One of my goals for 2019 was to spend time buffing up my bilingual skills, specifically Spanish. With that goal in mind, I managed to find a few intensive Spanish schools to attend throughout Latin America—which meant that I could learn Spanish and travel at the same time! If your resolution this year is to add Spanish to your list of spoken languages (and perhaps to travel a bit more), then attending a Spanish school is a great way to achieve both goals. I attended three different Spanish schools in three different countries. Here’s a rundown on each to help guide your decision and inspire you to learn Spanish (or should we say, aprender Español!)
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Frida Language School: Mexico City, Mexico
Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City
For US-based travelers, Mexico may be the most obvious place to start. Due to the diversity and vibrancy of the local culture, Mexico City is a wonderful spot to visit. For me, though, I’ll fall in love with a city just for the food and with that, Mexico City is tops!
In between eating my way through Mexico City, I attended the Frida Language School for several weeks during May and June. This was a great place to begin my Spanish language journey because it’s relatively close to the States, is a fairly easy journey and the concentration and volume of Spanish speakers in Mexico is (obviously) massive. The school was truly immersive and it gave me a chance to start speaking and thinking in real Spanish.
Since the school doesn’t offer accommodations, it’s a good idea to explore the area on your own and book a vacation rental, which you can easily book through CheapTickets.com. I decided to stay in the Ignacia Guest House; it’s a small, intimate guest house with beautiful terraces and only a few guest suites. I really loved the vibe, but the property does run a little bit pricey for an extended stay. If you’re traveling on a budget, there’s no need to spend upwards of $300 per night in Mexico City; instead, book in at Condesa Suites for a spacious room and a price tag of about $50 per night.
I had such a great time in Mexico City because while the Spanish School was very intensive and helpful during class, the school also offers trips and excursions around the city and country. Attending this school was a wonderful opportunity to start learning Spanish and explore everything from local food trucks to Aztec pyramids!
Peruwayna Language School: Lima, Peru
Aerial view of Miraflores in Lima, Peru
I met up with some friends in Peru in August 2019 to trek through the Andes to ancient Incan ruins, and while I was there, I had the chance to practice the Spanish I had learned in Mexico—plus a little Quechua! However, I wanted to improve my Spanish further, so after we went our separate ways post-trek, I headed to the capital.
Located in Miraflores, one of the most picturesque districts of Lima, the Peruwayna Language School is both professional and flexible to accommodate a variety of needs you may have during your study time. One of the things that I really liked about this school is that it was intensive while I was attending, but their corresponding online program kept Spanish accessible after I left Lima.
Through Peruwayna, students also have the opportunity to stay with a local Peruvian family within walking distance to the school. This is an immersive way to learn about the day to day life of Lima dwellers and to expose yourself to the most delicious coastal Peruvian dishes like lomo saltado and ceviche, but it isn’t a necessary component of the program. There are tons of vacation rental options in the beautiful district of Miraflores, such as the Trendy Host Canvas apartments and suites for roughly $80 nightly. Alternatively, you can rent a studio starting at the low price of $35 nightly at Borgoño Suites 502, which is a short walk to Miraflores Central Park.
Studying Spanish in Lima helped me continue my language learning journey and nicely wrapped up my trip through Peru, but I decided that I wanted to explore even more of South America and put my skills to the test.
Whee Institute: Bogota, Colombia
Bogota’s cable car with a view of downtown Colombia
When I arrived in Colombia with two Spanish language schools under my belt, I had the basic skills to communicate but I wanted to work on my confidence. To help me own and apply all of the things that I had learned in Mexico and Peru, I signed on to attend the Whee Institute in Bogota.
The Whee Institute is the fastest growing Spanish school in Colombia, and I thought it would be a good idea to learn a little bit of Colombian Spanish to add to my Mexican and Peruvian dialect training. Colombian Spanish is often said to be the most “neutral” Spanish accent, so it can be beneficial for beginners to have a little bit of Colombian Spanish education. I had the opportunity to participate in both group as well as private Lessons, and I like that this school focuses on fun, immersive, engaging education while paying their teachers twice the average wage. It made for a set of all around good vibes.
While it’s possible to book a homestay through the Whee Institute, again, it isn’t necessary if you’re someone who prefers doing things a bit more independently. If you like to have a lot of space to yourself or if you’re possibly sharing with a travel buddy, you might splurge on accommodations with 93 Luxury Suites & Residences, which start at $130 per night. However, it’s also possible to snag a basic room from just $20 nightly at Aparta Hotel Oporto 83. The price for that one mirrors the fact that it’s located a little bit south of downtown, but if you’ve got your own transportation or want to take a taxi, it’s not a bad option.
Having Spanish lessons in Mexico, Peru and Colombia helped me understand the nuanced differences between the three, but also helped me practice the skills that are transferable between them.
It’s unlikely that the average person will have the opportunity to attend three different Spanish schools in the span of just one year, but by picking any one of the three, you’ll have the tools to begin speaking Spanish in just a few weeks, and the chance to live in and get to know a beautiful, exciting city!
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