How To Plan A Spanish Language Trip
You want to take your Spanish to the next level and want to take a Spanish language trip?
Congratulations! You made the right decision! An immersive language course in a country where Spanish is spoken is the best way to get fast results. Not only will you learn the language, but you will also soak up the culture and meet locals, and most importantly: you will be able to put your newly learned language skills into practice right away.
To ensure your Spanish course will be as successful as possible, it is important to put some thought into planning your trip. We have put together the four most important things to take into consideration when planning a Spanish language trip to help you plan your trip:
Before you book a Spanish language course, think about what you would like to achieve by taking the course. Are you a complete beginner? How fluent would you like to become with this course? How many hours per day would you like to take classes? Are you looking to improve your language skills in a certain field, for example, conversational Spanish? Or are you looking to add Business Spanish skills to your resume? Are you okay with a group class, or do you prefer one-on-one classes? A combination of both one-on-one tuition and group classes is usually the most effective way to pick up a new language quickly.
Choosing the right school is another important factor. This is where you’ll be spending most of your time, so take a good look at what the school offers. Are there extracurricular activities for the students? What is the nationality mix of the students like? Are the reviews from former students favorable and is the school accredited, ie. does it meet the required quality standards and are the teachers qualified? How big are the classes, where is the school located, and what kind of accommodation is offered? Homestays are usually the most effective way to practice your newly learned skills, but if you prefer privacy, you might want to opt for a private apartment. Is it possible to contact the school before booking a course to ask questions, and how fast are they responding to your queries?
No matter where you are taking your Spanish course, don’t forget, despite all the studying, to take advantage of the destination you choose! Buenos Aires, for example, is a cultural hub like no other, with plenty of things to see, museums to visit and neighborhoods to wander. If you are a lover of music and dance, you may want to add tango classes to your language course. If you are a football fan, you don’t want to miss the chance to watch a Boca Juniors game. If you are interested in exploring Argentina beyond Buenos Aires, extend your trip and add a week in Patagonia or Mendoza Wine Country to your itinerary. Think about how you would like to spend your days – and your free time in particular – during your language course. How much time do you want to spend practicing and studying, sightseeing, and mingling with other students?
Do Research Before Your Trip
To get the most out of your Spanish language trip, research not only language schools in depth but also your destination in general. Make sure you know what the weather will be like – remember, summer in the northern hemisphere means chilly winter weather in many parts of South America – which events are happening while you are visiting, and how you can prepare for your course to ease into it easily. Are there any Spanish learning materials you can use to already get a little taste of the language? Or to refresh your rusty Spanish? YouTube has some great language learning videos you can use to get an idea of how the Argentine Spanish differs from the Spanish spoken in other parts of Latin America and in Spain – especially listening to the different accents is a helpful preliminary exercise. If you are a complete beginner, this is a good way to get a basic understanding of what you’ll be doing during your language course and what you are getting yourself into.
Take all these things into account when planning your trip, and you will have the best immersive Spanish course possible!
Do you have any other questions in preparation of your trip? Ask them in the comments below!
