Quiénes Somos/Who We Are
WEEKEND en español®, Spanish Language Programs, was founded by Ronda Calef in 1988, based on the premise that language learning is both a natural and a gratifying process, and that with a supportive environment and a carefully constructed course of activities, everyone can learn to speak another language.
Our cornerstone program is a series of WEEKEND Immersion Workshops, either Saturdays or Sundays, giving you a chance to sustain your use of Spanish for seven hours at a time.
We also offer a full spectrum of Evening (and some Daytime) Small Group Classes, meeting once a week for an hour and a half, as well as the options of private one-on-one lessons and corporate or special group custom designed programs to meet specific needs and schedules.
To round out the scope of experiences, we also hold conversation dinner parties, known as the Fiestas, once a quarter.
We are based in San Francisco, California, and most of our Workshops and Classes are held here, but we are glad to bring our Immersion Workshop to you in another community if you have a group!
SEMANA en español™ is our total immersion program into the language and culture. Now you can live the language with us for eleven or fifteen days in Oaxaca, México.
Retiros bring Spanish immersion to you. Enjoy a three day weekend of
total immersion in the comfort of a luxurious Bed and Breakfast in beautiful
Point Reyes, California.
And now, for students working at home or away from home, even if you can't
make it to one of our events, you can order our books, flashcards, and
other learning tools!
Central to all our activities is the notion of complete immersion into the language and culture. Thought, action, and speech are developed through practice in a real and interactive context. Using the building blocks of a serious, sequenced language course, and a setting that is comfortable, encouraging, and culturally rich, we help learners of all ages and levels to become fluent in Spanish.
Our teachers and other staff members are fluent or native speakers of Spanish, coming from the widest possible variety of countries and personal as well as educational backgrounds.
Our Director, Ronda Calef, holds a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Vassar College and a Master's Degree in Romance Languages from the University of California at Berkeley. She has been an educator for over 30 years, teaching in both public and private institutions at all levels, from preschool to graduate school, before founding WEEKEND en español®.
All our staff is highly committed to the learning process and to each individual student, and to making our contribution to better understanding and communication across cultures in a world of ever-increasing global imperatives. Click here to meet our staff.