Lifelong Learning Program at the Instituto Allende

Ethics with Austen
March 19 and 20 1-3pm MXN 325

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is more than a beloved romantic novel—it is also a rich exploration of the moral choices people face in family, friendship, and society. In this lively, discussion-based course, we will use Austen’s classic story to explore how different ethical frameworks—such as utilitarianism, care ethics, relational ethics, contract theory, and deontological ethics—shape the decisions we make and the responsibilities we carry.

Together we’ll consider questions that remain as relevant today as they were in Austen’s time: How do we balance personal happiness with family duty? When should we follow social expectations—and when should we challenge them? What does it mean to act with integrity in a complicated world?

We will also place the novel within its historical and cultural context while examining the timeless moral dilemmas faced by Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and the society around them.

Participants are welcome to read the novel (free edition here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1342/1342-h/1342-h.htm) or watch a film adaptation beforehand. This course emphasizes lively conversation and shared reflection rather than lecture.

Register at the Instituto Allende or online at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/lifelonglearning

Logic with Sherlock
March 16 and 17 1-3pm MXN 325

Step into the sharp, fascinating world of Sherlock Holmes and discover how great detective stories can teach us about great thinking. Using the beloved tales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as our guide, this course introduces the principles of logic—the philosophical discipline concerned with clear, precise reasoning—in a lively, accessible, and deeply enjoyable way. Together we’ll examine how Holmes observes, interprets, and reasons his way to the truth, and what his methods can teach us about our own thinking in everyday life.

Along the way, we’ll explore epistemology—the branch of philosophy that asks how we know what we know. What is the difference between believing something and truly knowing it? How do we evaluate evidence? How do our assumptions help—or mislead—us? We’ll also take a thoughtful look at how women have historically been excluded from or dismissed within conversations about logic and reasoning, and what that means today.

This course is highly conversational rather than lecture-driven, inviting participants to think together, question together, and enjoy spirited dialogue. Bring your curiosity—and your metaphorical magnifying glass!

THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN HUMOR

March 10, 12, 13 | 1-3 p.m. MXN 400

Mark Twain, perhaps America’s most enduring humorist, once observed: “The humorous story is American… The humorous story depends for its effect upon the manner of the telling.” More than a clever remark, Twain’s insight opens the door to a rich and revealing cultural story—one that is uniquely American.

In this six-hour course, we’ll trace the evolution of American humor across time and media, from vaudeville and stage comedy to film, radio, sitcoms, cartoons, comics, and stand-up. Along the way, we’ll revisit unforgettable comic voices and performances—from Mark Twain himself to Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and her legendary ensemble, Abbott and Costello, Jack Benny, and Robin Williams, among many others.

But this is more than a nostalgic stroll through great laughs. We’ll ask deeper questions:
• Who shaped American humor—and why?
• How did social change, politics, and cultural upheaval influence what people found funny?
• How has humor adapted to reflect (and sometimes challenge) its times?

Expect plenty of clips, stories, insights—and laughter—as we explore how humor mirrors American life and why it continues to resonate today.

Barbara Kalis has lived in San Miguel de Allende for 15 years and has been deeply involved with the Lifelong Learning Program as both a staff member and a popular instructor. A former English teacher in the U.S. and Germany and an interior designer with her own firm for 35 years, Barbara embraces learning as a lifelong adventure. Since retiring, she has pursued her wide-ranging curiosity through courses on topics as diverse as the History of Women, Fairy Tales, Tudor Queens, and design. Her fascination with humor—its wit, power, and cultural significance—sparked this engaging exploration of The History of American Humor.

Register at the Instituto Allende or online at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/en/lifelonglearning

A Continuation of a Tour
through Western Musical History

March 2, 4, 6 | 1-3 p.m.

Why does music sound the way it does?

How did our musical language develop, and how can we learn to hear the differences between styles, forms, and eras? What are we really listening for when we talk about pitch, melody, rhythm, and form?

This course continues the journey begun in last year’s popular class, tracing the evolution of Western classical music through the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven and the rise of enduring forms such as the string quartet, concerto, and symphony. As we move into the Romantic era, you’ll hear expressive sounds that still influence composers today, before concluding with a look at 20th-century avant-garde music and its connections to Impressionist and Abstract art.

Whether you are rediscovering familiar favorites or encountering new sounds, this class will sharpen your listening skills and deepen your understanding of music.

Cherie Hughes is a distinguished performer and scholar who served for many years as Head of Performance Voice and European Musicology at Seattle Pacific University. An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, she has performed widely throughout Mexico and beyond, collaborated on new works, and appeared as a soloist in opera and oratorio. Her recordings are available on major streaming platforms.

Expand your ears, enrich your understanding, and hear music in a whole new way.

Register at the Instituto Allende or at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/lifelonglearning

A Composition and Conversation
with Michael Hoppé

Led by Michael Hoppé and Martin Fletcher
February 23, 25 | 1-3 p.m. MXN 325

What really happens when a piece of music is born? And how has the music business transformed from the age of vinyl and record labels to today’s streaming-driven world?

In this two-session course, San Miguel resident Michael Hoppé, a Grammy-nominated composer and former music-industry executive, invites participants behind the scenes of both musical creation and the business that brings music to the world.

Session One: Creating Music—Together
In the first class, Michael will compose a brand-new piece of music live, with ideas and input from class members. This highly interactive experience offers a rare opportunity to see—and hear—how a composition takes shape, from initial inspiration to finished form. No musical training is required; curiosity and a willingness to listen are all you need.

Session Two: From Record Labels to Streaming—A Musical Life in Context
The second class shifts to conversation and reflection. Facilitated by Martin Fletcher, the session begins with an interview exploring Michael’s earlier career as head of Artists & Repertoire at PolyGram in the early 1980s. During that pivotal era, he signed emerging New Age artists and worked with globally known bands such as ABBA and The Who. The discussion then opens to the class, examining how the music industry has evolved over the past four decades—and where it may be headed next.

About the Instructor
Michael Hoppé began his career as a senior executive at PolyGram before leaving the corporate world in 1984 to focus on composing and consulting. He has since released more than 30 New Age and classical albums through his own publishing company, Chordially Yours Music. His album Solace was nominated for a Grammy Award, and The Yearning was named CD of the Year by CD Review. Widely respected internationally—particularly in South Korea—Michael continues to compose, record, and perform; his most recent concert tour there took place in 2025.

REGISTER at the Instituto Allende or online at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/lifelonglearning

We’ve opened up some of our classes that were previously closed. Here are our classes for the rest of the LLP season. Register at the Instituto Allende or online at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/lifelonglearning

At Home with the Lacandon Maya
Instructor: Lola Reid Allín • Dates: Feb 13 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Photographer and author Lola Reid Allín offers an intimate portrait of the Lacandon Maya of Chiapas. Explore their traditions, beliefs, and daily life in the rainforest.

Mexican Cinema and Its Richness
Instructor: Jesús Ibarra • Dates: Feb 16, 18 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Journey through the history of Mexican cinema from its golden age to modern masterpieces. Enjoy lively discussion and carefully selected film clips.

Archaeology: How Do They Know That?
Instructor: Dr. Cheryl Claassen • Dates: Feb 17, 19, 20 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Explore how archaeologists use science to reconstruct the past. Learn about tools, evidence, and interpretation in this hands-on look at discovery.

A Composition and Conversation with Michael Hoppé
Instructor: Michael Hoppé & Martin Fletcher • Dates: Feb 23, 25 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Experience a live composition session with Grammy-nominated musician Michael Hoppé followed by an open conversation about creativity and the music industry.

The Beatles: A Rare Audio-Visual History
Instructor: Michael Solof • Dates: Feb 24, 26, 27 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
An immersive multimedia presentation tracing the Beatles’ rise to fame. Features rare audio, video, and insights from behind the scenes.

A Continuation of a Tour through Western Musical History
Instructor: Cherie Hughes • Dates: Mar 2, 4, 6 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Discover how Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven transformed Western music. A lively continuation of our journey through musical evolution.

The History of Art in San Miguel de Allende
Instructor: Natalie Taylor • Dates: Mar 9, 11 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Trace San Miguel’s artistic evolution from colonial times to its modern art scene. Learn how art shaped—and was shaped by—this remarkable town.

The History of American Humor
Instructor: Barbara Kalis • Dates: Mar 10, 12, 13 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Laugh through the evolution of American humor, from Mark Twain to modern satire. Discover how comedy reflects cultural values and social change.

Logic with Sherlock
Instructor: Rebecca Robb • Dates: Mar 16, 17 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Strengthen your reasoning skills through puzzles and logic inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Explore deduction as both an art and a mental discipline.

Ethics with Austen
Instructor: Rebecca Robb • Dates: Mar 19, 20 • Time: 1–3 p.m.
Examine moral dilemmas and personal integrity through Jane Austen’s beloved characters. A thoughtful discussion of virtue, duty, and human behavior.

Lifelong Learning Program | Instituto Allende

Many Coats, Many Colors:
Jewish Clothing Across Time and Place

February 9 and 11 1-3pm MXN 325

Clothing is never just about what we wear—it tells stories about who we are, where we belong, and how we navigate the world. Across centuries and continents, Jewish clothing has reflected faith, gender roles, social status, tradition, adaptation, and identity in remarkable ways. This richly illustrated course explores how Jewish communities dressed within the cultures that surrounded them while also developing distinctive garments, symbols, and styles that expressed religious devotion, community affiliation, and personal meaning. From everyday dress to ceremonial clothing, participants will discover how fashion reveals creativity, resilience, continuity, and—at times—survival itself. No background in fashion or Jewish history is required; just curiosity and a love of visual storytelling.

Instructor Bio:
Phillip Silver is an internationally acclaimed designer of stage, costume, and lighting with nearly 300 productions to his credit across Canada, the United States, and the West End. A former Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University and a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, he brings a designer’s eye and a storyteller’s sensibility to this visually engaging exploration of cultural history.

REGISTER at the Instituto Allende or online at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/lifelonglearning

COURSES Lifelong Learning Program | Instituto Allende To register, you can see the courses by clicking on the icons below. After viewing the courses, please return to this page and scroll down to the bottom of the page to the enrollment section where you can choose all your courses, check out and pay in an easy process.

Water Security in Mexico, Guanajuato,
and here in San Miguel

FREE presentation on a February 10 1-3pm. Register at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/en/cursosllp

This course will update participants on the water crisis in Guanajuato and some effective responses to it as well as actions we can all take in our own homes. It will be taught by Dylan Terrell, the founder of Caminos de Agua, and his staff of the highly respected nonprofit working in our region on the water crisis. Lifelong Learning offers it free as a public service.

The Alto Río Laja Watershed stretches across seven municipalities in northern Guanajuato State in Central Mexico. Ninety-nine percent of the water consumed in this region comes from a large underground reservoir known as the Alto Río Laja Aquifer, which serves several thousand distinct communities – including San Miguel de Allende. The aquifer supplies water to over 700,000 residents. Our aquifer is declining at an alarming rate, over 1 meter per year on average and as high as 3 meters per year. The underground water that remains is contaminated with arsenic and fluoride – up to 23 times the World Health Organization recommendations and official Mexican limits. These contaminants are incredibly difficult to remove from water supplies and are associated with numerous impacts on health, including developmental disabilities in children, skin disease, dental and crippling skeletal fluorosis, chronic kidney disease, and even several types of cancer.

Dylan Terrell is the Founder and Executive Director of Caminos de Agua. He is an Ashoka Fellow and oversees all of Caminos' programming. He focuses much of his time on institutional collaborations, public policy initiatives, and coalition building. In the early years, he helped build and coordinate many of Caminos core programs, including water quality monitoring, technology development, rainwater harvesting, education, and other community projects. Members of the Caminos staff will assist in teaching this class.

LIFELONG LEARNING: Bitcoin, Pig Butchering, Deepfakes, and Zero Days: Today’s Cybersecurity Landscape

Instructor: Jason Garbis
February 12 | 1-4 p.m.
MXN 150

Modern technology has transformed how we live, work, and communicate—but it has also opened the door to scams, cybercrime, hacking, and large-scale digital disruption. Why has this happened? Who is behind these activities, what motivates them, and what—if anything—can be done to reduce the risks?

This class offers a clear, non-technical introduction to today’s digital landscape from a technology and cybersecurity perspective. We begin by stepping back to the 1960s and 70s, tracing the early history of computing and communication to better understand how today’s systems evolved. From there, we explore several foundational technologies shaping the modern world, including cryptography, cryptocurrency, and generative AI.

Participants will then meet the key actors in today’s cyber ecosystem—from criminals and nation-states to hacktivists and so-called “script kiddies”—and examine their motivations, such as profit, information, and disruption. Through accessible case studies of recent cyber incidents, we’ll make these issues concrete and relatable. The course concludes on a practical and hopeful note, looking at how individuals, organizations, and governments can better protect themselves, while also recognizing the continuing benefits and promise of emerging technologies.

Jason Garbis is founder and CEO at Numberline Security, an advisory firm that helps enterprises and government agencies create effective information security programs. He has published several technology and security books, chairs the Zero Trust working group at the Cloud Security Alliance, and is a frequent speaker at information security conferences. Jason’s background blends technology and business, and he is fascinated by online criminal activity.

REGISTER at the Instituto Allende or online at https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/en/lifelonglearningprogram4

This three-session course opens the door to the fascinating and often misunderstood world of modern psychiatry. You’ll explore what psychiatry actually is—how it fits within the broader field of mental health, how clinicians evaluate and diagnose, and how medications and psychotherapy can work together to support healing. Dr. Eleff presents these topics in clear, accessible language, making complex ideas easy to understand even for those with no background in the field.

You’ll also dive into timely and thought-provoking issues, including Medical Assistance in Dying and the complex question of whether it should apply to individuals with mental illness. These discussions bring together medical, ethical, and legal perspectives and offer space for thoughtful conversation shaped by participants’ interests.

Dr. Michael Eleff brings more than four decades of clinical and teaching experience to this course. A senior academic psychiatrist from Winnipeg, he spent 35 years at the University of Manitoba before moving into a part-time community practice. His work has long focused on blending psychotherapy with medication management, and he has taught this popular course in both Canada and Palm Springs. His teaching style is warm, clear, and deeply informed—ideal for lifelong learners who want to understand the human mind more fully.

January 26, 28, 30 1-3pm MXN $400

SIGN UP HERE: https://www.instituto-allende.edu.mx/lifelonglearning

Questions: Jane Carroll at [email protected]

If you love ideas, great conversation, and the joy of learning for its own sake, you’ll feel right at home in the Lifelong Learning Program (LLP) at Instituto Allende. Designed for both residents and visitors of San Miguel de Allende, LLP offers a welcoming, intellectually stimulating experience—without exams, grades, or homework pressure. 

What makes LLP special
• Fresh topics, lively discussion. Our January–March 2026 offerings range widely—from literature and history to timely topics like technology and cybersecurity. 
• A community of curious people. You’ll meet others who show up with questions, opinions, and a genuine desire to keep growing. 
• Classes meet in the afternoon (often 1–3 p.m.), with a few time variations—so it’s easy to fit into your week. 

You can register:
• Online via PayPal
• In person at Instituto Allende reception (Ancha de San Antonio #22{

One more reason to feel good about joining: the LLP does not operate for profit—and any excess revenue supports scholarships for low-income art students at Instituto Allende. 

✨ Come be part of it in 2026. Explore the course list and registration details on the Instituto Allende Lifelong Learning Program page.