Spanish Language Courses in Buenos Aires

Hi! I'm planning to arrive in Buenos Aires mid-May and I want to do a 1-2 week Spanish language course. I'm an Aussie 24yo girl, travelling on my own and a bit scared :-) so wanting to find out which language schools are best for meeting people and which schools are the best value and offer the widest range of activities.

Is anyone else planning to do a language course in BA in May?

Also any suggestions for places to stay in Buenos Aires? What are the safe areas to stay in? Somewhere near the language school would be good. Reply to this

thanks Dave. that would be great! Reply to this

Hola! Here's a quick update of the the school I decided to attend in Buenos Aires, in case it helps anyone... my husband and I chose to attend IBL (International Bureau of Language). This school is pretty cheap compared to others, $150 per week, which includes the study book. The school is on Florida Street (a busy and popular street for tourists and business people) in the centro (downtown) district, which is a very central location that has many businesses and business people (each neighborhood here seems to have it's own feel or personality... some more touristy, some with more parks, etc). I like the location b/c it is easy to get around to many tourist attractions on foot (although the bus system around here gets you to the ends of the city fast as well... although bus drivers are a little crazy). My husband and I decided to live in a furnished apartment which we booked through the school... we booked the apartment just a week before coming down here, and it is pretty close to the school... about 10-12 blocks or a 25 minute walk each day. We had checked out furnished apartments on a few other websites as well, and strangely enough, the school had the cheapest studios (which was important to us). Most of the other people we have met at IBL end up staying at hostels down here and there are many that are very close to the school... I met one person who is staying in a homestay and he was enjoying that as well...

As far as the IBL classes go... I have really enjoyed them and have learned a lot so far! We have class for 4 hours every day M-F (or 5 hours for 4 days a week if the week has a holiday, which this week and last week have had)... each day you have 2 different blocks of classes with 2 different teachers, one in the AM and one in the PM. My class is currently 3 persons, last week was 4 and I am really learning a lot in this environment. I think our book is very good and the classes very good as well. I have been able to learn a lot from all of my teachers, although I did have one instructor who was slightly harder to understand and learn from than the rest... My husband is in the beginning class (level 1) and he also really enjoys it and is learning A LOT; although it was especially hard for him at first b/c most instructors speak only, or at least primarily, Spanish. Students here come from a diverse background which I really like: Of the roughly 7 or 8 students we've met, they've been from Brazil, Canada, USA, Ireland, England, Australia... In my class (level 3 of 8), we've had several conversations about politics/culture/life styles/etc. in each of our countries and compare this to Argentina, which has been really informative and interesting (plus a good chance to practice Spanish)!

As for extra activities, I know the school offers tango classes at reduced rates, there is a weekly auction for free stuff, and I think they do theater stuff and trips to see a futbol game as well...

Anyway, hope that was helpful! I found it REALLY HARD to find info comparing language schools or even describing language schools in Buenos Aires before we came down here, although the link I posted above was helpful, so hopefully this helps a little! Reply to this