Where to go, where to go?
I'm looking for an immersion program either in Central or South America. Right now I speak Spanish conversationally, I've been learning Spanish for a little over a year and a half, mostly through academic courses. I spent six weeks in Cuernavaca, Mexico and learned a lot of Spanish while I was there, but I feel like I could have learned more. To be honest, I'm not interested in the "experience", I'll have more opportunities to travel to South America or Central America in the future. This is an academic trip. My fall-back option for my career is a medical interpreter/translator, but I'm so close to the tipping point of fluency that I'm hoping this three to five weeks in a Spanish-speaking country will put me there.
That being said, I've heard about a language school (perhaps in Peru, but I'm not sure) where the conversation portion of the classes offered is conducted in the city with a teacher walking with the student and among the people. This sounds extremely helpful but I can't seem to find this school. Either way, I'm very interested in improving on the Spanish I have so my question is what schools can you recommend to me and what makes them different from the other hundred odd-some Spanish immersions out there? Money, as always, is a factor, but learning is paramount.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
2 Answers
Hi there, I have compiled a list of Spanish immersion schools in Central and South America with an emphasis on affordability, and if the schools are involved with not-for-profit activities.
In Peru, schools in Lima and Cusco are more expensive than other cities. There are quite a few schools in Arequipa and they are very affordable there, including living expenses.
The most affordable schools are in Ecuador, Guatemala and Nicaragua, and there are lots of them to choose from. I am currently taking classes at a school in Ecuador for about $6 / hour.
There are lots of schools in Peru, esp. Lima and Cusco, which are a little bit pricier. Schools in Mexico are abundant but more pricey. The most expensive schools seem to be in Costa Rica, and Argentina. There are fewer schools to choose from in Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Chile, Honduras, and El Salvador. Of these that you will find, some are more expensive than others.
At the level you are at, you will definitely want to do one-on-one classes, and after you sign up, you can simply arrange excursions with most teachers where they take you around off site. They will be happy to show you aspects of their city (and many off the tourist path). This of course brings up things to talk about and makes practicing conversation more real, than sitting and talking about the same boring things: how many brothers do you have? what's the weather like where you live? what kind of work do you do?
Basically the schools and teachers are just happy to have students, and it's more fun for them when they have more advanced students. So in general, they will be happy to do something different. (Most of the time, they are teaching basic beginner grammar).
Hope that helps.
Are there any Spanish immersion schools here in the US?
