Learning Spanish Abroad

Inca trail to be closed from January to March

If you’re thinking of learning Spanish in Cusco, Peru, it’s a good idea to bear in mind that the Peruvian government has proposed closing the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu each year between January and March.

Most of our students who go to learn Spanish in Cusco aim to walk at least part of this trail, so it seems it’ll be a good idea to avoid going in the first three months of the year.

For information on our recommended school in Cusco, visit the following page:
Spanish language schools in Peru

Learning Spanish in Guatemala

Guatemala is becoming more and more popular as a destination for Spanish language courses. Some of the Spanish schools there are excellent and the country itself is recovering well from a long period of civil war.

Almost all of the Spanish schools are concentrated in two cities - Antigua (the old capital) and Quetzaltenango (also known as Xela). Antigua is a beautiful colonial city and is wonderful for a vacation-like stay if you don’t mind being surrounded by other tourists. Quetzaltenango is more rural and ideal for getting to know more about the native Indian culture of Guatemala.

If you’d like to read more about the country, you can look at this excellent article:
Guatemala’s renaissance

To see our recommended schools in Guatemala, visit:
Spanish language schools in Guatemala

Spanish-language speakers set to grow

When asked why they are enroling for a Spanish language course abroad, many of our American students reply that they need Spanish to work with their Hispanic clients, patients, students, etc.

It was generally believed that this type of need would, in fact, decrease over the coming years, as Spanish speakers adapted and integrated and the children born in the USA would learn English. However, a recent study has concluded that the number of Spanish-dominant and bilingual Latinos will increase by 45 percent over the next two decades - adding 12.4 million Spanish-speakers to today’s population. This is because, unlike other immigrant groups, even third-generation Hispanics - those born to Latino parents who themselves were born in the United States - will continue to speak Spanish in extraordinarily large numbers.

If you’d like to read more, just visit the full article:
Spanish language here to stay

Visiting Mexico for a class in culture

Nowadays a visit to Mexico, or another Spanish-speaking country, seems almost obligatory for almost any professional who has to work with Spanish-speakers. I just read an article about a group of teachers who took a visit to Mexico to learn about the culture of their hispanic students. It proved to be a memorable experience.

You can read about their experiences in the following article:
Janesville teachers visit Mexico for a class in culture

Problems when returning from learning Spanish abroad

It seems that you can have problems adapting not only when you go to a Spanish-speaking country to take a Spanish course, but also when you come back home - you’ve got used to a different way of life.

You can read about it in this article:
Study abroad students experience difficulties when returning home

Holidays!

You may have noticed that I haven’t published any articles on Learning Spanish Abroad recently. I apologize - I’ve been marking my student’s final exams and getting everything ready so that I can go on holiday.

So, until August, I’m afraid there won’t be any more postings.

But from August I’ll be back with more information on Spanish language courses and schools in Spain and Latin America.

See you then!

Travel deals to Malaga, Spain

For anyone living in the USA and thinking about applying for a school to study Spanish language in Malaga, I’ve just seen the following article:
Spanish Sunshine on the Costa del Sol from $549

To choose your Spanish language school in Malaga, visit our page:
Spanish Language Schools in Spain

Kiteboarding in Cabarate, Dominican Republic

If you’re looking to combine a Spanish language course at a school in Latin America with some kiteboarding, the ideal place to go is probably Cabarete, in the Dominican Republic.

At the moment, the Kiteboarding World Cup is being held there:
Dominican Republic’s Cabarete Hosts 2005 Presidente Kiteboarding World Cup

Our recommended Spanish language school in Sosua is just a short bus ride from Cabarete, so you can study Spanish in the morning and spend the afternoon kiteboarding - or windsurfing - in Cabarate. Look at the following page for more information:
Spanish Language Schools in the Dominican Republic: IIC, Sosua

Study Abroad

If you’re a student and you’re wondering if it’s really worthwhile to go abroad to study, I recommend you read this article:
Study abroad expands world view

It’s an article about a couple of students who spent time in Ecuador (the Galapagos Islands, in fact) and in Peru. Although the purpose of their visit wasn’t actually to study Spanish, your experience will be the same during your stay at a Spanish school.

The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

One of the most attractive reasons for learning Spanish in Ecuador is the chance to visit the unique Galapagos Islands after your Spanish course. The following is an article about a visit there:
Nature a constant companion on the Galapagos

The Spanish schools we recommend in Ecuador will be happy to arrange a trip for you, although it’s a good idea to plan it well in advance, because only a set number of tourists are allowed on the islands at any one time. To book your Spanish course, and arrange your trip to Galapagos, visit our page on Spanish Schools in Ecuador.