How
to choose a good Language School to
Learn Spanish in Latin America
There
are a prolific number of Spanish language schools throught Latin
America and Spain. This makes it very difficult to decide where
to study and what school to choose. Making the right decision is
important to maximize your ability to quickly and efficiently learn
Spanish. Many factors must be considered. We have complied this
guide to aid you in your search.
It
is of the utmost importance to decide what country
to study in.
There are many factors to consider when deciding on the right place
to learn Spanish.
All of these factors play an important role in learning Spanish.
History of political stability –
What is the current and recent history of political unrest and what
can the government do to help visitors if trouble does occur during
your stay?
Rate of inflation – What is the
currency rate of exchange and is it going up or down? Will your
visit get more or less expensive during your stay?
Literacy rate – Is the literacy
rate of the general population high enough to support the availability
of good teachers?
Crime index – Will you be safe in
the city? It is important to realize that every city has crime.
The important questions are: What type of crime is most common?
Who are the most common targets? What can you do to reduce your
likelihood of being a victim of crime?
Climate – What will the climate
be during your stay? Are you accusotmed to the climate and is it
desirable to you?
Accent – If the accent of the native
speakers is very difficult to interpret, this will impede your progress
as you learn Spanish.
Correctness of the language spoken –
Does the local dialect include a lot of expressions/words that may
not be used or understood in other Spanish speaking countries?
After
deciding which country, choose the
right city.
Factors that are important to choose the right school for you include:
Safety – How safe is this city compared
to other cities within the country that you have chosen to study
in?
Cultural facilities – Are there
opportunitites for you to learn about the local culture/history/traditions?
The best language learning experiences includes the opportunity
to learn about the culture of the place that you study.
Transportation to & within other parts of the country
– How will you get to school each day? What is the cost? How
will you get around to see other parts of the city/country?
Friendliness of the local people –
Will you be able to fit into the society? This is especially important
if you will be studying for an extended period of time? This can
also make or break your experience…
Nightlife – What activities are
available in the city other than studying? You will want to be able
to have a good time too!
The
next important step is choosing the
right school.
Location/Safety - Is the school located
in a safe location? Remember you will be travelling to it several
times per week and keep in mind whether your classes are during
the day or evening. The location of the school also is an important
factor. Find out if the school is near the major bus stops and parking
lots.
Age of the school - Our recommendation
is to choose a school with at least 10 years of experience in the
field of teaching Spanish. Other factors include the building and
its surroundings.
A good school should have: well ventilated
rooms, academic quality, reasonable price, resource-center for teachers,
student library, internet facilities, proven methodology, quality
text books, accrediting institutions (universities, associations),
qualified professors (experience, university studies, degrees, etc.),
group size. Audiovisual equipment and varied materials enhance the
learning experience as does low student to teacher ratio. It is
advisable to find out if the school has a cafeteria or public areas
where students can meet, exchange ideas or just relax. It is good
to try to avoid the most inexpensive schools since the quality of
your education is at stake. These types of schools may have no organizational
backup and may have teachers who are poorly trained or even worse
- without training. Many times there are too many students in each
group which could make the class to heterogeneous where the teacher
will have to advance slowly to compensate for the slower students
or on the other hand go too fast therefore catering to the higher
achieving students. An inexpensive school may also tend to attract
students with low academic standards, lower ambitious or with a
low cultural level or lack of motivation which can force teachers
to lower the quality of their teaching.
Tradition in teaching Spanish –
What methods are employed and are they effective? What is the rate
of returning students?
Homestay
- Does the school offer homestay programs where you
live with a local family during your stay? Are the homestay locations
in safe and convenient neighborhoods? Participation in a homestay
progam is an excellent way to enhance your experience to learn Spanish.
Homestay families normally do not speak English and will assist
you language learning, using correct grammar while speaking as well
as introducing you to local food, customs and traditions. This is
an invaluable part of learning Spanish.
Interchange
program - Some schools that teach more than one language
have an interchange program in which foreign students practice with
local students who are learning English. This will provide you with
a good opportunity to practice Spanish with a Latin American while
helping him or her practice English with you. Some schools offer
this program free where students meet in the cafeteria or other
public areas within the facilities. Some language schools also offer
free conversation clubs where you can meet with other foreign students
who want to practice Spanish in a less formal setting.
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