We teach with the aim of developing all language skills (oral, written, socio-cultural, grammatical) through painting, dance, plastic arts, photography, drama, music, singing and literature. We explore everything that forges Latin American identity.
Our methodology is suited for people of all ages (children, teenagers and adults) and is adapted to different levels according to the standards of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). We work with original and authentic material that helps us cater for the needs and interests of each participant based on their skills and difficulties. The proposed activities, in addition to being stimulating, lead the student to use vocabulary and grammatical structures different from those they normally use in their homes.
We have developed a Language and Culture program that is divided intro three different levels and a Vocal Technique and Singing Course that runs through all the program. Through the three different levels offered at Legados, our objective is to teach the basics of Spanish (beginner), to reinforce knowledge (intermediate) and to master skills (advanced). We reach these goals by inviting our participants to share and encourage discussions in a fun and entertaining learning atmosphere that stimulates continuous participation and sharing of knowledge.
Courses for adults and seniors
Courses for adults and seniors are much more than just a language course : they are an initiative that seeks to strengthen the development of intergenerational ties, inviting participants to take on an active social role in our institute.
Courses for children and teenagers
For children and teenagers, Spanish courses are developed according to the age of the students, always focusing on the development of artistic and communicative skills through fun and game –like activities. These courses allow participants to learn the language through a constant exploration of Latin American arts and culture.
The Vocal Technique and Singing Course is a broad course that permeates the whole language and culture program. It ranges from the teaching of pronunciation and phonetics and correcting loans and interferences to the exploration of the musical repertoire of Latin America.
At Legados, language and culture go hand in hand
For Legados, arts and culture are the first ambassadors of a territory that carries within the customs, stories and narratives that define the identity of its people. Language allows this cultural heritage to be transmitted in the form of multiple artistic expressions and it becomes the main element of an individual's identity. The development of artistic skills accompanies and strengthens the learning process of the student during their stay at Legados; it encourages the assimilation of Spanish and allows participants to learn the language while discovering and exploring a new world.
Our teachers are intercultural ambassadors capable of recognizing and adapting to the challenges of Montreal, a multicultural and cosmopolitan city that offers us a rich and diverse linguistic landscape. Today, the Spanish-speaking community represents 14.2% of Montreal's population, making it par excellence the "Latin" city in Canada. This multilingual context fosters the construction of varied social and individual identities through the constant linguistic exchanges to which subjects are exposed (Amossy).
Thus, this reality allows us to follow a teaching style in which it is understood that "native and non-native speakers potentially belong to various communities that recognize them more or less as their own" (Kramsch 1998).
We are a group of professionals that firmly believe that all languages are equally valuable and that they favour and promote the learning of any other new language. Recognizing the multilingual context where our students live, we abide by the new teaching and learning objectives proposed by the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
The program "Spanish for All" that focuses on Spanish as a foreign language allows students to develop their communicative competence and to interact effectively in different intercultural environments.
After having completed the program at Legados, students will feel members of the Spanish-speaking community. They will enjoy a rich vocabulary, will be capable of adjusting to different registers and to recognize different varieties of Spanish while making a right use of the language. They will have developed the skills necessary to feel at ease speaking Spanish.