Llama Education has offered customized immersion Spanish language packages in Peru since 1998. Maria’s past experience taught her that fear of speaking a new language is the main problem students have when learning. Realising that using the language covered in theory lessons is the best way to learn quickly, Maria changed the policy of Llama Education in 2003 and began developing her own special program.

ClassesShe started to offer study packages at her own home in a unique system that helps the student pick up vocabulary in a very quick and easy way. By inviting the student to join her family and communicate in simple Spanish with her 2 small children- as well as with adults - she reduced the fear of speaking to an absolute minimum. Students can also practise outside the home as the school is located next to an attractive small park in a safe middle-class neighbourhood (the community is gated and has a guard on duty 24 hours a day) where everyone knows each other. Most of the time children are playing in the park and as soon they see another face in the area they are curious and come over to chat. The neighbourhood offers other activities nearby - like going to a public gym or joining sessions at another school which gives dance classes to local people.

In this way she has achieved her mission to create a secure environment in which students can learn Spanish while experiencing as much interaction as possible with Peruvian customs and culture. Maria takes a personal interest in the studies of each student and coordinates his or her individualized classes with teachers on a daily basis. For example, when a student comes to the end of his or her studies, Maria arranges for personalized activities for the student to practice Spanish outside of class. For example, she recently arranged for an student who is a lawyer to speak with a Peruvian lawyer about the Peruvian legal system.