English might be the language of international communication, but what comes after English? Is it French? Chinese? Portuguese? Nope, it’s Spanish, spoken by about 500 million people around the world, official language in more than 20 countries and, the second language in the United States, where nearly 40 milllion people speak it. Closer to home, it’s one of the major languages of the European Union.
Having Spanish in your back pocket is an advantage when it comes to job prospects and makes you more of a traveller than a tourist – “dos cervezas, por favor?” – when you take your holidays each year.
Where to learn it? Spain is the obvious place, but Latin America countries will be cheaper, offer the chance to experience different cultures and enjoy stunning landscapes.
Quito, Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador’s capital, has a reputation as the city where the accent is clearest and most easily understood. There are some good Spanish schools, such as Yanapuma Spanish School, which cater to international students. It’s not all about the tuition, there’s a variety of programmes that explore the culture and history of this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Its historic centre is the best preserved and largest in Latin America, and its modern centre has an eclectic mix of bars and restaurants.
Quito is located on the equator, but due to its elevation (2,800 metres), it enjoys warm, spring-like weather all year round. It’s also a great launch pad for further travels around Ecuador, a country of stunning diversity. Within hours of leaving Quito you can visit the Amazon rainforest, explore the Andean sierra, or laze on a Pacific beach. (www.yanapumaspanish.org)
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
In the highlands of Guatemala lies Quetzaltenango, the country’s second-largest city. It is famous for its nature, the Mayan culture and the warmth of its people.
The “Sol Latino” Spanish School is known as one of the best places to study Spanish. It offers high-quality tuition (one-on-one) and good value for money. (www.SpanishSchoolSolLatino.com). “The Sol Latino” Spanish School is only 5 blocks from the Central Park, the most traditional part of Quetzaltenango, in a safe neighbourhood in front of the small “Las Flores” market. One of the benefits of being located in centre of the city is that it is close to banks, bars, cafes, popular markets, stores, restaurants, hotels, and hostels, and many other services. By organizing daily activities throughout the week “Sol Latino” offers students a great way to enjoy some of the beautiful places surrounding Quetzaltenango. These activities are also a way to expand the students’ knowledge of the local Latin culture and their knowledge of the language.
ICA Spanish School is also in Quetzaltenango. ICA was founded in 1976 as one of the first language schools in Guatemala. It offers private classes with experienced teachers, home stays with Guatemalan families and volunteer opportunities in projects supported by NGO ICAmigos. It also offers daily cultural, educational and relaxing activities for our students. (www.guatemalaspanish.com)
Antigua, Guatemala
Cima del Mundo Spanish School provides full immersion courses in Guatemala, recommended by Lonely Planet book (2010). Learning materials, activities in the afternoon and even WiFi and laundry are free. Antigua is a very small town, but it is a safe and secure place. It is famous for its Spanish schools. There are about 70 schools here, 23 of which are registered with Ministry of Education. (www.cdmschool.com)
Santiago de Chile, Chile
Studying in Santiago de Chile has several advantages, not least its affordability. Santiago also has a packed events calendar and a lively nightlife year round. Contact Chile works with a school located in a beautiful part of Santiago, which offers courses (seven levels of proficiency and different levels of intensity).
The native Spanish teachers are all well-trained with lots of experience. Afternoon activities offer the chance to practice what was learnt during the morning classes. The school also offers leisure programmes such as get-togethers during the week or weekend excursions. (www.contactchile.cl)
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena is considered by many to be the most beautiful colonial city in Latin America. It is located on the Caribbean coast, with white-sanded beaches all around and just 30 minutes (by boat) from the coral reefs of the Rosary islands. BABEL International Language Institute is the only Spanish school in Cartagena situated in the heart of the old town (www.babelschoolcartagena.com). It guarantees highly skilled teachers and state-of-the-art learning materials. Small groups of up to eight students and a relaxed atmosphere ensure that pupils get the most out of their Spanish classes. It partners with Crazy Salsa, the Latin dance school in Cartagena (crazysalsa.net).
Lima, Peru
Lima is an up-and-coming destination for Spanish study. The Spanish spoken here is clear and easy to understand and the Peruvian economy is on the up and up. Foreign businesses are setting up shop as never before. El Sol is the leading Spanish school in Lima, marking its 10th year. It offers full-time immersion programmes which can be complemented by a family homestay service, and a range of additional extra-curricular activities. The school is centrally located in the seaside district of Miraflores, close to shops, restaurants, hotels and a wide-range of entertainment options. (www.elsolperu.com)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is famous for so many things, such as the Tango, delicious cuisine, world-class football, a European-style arts scene and a mild climate year-round (September, October, November, and March, April, May, the best months). AISL is a family-run enterprise with small study groups of between three and six pupils. Flexible schedules allow students to start their courses any day of the week, bar weekends. It has several special programmes including Spanish for health care professionals, Spanish for business, Spanish and the environment, Spanish and Literature, Spanish and the Arts, available to higher-intermediate and advanced students. (www.argentinaisl.com)
Montezuma, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is an adventure and nature lover’s paradise. Its rainforest is home to exotic animals such as toucans, scarlet macaws, anteaters, kinkajous and four species of monkeys. Its pueblos are filled with friendly people and exude the perennial vibe of “pura vida”, the “pure life”. Add active volcanoes, spectacular waterfalls and a list of adventure excursions to keep you busy for months and you can see how Costa Rica is one of the best places to learn Spanish. La Escuela Del Sol in Montezuma caters to just this sort of educational adventure. The Spanish school is set on the banks of the Montezuma River that leads to three rushing waterfalls. Spanish classes may be combined with surfing, fire dancing, yoga and/or scuba certification for a twist on a Spanish-learning holiday. Packages include weekly waterfall hikes and fire shows, zipline and horseback riding tours. (www.laescueladelsol.com)
Heredia, Costa Rica
Intercultura Language School and Cultural Center provides Spanish immersion programs and cultural activities at our Samara beach campus as well as our Heredia city campus. Heredia is the coffee-growing capital of Costa Rica and home to many well-known tourist attractions such as the Braulio Carrillo National Park, Ojo de Agua, Monte de la Cruz, and Barva Volcano National Park. This colonial city is brimming with cultural attractions and opportunities to speak Spanish – talking to the locals in the Parque de los Angeles (Angels Park) while looking at its beautiful stone sculptures, attending mass at the Concepcion Inmaculada church, built in 1797 and boasting beautiful architecture and stained-glass windows, or walking through the Central Market, which is the size of an entire city block. Ticos (Costa Ricans) are a friendly people who welcome language learners to experience their culture, see their beautiful country, and of course learn the Spanish language! Heredia is a transportation hub, and a great launch pad for travel around Costa Rica. (www.interculturacostarica.com)
Samara, Costa Rica
Samara Language School is located right on the beach in brand-new, custom-built facilities overlooking the ocean. Sámara is a small town on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, offering a 5km-long white sand beach ringed with palm trees, and a small town center where students can find restaurants, shops, internet cafés, bars, a gym, hotels, surf schools and more. Close to Samara is the colonial city of Nicoya, with one of the oldest surviving churches in the country, as well as several eco-reserves, national parks, and indigenous villages. Sámara has a large local population of ticos who are friendly and helpful, and give students lots of opportunities to practice their Spanish! Wildlife also abounds in Samara… students see monkeys almost every day hanging from the trees outside the school or on the side roads near the center of town, horses are often seen roaming free along the beach, and birds of all kinds can be seen throughout the town. Bikes are the main form of transportation in Sámara, and everything is within easy walking distance from the school and our homestays. (www.samaralanguageschool.com)
(Images: Quito – waldopics; Quetzaltenango – soyignatius; Antigua – Eric Menjívar; Santiago de Chile – David Berkowitz; Cartegena – parrotplay; Lima – davidberkowitz; Buenos Aires – AISL Spanish school; Costa Rica – Corinne; Heredia, Costa Rica – www.interculturacostarica.com; Samara, Costa Rica – www.samaralanguageschool.com)
