(519) 576-8839
POLICY
Welcome! ¡Bienvenidos! Bienvenue! Benvenuto! We are truly honoured that you have chosen Palabras Language School & Cultural Services for your language learning needs! We are certain that your experience with us will be a rewarding and positive one! Please read the following information about Palabras, our policies, and other important student information, and please keep this form for your records. All registered students of Palabras agree to adhere by the terms and conditions outlined in this policy form. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at: 519-576-8839 or via email.
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ABOUT PALABRAS
Established in Kitchener in 1995, Palabras Language School & Cultural Services is a private, independently owned and operated learning institution that is not affiliated with any other language school, learning institution, or government agency. The main office, bookstore, and classrooms are located at 583 Frederick Street in Kitchener. Palabras offers
Tutoring, Small Group, Private, and Semi-Private language instruction. Palabras provides a fun, relaxed, and informal learning atmosphere and tailors its language instruction to suit the specific needs and requirements of its students. Courses are taught by knowledgeable instructors who are experienced, native speakers with total insight into the language and culture. Palabras also specializes in Corporate Language Training for companies/organizations conducting business in foreign language-speaking markets. Palabras offers a wide variety of language and cultural learning materials such as textbooks, dictionaries, novels, children’s books, audio learning systems, and magazines at its bookstore. Cultural services offered byPalabras include Latin-American Culinary Workshops, translation and interpreter services, as well as other special cultural events. The school operates throughout the year and is open Monday-Friday, Saturday by appointment only, and closed Sundays and all statutory holidays.
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MISSION STATEMENT
Palabras is committed to encouraging a fun, relaxed, and positive learning atmosphere in which everyone is treated with respect and understanding, and in which the student receives the most personal attention and speaking practice possible. Palabras is dedicated to providing "The Best Conversational" language instruction and tailors its instruction to the individual or small group. Palabras believes in offering high quality instruction by using a wide variety of teaching methods and styles, always with the student in mind, and effectively accomplishes learning in the least amount of time.
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REGISTRATION TERMS & CONDITIONS
Registration can be completed in person at our school, by phone at: 519-576-8839, or through our online registration form, which can be found on our website: www.palabraslanguageschool.com. Full instruction fee payment must be received upon submission of the registration form in order to process registration and reserve the student's spot in the chosen Small-Group course, or to schedule any Private or Semi-Private instruction time. Students may not commence instruction until registration has been confirmed and payment has been processed. Accepted methods of payment include: cash, e-Transfer. Accepted methods of payment for Children's programs are e-Transfer or cheque only. Cheque must be received two weeks prior to the start date to allow for processing time. Please make cheque payable to “Palabras Language School”. Once registration is complete, students will receive a confirmation of their registration by email.
Registration for all Small Group courses is processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Small Group students are required to register for a course by its specified start date, and students must complete their course during that course's specified term duration. No refunds, partial refunds, postponements, make-up classes, or substitutions are permitted for students who do not attend or stop attending their Small Group course.
Private and Semi-Private student(s) are required to register for a term of lessons, which must be paid in full at the time of registration, and all instruction hours must be completed within the designated term length. No refunds, partial refunds, postponements, make-up classes, or substitutions are permitted for student(s) who do not attend or stop attending their Private or Semi-Private lessons.
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REFUND POLICY
All instruction fee payments and learning materials purchases are non-refundable. Language instruction is non-transferable from the registered student to any other individual/student. No refunds, partial refunds, postponements, make-up classes, or substitutions are permitted for student(s) who do not attend or stop attending their Small Group course or Private or Semi-Private lessons.
PALABRAS COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
If for any reason a Small Group course is cancelled by Palabras, registered students will be notified by email prior to the start date and will be given the option of waiting for the next available start date or a full refund for the instruction fee payment will be issued.
COMMUNICATION
Email is the primary method of communication Palabras uses with its students. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the email address which they have provided to Palabras at the time of their registration remains active, and to check their email for any school communications, such as: scheduling notifications, inclement weather closures, updates, etc.
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SMALL GROUP COURSE ATTENDANCE
Palabras offers a wide range of language courses at varying levels and at different days and times throughout the week; as such, it is necessary for the student to attend their class as scheduled. It is the student's responsibility to make the necessary arrangements in their schedule to attend their class. Attendance is vitally important in making the most out of the language learning experience, not only for knowledge acquired through the lessons taught by the instructor, but also to gain the speaking practice that is necessary in order to learn a language. No partial refunds, make-up classes, or substitutions will be granted for any missed Small Group classes.
PRIVATE & SEMI-PRIVATE LESSON RESCHEDULING POLICY
Rescheduling of a Private or Semi-Private lesson must be made AT LEAST 2 BUSINESS DAYS prior to the scheduled lesson in order to reschedule the lesson for another date and time. The student(s) must notify Palabras by email or phone. Rescheduling requests will NOT be taken on weekends. Private or Semi-Private lessons cancelled with less than 2 business days’ notice or “no-shows” will be considered a forfeited lesson and that lesson’s instruction time will not be made up. The lesson rescheduling policy is applicable to Private or Semi-Private instruction only.
INSTRUCTOR ABSENCE/LESSON CANCELLATION BY PALABRAS
In the event that the instructor becomes unavailable to teach a Small Group class, it is Palabras' policy to find a suitable substitute instructor for the class. If no substitute is available, students will be notified as soon as possible via email, and the class will be rescheduled for a later date. In the event that the instructor becomes unavailable to teach a Private or Semi-Private lesson, it is Palabras' policy to find a suitable substitute instructor for the lesson. If no substitute is available, the student(s) will be notified as soon as possible via email, and the lesson will be rescheduled for a later date.
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SCHOOL CLOSURE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
For school closure due to inclement weather, please note that Palabras closely follows local school board and college/university announcements. If the majority of these learning institutions decide to close due to inclement weather, for the safety of our students and staff, Palabras will follow suit and also close and cancel all previously scheduled lessons for that day. In the event of a closure, all affected students will be notified by email as soon as possible. Any classes (of any type: Small Group, Private, or Semi-Private) cancelled due to inclement weather closure will be rescheduled.
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STUDENT CONDUCT
Students attending language classes at Palabras are voluntary learners, therefore, participation and co-operation is expected, as it is the only way to acquire and assimilate the information of a second language. Students are expected to behave in a respectful manner toward the instructor and other students within the class and institution at all times. In order to maintain a safe and positive learning environment, Palabras reserves the right and discretion to refuse instruction to any student who comes to class intoxicated, or who causes disruptive or disrespectful behaviour towards the instructor and/or other students (e.g. excessive use of foul language, demeaning other students’ participation, etc.) which adversely affects the learning atmosphere. This absence will be regarded as a missed class which cannot be rescheduled or refunded. Palabras does not assume any responsibility for personal property lost, damaged, stolen or left unattended on school premises. Palabras does not assume any responsibility for the well-being and safety of minors who are left unattended on school premises. Palabras is a smoke-free environment and smoking is strictly prohibited on school property. No outside food or beverages, with the exception of eco-friendly, non-disposable beverage containers, are permitted in the school and classrooms.
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LATIN-AMERICAN CULINARY WORKSHOP
All Latin-American Culinary Workshop fees are non-refundable. No refunds will be granted for individual or group cancellations. If for any reason the Latin-American Culinary Workshop on the date specified is cancelled by Palabras, registered participants will be notified by email prior to the workshop date and will be given the option of waiting for the next available workshop date or a full refund for the workshop fee payment will be issued. Culinary activities have inherent risks, dangers, and hazards, and participation in such workshops and events may result in injury, illness, or death. Palabras and each of its present and former owners, principals, members, agents and employees are not liable for damage, losses, personal injury, or death resulting from participation in Palabras Latin-American Culinary Workshops or events. Although every attempt will be made to accommodate a participant’s food allergies, sensitivities, or special dietary considerations, the participant assumes full liability for any adverse reactions due to exposure to any allergens.
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PARKING & PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Palabras is located at 583 Frederick Street in Kitchener, at the corner of Frederick St. and Bruce St. On-site parking is available, with the lot entrance at the front of the building on Frederick St. Public parking is also available on Bruce St. GRT stops are conveniently located in front of the building on Frederick St.