Learn Spanish in Latin America

Vacations which include learning Spanish in Latin America

Have you ever wanted to learn another language while you Travel?

Many people would like to learn another language and be able to converse with locals when on holiday, but are put off by having to study in a monotonous lesson after a draining day at the office. While these lessons are probably of the highest quality, it just does not suit some people and they would struggle to learn in such an environment.

The answer to this is quite simple…. Learn Spanish Latin in Latin America, Combine a trip to the country of your choice with learning the lingo, whilst having a relaxing vacation with all of the Travel and activities you would normally do. By learning in an environment like this, it is proven that student ability is a lot higher than if you are taught in your home country. Having to converse in the native tongue even when out of class, is the fastest and most effective way of grasping the language. FACT!

Latin America is a perfect place to test this theory, with plenty of respected language schools in some of the most beautiful and exotic places on earth. With the Spanish lessons, you will get the opportunity to visit Mayan ruins, hike through Costa Rican cloud forests, learn to tango in Argentina and even help out with local schools and hospitals in some cases.

The fact that you will be practising constantly will no doubt help your Spanish improve and being able to talk (even if it is limited to start with) to the locals in their native language will make your trip a lot more interesting. The locals will appreciate it and it will make you feel a lot better about yourself.

All of the better schools in the region (and there are some cowboys) will use highly qualified native tutors with proper training and experience. Group sizes will be small, usually around 8 persons and the lessons will be interactive, where the students don’t just sit and study a text but actually converse with the tutor and other students.

Some of the schools offer qualifications like DELE, which is an internationally known Spanish qualification. Some will also offer American College Credits or are authorised to receive students who are grant funded from the likes of CSN-Hogskoleverket (Sweden) and Bildungsurlaub (Germany).

Though practically all of the countries in the region will have Spanish schools, this article will focus on Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico in Central America and Argentina and Peru in South America.

 Central America

South America

Obviously the prices will differ from one another, going by country, school and what extras and accommodation are on offer. This is just a guide and it would be best to get in contact with a few schools to get quotes and more information.

Many schools cater for both short and long term students and some even offer intensive and one-on-one tuition for those looking for more demanding courses. As has been said in previous pages, other courses can be joined to the Spanish lessons such as Tango in Argentina, Maya culture in Guatemala and Diving in the coastal resorts of Mexico and this can be a great idea for those wanting to do more with their time in Latin America.

Guatemala is one of the cheapest places to study as the cost of living is a lot cheaper and Argentina and Mexico are probably some of the more expensive. The times of year and style of accommodation will also bring up/down the price and there are quite a few choices to choose from. We recommend staying with a local host family as this way you will be integrating with the local culture and your Spanish will be getting better daily with the practice you will get.

Many schools have their own student accommodation and these can be very good with apartments looking out over the sea or close to Cloud forest but you will be staying with other students and the temptation to speak English will be higher. Hotels also have deals with some schools especially in Mexico and these are preferred by those who want more of a vacation feel to their stay, though this is the more expensive option.

Side trips and excursions that are offered by the school are usually at extra cost, though some do have activities that are part of the ‘course price’. Looking for the right school for you is important as the cheapest option is not always the best value.

For a few dollars more you might get a few more free activities, free transfers to the airports and better locations and teaching aids. Remember that although this is a vacation you will still be learning, as this is why you wanted to come in the first place, so you will need to look at the way the schools teach their students. The best schools are more interactive with a lot of chance for you to practice pronunciation, rather than just plonking you in front of a text book.

A little research will go a long way in finding the best language school for you and in the right destination for your interests. 

Hasta Luego