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Warm sand, blue skies, crystal clear water, Spanish immersion students in Playa del Carmen can experience all of this and more while learning Spanish in Mexico. Playa del Carmen is home to some of the best scuba diving the world has to offer. It is located on the Yucatan peninsula on the Caribbean Sea not too far from Cancun, but definitely far enough to escape the rowdy crowds of the infamous party city

A short boat trip from Playa del Carmen in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean there is an island called Cozumel which happens to be a world famous destination for scuba diving. Spanish students in Playa del Carmen don’t have to be expert divers to experience this amazing underwater oasis as there are opportunities for divers of all levels. In the area there are reefs, caverns, under water life of all colors shapes and sizes, and pleasantly warm water to enjoy while making you first dive or your 51st.

As beautiful and exciting as it may sound diving is not for everyone or at least not something one can do all the time. For a more relaxed day with a little less gear students studying Spanish in Playa del Carmen often head to the beach and soak in the afternoon sun. On the beach there is plenty of space to sprawl out with some friends or enjoy one of the many restaurants to have a drink, meet some people and practice some Spanish. At night the city comes alive with plenty of bars and clubs to choose from. Spanish students in Playa del Carmen have an excellent opportunity to learn and practice Spanish in a laid back city with a Mexican attitude and plenty of activities to stay busy both day and night.

For more information about studying Spanish in Playa del carmen click here!

As one of the most popular styles of music and dance in Spain there is no better place to for Spanish students studying in Barcelona to learn and experience the beautiful and exciting dance of Flamenco. Although the exact history is somewhat unknown and often disputed, the origin of the fast paced fluid dance can be traced back to the region of Andalusia. There is no doubt similarities to the original dance but the different forms it has taken on through the years has made it made it famous throughout Spain and even the world. During the expansion of the dance it was influenced by many other forms of music and dance styles resulting in truly unique style with multiple techniques.

Flamenco was known as Gypsy art when Gypsies as a community settled in Spain near the end of the 15^th century and played an important role in its formation and development. The history of the dance has had its ups and downs especially in the last century. Hitting a major low in the 20’s and 30’s then being revived in the 50’s. During this time Flamenco moved from the traditional cafes and cabarets to what are known as “Tablaos” and were mostly filled by tourists who were interested in seeing this exciting and artistic display of dance. In reality it was the interest of outsiders coming into Spain who actually sparked the revival of Flamenco.

Flamenco is now flourishing and as popular as ever throughout Spain. Spanish students in Barcelona have the opportunity to witness some of the best Flamenco dancers in the world and also, with some motivation, a chance to try and learn the fast complicated steps of the dance. Tourists and locals alike enjoy nightly shows throughout the city at bars, restaurants, or dance halls. Flamenco is more traditional in the southern region of Andalusia where it was founded but, as it is one of the most exciting dances to watch for both tourists and locals the market has grown in Barcelona bringing with it some of the top Flamenco dancers around.

Spanish immersion students in Barcelona will have the chance to do many incredible things and certainly near the top of the list should be a Flamenco show. Yes it is becoming a tourist activity but remember the tradition that follows it is something that cannot be duplicated.

Looking for a way to enjoy that new feeling in the air that is spreading across the city of Buenos Aires?Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires should have no problem noticing the change in the city; the air is refreshingly warm, the flowers are in bloom, the skies are clear and sunny, and the people of Buenos Aires have a sort of ‘spring’ in their step. Its spring in Argentina and we are welcoming it in with open arms.

To celebrate this joyful occasion the Ministry of Culture in Buenos Aires is inviting the public to participate in more than 250 free cultural and artistic activities throughout the months of October, November, and December. The program is appropriately called, ‘Primavera Buenos Aires,’ (Buenos Aires Spring). This is a great opportunity for students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires to get out in the city, meet locals, and participate in some fun and free activities.

For a total 11 weekends, students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires will have the opportunity to enjoy musical shows, tango, theater, puppets, magic shows, film screenings, poetry, etc, mostly held in the city’s parks, squares, and other open air spaces. On November 22 a free concert will be held on Avenida de Julio by the world famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. During these three months there will be recitals at Parque Roca, tango in Mataderos, a tour of the Orquesta de Tango and the City’s Symphonic Band around the city, and urban music at the Greek Amphitheater in Puerto Madero.

For more information and for a list of activities, click here!

http://estatico.buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/cultura/al_dia/pdf_destacados/progrPrimaveraBuenosAires.pdf

For more information on Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires, click here!

Every student that walks through the doors of ViaSpanish’s Spanish school in Buenos Aires has come to study Spanish in Buenos Aires for a different reason; each student has their own story to tell and we are thrilled to help them tell it. Here is the story of Rachel Arkle and her experience at ViaSpanish’s Spanish school in Buenos Aires.

Rachel reports for the BBC, a United Kingdom based broadcasting corporation that is not only one of the longest running but also the biggest broadcasting corporation in the world. Along with the help of the BBC Rachel headed down to Latin America to answer her question on ‘How to be a stable traveler?’

She began her journey studying Spanish in Buenos Aires with our Spanish school in Buenos Aires. Rachel felt that it was important to study the local language and therefore be able to better immerse herself into the culture. Alongside taking group classes (20hrs/week) Rachel participated in many of the activities including weekly tango lessons and city excursions. ‘I had an absolutely excellent time,’ Rachel stresses when speaking about combining her classes with the activities.

Rachel studied Spanish in Buenos Aires for just one week before taking off to see the rest of Latin America and although short, her stay and her Spanish classes in Buenos Aires were memorable. In regards to her experience with ViaSpanish’s Spanish school in Buenos Aires, Rachel says, ‘I really cannot recommend it enough; it has been an amazing experience.’

At ViaSpanish we strive towards creating the ultimate study and travel abroad experience for each one of our students. Hearing from students like Rachel makes us thrilled that we are doing are job and that we are leading the way in education excellence with our Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires.

Click for more information on Spanish classes in Buenos Aires or to see Rachel Arkles’ video on youtube.

Spanish students studying abroad in Santiago Chile will discover it is one of the most modern cities in all of Latin America which can be attributed to the stability of the economy over the last two decades. Santiago and the surrounding area has a population of about 7 million which is nearly half of the country’s 16 million. A modern city by any world standards Santiago has a very good public transportation system, theaters, music halls, and a myriad of museums.

In the city there is an array of cultural activities as well as a vibrant night life to explore. There are two symphonic orchestras in the city, Orquestra Filarmonica de Santiago and Orquestra Sinfonica de Chile. Jazz is also very popular in the city where there is a variety of establishments the most notable being Club de Jazz. There is also a very strong underground music scene the most popular venues are La Batuta in Nunoa and Blondies Disco in downtown Santiago. While the music scene is excellent in Santiago students studying Spanish in Santiago shouldn’t miss out on the abundance of museums, parks and sporting events that take place in the city.

Not far outside the city students taking Spanish courses in Santiago can find themselves in the depths of the Andes mountain range or relaxing on the beach of the Pacific Ocean. The Andes are one of the largest and most beautiful mountain ranges in the world with a multitude of activities to do year round. There are world class ski resorts and back country options for those who are looking to escape the heat of the summer and experience a South American winter. In the summer there are an endless amount of treks, rock climbing, white water rafting, and mountain bike opportunities to break away from the bitter cold winters of the northern hemisphere. Just a short drive to the west of Santiago are the beaches of the pacific which are a popular spot for holiday travelers during the summer months.

If you want to find out more about Spanish immersion in Santiago click here!