Family Trip to Puebla & Spanish Immersion — July 2025

Puebla is a colorful, cultural city away from mass tourism, filled with history, colonial charm, and delicious cuisine. Just two hours from Mexico City, it’s a perfect destination for Spanish learning and exploration.

Travel to Puebla

• Taxi from Mexico City Airport: ~2 hours, €100–160

• Public transportation: More affordable (~€10–20), takes a bit longer

Spanish Immersion Program

LIVIT Spanish Immersion Center https://www.livitspanish.com/

Privada Nuevo León #18, Col. El Carmen, C.P. 72530, Puebla, Mexico

T +52 (222) 290 6060, Fax +52 (222) 491 2006

Program Details

• 2–3 students per instructor

• Schedule (Mon - Fri):

• 9 am –1 pm: Classes

• 1 – 2 pm: Lunch (Mon/Wed/Fri meals by Chef Flora)

• 2 – 4 pm: One-on-one conversations OR cultural tours (Mon–Wed)

• **Thursday excursions outside Puebla

Cultural & Historical Attractions

Churches

1. Iglesia de Santo Domingo & Capilla del Rosario https://www.mexicoescultura.com/recinto/68149/templo-de-santo-domingo-puebla.html
   Baroque masterpiece built between 1571–1659. The gilded Capilla del Rosario is an ornate highlight once considered the 8th wonder of the world.

2. Templo Convento San Francisco https://www.peterktravels.com/2013/09/templo-san-francisco-puebla/
   Built 1535–1760, this richly decorated church is one of Puebla's oldest religious sites.

3. Cathedral Basilica of Puebla  https://historicalmx.org/items/show/38
   A city icon with 70-meter towers. Construction of its towers took nearly two centuries!

Art & Markets

• Mercado de Parian https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercado_de_Artesan%C3%ADas_El_Pari%C3%A1n
  Traditional artisan market — ideal for unique souvenirs like Talavera pottery.

• Barrio del Artista
  Puebla’s creative quarter filled with local artists and open studios.

City Center Highlights

• Zócalo de Puebla https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z%C3%B3calo_de_la_ciudad_de_Puebla
  Puebla’s historic main square. Lively spot with restaurants, performances, and colonial architecture.

Teleférico de Puebla

Cable car ride with panoramic views over the city. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telef%C3%A9rico_de_Puebla 

• $38 MXN one-way | $57 MXN round-trip, € 2.50

• Tue - Sun: 10:30 am – 9:30 pm

• Two gondolas hold 35 passengers each

• ~3 - 5 minutes ride time

Zona Histórica de los Fuertes

Where the famous Battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo, 1862) took place. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Puebla

• Monuments, museums, and large green areas

• Explore the battle site and its significance in Mexican history

Puente de Bubas

500-year-old tunnels, formerly used to isolate those with the plague (“bubas”). https://hoteldetalaverapuebla.com/en/what-to-do/29/puente-de-bubas 

• Open to public since 2016

• Small museum + rooftop view

• Be prepared for a musty smell but an interesting visit!

Street Art in Puebla

Puebla's historic core is full of colorful murals and striking graffiti. https://northernlauren.com/colourful-street-art-in-puebla-mexico/

Great walking tour or self-guided stroll for photos and art lovers.

Biblioteca Palafoxiana

The first public library in the Americas (1646). https://museospuebla.puebla.gob.mx/index.php/museos/item/11-biblioteca-palafoxiana 

• UNESCO-listed

• Holds over 45,000 rare books and manuscripts

• A must-see for history and book lovers

• 
  

Ecological Parks in Puebla

These city parks combine recreational areas with environmental conservation. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parques_ecol%C3%B3gicos_en_Puebla
Perfect for:

• Walking, running, or cycling
• Family picnics and playgrounds
• Learning about local ecosystems
• Key parks include:
• Parque Ecológico Revolución Mexicana
• Jardín del Arte
• Parque Centenario Laguna de Chapulco

Hiking Iztaccíhuatl Volcano  

Tough alpine hike with epic views of Popocatépetl; best for experienced hikers. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g1575501-Activities-c57-Puebla_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast.html

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday	Spanish class	City orientation tour	Dinner in Zócalo
Tuesday	Spanish class	Barrio del Artista & Parian	Ride the Teleférico
Wednesday	Spanish class	Visit churches (Santo Domingo, etc.)	Cultural performance
Thursday	Spanish class	Excursion to Zona de los Fuertes	Explore street food
Friday	Spanish class	Biblioteca Palafoxiana & Puente de Bubas	Free time/shopping
Saturday	Ecological Park	Visit Ecological Park (Whole day)	Group dinner
Sunday	Day trip	Visit pyramid & church in Cholula

Return to Puebla

Or Hiking in Iztaccihuatl Volcano

Sample Weekly ItineraryTravel Tips

• July is rainy season — bring rain gear & light jackets

• Stay hydrated and use sunscreen even when cloudy

• Use Uber or Didi for safe, affordable rides

• Local specialties to try: mole poblano, cemitas, chiles en nogada (seasonal), and tamales

• Many museums offer discounts for students, teachers, and INAPAM holders

• Most museums are closed on Mondays

Summer Auditory-Oral Practice Tips For Children with Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids

 

☀️ Summer Auditory-Oral Practice Tips

For Children with Cochlear Implants and Hearing Aids 

by Urszula Glogowska, M.Ed, CCC-SLP, TSHH

Dear Parents, 

Below are the exersizes designed to help your child continue building listening, speaking, and school readiness skills over summer break in fun, everyday ways. 

Thanks and regards, Urszula Głogowska (Speech Teacher)

🎧 1. Keep Devices On and Listening Ready

• Daily Device Check: Start the day with a listening check (e.g., Ling Six Sounds: ah, ee, oo, sh, s, m).

• Routine Use: Wear devices during all waking hours unless swimming or sleeping.

• Pack Smart for Trips: Bring backup batteries, chargers, drying kits, and accessories.

📚 2. Build Listening and Speaking Skills Every Day

• Narrate Daily Life: Talk through what you're doing—“I’m cutting the apple. Now I’m putting it in the bowl.”

• Use Listening First: Give your child time to listen before showing visuals or gestures.

• Expand Language: When your child says something simple, build on it.
  Child: “Dog!” You: “Yes, the big brown dog is barking!”

🗣 3. Practice Speech & Listening Goals Naturally

• Practice target sounds or sentence patterns during:

• Mealtimes, e.g. /m/: “Mmm, more milk please!” “Can I have some ___?”

• Bath time, e.g. “Shhh! The water is splashing!” “I am washing your hair.”

• Car rides, e.g. /s/: “See the sun!” “Where is the truck?”

• Playtime, e.g. /b/: “Boom! The blocks fell down!” “Look! It’s a big dinosaur!” 

• Use favorite toys or characters to make it playful and engaging.

🔠 4. Letter-Sound Awareness & Phonological Play

• Letter-Sound Practice: Focus on a few letters a week. Emphasize the sound each letter makes.
  “B says /b/ like ball!”

• Find Beginning & Ending Sounds:
  “What sound do you hear at the beginning of ‘sun’?”

• “What sound do you hear at the end of ‘dog’?”

• Use Books & Games: Try alphabet puzzles, foam letters in the bath, or phonics-focused apps.

🧠 5. Academic Readiness Review

Help your child stay school-ready by reviewing:

• Colors: Use crayons, clothes, or outdoor items - “Find something red!”

• Numbers: Count snacks, toys, steps, or claps.

• Shapes: Point out circles, squares, triangles … in the home and outside.

• Opposites: Talk about big/small, hot/cold, fast/slow … while reading or during play.

• Sorting & Matching: Sort laundry by color, group toys by size, or match socks - great for vocabulary and thinking skills.

🎶 6. Use Music, Rhymes & Rhythm

• Sing Together Daily: Songs with repetition support memory and listening (e.g., Wheels on the Bus, If You’re Happy and You Know It, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Days of the Week, Months of The Year).

• Rhyming Practice: Read or make up silly rhymes - “cat, hat, mat.”

• Echo Games: Say a word or phrase and have your child repeat it to build clarity and memory.

🎲 7. Play Listening & Language Games

• “I Spy” with Sounds: “I spy something that starts with /m/.”

• Simon Says: For practicing listening to directions and body part vocabulary.

• What’s That Sound?: Use sound clips or make sounds behind your back and guess together.

🌳 8. Use Everyday Activities for Learning

• Cooking Together: Great for sequencing (first, next, last), following directions, and using descriptive words.

• Outdoor Exploration: Describe what you see and hear—“The leaves are rustling,” “That’s a loud lawnmower!”

📓 9. Create a Summer Listening & Language Journal

• Let your child draw pictures of daily activities or special trips.

• Help them label or dictate what they drew—focus on using full sentences, past tense verbs, and descriptive words.

👂 10. Listening in Noise Practice

• Gently introduce background noise during activities: soft music, fan, or outdoor sounds.

• Encourage your child to focus on your voice, even when there’s other sound.

👨‍⚕️ 11. Stay Connected with Professionals

• Ask your child’s SLP or AVT for summer carryover activities.

• Keep audiology appointments up to date (e.g., mappings or hearing aid checks before school starts).

🔊 Ling Six Sounds & Examples

Sound	Phoneme	Sound Type	Example Word	How to Practice
/a/ (ah)	Low-frequency	Vowel	“father,” “hot,” “mop”	Say “ahhh” in a sustained voice. Have your child repeat or respond (e.g., raise a hand).
/i/ (ee)	High-frequency	Vowel	“beet,” “feet,” “see”	Say “eeeee” like in “cheese.” Emphasize smiling lips and clear vowel sound.
/u/ (oo)	Low-to-mid frequency	Vowel	“boot,” “moon,” “food”	Say “ooooo” like a ghost sound. Round your lips and encourage imitation.
/ʃ/ (sh)	Mid-to-high frequency	Fricative	“shoe,” “shh,” “shark”	Whisper “shhhh” as if quieting someone. Check if your child notices it.
/s/ (s)	High-frequency	Fricative	“snake,” “sun,” “ice”	Say “ssssss” like a snake. This is a very soft and high sound—harder to hear.
/m/ (m)	Low-frequency	Nasal	“mom,” “moo,” “man”	Say “mmmmmm” like you're enjoying food. Touch your nose or lips to show vibration.

👂 How to Use the Ling Sounds

1. Listening Check (Detection):
   Say each sound without the child seeing your mouth (e.g., behind a screen or while covering your mouth). Ask:
   
   “Did you hear that sound?”
   
   

2. Identification:
   Present 2–3 sounds and ask:
   
   “Which one was that—‘ah’ or ‘sh’?”
   
   

3. Imitation:
   Have the child repeat the sound back to you to monitor production.
   
   

4. Daily Routine Tip:
   Use the Ling Six Sounds in the morning as a quick sound check with devices on and functioning.