• What is it?

• What are the objectives?

• What are the benefits?

• Who is it for?

• What are the levels?

• How much does it cost?

• What is the refund, cancellation & make-up policy?

• What languages are presently offered? 

• What is the program schedule and location of classes?

• What are some other frequently asked questions?

• How do I register?

The Conversations™ language program is designed to bring language instruction directly to you in a relaxed, social, and yes, conversational format.  Don’t think of this as just another class.  Conversations™ is a way for you to build on your language skills without that painful experience of sitting through yet another boring, tedious, language course (like the classes you may have had back in high school).  In fact, Conversations™ is the perfect reason to get out of the house, meet new people, enhance your professional and personal skills, or just sharpen that one-of-a-kind cultural charisma that lies within you.

Conversations™ take place at the community locations listed on the programs overview page.  To accommodate busy schedules, the classes meet one day per week for roughly two hours.  Each class is limited to a maximum of 15 people, giving you plenty of time to – you know – talk.  Our language instructors, by definition, have to be fun, energetic, creative, and technically competent people; otherwise, what would be the point?  We are always most interested in hearing your learning goals and objectives, so we encourage you to please tell us when you register. 

The Conversations™ language program promises to be a great time.  We look forward to your joining us.  

Reserve your space today!

 The Language School in Chicago

Similar to Ms. Campbell's comments to the left, hear what a few other Conversations™ language program participants have to say:

"The conversational Spanish class provides you with interactive lessons that encourage you to only talk in Spanish.  The different exercises take you away from the normal book classes and allows you to practice Spanish in actual settings."   

Y. Young, Human Resources Consultant

"This was a great class.  It was a lot of fun.  The people in the class were very interesting. The instructor was a very knowledgeable native speaker and very pleasant." 

E. Gary, Librarian

"Likes: the size of the class is great.  The speed and pace of the class is good.  The teacher works very well with the students.  (He) really tries to help students understand the language.  The activities we did in class to learn Spanish were great.  No dislikes."(He) really tries to help students understand the language.  The activities we did in class to learn Spanish were great.  No dislikes." Senior Production Assistant

• Personal Development and Enjoyment
• Professional Development
• Networking
• Socializing

Beginners.  You may have had some exposure to the language in the past and know some words or phrases.  You may have some basic grammar knowledge, like the present or past tense of verbs.  But, you are not comfortable speaking the language and want StanleyMaria® to help you feel at ease with holding a basic conversation with a native speaker.  For clarification sake, the Beginning Part 1 program assumes no knowledge of the language, though we recognize that some people may still have had some exposure to the subject matter.

Intermediate speakers. You have studied the language in a formal classroom setting and have a good understanding of the grammatical structure of the language.  You are somewhat conversational, but need lots of practice.  You would like StanleyMaria® to help you brush up on your skills and give you an opportunity to practice with others who aspire to be fluent or close to it.

Advanced speakers.  You have been looking for a place to go to practice speaking.  You are good with the language and just want to be in a forum where you can keep your speaking skills fresh and in-tune with current happenings.  StanleyMaria® has the answer for you in this  truly fun, relaxed, and 99.9% conversational course.

  What are the levels?

 The Language School in Chicago

Beginning Part 1- Participants focus on the present tense of verbs and the various grammatical forms of speaking in which the present tense is used.

Beginning Part 2- Participants continue to work on the basic foundation of the language, but focus on events in the past tense.  

Intermediate Part 1- Participants quickly review contents of the beginning level, but focus on conversational skills using the future and conditional tense.  Participants need to have a solid, grammatical background and good speaking skills to enter this course.

Intermediate Part 2-Participants use the various forms of the subjunctive tense of verbs.  Participants in this course tend to be very close to language fluency.

Advanced - This course is almost purely practice of speaking skills.  Participants engage in active dialogue throughout the course.

Detailed Description

Spring 2008

We will honor the Dallas Fall 2 for 1 postcards through November 30, 2007.  Limited space per program.  First-come.  First-served.

Dallas

• Early Registration Discount ends March 1, 2008.  You pay $250 (regular price $285).
• Pre-registration for priority placement in a course ends March 17, 2008.  After this date participants may not receive a written confirmation in the mail due to the limited time prior to the course start.
• Regular registration and enrollment through the first week of the course. Programs start the week of March 24, 2008.

Books and material 

Spanish 

Books for both the Beginning and Intermediate Level Spanish Program: You may phone the Thomas Learning School Resource Center at 1-800-824-5179 or order on-line at www.heinle.com.

Please purchase the textbook.  The workbook is optional but highly recommended for practice.  Additionally, the audio CD or Tape is a nice complement to the course. 

You may purchase these items separately or you may buy them as a bundle for the best cost savings.

Finally, you may also purchase a used copy of the text book material and later resell your books with our affiliate partner Amazon.com.  

How does the Amazon.com resell process work? Click here.

French

Books for both the Beginning and Intermediate Level French Program: You may phone the Thomas Learning School Resource Center at 1-800-824-5179 or order on-line at www.heinle.com.

Please purchase the textbook.  The workbook is optional but highly recommended for practice.  Additionally, the audio CD or Tape is a nice complement to the course. 

You may purchase these items separately or you may buy them as a bundle for the best cost savings.

Finally, you may also purchase a used copy of the text book material and later resell your books with our affiliate partner Amazon.com.  

How does the Amazon.com resell process work? Click here.

Horizons Textbook with Audio CD: ISBN 838413692

Horizons Workbook: ISBN 838413749

Want to buy the French books at Amazon.com?  Click here.

Want to sell the French books at Amazon.com? Click here.

Italian

Books for both the Beginning and Intermediate Level Italian Program: You may phone the Thomas Learning School Resource Center at 1-800-824-5179 or order on-line at www.heinle.com.

Please purchase the textbook.  The workbook is optional but highly recommended for practice.  Additionally, the audio CD or Tape is a nice complement to the course. 

You may purchase these items separately or you may buy them as a bundle for the best cost savings.

Finally, you may also purchase a used copy of the text book material and later resell your books with our affiliate partner Amazon.com.  

How does the Amazon.com resell process work? Click here.

Give the gift of language

Purchase your Conversations™ gift certificate today.  You can purchase a gift certificate for a friend, colleague, or family member in denominations of $100, $200 or $250.  We are happy to forward a StanleyMaria® Conversations™ certificate to you or directly to the recipient.  Gift certificates must be used within 6 months from the date of purchase and recipient must adhere to the registration procedures of the Conversations™ program.  Certificates cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.  Certificates are not redeemable for cash.

To request a gift certificate, purchase it on-line now, send us an e-mail at buildbridges@stanleymaria.com , or request a certificate through our guest book.  You can also phone us at 773-244-4000.

Refunds requested by the early registration deadline will be refunded at a 100% rate.  After the early registration deadline and up to the pre-registration deadline, requests for refunds will be granted at a 80% rate.  After the pre-registration deadline up to 72 hrs. after the first meeting, participants have the option of a 50% refund or receive full credit in either the following 2 Conversations™ sessions (roughly a 9 month period).  After the 72hrs. following the start date, neither refunds nor credits can be granted. 

A request for a refund must be made in writing and postmarked by the previously mentioned deadlines.  Mail via the U.S. Postal System to Stanley Maria, Inc., c/o Accounting/Sales Return, P.O. Box 226663, Dallas, TX 75222.  (You may download a Refund Request Form here.) Given the need to be both consistent and fair with program participants, there are no exceptions to the refund policy.  Please allow 4-8 weeks (at the longest) from the start of the course for a refund.  

In the event enrollment is not sufficient, we reserve the right to combine or cancel classes.  (In the event a course is cancelled, please allow 2-4 weeks from the start of the course to receive a refund; you do not need to submit a form in the event of a cancelled class).  We reserve the right to make staffing, schedule, or location changes as may be necessary.  At this time, make-up classes will not be scheduled, so we ask that you please aim to attend each scheduled session.  Given the deliberately small size of each course and the natural group dynamic that is formed in each class, switching from one section to another is not a policy of the program.

In the event that it becomes apparent that a participant is not at an appropriate language level for a particular class, we will make every effort to recommend an appropriate class.  However, we reserve the right to refund, on a pro rata basis, the registration fee of a participant if it is deemed that course objectives will not or cannot be met due to the inappropriate placement of a participant in a class.

Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Polish, Japanese and Arabic Programs

We are presently offering Conversations™ at the Chicago locations listed on the programs overview page.  However, we are interested in establishing additional language programs in locations which are convenient for you.  If you have any recommendations for us on where you would like to see a language program established, please tell us by signing our guest book.  The more detailed your comments or description of locations, the easier it will be for us to follow-up as best as possible.

FAQs

• Who leads the course?

• What is the background of the instructor?

• What is the format of the class?

• How much homework, if any, is involved in the course?

• What is taught at each Conversations™ level?

• Can I take Conversations™ Part II without taking Part I?

• How many courses do I need to take in order to be conversational?

• What is the maximum number of people in a course?

• What type of industry specific programs does StanleyMaria® offer?

• Can StanleyMaria® set up a Conversations™ program at my office?

More Questions: Contact us via e-mail here or phone 1-800-957-7157 or e-mail: 

How to Register

Option 1: On-Line

On-line registration temporarily not available.

Option 2: Mail

Download an adobe acrobat program schedule and registration form.  Please keep in mind that the most up-to-date information on new classes or any program changes will be updated to the website.  Thank you.  Forward your registration form and payment to our mailing address at: Stanley Maria, Inc., c/o Conversations Program Registration, P.O. Box 226663, Dallas, TX 75222.  

• Dallas Winter 2007-2008 Brochure. Click here.

• Chicago Fall 2008 Brochure. Click here.

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