanol Rayuela. I chose it based on the reviews on this website. What a brilliant choice I made!! When I read the reviews I must admit i was a bit cynical when so many people mentioned that they could, after 2 weeks, hold conversations with taxi drivers. But seriously, I can!!!! All I had when I arrived was ¨hola¨and ¨Vino tinto por favor¨but now it´s quite incredable to be able to communicate with confidence. (Okay, so verbs aren´t my strong point......!) Alejandro looked after everything; the taxi picking me up from the airport, and the homestay with a local family near the school. He had emailed details about the family and taxi driver so I didn´t feel at all freaked out when i arrived in Argentina after 24 hours on a plane! Our teacher Virginia was absolutley brilliant - her standard of teaching is truly professional. And we laughed a lot! Now I am backpacking my way around South America, and only now can I fully appreciate just what a fantastic teacher she is, and what a great course this school offers. Have fun!! Ciara

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Evaluation from Hollyhutber:

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Evaluation from modusvivendi79:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I just completed one week of private lessons, for three hours a day, at Rayuela and was very happy with my choice. Since I already speak Spanish fairly well, I was basically looking for a mixture of conversation and grammar instruction. I found that Rayuela did an excellent job giving me the right mix of the two and did a very good job fine tuning my Spanish when I would make small mistakes. My professor did an excellent job both in explaining nuanced grammatical points to me and in facilitating interesting conversation over a variety of topics so that I could practice speaking Spanish on many different subjects. This last point is reflective of my overall impression of Rayuela: the people are very high caliber. Everyone I met seemed very intelligent and well educated and dedicated to teaching. Also, everyone was super friendly, so it was a great place to spend time and I felt right at home. It was really a great time. Also worth noting is that Rayuela put me up with a nice host family a short walk away in a nice neighborhood, which makes a huge difference. Overall, I can definitely recommend Rayuela. You get a lot of individualized attention and value for your money and really can't go wrong. Scott Carr, San Francisco, California

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Evaluation from EvaBrandecker:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Beeing a publisher of language learning materials myself, I wanted to experience the reverse side of learning in taking the pupil's position during my 3-weeks stay in Buens Aires. Since I had no spanish skills, I enrolled for a basic course at the Institute Rayuela. I found the teacher and his concept to be excellent - everything was adapted perfectly to my special needs and abilities. Very sensitive and competent I was trained with the fundamentals which gave me a firm basis. These unique, tailor-made lessons not only enriched me in terms of knowledge but gave me great pleasure as well. The entire team of Rayuela has been very kind and considerate - I can highly recommend this Institute! ¡Muchas gracias! ¡Me he divertido! Eva Brandecker, Düsseldorf, Germany

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Evaluation from saintjill:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: i took 40 hours of private classes over the course of a fortnight at the school and thoroughly enjoyed my time. having studied previously, both at home and whilst travelling, i was looking for the right balance of conversational fun and more formal tuition this time round. i was not in the least disappointed by rayuela and would not hesitate to recommend the programme. all the staff are extremely friendly and helpful, the classes are tailored in accordance with ability/progress and all necessary materials provided. i was taught by paloma and by virginia.... both were categorically excellent. i had a huge amount of fun in the classroom with both girls, whilst simultaneously learning a great deal. they are a credit to the school, which deserves the 5 star rating above. Jill Wood, Scotland

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Evaluation from zpotter:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Rayuela was recommended to me by the hostel that I stayed in and, thus far, I have taken approximately 60 hours of instruction in both group and private settings. Relatively speaking, the school is small, which means that the "group" classes have an excellent student to faculty ratio and the school pays attention to the individual needs of each student. As an example, my first group class only had one other student in it, which made it the near equivalent of private instruction. Of equal importance, the owner of the school, Alejandro, is obviously committed to maintaining a highly professional language program, which is not universally true of the many schools in Buenos Aires. As a result of his efforts, the faculty is excellent. I have heard good things about the other professors, but I only have direct experience with Virginia, who has been a delightful professor throughout. She is patient, clear, and knowledgeable about the subject matter and, at the same time, has a good sense of humor and is a thoughtful and interesting interlocutor. Given the amount of time that you will spend talking with your professor, the latter qualities are important. My friends have informed me that there are less expensive options in Buenos Aires, but I am not willing to sacrifice the quality that I have found at Rayuela to save a few dollars/pesos per hour.

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Evaluation from feels1:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: It's set in San Telmo, a beautiful area of Buenos Aires, and only a short walk from the nearest Subte (metro) station. My tutor Mercedes was really friendly and a very good teacher. I didn't have accomodation so don't know what that would be like but San Telmo is a good place to be based for sight-seeing.

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Evaluation from johnrufwtr:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I can not rate this school highly enough. They exceeded all of my expectations on every account. This sounds like BS but I am just telling you my experience. Group classes in my case were never more than 3 people and the teacher, Patricio, was great. He was totally engaged with us, very flexible, smart, inventive and fun. Lessons seemed very well thought out and appropriate to my level. Perhaps the most outstanding point to recommend the school was the incrediable level of service cheerfully provided to me. They recommened an apartment, vocal teacher, dermotoligist, dentist and a bunch of other stuff that all worked out for me. Maybe the best example was on my last day in BA when the headmaster, Alejandro, called me at my apartment and alerted me to a planned strike/disruption of the road to the airport. By leaving several hours before I had planned I was able to get to the airport OK. What a cool guy who would call me after everything was completed and alert me to the problem. That attitude characterizes the school. I am planning on returning next December.

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Evaluation from Suzanne:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: My partner and I took a 4 day private tutoring at Instituto de Español Rayuela. We found it excellent! We learnt so much in a very short space of time. The course was taught entirely in Spanish which built up our confidence in speaking and understanding Spanish outside the school. The lessons were very interactive which again helped us reinforce what we were learning. The tutor was very friendly and helpful throughout the lessons. We would recommend this school to anyone, good value for the money.

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Evaluation from sarahyoung:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this school, which I only went to because it was two blocks away from the hostel at which I was staying. It is a little hard to find, unless you know the exact address of the place, but when a friend and I rang on the doorbell, we were shown in, offered coffee, and Alejandro the director sat us down and explained the various course options to us. Because it is a small school, it can be difficult finding others who are at the same level as you, but the you can take private lessons until you get a class together and you will learn a lot either way. My teacher was excellent, speaking to us mainly in Spanish, but translating in English when we got stuck. I can't speak for other teachers, but she had studied both linguistics and teaching, and taught us about the Argentine culture as much as the Spanish language, and corrected our mistakes with humour. There was a good balance between daily communication topics and grammar, and we had optional homework which was very instructional. My teacher also lent us CDs and books where appropriate. I have been to language classes both at universities and overseas insititutions (e.g. a Goethe Institut in Germany) and my experience at Rayuela compares very favourably.

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Evaluation from CHAUDMO:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: The approach to teaching here is different in that materials are customised to fit the needs of students so you´re not just ploughing your way through an exercise book every day. This allows your learning to evolve in the way that you need. But the real difference is the teaching. My teacher Patricio was excellent, highly knowledgeable in the technical aspects of the language and able to convey this with the clarity and simplicity needed for a beginner. The classes were always thoroughly enjoyable too. The director Alejandro is highly dedicated and always on hand to guide you through the process. I would recommend this school to anyone wishing to take their first steps towards mastering this wonderful language, I myself spent a month there and will be continuing my studies with them - when a teacher becomes free!

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Evaluation from anikastokes:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: My boyfriend and I had private lessons here and would really recommend this school to anyone. we really enjoyed the lessons, teh teachers were great, they made it fun and worked to our individual levels. 5 star...

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Evaluation from chocolatepuddycat:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I studied at Rayuela for 2 weeks in December of 2007. I have been traveling to Latin America and studying in Spanish schools while visiting different countries for 5 or 6 years, and I truly have to say that the level of instruction at this school is probably the best that I've experienced. I especially liked that the director, Alejandro, interviewed me first to determine my level before assigning me to a class, although I ended up taking private lessons. My teacher, Paloma, though young, was very good. She spoke fluent English but we probably didn't speak more than a dozen English words the entire time, which is a very good idea when studying a foreign language! Alejandro also went out of his way to find suitable accomodations for me, which conveniently happened to be only 2 blocks from the school, and a great match for me. Cecilia and the rest of the staff were also very friendly and helpful. Though the school is a bit more expensive than others, I highly recommend it for its quality of instruction. Thank you all at Rayuela!

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Evaluation from jackieleecook:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: We can´t recommend this school highly enough! Extremely professional in every aspect! All the teachers are motivating, excellent tutors and make learning spanish a pleasure. We had such a great time and will go back in the future. And Rachel makes you great coffees too!

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Evaluation from biribiri:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Spent two months at the school and enjoyed every single minute of it. They put together a program tailored specifically for my needs as a university student. Extremely helpfull and friendly staff. Went out of their way to assist me with various problems i had during my stay, which in no way was related to the school. Very personal atmosphere. The teachers are extremely knowledgeable, and know a lot about the city and the culture of the country as well as suring up your broken grammar. I could not have had a better start to my stay here in Buenos Aires. Thumbs up across the board. Johan, Norway.

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Evaluation from hami32:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I spent a month searching for a good Spanish school in Argentina. I needed to become conversational in a short period of time. In the process, Rayuela was recommended to me by a friend of friend. After contacting Alejandro (director), he was able to arrange a class for me and another student. In a matter of 3 weeks I went from zero to being able to have basic conversations with people and being able to get my point across in most situations. I had three teachers in a three week span and all of them were absolutely wonderful. The only thing is that if you are looking for a social school where learning Spanish is secondary to going out in groups often and doing activities, there are other schools in Buenos Aires which are better. But, if you want to learn Spanish, I can't recommend Rayuela enough. That said, you can still take Tango classes or get tickets to football games or discounts to tango shows etc through Rayuela. The school is located in a great part of town (San Telmo) with lots of café's and restaurants near by. Spanish is the only language spoken at the school (difficult at the beginning but you get used to it and helps you learn) even though everyone is multi-lingual. Overall, a great experience!

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Evaluation from lucybrighton:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: My partner and I took a four day crash course in Spanish here (level = just above beginners) and we had a fantasic time. All staff were friendly, helpful and polite and our teacher, Silvina, was fantastic. She was flexible to our needs as well as staying focused on the syllabus that had been drawn up for us. The staff team seem committed to, and passionate about, teaching Spanish. The value for money was excellent. Tea/coffee was continuously available and all materials (folder and paperwork) was included in the price. Thank you to Alexandro, Silvina and all the staff for making our stay in Buenos Aires enjoyable as well as helping us improve our Spanish!!

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Evaluation from elyse:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I had 4 weeks of intensive lessons at Rayuela and it was fabulous. Before going to Rayuela, I could only understand the basic hello, how are you etc. My comprehension has improved by leaps and bounds. This is a great way to kick off a trip to South America. The curriculum is excellent, and was tailor-made to the skill level of the individual. Our teacher, Paloma is truly gifted. The manager of the school, Alejandro is wonderful - very thorough. He checked in with Paloma daily to ensure our class was on track and to make any needed adjustments or to make time to review for any tricky bits we were having trouble with. It is obvious that Alejandro has a passion for teaching Spanish and it shows in his dedication. Class sizes were small, so we received lots of individual attention. Our accomodations were convenient (two blocks to the school) and cozy. Good for what I thought was a very reasonable price. The building was secure, the neighbors were friendly. The landlady was incredibly sweet, which made our stay that much more enjoyable.

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Evaluation from bliss123:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: After two weeks of intensive Spanish classes (as a beginner), I highly recommend Rayuela language school. On the first day, my professor had myself and the other students speaking in Spanish, which immediately gave me the confidence to try to begin communicating with others outside the school during my daily life in Buenos Aires. Although all the professors are fluent in English, the class was conducted almost exclusively in Spanish, providing a lot of exposure to the sound of language and greatly increasing my ability to understand what was being said. I found all of my professors to be creative, dynamic, and above all patient. I'm sure it can't be very interesting to hear students haltingly describe what they ate for breakfast and did the night before, and how many brothers and sisters they have over and over again, but these conversations are part of the process by which a person learns to speak a language, and my instructors always remained engaged and encouraging. The lessons were structured enough to cover the many fundamentals while also flexible enough to allow the class to pursue a line of conversation that had grabbed our interest. The director, Alejandro, is very professional and thoughtful concerning his students needs, and that he appears so well-liked by his staff and former students speaks highly of his genial nature. A top rate school that I've already recommended!

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Evaluation from aslinth:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I am a 29yo male looking to learn practical Spanish for traveling, personal, and perhaps one day, professional use. I was looking for a professional atmosphere in which to learn. Rayuala provided that. This is not a school for people who come to BA to party and pretend to learn Spanish. This is a small but serious outfit to which serious people come to really learn! My fellow classmates were studying so they could travel in South America, attend University in BA. And although the students were serious about learning, we did have our share of fun at lunch and we met frequently outside of classes. When I started, I could barely say 'hola'. After 4 weeks of class I was ready for 2 months of independent travel around South America. I attribute my successful learning to 1) the ability of the instructor, and 2) the supervision of the curriculum by the headmaster. Instructor Paloma was knowledgeable, patient, and thought-provoking. Alejandro, the head of the school, relying on daily progress reports by Paloma, adjusted the curriculum as necessary. Value-for-money seemed to be on par with other programs, although inability to accept credit card payments was irksome. The class started with two people and ended with six, and the speed of learning definitely declined with more students. Finally, there was an issue with class formations and additional tutoring outside of class. Alejandro has a tendency to make his problems your problems - he is a better professor than a businessman. The school itself was in an accessible, lively location in San Telmo. Facilities in the school were simple, tasteful, and comfortable for +4 hours a day of instruction. I did a homestay with a Porteno couple living in Congresso. It was great fun, but my hostess spoke fluent english, which made it challenging to practice Spanish at home. Next time I will insist on finding accommodations in which the hosts only speak Spanish. Taking both the pros and cons into consideration, I would highly recommend Rayuela. I got exactly what I wanted out of it, as did my classmates and the other students at the school. I would return to Rayuela again.

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Evaluation from Melisaleaf:

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Evaluation from hannahgitmark:

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Comments: I took a four-week course, mainly to prepare me for studies in the University of Buenos Aires. The program and course was made perfectly to fit just the level I was on. The teachers were wonderful, good at giving classes, and I was amazed of the level of knowledge they held. I learned a lot, and I had fun during classes. All of the staff were very helpful, nice and always in a good mood. I had some great 4 weeks at Rayuela, and will highly recommend it.

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Evaluation from the_e_odyssey:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I studied here recently for 4 weeks. From the moment I walked into the school I knew that this was the best place for me to learn Spanish. They explained to me the way they taught, the structure and the course work. My teacher was incredible as well. With no prior knowledge of Spanish myself, I feel she gave me a really great foundation for me to build upon. The classes are taught totally in Spanish which can be quite daunting in the beginning, but in a way is a great way to learn. They teach you the skills to ask the questions in Spanish and then you can build on it from there. The school is located in a great spot in San Telmo and the building itself really helped me in wanting to learn and be there everyday. Not only was the school great, I met some of the great people to learn with as well. To be honest there are other schools around that you could find cheaper, but I felt that with Rayuela, they gave me the best foundation, in the best environment which for me is important. I totally recommend them to anyone.

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Evaluation from gilliangibb:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: This is a great school that I would definitely recommend to anyone who is serious about improving their Spanish. The environment is studious and also fun. My teachers, Paloma and Flor were great. They were enthusiastic about the language and always 100 percent dedicated to the class and personalizing the curriculum to fit my needs. I took individual classes for 4 weeks and at the end felt that my Spanish had gotten much better. The school also helped me find a homestay in Buenos Aires with people I really enjoyed getting to know. I am really glad I decided to go with Rayuela and would definitely study there again if I were to return to BsAs.

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Evaluation from RobertJ:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: The 'Instituto de Español Rayuela' was recommended to me by a friend and as soon as I went to have a look at the language institute I was friendly and professionally welcomed. I was in need of a course which prepared me for my exchange semester in Buenos Aires. With my Spanish level being very low the director personally took the time to think about possibilities for me to improve my written and oral skills in a short period of time. A schedule was set up for me to fit my personal preferences. The teachers assigned to me were very patient with me and I felt perfectly taken care off. The staff is very friendly and students at Rayuela have a lot more possibilities to integrate in the Argentinian culture by the activities Rayuela offers to its students. I can just say that I strongly recommend the institute to everyone, from beginners to advanced speakers or anyone who is interested in the Spanish language!

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Evaluation from RossH:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I studied at Rayuella with no prior knowledge of Spanish, about to set off around South America. Rayuella´s experience as a language school shone out from day one, and the total package I received left me feeling confident to head out into the unknown. The amazing quality of teaching staff, and materials coupled with professionalism and great cups of coffee mean I can´t rate this school at anything below a 10/10. Thank you Rayuella!

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Evaluation from nathalie:

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Evaluation from Ballaballa:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I can only agree with everone else here. I've had three great weeks at Rayuela and I would surely recommend the place to anyone who's thinking of studying spanish in Buenos Aires. Alejandro Michel is an exellent teacher, the education is both professional and fun, and the staff is very helpful. /Kalle, Sweden

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Evaluation from rudolf_hauser:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Excellent teacher Melina Massera. Thank you

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Evaluation from rebekka:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Very nice people. I learned a lot in a very short time. A alway got help and assistance. I don't have any ideas for improvement or interceptions. I would go there again next time and just can recommend this school to everybody.

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Evaluation from CariW:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I met many students from other language schools during my three month and after exchanging experiences, it quickly became apparent to me that Rayuela is among the best of the language schools in Buenos Aires. My teacher Paloma was incredibly patient with me, the support staff was very friendly and helpful and Alejandro clearly delivered exactly what he promised: a solid program that accommodates the individual needs of the student. I can’t stress enough how grateful I am for all the effort and care that the staff put into making my educational experience at Rayuela as rich as possible. I highly recommend this school for those who want to make a serious attempt to learn Spanish.

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Evaluation from katyconor:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: We studied for four weeks, four hours per day. The class was small (for the last two weeks there was only the two of us) and our teacher Laura was fantastic. She is a natural teacher who was ever patient and great fun to learn with. Cecilia was always helpful with advice and organisation, and Rachel´s frequent coffees were much appreciated. The course was well designed to actually teach us spanish rather than just handy tourist phrases, a great frame work for speaking the language. All in all a great environment for learning. Thanks to all at Rayuela, we cannot reccomend it highly enough.

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Evaluation from kennyb1856:

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Evaluation from sandrita:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I spent 6 weeks studying at Rayuela and I am very happy with my time there! I learned a lot of spanish and had a good time. I had a great teacher (Ivana), liked the study methods, and the informal, friendly atmosphere. I highly recomend Rayuela to spanish students, beginners or others! /Sandra, Sweden

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Evaluation from plabansingha:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: it will be a grea honour to learn spanish from here, thank you

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Evaluation from timslucky17:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Great school! I came to the school as a total beginner and by the end of the course felt i had a platform of spanish to take on my 7 months of travel in South America. My teacher, Paloma, was really friendly, professional and had an excellent approach to teaching. 5 stars!

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Evaluation from susanogorman:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I really couldn't give high enough praise to the Instituto de Espanol Rayuela. I started my two week intensive course with no spanish and after two weeks felt much more confident using spanish in day to day situations. We covered a huge amount of vocabulary and grammar but it was all taught in such a fun and conversational setting that never did it feel like work. The use of games to augment learning was great. I wish languages in school were taught in such an effective and inspired way!! This school gets a definite two thumbs up and 5 stars from me. Thank you so much!! 25, Ireland

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Evaluation from BrandonB:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Rayuela is a great school, with an awesome staff. The school is located in San Telmo, it is easy to get to (via buses and three blocks from the metro), and is near Plaza Dorrego. Before leaving the States we contacted the school through this website. They were extremely helpful finding us a place to stay (through 4rentargentina.com) near San Telmo, and promptly responded to request for information. The day after our arrival we met with the owner, Alejandro Michel, to review our placement exams, and better assess our skills and needs/desires for the class. We opted for the intensive group course, which was 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, with a one hour lunch. After some discussion, we determined at what level we would be starting. My classmates were at a comparable level with me, and I think my placement with them turned out to be perfect. I had a different teacher for the first two weeks of instruction, then the last two weeks, as my first teacher went on vacation. However, despite being a bit different in approach, they both were quite skilled at teaching, and had been doing it professionally for some time. Also, I think I benefited from having two different teachers. Although there are occasional events that they recommend, Rayuela is not really one of those backpacker-haven-type places. It feels more professional and organized, attracting the more serious kind of students. That being said, while I was there, there was a good variety of backpackers and professionals/expats who live in B.A. now. All in all, a great school, with a excellent staff, and quality experience well worth the tiny bit extra they charge in comparison to other schools in B.A.

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Evaluation from beatabaliga:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I studied at Rayuela for a month in April 2009 and I found the school to be very professional. What’s more I really liked their individual approach to teaching Spanish which means that the classes were tailed to practice the areas which were of problematic nature for myself. I enjoyed having lessons with my teacher which was really important especially because I had intensive studying sessions each day. I must add that my teacher had a unique ability to explain any grammatical problem in a clear and comprehensive way and put the studying in socio-cultural Argentinean context which made it even more interesting and of course effective. My teacher was really persistent to make my past tense sound correct and her “finger tip sound” will probably stay in my head for ever. Apart from teaching at a very high level Rayuela offers an extremely friendly and home like atmosphere which you start to appreciate when you find yourself miles away from home. You don’t get the feeling that you are on your own in the town. The staff at the school always listens to your particular needs and offers help. Finally, the director has always time to have a small chat with you and thus directly controls the progress you make. When I finished my studying at Rayuela I really missed all the people there. At the moment I am thinking going back to Buenos Aires to continue my studying there. If I have a chance to go there again will definitely want to study at Rayuela. Beata, Warsaw, Poland

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Evaluation from bmartin:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I found this to be a really great Spanish school. My teacher, Stella, was really nice and an excellent teacher. Alejandro was also very helpful and friendly, as were Cecilia and Raquel, who work in the office. The quality of teaching was of a very high standard and I feel like I learnt so much in just 4 weeks of lessons. One thing I thought was really great is that you learn using a lot of different methods, like playing games, looking at picture cards, listening to music, watching youtube, reading newspaper articles, etc so it keeps it interesting. Also, the staff are very helpful with regards to any medical needs (I fell down the stairs and also got tonsilitis and they were very helpful and arranged for me to see a doctor). Overall, I would definitely recommend this school to friends.

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Evaluation from Pilgrim192:

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Comments: i think most of those comments were probably done by someone who works there... i went to a few schools in argentina. rayuela was OK, but certainly overpriced. my teacher...i didn't like her personality and i felt like the lessons weren't very interesting. i did learn some things...but i didnt feel like they wanted to help me work on things that i was weak in . the owner is really egotistical and thinks too highly of himself. i didn't like him. they do give free drinks daily (like most schools) and they have them delivered to your classroom, which is nice. the staff is nice. overall it wasn't a horrible school, but i just felt it was overpriced and i didnt like the owner.

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Evaluation from ameliacjoiner:

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Comments: I've just finished an 8 month stay in Buenos Aires, during which I studied for most of that time at Rayuela. As I was getting ready to post my comments I noticed a recent review by a user named "Pilgrim192" that raised two important issues that I think should be addressed. First, the cost of the classes. It is true that Rayuela's classes do cost slightly more than other schools you might find in Buenos Aires, but there is an important reason for this. The director of the school, Prof. Michel, hires only legal workers. That is to say, that all of the staff and teachers at Rayuela are fully protected by the Argentine laws designed to protect workers (bonuses, time off, sick leave, etc..). Many other schools in Buenos Aires do not follow this practice, so while the classes may cost less the students are actually supporting a system in which their teachers are, essentially, unprotected by law. As a lawyer I found this distinction to be quite important. Second, "Pilgrim192" levels some serious personal accusations against Prof. Michel. For my last four months at Rayuela I took private lessons with Prof. Michel. I did not find him to be egotistical. On the contrary, he was incredibly kind and concerned about my experience both at the school and in Argentina. There was a period of time during which I was quite ill and had to take time away from my classes; during this period both Prof. Michel and the other Rayuela staff constantly checked in on me to see if I needed anything. Prof. Michel is strict; if you take classes with him, you can expect to work hard. But you can also expect to see your Spanish skills increase dramatically. He is probably one of the most highly qualified school directors in the city. Learning a foreign language is difficult, especially for adult learners, but I have gone from absolute beginner to a strong intermediate level in less than a year; I believe this speaks to both the strength and quality of the instruction. I'm happy to speak with anyone who is considering studying in Buenos Aires and would like more information about my experience at Rayuela. My email address is: amelia.c.joiner@gmail.com

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Evaluation from Benny77:

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Comments: I agree with "Pilgrim192" comments regarding Rayuela. Since I am a positive person, I will start with the positive about the school. The facility/building is absolutely wonderful! It is located in a historic building which is very pleasant and has great character. Now for the bad about the school. The Director, Alejandro Michel doesn't not treat his workers well...during my 2 month stay there, I witnessed a number of incidents in which he mistreated the teachers. Also, there is no social life at the school whatsoever. Furthermore, the Director also personally threatened me...this made me decide to change schools for the remainder of my stay in Buenos Aires. The country and city are well worth visiting and studying in...however, save yourself from making the mistake that I made and do not attend Rayuela.

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Evaluation from Brammer:

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Comments: The Instituto de Espanol Rayuela is a wonderful environment to study Spanish while in Buenos Aires. Everything is about quality, and of course, charm. The staff is extremely helpful and caring and the instruction is serious but fun. Director Alejandro Michel accomodated my first Time in Buenos Aires 2005. He was the person he gave me the possibility to have a better live here in Buenos Aires. I´m german and I live here since 2004. I was in different schools in Buenos Aires but without question Alejandro give the best of spanish and help me to stay here. Thank you Gracias Alejandro

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Evaluation from Boniface:

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Comments: I had a great time at Rayuela. My teacher and the method she used allowed me to make fast progress in a very short period of time, and Alejandro (the owner) and his staff are always doing their best to assist you in any possible manner.

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Evaluation from simoneakkerman:

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Comments: We would definately recommend this school, esp. when you live in San Telmo. It's a great school, with very friendly and excellent teachers. From knowing very little Spanish, in 40 hours over 2 weeks, we speak well enough now for living iin BsAs and dancing the tango. Our teacher, Eugenia, was very helpful and made the classes fun. The power of the school is the special attention and the familiar atmosphere. Arie en Símone, Holland

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Evaluation from senderos:

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Comments: We liked this school as it is a small school with very individual attention. El Professor Alejandro made meaningfull replies to our initial requests by email for more information (other Bs. As. schools we contacted did not show much interest). The classes were interesting and varied; the teachers excellent. A special thanks to the Secretary, Ceci, who taught us to dance and helped us with travel information.

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Evaluation from abolt:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I had a great experience at Rayuela this summer, and am continuing to take online classes with them now that I'm back home. The school is located in a beautiful building in San Telmo and it was truly a pleasure to sit in one of their cozy rooms for four hours every day with the sun streaming in studying Spanish. I had a group class and for me it struck a great balance between conversation and grammar – the grammar lessons were in Spanish anyway, so I felt like I was living in Spanish the entire time I was in class. My teacher, Eugenia, was wonderful, and the director of the school, Alejandro, takes the students' happiness very seriously and tries to accommodate any reasonable request. He offered to put me in private lessons at no additional charge when I was concerned that the group I was in wasn't right for my level. The school also helped me plan a trip to Iguazú and gave me advice about activities in the city. I made an offhand remark on day about wanting to see some classical music and the next day Ceci, the school administrator, had prepared a list of all the concerts in the city that weekend. Wow. As for the fun factor, I was there during the slow season and during the swine flu panic, so there weren't many other students at the school at the time and thus not many organized activities outside of class. So I can't comment on that aspect of the school. But for me, I was actually happy that there weren't a ton of planned activities. I loved taking class in the morning and having the rest of the day to explore Buenos Aires on my own – with advice from the Rayuela staff on where to go and what to see. Another note – during class you are provided with as much tea, coffee, or mate as you want, for free. This seems like a minor detail, but I really missed it later in the summer when I attended a school in Ecuador that charged for EVERYTHING, including refreshments and group activities. Also, I became seriously addicted to Rayuela's café con leche. I wish I had one right now.

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Evaluation from sibegley:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I was there for 4 weeks learning Spanish from scratch and would recommend Rayuela to anyone. The school is small and incredibly friendly with all staff - from Director Alejandro to the teachers and support staff, Ceci, Raquel & Sophie - working to ensure the students learn, are happy and have fun while learning. My profesora, Eugenia, made sure of the fun part - hangman, cards and battleships plus articles on Argentine history were all part of the lessons. And Ceci even gave us dancing lessons. Great school.

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Evaluation from magyal:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: This was a great and very serious course--we learned a lot in four weeks and they were so wonderful in accommodating our schedule and working around the holidays. Highly recommended!

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Evaluation from nburkey:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Like many who have commented here, I have studied Spanish over the years in a variety of places from the classroom in U.S. colleges, summer study in Spain, and individual lessons in Guatemala and the U.S. My time at Rayuela was far and above the best and most productive experience I've had. The materials were challenging without being overwhelming. My instructor was friendly and personable, but at the same time professional and focused. I'm truly amazed at the advances I've made. I can't recommend this school highly enough. My only disappointment is that I can't stay longer. I hope to return in the near future and look forward to continuing to study with Rayuela online. Nancy Burkey, M.D.

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Evaluation from kristinamand:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I chose the Rayuela school because it was highly recommended by a friend and evaluated on 123teachme.com website. And it was all true: the premises are very nice, the classrooms open and light, the people friendly and most importantly, our teacher very very good. I wanted to study only two weeks but I learned so much that I eventually studied for 4 weeks. Now I can speak and understand Spanish. Very good choice. PS I never used the accommodation therefore my rating for that topic is not applicable.

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Evaluation from martinhilditch:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: This is an excellent school that I would highly recommend to anyone travelling to Buenos Aires and looking to learn Spanish. I had no Spanish at all on arrival and after a two week course had learnt enough to head off around South America with confidence. The course tutor, Alejandro, who also runs the school was brilliant - really creative and clearly cares about what he does. The friendly atmosphere was a big help to someone like me who had just arrived in the country and, indeed, the continent. The school also arranged for me to stay with the most amazing, welcoming family I could possibly have asked for. Sorry if this sounds like a total love-in but I couldn´t fault the time I spent here.

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Evaluation from keren:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I just completed two weeks of intensive spanish classes for beginners, and I have to say, I am glad I picked Rayuela! I found the teachers and administrators to be kind, thoughtful, and committed to providing me with a positive and successful learning experience. My spanish has improved, I made connections with other students, and gained a deeper understanding of cultural and linguistic nuances in Argentina.

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Evaluation from MarcosRamos:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Estudei duas semanas no Instituto Rayuela. As aulas foram absolutamente interessantes e interativas. Mais do que uma aula de idioma, somos iniciados na cultura de um país e, sobretudo, de Buenos Aires. O conteúdo linguístico é tratado de forma séria e profunda, privilegiando os alunos que querem, mais do que apenas se comunicar, compreender o funcionamento de uma língua. Indico o Instituto Rayuela sem ressalvas.

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Evaluation from benjiinwood:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Everything about the Instituto de Español Rayuela was perfect. A warm welcome every morning, friendly people to talk to every day and some great extra-curricular activities. However, by far the most impressive thing was the quality of instruction. Our professor, Ignacio, was both incredibly entertaining and above all an excellent teacher. The content of the classes was perfectly suited to what we needed, and they were always small enough to be focussed on our weak points. Furthermore, we learned far more than conversational spanish, Ignacio taught us in a way that means now our classes are over, we can continue learning independently every day. I studied for 4 weeks, and now feel far more confident in everyday life in Buenos Aires. To anyone looking for a school in which to learn the language, I couldn´t give a more heartfelt recommendation. Alejandro y Ignacio, ¡Muchas Gracias!

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Evaluation from helenalvey:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I studied at Rayeula for one month in the intensive group class and cannot fault the experience. I learnt so much in that month and the experience has really helped with my travels. All of the staff are so friendly and supportive, my tutor was Ignacio who was amazing. Also, the school is in a great location in the heart of San Telmo (my favourite part of BA). I cannot recommend this school highly enough.

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Evaluation from paulreaton:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Rayuela is an excellent environment to learn Spanish, located in a lovely old building in gorgeous San Telmo. I spent 8 weeks there learning Spanish and can without doubt recommend it, the style of teaching was perfect, everyone was very friendly, the teaching material provided was clear and well presented......and best of all the class sizes are small (average of 3) which gives you lots of opportunities to practice talking and also to ask questions when you are unsure or need further explaination. It's that good i'm returning in a month to continue learning Spanish.

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Evaluation from awjw88:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Great school, very friendly. The Director of the school has a fantastic knowledge of grammar and all classes have very good learning materials

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Evaluation from kenwil123:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: good school

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Evaluation from cyril:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Je recommande fortement Rayuela. C’est une charmante petite école avec des professeurs très sympathiques, accueillants et très professionnel. Les cours sont personnalisés, en petit groupe ou individuel, ce qui nous permet d’apprendre d’autant plus vite. Le coût des cours est peut-être quelque peu plus élevé que dans certaines autres institutions, mais la qualité des cours est incomparable ( en comparaison aux autres établissement que j’ai fréquentées). Pour ces raisons, vous ne vous tromperez pas en choisissant Rayuela.

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Evaluation from hogan_joe:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Excellent School, profesional approach but yet in a friendly and comfortable learning environment. The Director Alejandro is very accommodating and flexible. He ensures that the individual needs of each student are being met. 5 stars.

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Evaluation from realrere:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: I highly recommend Rayuela to anyone wanting to improve in Spanish. Alejandro, the owner, is quite serious about students' language acquisition, and prepares daily instruction to meet individual needs, within the institute's set curriculum. My teacher was Nancy. She is an awesome instructor: smart, engaging, fun, insightful, and very sweet. This is not a "party" school. It is for students who really want quality instruction in order to improve their Spanish skills.

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Evaluation from albertine67:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: Excellent all around. My Spanish improved tremendously (grammar and confidence speaking especially) with intensive classes. The teachers were the best I've had. For a serious student who wants a thorough program, I recommend this one highly.

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Evaluation from kathrinUNDchregu:

Program Quality	Value for the Money	Facilities	Fun Factor	Student Friendly	Accomodations
Comments: We took 6 weeks of semi-intensive language class (4 hs a day); in two different classes because we started from different levels (true beginner and false beginner). Both of us are very happy with what we have learned, each of us progressed very fast. The school is rather small, and so are the class sizes. They have been very flexible in building groups of adequate levels; and if they feel that you are bored or if it goes a little too fast; they don't mind reorganizing the groups. We highly appreciated that! The materials they hand out are clear and separated into small topics, which allow them to adjust the contents of each class with much better flexibility than with a book. Teachers have been motivated and always in a good mood, interested in various topics. Communication was an important part of everyday class, even on a beginner level and starting from the first week of school. During all the 6 weeks we have been staying at the same guest-familiy, organised by the school. We appreciated this form of accomodation, as it allows to practice Spanish even outside of school. We definitely can recommend it! (Kathrin and Christian, Switzerland)

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