ZAPATISTA REBEL AUTONOMOUS EDUCATION SYSTEM OF NATIONAL LIBERATION OF THE HIGHLANDS OF CHIAPAS (SERAZLN-ZACH)

Don Andrés

(Compañero Andrés Aubry,
"Otra vez fertilizando la Memoria")

Language Center

 

The Zapatista Rebel Autonomous Center of Spanish and Mayan Languages (CELMRAZ) shares Tsotsil and Castellano (Spanish) classes through a linguistic and cultural approach in the context of anti-capitalist struggle.

WHAT IS THE CENTER OF LANGUAGES?
It is a space for exchange with various peoples and cultures of the world. Learning Tsotsil and Castellano* (Spanish) is a concrete form of this exchange since the classes are offered in a context of the reality of the Zapatista communities in resistance and rebellion and are given inside one of the caracoles, the Caracol II de la Resistencia y Rebeldía, Oventic, in the ESRAZ Secondary School building. All the activities are part of this educational and cultural exchange, offered in reciprocity for a financial contribution that our comrades give to the Junta de Buen Gobierno (Good government council). We do not treat language as one more piece of merchandise, we do not sell it; rather, we share it with all those who are open to this cultural and educational experience and identify with our anti-capitalist struggle for defense of life and for a world where many worlds fit.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Taking the above into account, the Center of Languages welcomes those who share our ideals as laid out in the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle and the Declaration for Life, without distinction on the basis of language, race, religion, age, sex and gender. In order to be accepted to our classes and special programs and to assume the commitment and responsibility of what it means to come to our Center, it is necessary to have a letter of recommendation from an organization or group (social, political, educational, or cultural, identified with anti-capitalist struggle). Further, those interested must be accredited by any of the organizations authorized to do so (see the list below). Students have to show a copy of this accreditation, a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, and their ID when they arrive at Oventic and CELMRAZ.



FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOL (ESRAZ) AND SERAZLN-ZACH 

CASTELLANO (SPANISH) CLASSES:

In accordance with the general agreement between all the organizations that support us, and based on the principle of fairness, the minimum weekly contribution for Castellano (Spanish) classes is equivalent to 3 days of work at the minimum wage of the country where those interested in attending the Center reside and work, plus 900 pesos to offset an increase in the prices of food. In reciprocity, we offer 15 hours of classes (3 hours a day for 5 days), plus 15 meals and lodging which, according to our custom, we offer for free to those who visit us. For greater convenience, we ask to bring the financial contribution in cash and in Mexican pesos. The money will be given directly to the Junta de Buen Gobierno.



TSOTSIL CLASSES FOR INTERNATIONALS:

In accordance with the general agreement between all the organizations that support us, and based on the principle of fairness, the minimum weekly contribution for Tsotsil classes is equivalent to 4 days of work at the minimum wage of the country of origin of the student, plus 900 pesos to offset an increase in the prices of food. This amount covers 15 hours of classes (3 hours a day for 5 days). Again, it is our custom to offer lodging to those who visit us. For greater convenience, we ask to bring the financial contribution in cash and in Mexican pesos. The money will be given directly to the Junta de Buen Gobierno.


TSOTSIL CLASSES FOR PEOPLE FROM LATIN AMERICA:

Given that the minimum wage in most of the Latin American countries is precarious, we ask for the minimum weekly contribution of 2350 pesos per week (including food) for 15 hours of classes per week, similar to what is offered to international students.


FOOD AND LIVING CONDITIONS

Those who have been accredited to take Tsotsil or Castellano (Spanish) classes will be staying in one of the two dormitories located in the area near the 1st of January Rebel Autonomous Zapatista Secondary School. Students will be sharing bunk beds. It is recommended to bring your own sleeping bag. The food will be provided by a collective of the ESRAZ promotores (teachers), consisting of 3 daily meals (breakfast at 8am, lunch at 2pm, and dinner at 7pm). There is running water from a stream for showers and toilets. We have filters for drinking water. More detailed instructions will be given at the beginning of the week.


CLASSES

e with agreements reached between students and promotores (teachers). We are flexible in regards to different schedules and physical spaces. The classes start off with activities designed as a base for collective construction. The active participation of all is important to carry out and enliven these activities. The activities are divided into two hours of class with a promotor and one hour of open, collective activities (usually this includes series of videos about the Zapatista struggle and other struggles in Mexico and the world, visiting various projects, songs, dance, discussions; small voluntary projects in the library, work in the milpa (agricultural fields); classes up in the mountains, at the river, under a tree, etc.).

Classes are organized in three levels defined with everyone's participation. Grammar is only one instrument among many used in class, above all at the beginning level. Since our emphasis is on the COMMUNICATIVE aspect of language, we prefer not to center ourselves on grammar, but rather on the themes that arise in the exchange and interaction among the participants. A great deal of conversation, collective reflection, and discussion is guaranteed from the outset because of our desire to learn and share experiences and struggles that people bring to our school.

 

WEATHER

The temperature during the day varies between 10° and 20° Celsius (50° - 68°Fahrenheit). The nights can be cold, falling to below 9° Celsius (48° F). Part of the year Caracol II is covered in fog (as Eduardo Galeano once said, "The fog is the ski mask of the jungle"). A raincoat is recommended year round.


LOCATION OF THE CENTER

It is one hour away from San Cristobal. Take any collective taxi van ("combis") going to Bochil. The fare to Oventic is 65 pesos. These taxi vans operate between 6am and 5pm.

In order to access the Internet in the Caracol, you will have to purchase Internet cards inside or outside the Caracol.

More information is available at the organizations authorized to accredit the students of the Center.

(*) The actual name of this language is CASTELLANO but 99.999% of internationals who search the Internet only know it as "Spanish".

 

THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED TO ACCREDIT ARE: (*):

 

Turtles and cronopios

Now it happens that turtles are great speed enthusiasts, which is natural. The esperanzas know that and don't bother themselves about it. The famas know it, and make fun of it. The cronopios know it, and each time they meet a turtle, they haul out a box of colored chalks, and on the rounded blackboard of the turtle's shell they draw a swallow.

(Julio Cortázar)

maíz zapatista