Enveloped by the Andes mountain range, Santiago is a mountain metropolis and a city like no other. From skiing to salsa, Chile’s capital has something for all language learners to immerse in.
Chile’s vibrant capital by night (Photo: Marco Nürnberger via Flickr/CC BY 2.0)
Learning Spanish in Santiago is a unique experience. Opportunites to immerse yourself in the culture and activities of the city are endless, with many language schools giving options to combine learning Spanish with cultural activities. Check out four of the best places to learn Spanish in Santiago, varying in content, location and selected based on student testimonials.
Tandem Santiago
www.tandemsantiago.cl
Tandem Language School offers Spanish language courses and organises accommodation tailored to the preference of the students: in family homes, boarding houses, hotels or apartments. Language classes are delivered to small groups of eight, and the school also offers private and semi-private, two students, tutorials. Classes are available to students of all levels, from complete beginner to advanced. Tandem invites students to learn in its beautiful, traditional mansion in the modern neighbourhood of Santiago, Providencia, which neighbours the famous Bellavista district. The school is well connected to public transport, just a few minutes from Underground station Salvador, and is surrounded by parks and restaurants.
Practising oral skills is a priority at Escuela Bellavista (Photo: Escuela Bellavista)
Escuela Bellavista
www.escuelabellavista.cl
Escuela Bellavista creates its classes and methodology around practical situations encountered in everyday life. Navigating themes of travel, business, meeting people, using the telephone, participating in a conversation effectively, the school places importance on speaking and listening practices. Spanish classes are taught at beginner to advanced levels, and students can select the intensity/pace that suits them. Private classes are also available for students who prefer one-to-one learning and are included in the super-intensive programme. The language school also offers packages that include accommodation, either with a local family or in a hostel.
Coined
www.intercoined.com
In the centre of Santiago, Coined offers several courses that vary in pace, intensity and activities, meaning students can immerse in Spanish classes in a way that suits them best. Courses run are offered at beginner, intermediate and advanced level, and cultural programmes including salsa and skiing are offered alongside classic language programmes. Outside of the classroom, the language school organises cultural activities, and are on hand to help students organise accommodation for their time in the city, with a variety of options available depending on students budgets and preferences.
Ecela Santiago
www.ecelaspanish.com
Ecela Santiago invites students to immerse themselves in Spanish in Santiago; the school’s flexible study options mean new students can start classes any week of the year and study from one week to four months. The school is located in Santiago’s barrio Providencia, surrounded by local cafes, restaurants and downtown hotspots. Ecela delivers courses balanced educationally and culturally, with additional activities including salsa and culinary classes, and excursions to the surrounding Andes mountain range. With schools in Argentina, Peru and Vina del Mar in Chile, students are also able to switch from one Ecela Spanish school to another, for no additional charge.