Spanish Spanish & 4 weeks Volunteering
Merida School

Cactus Language & Volunteering programmes combine our in-country language courses with rewarding volunteer placements in a variety of different fields. By learning some of the language before you start volunteering, you will get much more out of your volunteer experience and the volunteer organisation, in turn, will get much more out of you.

● Get to know the locals working on the project
● Get more of an immersion in the culture
● Understand what people are asking you to do
● Feel less of a holiday-maker
● Come away with a deeper understanding of the local population’s issues and plights.

The Language course

The main emphasis is on you building your language skills before you volunteer. You take a general group language course of 25 lessons per week and, in addition, you have the option to take part in regular social & cultural activities, to ensure you have a great holiday whilst you’re learning the language. These activities are all optional of course, so that if you want to just hang out or explore on your own, you still have most of each day free to do so! See below for a description of the school.

The Volunteering

Cactus volunteering is different from some projects available, in that we’re talking about genuine, local projects where you will have the chance to use and improve your language skills. There is a natural variance in the numbers of people required at certain times of the year and that local project managers are looking for certain profiles of volunteer for the work in hand.

You choose the type of project you want once you have booked onto the programme, when we send you your Volunteer Profile form to complete. You can choose from the following options :

● Social work & Education
● Environmental/Nature.
● Administration, Marketing & Cultural

Course duration

The programme you have selected combines a language course of 2 – 12 weeks with 4 weeks of volunteering. It is possible to extend your volunteerig time to 8 weeks, but this must be done locally.

When you book, you choose the total duration you require, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 weeks.

Please note that in this location books must be paid on arrival and costs are from $40 to $50 depending on level and length of stay

Start dates

Your programme starts with your language course on the first Monday of each month, and your volunteering project follows on immediately after your course. After your language training, you’ll finish your experience with 4 weeks of volunteering in your chosen field of work. You’ll get the exact details of what you’ll be doing whilst you’re at the school, where you will meet your local coordinator for your volunteering project.

Choosing your programme

The amount of language training you have before your volunteer placement depends on your level. If you’re a beginner, you’ll need at least 4 weeks of language to make sure you will be helpful and useful to the project, and so that you get the most out of it. Even if your language level is good, most volunteers find that they enjoy studying the language for a couple of weeks as this gives the opportunity to mix with other students, meet the local coordinator in advance, and prepare for the placement whilst you're there.


Accommodation

Accommodation is provided throughout the entire 8 weeks: during the language course this will ALWAYS be in a host family (meals included), and during the volunteer placement this will be in a student residence (shared room and facilites(self catering) please note that the majority of cases volunteers have the room for themselves without having to share. However, If you wish to have an individual room with private bathroom and air-con, it is possible (depending on availability) and it has an extra fee of GBP110.00) Please contact us directly to book this option.

Transfers

This programme includes an airport transfer on arrival in Merida.

How to book

1. Complete the red booking box with your level and start date
2. Follow the instructions to book your language & volunteering project
3. Cactus sends you your Volunteer Profile form
4. You complete and return your form and Cactus sends it through to the school
5. You receive all your school confirmation information, ready for you to book your flights
6. You receive your placement confirmation once you arrive in your language school.

You’ll get the exact details of what you’ll be doing whilst you’re at the school, which acts as the local coordinator of your project.

Volunteering Terms & Conditions
Please read these carefully. By booking this programme you agree to these terms.

When to book
- Your booking should be received at least 8 weeks before you wish to start (consider the start of the language course as your start date).
- Late bookings may be accepted, subject to volunteering availability.

Programme Availability
- If we are unable to place you we will notify you within 72 hours and your deposit will be refunded in full.
When to pay
- When you book, you will be request to pay a deposit if you are booking more 8 weeks in advance. Full or Balance payment is requested 8 weeks before departure.

When to book your flights
- Never purchase a non-refundable or non-changeable airline ticket before your programme has been confirmed by Cactus.
- Cactus has no responsibility for flights booked by you.



Visa Information


Citizens from the following countries may be exempted from tourist visa requirements (a tourist card will be issued instead):
Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Bermudas, Brazil, Can-ada, Costa Rica, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, Serbia & Montene-gro

* Nationals from Ecuador, El Salvador and Jamaica do not require a Visa, but all of them have to obtain Tourist Card stamped by the Mexican Consulate

Tourist Visa
The duration of a tourist visa is for the period of time stated on it, which can be up to six months. Normally a tourist visa is for one entry; in certain cases is for double or triple entries.
Extension of stay as a tourist in Mexico or change of migratory category
In Mexico, the foreign national can apply for an extension of his/her stay as a tourist or can apply for a change of migratory characteristic, if on the visa or/and FMT is not stated that:
During your stay in the country foreigners will not be able to extend their temporary situation or change their migration status.
The foreign national must apply at the National Institute of Immigration (INM).

TOURIST CARD
Available only to people entering Mexico on holiday, for reasons of health, or to engage in scien-tific, artistic or sporting activities which are neither remunerative nor lucrative. Valid for the holder only.
Other persons (including minors) travelling on the same passport must have their own card. The card is a single-entry document and is issued free of charge. The Consular office retains the right to request further evidence of the applicant's intention to visit Mexico as a tourist whenever such intention has not been established to the Consul's satisfaction.
The same right applies with regard to evidence of the applicant's financial means to sustain him/herself while in Mexico.

Note:
(a) Visitors eligible for Tourist Cards can be issued with Tourist Cards by any Mexican Consulate, on board the plane or at the point of entry in Mexico.
(b) Tourist Cards must be kept by the visitor during the entire length of stay as they will have to be presented and stamped on leaving.

What documents will be required?
In all cases the following will be required:

Valid passport
Round trip ticket

Depending on nationality and/or visa requirements, the following may also be required:
Completed application form
3 passport size photos
Transcript of grades

Tourist Cards:
(a) Passport with a minimum of 6 months' validity.
(b) If applying by post, a covering letter giving dates of entry and departure. Postal applications must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope for recorded or registered delivery.
(c) Return or onward ticket.
(d) Proof of sufficient funds if staying for up to 6 months.


Tourist Visa:
(a) Passport with minimum of 6 months' validity.
(b) Application form.
(c) 1 passport-size photo.
(d) Original return ticket.
(e) Fee (payable in cash only).
(f) Proof of sufficient funds (US$50 per day) to cover length of stay.
(g) Postal applications must be accompanied by a covering letter specifying the purpose of the trip and the dates of entry and departure. Applications should be made in a stamped, self-addressed envelope with recorded or registered delivery.


Time required to issue visa:
Average 2 days; up to 3 weeks, depending on nationality.

What is the cost of a visa?
Varies, depending on nationality:

Approx. US$17 - $30

How long is the visa valid for?
Tourist visas and cards are valid for up to 6 months (180 days).


Other information:
Note: Minors under the age of 18 and traveling alone or with only one parent or with someone other than the parents must have a notarized letter of permission signed by the parent/parents who is/are not traveling. In the case of divorced parents, the parents custody document is per-missible in lieu of a notarized letter. This rule does not apply to all citizens of all countries.

All visa information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, immigration rules frequently change and we strongly recommend you to check the relevant embassy’s website:


http://portal.sre.gob.mx/reinounido/index.php?option=
displaypage&Itemid=232&op=page&SubMenu=

Course Summary

Important Information

No group classes from Dec 18th to 31st Dec only Individual.

Please note that accommodatin is for 7 nights in this location.
You can book a single/air con room for a supplement of £39.00 per week. Please let us know at the time of your booking.

Please also note that although the main grammar book is included in the price, there is a second book that students must pay on site (rental price is $5) or it can also be purchased for an amount of $20.00

Activities

A number of activities are available alongside this course, including the sample activities listed below. Please not these may vary and be chargeable.

Each week there is one excursion that offers transportation and guide (at no extra fee).
During your free time students go to the beach or visit Mayan ruins such as Chichen Itza.

Accommodation Options

Note: Accommodation is included in the price of this course; please see the course description for more details.

The School - Merida

School facilities

The school is located in Merida city, the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, an area rich in history, abundant in subtropical beauty, and which serves as the gateway to the world famous Mayan archeological ruins.

The air conditioned classrooms cater to about 50 students a day when full. The teaching is either in small groups or on a One-to-One basis.

The school has been exclusively devoted to the teaching of languages since its founding in 1974 and is fully accredited through the Yucatan Secretary of Education.

Instructors are experienced native-speaking teachers, well trained and enthusiastic about their profession. Beginning, intermediate and advanced and superior levels of study are available. Groups are quite small (usually 1-6 students) allowing for maximum individual attention.

They also teach English, German, French, Italian, and Japanese to locals, which is good to organise intercambios.

Out and About
Whether it’s to admire the magnificent colonial architecture, take shade under the laurels, or simply watch the comings and goings of downtown Mérida, the Plaza Mayor is a must. Flanking the square on one side is the great 16th century cathedral, the site of a former Mayan temple, and on each of the other sides you have a contemporary arts museum, the Palacio de Gobierno and the Palacio Municipal. And across town, everywhere you see the name Montejo - Paseo de Montejo, Casa de Montejo, even Panificadora Montejo - you’ll be reminded of the man himself, Francisco de Montejo the Younger, who founded the first Spanish colony here in 1542. Today, however, Mérida has its very own personality and it’s all too easy to sit back and enjoy its many restaurants, marimba groups, and local artisans at work…just don’t forget that this is also the perfect base to explore the bird sanctuary at Celestún, the Puuc Mayan route, and of course the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá and Uxmal.

More on Merida School

Best Time to Go

Although at a tropical latitude, its climate is relatively mild year round with an annual average teperature of 26°C with an average low temperature of 21°C and an average high temperature of 32°C. There are on average 339 days with a temperature above 26°C per year. The rainiest period is between April and October.

Nationalities represented at this school

Majority are North American. Some Europeans.

What other students have said...

School Gallery

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No current dates avaliable, please contact us on for prices and dates.
Remember to quote the course reference code CO-2466.

No hidden fees - Our prices include registration fees, course materials and taxes.

Booking information