Frequently Asked Questions

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The question of college credit for Spanish study abroad depends more on your college or university than on the school you choose - your first step should be to check with your Spanish Language Department or Study Abroad Office. Some of our Spanish language schools have agreements with various colleges and universities. Check with your language department or study abroad office to see if there is an agreement in place. This is the best option.

If there is no agreement, check with them to find out what they require in order for you to receive credit. They will probably ask you to supply information on the school you wish to attend, a syllabus, etc. In that case, let the school know and they will make sure you get everything you require.

Finally, you can also choose one of our Spanish Abroad language programs that have been approved by the University of Southern Mississippi or by some other US university or college. This is a much more expensive option (you have to pay university fees for the credit). If the first two possibilities fail, check the information on each school to see if it mentions this last possibility.

The important thing to remember in all cases is that all arrangements must be made before you leave for your Spanish Abroad course.

What vaccinations are necessary? What about medical care in the host country?

Most countries have no specific entry requirements as far as vaccinations are concerned. However, it's always a good idea to consult your family practitioner before your trip. In any case your "normal" vaccinations, like tetanus, diphtheria, etc., should be current. You can find useful information on the following website: Center for Disease Control - Travelers' Health Information

If you become ill during your stay, the school or your family can recommend a good physician, and accompany you if necessary. In almost all Spanish-speaking countries you can be sure of receiving basic medical care, while certain countries have first class hospitals. We recommend, in all cases, that you ensure you have adequate travel and medical insurance (see the previous question).

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What happens on my arrival? Is there an airport transfer? How do I get to school on the first day?

Most of our recommended Spanish Abroad schools offer some kind of greet and transfer service on your arrival, although usually at a cost. When you book your course, you'll receive all necessary information on the options open to you, but, if not, just ask.

For your first day of class, the route to the school from your host family's house will be clearly explained, and in some cases a member of your host family will accompany you.

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How does the school know what my level is?

Although the Spanish Abroad school will ask you to give them an idea of your language level when booking, they will always give you a placement test (unless you are a complete beginner) to confirm your level of ability and thus ensure your placement in the most suitable group. This placement test may be taken on the first morning of your course or you may be asked to submit the test before your arrival (please check with your school what their exact procedure is). The test can be a combination of written and spoken exercises and, if it is taken on the first day of your course, your allocated class will usually start later that day or the following morning.

Your teacher(s) will identify if you need to move to another level and will suggest this at an appropriate point during your course.

What are the qualifications of the teachers at your recommended Spanish Abroad schools?

All teachers at our recommended schools should have a university degree. However, because of the enormous variations in the standard of living and general academic standards, there are also great differences in the quality of university education from one Spanish-speaking country to another.

More importantly, a good teacher needs not only an academic background and professional training, but above all a certain type of personality: i.e. patience, imagination, compassion, creativity, flexibility, and last but not least, a real interest in people and cultures. These characteristics are not necessarily a result of a university degree, but mostly depend on the experience and personality of the teacher. Our recommended Spanish Abroad schools try to ensure that the teachers they employ are suited to the work of teaching not only through their academic training but also their personality and prior experience.

What are the courses like? What kind of methods are used?

The teachers at our recommended Spanish Abroad schools are all native speakers. During class the only language used will be Spanish, firstly so as to accustom you to listen to and understand the spoken language, and secondly because the groups are made up of students of different nationalities and languages, and so Spanish is used as the language common to everyone.

Grammar and communication skills are taught in such a way as to provide constant interaction with the teachers and the other students, and you learn the language and grammar structure without memorization of rules and vocabulary in a way that allows you to apply this knowledge after a relatively short time with flexibility and fluency. Because you'll be studying in a country where the language is spoken, and especially if you live with a host family, you'll be able to practice and use your new language skills immediately.

How are host families selected? Where do they live? What is their social status? What can I expect?

Our recommended Spanish Abroad schools are especially careful in their selection of their host families. In most cases they have successfully worked together with the same families for a long time. In medium-sized or smaller towns, most host families live within walking distance from the school, or the school can be reached with a maximum 15-20 min. bus ride. In large cities, distances of up to 40 minutes can be considered normal.

In Latin America especially, host families are in general families who, in comparison with the country's average, are well-off: many families, for example, have maids. However, the level can be considered comparable to the (lower) middle class in Europe or North America, and you should bear in mind that in some countries it may be cheaper to pay for a maid to wash laundry than to buy a new washing machine.

Although it cannot be guaranteed, schools try hard to place only one or two students per host family, so that you can immediately practice your newly acquired Spanish. You'll meet very communicative persons. You can organize things together with your host family: you'll find that many of them and their friends are very interested in your culture and country, and you can also learn a lot about the country you are visiting and its people.

Even for beginners without any knowledge of Spanish, staying with a host family is also recommended from the very beginning, since they are people who are used to dealing with foreigners, and know how to make themselves understood in a caring way.

What about security in some of these countries? Isn't Latin America a dangerous place?

Even though it is true that countries with bigger social differences are in general more "dangerous" than others, you shouldn't forget that there is hardly a "safe" country in the world to visit nowadays - and most large European or North American towns also have neighborhoods where you wouldn't want to be alone in the streets after a certain hour, just as in Latin America.

The important thing is to bear in mind some simple, commonsense rules and to be alert at all times. The great advantage you'll have is that you'll be receiving guidance from people who live in the place where you're studying, who are part of the culture and know what you can and can't do. Your school and your host family will be able to tell you exactly where you can and can't go, what to be careful of, etc.

Will I have access to Internet during my stay?

If you're going to need to connect for long periods and regularly, you should count on having to use an Internet cafe. You won't be able to connect to Internet in the home of your host family, first because connections are often expensive and second because you would be blocking incoming calls. Most schools offer Internet connection as included in your fees, but in practice access tends to be “rationed” and you often have to book fixed periods in advance. However, you'll have no problems finding reasonably-priced Internet cafes in all of the cities where our recommended schools are located.