When can I start a Spanish program at ICO?

All programs start every Monday, year-round. You do not need to wait for a term or semester to begin — choose the Monday that works for your schedule and register from there.

How long should I study Spanish in Oaxaca?

Most of our students stay between two and four weeks — enough time to feel a genuine shift in confidence and fluency. That said, you can join for as little as one week or stay for several months. We recommend a minimum of two weeks to advance at least half a CEFR level.

What is the difference between the Full Immersion and the 20-Hour program?

The 20-Hour program runs four hours every morning and leaves your afternoons free to explore Oaxaca independently. The Full Immersion program adds afternoon cultural workshops and Intercambio sessions with local Oaxacans, bringing your total contact time to up to seven hours per day. Both include morning Spanish classes and a conversation session.

What level of Spanish do I need to enroll?

None. We welcome complete beginners (A1) through advanced speakers (C2). On your first day you complete a placement test and a short interview so we can place you in the right level from day one.

How big are the classes?

Classes run from 2 to 6 students — small enough that your teacher knows your name, your weak points, and your goals within the first day and adjusts accordingly. During high season classes may have up to 8 students, still well below the industry norm.

Do the seasonal programs like Day of the Dead or Guelaguetza replace my Spanish classes?

No. Seasonal and cultural programs run alongside your regular Spanish classes — they add workshops, excursions, and cultural activities tied to the event, but your morning classes continue as normal. You learn Spanish and experience Oaxaca at the same time, not one instead of the other.

Can I combine ICO with homestay accommodation?

Yes, and many students do. ICO works with host families in Oaxacan neighborhoods including Jalatlaco, Xochimilco, La Cascada, and Centro — families with long-standing relationships with the school. Staying with a family extends your Spanish practice well beyond classroom hours. See accommodation options →

Oaxaca Spanish Immersion Programs

Start your Spanish Journey Today

At Instituto Cultural Oaxaca, we have been teaching Spanish since 1984 — long enough to know that language learning sticks when it happens in real life, not just in a classroom. Our programs are built around that idea: small groups, native teachers, and a school located in the heart of Centro, Oaxaca, where the city itself becomes part of your education.

Whether you have one week or several months, we have a program that fits. Most of our students stay between two and four weeks — enough time to feel a genuine shift in confidence and fluency.

All programs start every Monday. A placement test is included, so you arrive knowing exactly which CEFR level is right for you — from complete beginner (A1) to advanced (C2).

"ICO's program is singular because it connects Spanish learning directly to Mexican culture — and Oaxaca makes that possible in a way few destinations can. Most people you meet on the street, in the market, or at a restaurant speak only Spanish, which means every moment outside the classroom is a real immersion opportunity. Inside the school, the cultural workshops deepen that connection further. Both the classes and the workshops are taught by native teachers, which makes learning Spanish at ICO something genuinely different — thorough, lived, and enriching."

— Rachel Lucas Pombo, Spanish Teacher, Instituto Cultural Oaxaca

Frequently asked questions

Spanish Language Programs at Instituto Cultural Oaxaca

Core Spanish Programs (Year-Round)

We offer two main Spanish programs that run year-round, starting every Monday. All levels are welcome, and you can choose the pace that fits your needs.

Full Spanish Immersion Program

The most complete way to learn Spanish at ICO. Up to seven hours of Spanish contact per day, structured so that every part of your day builds on the last.

Mornings run from 9:00 to 13:00 — three hours of Spanish class followed by one hour of conversation, often held in the school's gardens at Av. Juárez 909. Monday through Thursday afternoons add two hours of cultural workshops (cooking, salsa, weaving, ceramics) and one hour of Intercambio — a language exchange with a local Oaxacan. Friday afternoons are free.

Best for students who want to fully commit to Spanish and Oaxacan culture for the duration of their stay. Full program details →

20-Hour Spanish Language Program

Four hours every morning, Monday to Friday — Spanish class from 9:00 to 12:00, followed by one hour of conversation. Afternoons are entirely yours.

This program does not include the afternoon cultural workshops, but does include Intercambio. It suits students who want structured morning study and the freedom to explore Oaxaca on their own terms — the markets, the ruins at Monte Albán, the villages of the Central Valleys — without a packed schedule.

Many students combine the 20-Hour program with selected cultural workshops for a middle path between full immersion and independent travel. Full program details →

Specialized Programs

Women Writers in Contemporary Latin American Literature

A two-week program for upper-intermediate to advanced students (B2–C2). Each session explores 20th and 21st-century Mexican and Latin American literature through a female lens, building academic Spanish vocabulary alongside literary and cultural knowledge. Multiple sessions run throughout the year — see the calendar below for available dates. Learn more →

Spanish for Healthcare Professionals

A private or semi-private program available year-round, designed for medical and healthcare professionals who need practical Spanish for clinical settings. Two hours per day, one-on-one or two-on-one with a native teacher, for one or two weeks — scheduled around your availability. Content covers patient care vocabulary, clinical conversations, the Mexican healthcare system, nutrition, and traditional medicine. Learn more and book →

Seasonal Programs

Each year ICO runs a series of seasonal programs that combine your regular Spanish classes with workshops, excursions, and cultural activities tied to Oaxaca's major celebrations. These are not separate from your language learning — they are built into it.

Guelaguetza Program

July 2026

Oaxaca's most celebrated festival takes place every July, and our Guelaguetza Program puts you at the center of it. Over two weeks, your Spanish classes are complemented by workshops and excursions tied directly to the festival — traditional dances, regional costumes, and the communities behind them. We offer two consecutive sessions so you can choose the dates that work best for your schedule. Learn more →

Mexican Independence Program

September 2026

A one-week program that coincides with Mexico's Independence celebrations in September. Your Spanish classes are complemented by a cooking workshop featuring Chiles en Nogada — the dish most associated with the season — and a conversation workshop exploring the history and traditions of September 16

Day of the Dead Program

October 2026

Two weeks that take you through one of Mexico's most misunderstood and most moving traditions. The program runs from October 19 through November 1, so you are present for the full arc — the preparation, the ofrendas, the cemetery vigils, and the comparsas on November 1. Spanish classes are woven around the experience, not separate from it. Learn more →

Mexican Revolution Program

November 2026

A one-week program in November built around the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. Your Spanish classes are complemented by a conversation workshop exploring the history and legacy of the Revolution in Mexican identity, and a cooking workshop reflecting the food traditions of the period.

Christmas & New Years's Program

December 2026

Two ways to experience Oaxaca during its most festive season. The Christmas Program begins December 6, giving you two full weeks immersed in the traditions of a Oaxacan holiday — posadas, Noche de Rábanos, and cooking workshops featuring traditional holiday food. The Christmas & New Year's Program begins December 21 and carries you through the new year celebrations, ending the year in one of Mexico's most vibrant cities. Both programs run alongside your regular Spanish classes, so the festivities become part of your learning, not a break from it.

Semana Santa Program

March 2027

Two weeks during Holy Week in Oaxaca, March 2–15, 2027 — one of the most visually and spiritually rich seasons in the city's calendar. Students set up an Altar de Dolores, attend a workshop on the customs and traditions of Semana Santa, and in the cooking workshop prepare food traditionally eaten during Lent in Oaxaca — a cuisine shaped by the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays. Classes and cultural activities are designed to work together, so nothing feels like a detour from your Spanish learning. (Full program details coming soon.)

Ready to Start?

All programs begin every Monday. Whether you have one week or several months, we will place you at the right level from day one and make sure your time in Oaxaca is as useful as it is memorable. Check the calendar for available dates and register online — or write to us at hola@icomexico.com if you have questions before committing.

Register now

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Last updated: June 2026