I am a 20-year-old female from Southern California looking to study conversational spanish for two months (March to May 2012). I have a few questions. 1. What would be the best country to learn Spanis
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Cat:Central and South AmericaForum:0EE6B350
Cat:Central and South AmericaForum:0EE6B350Discussion:5e981f51-afeb-4784-b678-eaa04288656b
I am a 20-year-old female from Southern California looking to study conversational spanish for two months (March to May 2012). I have a few questions.
1. What would be the best country to learn Spanish? My intentions are to learn conversational Spanish closest to what is normally spoken in Caliornia/USA; however, I do NOT want to study in Mexico/Spain. I would enjoy a place that is safe, not too expensive, and has a great nightlife.
2. What would be a good company to study through? Please provide websites, if possible!
either Argentina or Chile, both safe and wonderful environment. My daughter taught English there as a 22 y.o. and had a wonderful time. She stayed outside of Santiago Chile, for 1 1/2 years. Buenas Aires, also, is cheap and has lots of nightlife.
look at these sites in Chile or Argentina- Mendoza is the wine coutry of Argentina, and beautfiul area, and Vina del Mar is the "Beach" location in Chile that is very popular and beautiful on the Pacific.
Chile is more expensive than Argentina, but is much more beautiful, imho. My daughter is actually returning there in June. She has traveled all over that country as a single woman.
My intentions are to learn conversational Spanish closest to what is normally spoken in Caliornia/USA; however, i do NOT want to study in Mexico/Spain. Posted by shahindian2009
Given what Spanish you want to learn, and where you don't want to go, there's only one answer: study in California.
You won't learn the Spanish you want in a place where it is not spoken.
Spanish is quite different across South American countries. The Spanish you want is Mexican Spanish. If you're frightened by the problems with drug gangs, go to the colonial cities where there haven't been any problems. Guanajuato is a lovely colonial town, with a great university, and several different options for learning Spanish. Puebla is another possibility- the University of the Americas is there- started by Texans for their children.
My 20-year old daughter just finished two months of Spanish immersion in Costa Rica and loved it. She studied at a school called "Intercultura," which has a campus in Heredia, a college town near San Jose, and Samara Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The teachers were great, there were students from all over the world, and the school organizes trips all over the country on the weekends as well as has free cooking and latin dance lessons during the week. March to May would be a perfect time to be there weather-wise.
The organization "Amerispan" evaluates language programs all over the world; if there's country you're interested in check Amerispan to find out which schools it recommends. My daughter used them to find the school in Costa Rica and also the one in Argentina she's at right now.
I studied at San Jose El Viejo Language School in Antigua, Guatemala. The website is: www.sanjoseelviejo.com
All teaching is one-to-one with well-qualified teachers. You will have a small classroom for your own use and there are accommodations on site. The school is about 3 bocks from the main square of this lovely colonial city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are several types of programs, from full immersion(all day) to just a few hours a day.
Perhaps you can study one month at one school - maybe Costa Rica, then move to another place - perhaps Guatemala, just to keep your learning fresh and to experience more of Central America and to get used to different accents.
She said she also wanted great nightlife, which makes it Buenos Aires for me. She is only going to learn basic conversational Spanish which can be done in any of the places mentioned and she specifically said she doesn't want to go to Mexico so I don't know why people are suggesting that. The good thing about Mexican Spanish is that it is spoken quite clearly--though with a singing accent, hence, the notion Mexicans don't speak Spanish, they sing it. This makes it easier to speak and, particularly, understand. Also, why I would pick Argentina over Chile. I find they speak much more understandable Spanish because they speak it clearly. Argentinians speak their version of Spanish, but also regular Spanish which you can learn there in schools.
I would vote for Buenos Aires. It was the best of the three immersion programs I attended (Guatemala, Mexico). The city is great...food and wine fantastic, and it's very cheap. The Spanish is a bit different, but the Australian English is different than the US. Not a big deal. Great apartments for about $500 a month through one of the schools. Delightful country and people. Go to langlink.com for Spanish immersion programs worldwide.
I am In Peru doing the samething now. The Spanish that is spoken in Cal. . it's not the proper Spanish it's a mixture the same as in NY. It is best to go to a country to learn the proper Spanish.... I also come from a Latin family ...... It is cheap... a beginner class cost $90 a month 1.30min 5 days a week they also have an intensive class from for 4 hr. a day, for $190 more or less. really cheap here.
I am in Miraflores,Lima Peru near all stores and action. I love it and I am renting a room for $300 a month includes all utilities , use of kitchen and washer and dryer.
Check out ICPNA Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano they are all over the world. You can change the language to English on top of the page.
If you need to know more you can me know send me your email.
I went to Ole Spanish Immersion School in Queretaro, Mexico....and loved it. The city is very clean, the people are wonderful and my homestay was great. I have been back to the city several times since. It's unfortunate that Mexico has such a tainted reputation for safety. It is true that there are areas not safe, mostly your border towns, Monterey, & now Veracruz, but overall, it is no less safe than the U.S.
I'm considering traveling to Cuenca, Ecuador and spending a month there. Has anyone been there and do you have any suggestions for a Spanish immersion for that location?
Thank you for any and all suggestions! Sidney (Minnesota)
I would definetely recommend Guatemala where I learned, but before that a couple of notes from my researches, experience of friends etc.
I love reply - if you want Californian Spanish, learn it in California... Hard not to agree.
South American Spanish is differ from country to country, but not much. Good teacher can point you to differences.
It is a little bit more expensive to learn Spanish in Argentina and even more in Chile.
I would not rely to Amerispan. Their list of schools are far from being complete, there are MUCH more schools.
I was in Yukatan last December. Merida, where many schools are located, is perfectly safe at least during daytime.
Now let's get back to my personal experience. I simply wanted to go to Guatemala, take classes and than to travel.
Per advice of friends that lived in Guatemala, I choose Quezaltenago (Xela), not Antigua. It was a smart advice. Antigua is very touristic, there is more English around then Spanish.
I could not find enough good words to say about this school.
It is simple GREAT !!! Classes are one-to-one with teachers that have years of experience.
The school has different kind of activities every day and on weekends.
I lived with family and it was another marvelous experience. I still remember the taste of food that was served ...
As far as nightlife. I am sorry, I traveled around every afternoon and then study in evenings. But I know that other students found nightclubs and went there.
Though - Guatemala is not safe, you should be careful there. But everybody can advice you what to do and what not to do.
. I love reply - if you want Californian Spanish, learn it in California... Hard not to agree. South American Spanish is differ from country to country, but not much. Good teacher can point you to differences. It is a little bit more expensive to learn Spanish in Argentina and even more in Chile.
