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Academic Credits in Merida, Venezuela

Location - Merida

Our School

Jakera is a private language school that is partnered with Seattle Central Community College to offer academic credits. It also has a strong relationship with the Universidad del Los Andes, especially the medical faculty and University hospital. A small school catering for international students (normally 20-40 students) it offers individual attention.  

Credits

Credits are offered though the Seattle Central Community College (SCCC). Jakera also works closely with the Medical and other facilities of the Universidad de los Andes.

Best Time to come Best Time To Go

Being close to the Ecuador, and situated at 1600 metres (5000 ft), Merida is blessed with all year round warm and temperate climate with warm sunny days and pleasant nights. It is a location to come to year round, with many students escaping their home winter to enjoy Merida.
 

Credit Courses Outlines

20 lessons of Spanish tuition is incorporated in the following courses.

Spanish and the above credit courses can be combined with one of the following special interest options:

Additional Special interest Courses:

Medical Spanish  :This 6-week program has been designed for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. In the first four weeks, you will have 80 lessons to improve your general knowledge of Spanish and 40 additional lessons focusing on medical terminology and information. There will be opportunities to focus on specializations, as well as practical experience including visits to a hospital and conversation with patients. In week 5 you will experience adventure as well as exposure to indigenous peoples to familiarize yourself with healthcare issues in a primitive environment. The final 6th week will be in a beautiful Caribbean beach location where ongoing daily Spanish lessons with be supplemented by plenty of recreational opportunities. Through this program of Spanish language and culture, you will develop skills for improving communication with your Spanish-speaking patients as well as gaining a first hand understanding of healthcare issues in a 2nd/3rd world environment.

Volunteer with Street Kid

“Street Kids” Fundación Don Bosco (based in Merida) aimed at helping kids from particularly difficult circumstances. Many are street kids – and the aim is to get them off the streets and into a safe supporting environment. There are three-stages to this difficult task: Stage 1“Off the street” - The school provides food, clothes and shelter. Stage 2 “Making a Connection” – Helping Educate the children, including:  social education, elementary school curriculum, physical education, art and craft classes and extra activities. Stage 3 “The Next Step” - Foster homes.  Eventually the children are offered the opportunity to return to family life. A variety of chosen families are ready to take kids into their homes and a new life.

Click here for more information on Volunteer options

Travelling Classroom

The traveling classroom is a unique blend of learning Spanish and traveling adventure. Based in beautiful Venezuela, a country of huge diversity with golden palm fringed beaches, exotic jungles, spectacular and mysterious mountains, ancient indigenous cultures and the beat of exotic Latino! From our bases at one of Venezuela’s best beaches Playa Colorada (the coloured beach!), and Merida (a vibrant, safe, student city) you take adventure travel expeditions while learning Spanish. You can have jeep safaris to the amazing Gran Sabana, walk to the top of Roraima (The Lost World), leisurely sea kayak beautiful Caribbean islands and the exotic Orinoco Delta Jungle, and visit remote untouched areas. You can experience the culture of the Warao and Pemon Indians, and see incredible jungle and savannah wildlife. Your Spanish classes won’t be in stuffy classrooms but in the ‘open air’ of the real South America!  You don’t have to be very fit – just have a sense of adventure and want to experience life! All these trips, accommodation, meals and more are included in the program price.

Horse Ride

This program combines our Intensive Spanish program outlined above with horse riding from our very own farm 20 minutes outside Merida. Each week there are 20 structured Spanish lessons tailored to your ability - each morning Monday-Friday you will receive 4 hours intensive general Spanish tuition comprising four 45 minute sessions with 15 minute breaks. Then in the afternoons (and at weekends if you like) you take the bus to our farm where Arcadio will guide you across some beautiful routes selected to suit your ability. As you gain familiarity and confidence you will have the opportunity to take horses out on your own as well as joining weekend camping treks to some of the remoter Andean routes.

Spanish and Adventure

20 hours per week of Spanish Language classes from your qualified and experienced teacher. These classes fit around the Adventure activities with choices like: Mountain Biking (Huge down hills!), Canyoning (Adrenaline activity in amazing natural location), Horse riding (stunning country side), Mountain Trekking, waterfall abseiling,

Services Summary

Language taught: Spanish

Class Times:  Classes are normally held in the morning to allow students to partake in additional special activities

Average Class Size: 3 

Maximum Class Size: 4 (most classes are 1 on 1)

Nearest Airport: Merida

Airport transfer  Yes (Free service from Merida airport)

Location Type  Andean City of 300,000

Public Transport Buses (25 cents), taxis ($1-2 per trip) are all close by

Buildings Traditional Espanic style

Common Room / Lounge  Yes

Garden / Terrace  Yes

Internet Access  Cyber cafe next door

Nearest Cybercafé  1 minutes walking distance

Student Nationalities   20 % German students, 20% from USA, 10 % from Canada, 10% from Switzerland, 10% England, 30% other.

Holidays: January 1, Easter Friday and Sunday, December 25, 26 & 31.

Activities Available

Accommodation

Pseudo Home Stay. A small posada run by a local family.

Prices Credit Courses

Four weeks, 5 credit course: includes 20 classes  per week, Registration with both SCCC and Jakera, accommodation including two meals: $1470USD

Eight weeks, 10 credit course: includes 20 classes  per week, Registration with both SCCC and Jakera, accommodation including two meals: $2940USD

Twelve weeks, 15 credit course: includes 20 classes  per week, Registration with both SCCC and Jakera, accommodation including two meals: $4410USD

Additional weeks are $280USD  per week

Prices alternative courses (includes College credit if required)

Medical Spanish with hospital practise $3300 with 5 credits/ $2950 no credits (6 weeks), additional weeks $490. Four hours per day Spanish, Medical Spanish and hospital practise, accommodation and 2 meals per day

Travelling Classroom 8 weeks: 10 credits, Spanish, all activities, accommodation and 2 meals per day $4317 with 10 credits/$3617USD no credits

Travelling Classroom 12 weeks: 15 credits, Spanish, all activities, accommodation and 2 meals per day $6090 with 15 credits/ $5040USD no credits

Special interest Courses: Combine the credit course price with:

Volunteering with Street Kids (minimum 5 weeks) additional $100 per week

Horse riding (1 week minimum) Additional $100 per  week

Merida Adventure (1 week minimum) Additional  $160 per week

References

(Also view a newsletter written by students click here...)

I went on the 6 month travelling classroom program. It was awesome. We did so much - sea kayaked to remote Caribbean islands, jeep safari to the Gran Sabana, went to Angel Falls, kayaked the Orinoco Delta and meet the Warao Indians. Highly Recommended. Thank you Brendon Chris and the team!

Tara South Africa

I loved it! Best way to learn Spanish as i went over knowing nothing at all. And now quite confident in Spanish. The atmosphere is great and the people are great. I would love to return again one day

Daniel, New Zealand

I spent 4 months travelling and learning Spanish in Latin America. Jakera was by FAR the best school I encountered. My teacher was excellent and the school had a fun atmosphere. If you come to Venezuela, learn at Jakera

Emili USA

My stay in Merida was highly enjoyable. In Merida I was given the opportunity to work with some of the locals for a month in various jobs. This helped me hone the Spanish skills that I learnt in Puerto La Cruz. The lifestyle in Merida is very different to that of Puerto La Cruz; Merida is a student city with a vibrant nightlife and plenty of once in a life time opportunities such as, travelling up the world’s highest gondola and staying in a real life castle. Working along side some of the locals really provided me an insight into the life of Venezuelans that I otherwise couldn’t have obtained (other than living there). This leg of the journey added a different aspect to what I felt to be a well rounded trip.

Anthony N.Z.