How to Choose the Perfect Spanish Course in Argentina

Argentina’s popularity brings tens of thousands of students every year to study Spanish abroad. The country’s beautiful landscape, friendly people, and modern cities invite language learners to explore the provinces, such as Bariloche, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoze, Salta, Puerto Madryn, Ushuaia and more!

Buenos Aires is the most recognized province and city of Argentina. A bustling cosmopolitan filled with exciting nightlife, fútbol, wine, and friendly locals, the capital of Argentina has something for everyone. Reaching a population of over 3 million, it’s crawling with things to do, foreigners and locals to meet, and Spanish to practice!

Finding the Perfect Spanish Course in Argentina

Each Spanish language school is unique in that it has its own style, specialty, faculty and staff, and classes to reach your individual goals. We recommend that you first start looking online: check out TripAdvisor, Facebook, Youtube, Lonely Planet, etc. If you know people who have studied in Argentina before, ask for recommendations. However, if you’re just starting your research, take a look at the tips below to choose the perfect Spanish course in Buenos Aires, Argentina. To begin, we’ll explore a few questions about your individual needs.

What is Your Current Spanish Level?

All levels of Spanish language learners will benefit from immersion programs. However, if you’re a complete beginner, you’ll benefit from a program that offers an intensive program with other beginners in the classroom. On the other hand, if you’ve had some experience with Spanish and you’re looking for something more intensive, you’ll want to make sure that the school you select has an all-Spanish policy, inside and out of the classroom, so you get the complete immersive experience you are looking for.

Many Spanish language schools in Buenos Aires offer solutions for beginners that complement their basic needs, however not all are qualified or prepared for advanced learners. Make sure that your school will be able to meet your individual Spanish learning needs, whether you are a beginner or more advanced.

Do You Want to Practice General Spanish or a Specialized Topic?

The majority of Spanish immersion programs are focused on general Spanish language skills. A quality class focuses on the four key learning elements, reading, writing, speaking, and listening, to leach Spanish in a structured, yet practical manner. Popular specialized Spanish programs can include Business, Medical, Spanish for Teachers, and Spanish language exam prep courses. It’s not uncommon for faculty-led programs or business groups to have custom agendas created according to the group’s particular learning objectives during their time abroad.

What Type of Intensive Course Are You Looking For?

A fully immersive program can include a two-month long homestay with a local Argentine family, 8 weeks of intensive morning classes, and afternoons filled with cultural activities. By participating in a complete immersive program, students are able to excel rapidly in their Spanish language skills and learn about Argentine customs in an authentic, organic manner. Some students prefer to participate in a program similar to the one above while others prefer a lighter load, leaving them plenty of time to 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, so students can customize their schedules as they’d like.

How to Choose the Perfect Spanish Course

Most Spanish language learners want to learn quickly. A comprehensive Spanish course will put focus on communication while also tackling all four language competencies. For example, Expanish’s teaching method takes a communicative approach in order to ensure that students are speaking Spanish from day one, while using multimedia such as videos, newspaper clippings, music, ads, etc. to practice reading, writing and listening.

Make sure that the Spanish school offers supplementary materials that you can take home with you to study. Choosing a program with materials that has additional exercises and review makes the Spanish course a better value in the long run.

Choosing the Appropriate Starting Date

University-sponsored programs tend to have fewer start dates so for everyday travelers and Spanish learners, it’s important to find schools that offer all level classes beginning every Monday, so you can jump in when it’s most convenient for you.

The Student Makeup

When you go abroad to learn Spanish, you can be sure that you’ll 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 students may worry that if there are too many students from the same country, they will end up speaking in their native language. While a valid concern, a high-quality language school would not organize an entire class with students from the same country. In addition, they would enforce a Spanish-only speaking rule so students do not revert to their native language during their studies.

A common misconception among new students at Expanish is that classes are organized by start date or by age. Trained academic advisors group students according to level so that everyone is roughly on the same page from the first day onward, and they are able to learn according to their current language skills.

Student Credit and Other Academic Programs

Not every language school qualifies for university credits, so if you are a university student looking to study Spanish in Argentina, reach out to your study abroad office and ask what is needed for credit transfer. If you meet the requirements, you could receive credit 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 Spanish program awaits! Live in the moment, laugh with new friends, and learn Spanish, all while exploring the grand city of Buenos Aires. Finding the best Spanish immersion program in Argentina will bring you one step closer to sharpening the language skills you already have. Soon, you’ll be using your newfound conversational capability with classmates as you sip on yerba mate in the green parks of Palermo. ¡Buena suerte!