Santiago
Program Outline
We have designed a variety of programs that fit almost anyone interested in learning Spanish! Students have made our Group Spanish 20 hour/week course the most popular option to learn and practice Spanish and meet other international students at same level. Classes are held in the morning and afternoon. Students are not only separated by level of ability, but also by age. This helps make the social interaction easier.
All of our programs include a social program that starts every Monday with a city tour for the different neighborhoods of Santiago. Students who take private lessons are also invited to take part, so they do not feel isolated even if they are studying specific topics as medical Spanish, business Spanish or taking a DELE preparation course.
Another very popular program is our Tango & Spanish package. Through this special course, students will not only improve their Spanish, they also learn the Tango.
The Medical Spanish Program allows professionals and students to immerse themselves in Chilean culture and local medical language and environment. We put you in direct contact with local doctors and patients. If you are thinking of getting university credit for your course or getting involved with a volunteer opportunity, simply let us know about your interests and you can take advantage of our different program options.
You can also combine the Group 4 program with a Ski Package. Included in are the following: Lift tickets twice a week on Saturday and Sunday as well as transportation to and from the resort. Ski equipment is not included.
Location
Santiago is the cosmopolitan capital of Chile. The school is located in residential part of the city in the neighborhood of Providencia. Centrally located to many bars, cafes and restaurants, night life is right around the corner. Access to the rest of the city is easy, with many local bus routes nearby as well as the metro station, Manuel Montt.
Lodging
Our homestay option is with specially selected Chilean families. With homestay, you receive half board, a private room, and pickup from the airport. Staying with a family is the best way to practice the Spanish you learn in class in a conversational setting. Those students not wishing to stay with a family have two options. They can stay at our shared apartment option (no meals) or they can stay at a nearby student residence with a private room and breakfast. All our accommodation choices include airport pickup.
Cultural
Chile is a great destination for those wishing to experience a unique culture while learning Spanish. Sporting Latin America’s highest standard of living, Chileans drink safe potable water and live on clean streets. Santiago is centrally located in the heart of Chile. With a coastline over 1000 miles long there are plenty of beaches, with the closest only 60 miles to the west. To the east is the Andes mountain range with peaks over 20,000 ft. high, year round glaciers and fantastic skiing. The northern part of the country is a dry desert with old adobe towns and warm sunny beach resorts. To the south are some of the most remote and beautiful areas on earth. Both the Chilean part of Patagonia and the Lakes Region are must sees for all students traveling to this amazing country.
Start Dates
Students with some knowledge of Spanish can start their programs any Monday of the year, but if you are complete beginner, we recommend you start on specific start dates. Please contact us for the start date nearest when you want to begin your program.
Climate
Santiago is located in the central zone of Chile. The climate is very Mediterranean with long, dry and hot summers lasting about 5 months. There is very little precipitation during these months (December through March). The winters are short and cool with snow in the nearby mountains. The coastal range keeps the weather very temperate and keeps the coastal clouds away as well. Snow in the local mountains starts around the second week of June and lasts through the beginning of October.
Local Color
With more than five million residents, Santiago is one of the great cities of Latin America. The cultural mix of Native Americans and Europeans is both lively and interesting. You can go to a theater that could be right out of Paris or Rome or dance the night away in a salsa club. If you are looking for fun after dark you will not be disappointed by the numerous options that Santiago has to offer.
School Benefits
The following are some of the benefits that our students receive at this location. Free tutorials, our own book, free internet access, Wi-fi capability and full time activity coordinator. Activities held all over the week and on weekends, friendly staff, beautiful premises with traditional architecture, free snacks and purified water at break time, tourist and city info assistance and Welcome lunch for our new students.
Hot Tips
Chile is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Rafting, skiing, hiking, surfing and mountain climbing are all world class. For a different kind of outdoor activity that all wine lovers can enjoy is wine tasting in Chile’s Central Valley. Chilean wines have taken the world by storm and with good reason. Wine making in Chile dates back to the time of the conquistadors and the rootstock for today’s vines dates back to that time. The one must visit spot on the wine tasting tour is at La Sebastiana, the coastal home of Pablo Neruda, Chile’s Nobel prize winning poet. |