Students are also given a basic understanding of and an appreciation for the people and cultures of Latin America. An on-going Orientation Program familiarizes them with the pastoral vision of recent Church documents of the Latin American Episcopal Conference, as does a series of conferences on similarly related topics. Specialists in the fields of linguistics, Latin American history and culture, Base Christian communities, the role of women, and other relevant topics provide rich insights into the reality of Latin America.

Students are encouraged to participate in the liturgical life of the Institute, in Pastoral Theological Reflection groups, and regularly scheduled social events. They are also encouraged to become involved with local people and pastoral situations such as: orphans, street children and the homeless mothers of Cochabamba.

• A team of qualified staff with practical mission experience and academic credentials in Latin American affairs, mission theology, counseling, linguistics and language teaching.
• A group of well trained Bolivian language instructors equipped to teach Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara, many of whom have more than twenty five years of teaching experience.

METHOD:

• Communicative Method
• Combination of small groups, learning pairs and individual tutoring
• Conversation classes with a focus on natural concerns and mission
• Spanish for special purposes: (Medical Spanish, Spanish for community Builders, Ecclesial and Pastoral Spanish, etc.) Available at the Intermediate and Advanced levels

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COURSE SCHEDULES:
Basic Courses in Spanish, Aymara and Quechua cover a period of 22 weeks (including a week of basic orientation and testing, as well as a week for rest and travel.) These programs begin in January and June each year.

Intermediate and Advanced programs of 6 weeks length are scheduled six times each year. In some instances, two such programs can be taken in succession for a total of 12 weeks.

Students receive four classes each day with an additional language laboratory session scheduled for each student.

LOCATION:
Cochabamba, Bolivia, in the heart of Latin America, is an ideal setting for language learning and an introduction to the cultures of Latin America. Set in a fertile valley and surrounded by the majestic Andes mountains, Cochabamba has roots reaching back in time to the Incan civilization, blended with the Spanish colonial style. Both the indigenous and hispanic cultures exist side by side in modern Cochabamba.

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PARTICIPANTS:
In 2000, the institute celebrates its 35th anniversary. Over the course of these three and a half decades, more than 6,000 missioners have studied Spanish, Aymara and Quechua, at either the basic or advanced levels. Institute graduates serve throughout Latin America and beyond.

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The Basic Spanish Course:
Registration Fee: $100.00 not refundable and not applicable to the tuition. It is applied to the orientation program for cultural studies, a lecture series by competent speakers, a small quality library, language lab and recreational facilities as well as other services and volunteer programs.
Tution: is $2,000.00 for the whole course, payable at the start or chargeable at that time to your home office or sponsoring agency.

Intermediate/Advanced Spanish Course: six weeks individual instruction, except for group or grammar or conversation periods. This may be extended.
Registration Fee: $100.00 not refundable and not applicable to the tuition. Tuition: is $1,080.00 for the course, payable at the start or chargeable at the time to your home office or sponsoring agency.

Books & Other Materials: Approximately $75.00 - $100.00 per course.

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MEDAL OF HONOR:
In November 1993, the Institute was honored for its years of service to Latin America by the Bolivian Government thereby recognizing:

That the Maryknoll “Instituto de Idiomas” in the city of Cochabamba offers priceless service to both religious and lay missioners committed to labor among the peoples of Latin America.

That after their preparation at the Institute, many of these same missioners work in various Latin America countries, convinced that they go not only to teach but also to learn.

Taking note of this noble and unassuming labor of love which Maryknoll Instituto de Idiomas has been carrying forward for many years.

It is hereby resolved: To confer the distinction called the “Condecoración de la Orden al Mérito Civil, Libertador Simón Bolivar en el grado de CABALLERO“ on the Instituto de Idiomas Maryknoll of the city of Cochabamba in recognition of its praiseworthy labor.

Let this resolution be made public and also inserted in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Culture.”