It’s no secret that Spanish immersion is the quickest way to learn the language. But choosing a Spanish course in Argentina? That can seem tricky to new language learners. We are sure you’d rather be planning a day trip in the neighborhood of Palermo or reserving an evening at the restaurant you’ll be eating your first Argentine steak dinner!
Argentina’s popularity brings tens of thousands of students here each year to study abroad. The country’s beautiful landscape and friendly people invite language learners to all parts of the land: Bariloche, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Puerto Madryn, Ushuaia.
Buenos Aires is the most recognized part of Argentina, being a bustling cosmopolitan filled with exciting nightlife, fútbol, wine and friendly porteño people. A city reaching a population of 3 million, it’s crawling with things to do, foreigners to meet and Spanish to practice! Because most travelers study in Buenos Aires, that’s where we will focus this article today.
Spanish Courses in Argentina
Each Spanish school has its own style, specialty, faculty and staff, and classes to reach your goals. If you’ve already checked TripAdvisor and asked friends for any recommendations, below are some quick ways to best choose a Spanish course in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Let’s start with a few questions:
What is Your Current Spanish Level?
All levels benefit from Spanish immersion. But if you are a complete beginner, you will benefit from a program that offers some sort of crash course to try a few basic lessons, followed by an intensive program with other beginners in the classroom.
On the other hand, if you are knowledgeable, you’ll want to be sure the school has an all-Spanish policy so you get the immersive experience you are looking for.
Do you want to practice general Spanish or a specialized topic?
The majority of Spanish immersion programs are general. A quality general Spanish class focuses on the four key learning elements—reading, writing, speaking, and listening—to teach Spanish in a structured yet practical manner.
Popular specialized programs can include Spanish for Business and Medical Spanish. It’s also not uncommon for faculty-led programs or business groups traveling here to have custom agendas created for them according to the group’s learning objectives during their time abroad.
How intensive of a course do you need?
A fully immersive program can include a two-month long homestay with an Argentine family, 8 weeks of intensive classes and afternoons filled with cultural activities. This way, students excel rapidly in learning the language and Argentine customs in an authentic way. Other students prefer to have a lighter load and explore the city during their free time. A well-rounded school offers courses for all Spanish levels ranging in intensity as well as a variety of topic-specific programs.
How to Choose a Spanish Course
Most people want to learn to speak Spanish quickly. A comprehensive Spanish course will put a focus on communication while also tackling all four language competencies. For example, Expanish’s teaching method takes a communicative approach in order to inspire students to speak Spanish while simultaneously using multimedia—such as videos, newspapers clippings, music, ads, etc—to practice reading, writing and listening.
Which brings me to my next question: Does the course offer supplementary materials? Choosing a program with components you can take home for additional exercises and review makes the Spanish course a better value in the long run.
Starting Date
Universities tend to have fewer start dates so for everyday travelers, it’s important to find schools that offer all levels beginning every Monday so you can jump in when it’s most convenient for you.
Student MakeUp
You will be spending a lot of time inside the classroom and at the school, so it’s never a bad idea to get a look at the class makeup. Some people worry that if there are too many students from the same country as them, they will end up speaking in their native language. While a valid concern, a high-quality school would not organize an entire class with students from the same country. On top of that, they should enforce an all-Spanish speaking rule so students do not revert to their native language during their studies.
A common misconception among new students is that classes are organized by start date or by age. Academic advisors at Expanish group students according to level so that everyone is roughly on the same page from the first day onward.
Student Credit and Other Programs
Not every language school qualifies for university credits, so if you are a student about to study Spanish in Argentina, reach out to your study abroad office in your university. If you meet the requirements, you could receive units for something you were already excited to do for fun.
Other popular ways to get the most out of your time in Argentina are language holiday programs such as Bildungsurlaub or CSN.
The perfect program awaits! Live in the moment, laugh with new friends, and learn the Spanish language. Finding the best Spanish immersion program in Argentina brings you one step closer to sharpening those language skills of yours. You can take the next step by checking out Expanish’s list of courses in Buenos Aires to see the well-rounded, interactive programs beginning every Monday of the year. Just think of it: Soon you will be using your newfound conversational capability with classmates as you sip on yerba mate in the green parks of Palermo. Buena suerte!
