Learn Spanish in South America
When we think of Central or South America, our thoughts inevitably turn to fiery rhythms, cheerful dancing, good food, sunshine and joie de vivre. Latin America is a dream destination for many. What's more, the Spanish language is of central importance in today's economy. In some sectors, knowledge of Spanish is absolutely essential if you want to climb the career ladder.
Why not combine the one with the other? South America offers a wealth of language travel opportunities in various countries. Learn under palm trees, on the beach, in picturesque towns surrounded by traces of the colonial era, combine your Spanish course with your hobbies. Learn to dance salsa or tango, play the guitar, surf or dive during a language study trip to South America! Cultivate your hobbies such as trekking or biking in breathtaking, wild nature. In Latin America, your language study trip will not only be educational in terms of the Spanish language, the south of the American continent also has a lot to offer in terms of culture.
The best way to learn a language is to use it as often as possible and to use it in everyday life and during leisure activities. A language study trip to South America therefore offers the ideal conditions for rapid learning progress. Of course, a language study trip to Latin America only makes sense if it lasts a few weeks or even months. Otherwise, there are also numerous interesting travel destinations in nearby Spain with language courses on offer locally.
The most popular countries in South America for language study trips
Numerous countries in Latin America offer attractive language travel programs. At the top of the popularity scale for language travel is the "Switzerland of South America": Costa Rica. The country radiates ¡pura vida! - Pure life! The typical greeting of the country's inhabitants matches the omnipresent attitude to life of respect, joy, friendliness and prudence. If you want to learn Spanish in a peaceful atmosphere, Costa Rica is the perfect travel destination with interesting Spanish courses on site. Whether it's vibrant city life, beautiful beaches on the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea or impressive jungle landscapes and volcanoes - Costa Rica may be small with its 51,000 km2, but thanks to its varied and fertile landscape as well as its low crime rate and cleanliness, it is considered the dream country for a language study trip in South America!
Cuba
Renowned Spanish schools also offer worthwhile language courses on the historic island of Cuba in South America. Although the country has a very eventful past in many respects, visitors to the country are transported back to earlier times. Vintage cars wind their way through dusty, winding streets lined with imposing buildings from the colonial era. Here, the famous Havana cigars are still rolled by hand and lush sugar cane fields bear witness to successful rum production. The island is surrounded by miles of deserted stretches of white sand and at night, hot salsa sounds fill the balmy air. If you want to learn Spanish from scratch or improve your existing language skills, if you love adventure and are very interested in history and culture and, above all, if you know how to enjoy life and want to travel to South America, you should definitely plan a language study trip to Cuba.
Mexico
If you want to book a language study trip in South America, you should also consider Mexico. The country is a popular destination for anyone who not only wants to learn Spanish, but also wants to immerse themselves in the vibrant culture of South America. Mexico has long been known for more than just tacos, sombreros and cacti - did you know that Mexico is home to the largest pyramid in the world? The land of tequila and margaritas is home to unique plant and animal species, where desert landscapes compete with majestic volcanoes, mountains and rivers. Breathtaking beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean attract a large number of visitors and surfers all year round. The cities boast impressive architecture and traces of the colonial era can be found everywhere. If you want to book a language study trip in South America and decide on Mexico, you will hardly be able to commit to a single city. A round trip would therefore be ideal for getting to know the many facets of the country and internalizing the Spanish language.
Colombia
For decades, Colombia was the focal point of guerrilla warfare and drug gangs - now the situation has finally calmed down and the country is easy to travel around. Colombia is still an insider tip in the tourism industry. If you want to seize the opportunity and get to know the unpolished South American diamond that is Colombia, you can combine this with learning Spanish. A language study trip to hospitable Colombia gives you an insight into a fascinating country with breathtaking active volcanoes, impressive mountain landscapes, miles of pristine sandy beaches and numerous cultural sights.
Argentina
A language study trip to Argentina is a detour to South America's Little Europe. The country's diversity begins with the climatic differences between the tropical north and the arctic south. Argentina offers something for everyone and, above all, much more than steaks and tango. The widest waterfalls in the world as well as the mighty Perito Moreno glaciers are an absolute must for visitors to Argentina. If you want to learn Spanish in Argentina, you will be overwhelmed by the country's amazing contrasts: vast steppes and highlands, impressive mountain landscapes, glaciers and the vibrant metropolis of Buenos Aires. Argentina is truly a wonderful destination in South America for a language study trip and will definitely not fall short of your expectations.
Uruguay
Uruguay is also a recommended destination for a language study trip in South America. The smallest country on the continent can be crossed in just a few hours by car and is synonymous with tranquillity, nature and beautiful beaches. Despite its high level of safety, this small pearl of South America is still relatively little traveled and is considered an absolute insider tip and popular vacation destination for the neighboring South Americans themselves.
Ecuador
Ecuador is also an important provider of language study trips in South America. The country on the equator offers unforgettably beautiful beaches along the Pacific Ocean in the west. Most of the country's inhabitants live along the fertile coast with its mild climate. In the rugged Andes, on the other hand, you won't find a dense population, but you will find impressive active volcanoes and the majestic Cotopaxi, almost 6000 meters above sea level. A trip to the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an overwhelming home to numerous animal species. During a language study trip to Ecuador, you will also find dense rainforest and a variety of wild animals and plants in the Amazon. In Ecuador, you can therefore travel through three different climate zones in a very short space of time. If you want to learn Spanish in South America and still have to decide where exactly you want to spend your language study trip, you will definitely get your money's worth in Ecuador. You will quickly make friends with the friendly and open-minded locals and will soon be celebrating one of the many national festivals with them.
Bolivia
Language travel is also offered in Bolivia, the poorest country in South America. Like most Latin American countries, this country also has a variety of different climates. The Andes, with the highest mountains at around 6500 meters, have a cool mountain climate, while the south of the country has a tropical climate. Important features of the country include Lake Titicaca, the highest commercially navigable lake in the world, and the largest salt lake in the world: the Salar de Uyuni. On a language study trip to Bolivia, you will travel to the highest cities in the world, where encounters with friendly indigenous people and unique wildlife are guaranteed.
Peru
Anyone planning a language study trip to South America will inevitably think about attending a Spanish school in Peru. The country is famous for its interesting cultural history. During a language study trip to Peru, you will come across numerous impressive traces of the Incas, such as the famous ruins of Machu Picchu or the scarified images in the ground at Nazca. Deep valleys, high mountains, dense jungle and desert landscapes as well as beautiful beaches attract a large number of adventurous tourists every year. A language study trip to Peru is therefore very varied and a real treat, especially for outdoor enthusiasts, and a favorite in South America.
Chile
Chile is known for its elongated shape along the western coast of South America; the country has over 4000 kilometers of Pacific coastline from north to south and is only about 180 kilometers wide from west to east. This means that the climate zones are also very different. The Andes mountains, volcanic ranges, dense jungle, vast steppes, salt lakes, hot springs and beautiful bays characterize Chile's landscape. A language study trip to Chile also allows you to visit the famous Easter Islands with their impressive stone sculptures. Santiago is a vibrant capital city with a breathtaking panorama. Anyone looking to book a varied language study trip to South America should definitely consider Chile.
Panama
Would you like to book a language study trip to South America and get away from the crowds of tourists? Still unknown and therefore highly recommended for adventurers: a language study trip to Panama! If you want to meet as few tourists as possible, you will feel very much at home in this country. You'll make exciting contacts with the locals, so you won't have to wait long to make progress in your Spanish. Learn Spanish in a fantastically beautiful landscape, characterized by the beautiful beaches of the small archipelagos in the south as well as desert landscapes, lush steppes and tropical rainforest in the interior of the country. Combine your language course with dance lessons and let yourself be captivated by the fiery rhythms.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is known as a tourist destination in the Caribbean of South America. Here you can expect turquoise blue sea, white sandy beaches, lush palm trees and rhythmic sounds. Did you know that renowned Spanish schools in South America also offer language courses in the Dominican Republic? A longer stay on this island will give you the opportunity to get to know another side of the country. In the small villages and towns along the coast, you will meet the locals and get to know the culture and origins of the country. A trip inland takes you through lush rainforests and to beautiful rivers, waterfalls and rare plant species. If you want to learn Spanish in the dream destination of the Caribbean, you should definitely take a look at the language travel offers in the Dominican Republic.
Language schools in South America
Language courses can be booked in any country in South America where Spanish is the official language. Not all destinations in South America are suitable for young people and schoolchildren, so it is worth doing some thorough preliminary research into the courses on offer and the target group. The offers are particularly concentrated in the better-known and larger towns and cities. From there, it is sometimes possible to book organized and guided excursions and trips within the country. Some language schools in South America even offer daily Spanish lessons during a round trip through the whole country - a completely different form of language study trip. In addition to standard courses, many language schools also offer surf lessons, dance courses or music courses. These are, of course, also held in Spanish - a fun way to improve and expand your language skills.
Most language schools in South America offer Spanish courses that include 20 to 25 lessons per week and can be booked as a weekly unit. Class sizes are usually limited to an average of 5 to 10 people. Individual lessons can also be booked at an additional cost. Whether on the coast, in the cool mountains, in picturesque towns in romantic colonial style, in adventurous villages or in the middle of the jungle - you will find the right language school in South America.
Security
Petty theft by pickpockets is certainly more common in Latin America. Valuables should therefore always be kept safe during your language study trip in South America. Even if a country can generally be classified as relatively safe, caution is still advised in certain areas or it is even not advisable to travel through. Hotspots are, for example, the poor districts (favelas) and the outskirts of many cities in South America. The crime rate here is usually high and organized crime is very prevalent. Tourist locations are generally very safe thanks to increased security checks.
According toGlobal Peace IndexArgentina, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Panama are considered the safest destinations in South America. Mexico, Colombia, Honduras and Venezuela, on the other hand, are considered rather unsafe, although the danger here can be limited to individual areas that can be easily avoided when traveling through the country. What is clear, however, is that the language schools in South America are located in safe zones and do not take any risks. Basically, all countries in South America can be traveled to safely and without any problems, as long as you adhere to the local authorities' safety regulations. Lonely overland trips at night in a rental car or walks through slums should be avoided.
If you would like to book a language study trip to Cuba or the Dominican Republic, you should be aware that there is an increased risk of hurricanes from June to November. In South America, 183 active volcanoes along the Andes pose an increased risk. Volcanic eruptions are particularly frequent in Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. These are not always devastating and evacuations from the affected areas and towns are generally carried out in good time. Heavy rainfall and tropical storms can occur in tropical areas. However, these are announced in good time.
If you follow the safety regulations and the instructions of the local authorities, you need not worry during your language study trip in South America.
Costs
First things first: flights to South America are relatively expensive and can quickly cost over 1000 francs. So if you book a language study trip to these wonderful, varied and colorful South American countries, you should definitely plan enough time to make the travel costs and the long journey worthwhile.
Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic are considered more expensive destinations in South America, but are still very cheap by Swiss standards. In contrast, the cost of living is very low in Bolivia, Peru and Mexico (although this does not apply to the popular tourist areas). It is interesting to note that the costs for language schools are relatively balanced throughout South America. Only the cost of accommodation varies slightly between the individual countries.
On average, a week of Spanish lessons at a language school in South America costs CHF 220 for 20 lessons. Accommodation in a host family, student residence or shared flat costs an additional CHF 250 per week. Accommodation costs can vary, as you can usually choose between half board, breakfast only or no meals. Private lessons during a language study trip in South America cost around twice as much as group lessons.
Good to know: The costs for the language courses are reduced with each additional week. Another reason for an extended language study trip to South America!
Detailed guides to the most popular countries for language study trips in Latin America
" Language study trip to Costa Rica
" Language study trip to Colombia
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