Spanish immersion programs aim to help learners to become proficient in the language and to gain awareness of the Spanish culture. Learners gain proficiency by listening to Spanish and using it, rather than by studying the language itself. This method is based on French programs, developed in Canada, during the 1960s. It is considered to be the best way to learn a second language.
An immersion program helps you to learn the language the same way you learned English. You learn Spanish by actually using it to communicate. You are totally immersed in the Spanish language and speaking in any other language, at any time, is discouraged. You can even live with a Spanish-speaking family and learn to speak Spanish with them.
Learning Spanish in Another Country
Spanish immersion courses are available in many Spanish-speaking countries. They are also available in the US, as well as in some other non-Spanish speaking countries. The obvious choice is Spain, though some cities in Mexico and Argentina also offer an environment which resembles Europe.
Ecuador and Costa Rica allow you to get close to nature and Guatemala may offer you the cheapest courses. El Salvador, Honduras and Colombia are for people who have a preference for remote areas. All immersion courses may not offer you a college credit.
Some Spanish schools offer you specialized courses to meet your specific requirements. You can decide on the location depending on your budget, preferences and objectives.
Choosing a Spanish Immersion Language School
Look for a school which limits the number of learners in each group. Small groups allow better interaction and faster learning. Spanish Abroad, Inc. offers immersion courses in Spain and many other countries, like Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Chile, etc.
You can choose between a small group or individual instruction, or both. Specialized Spanish immersion programs are also available at some of the Spanish Abroad schools for MBAs, nurses, business people, doctors, lawyers, corporate executives, etc.
Immersion courses in Spanish are offered by the Spanish Institute of Puebla, in Mexico. Their standard program has five levels and the courses cover listening, speaking, reading and writing. The maximum number of students per group is six. You can practice what you have learned, in the afternoon with a native speaker.
Joining a Spanish immersion course in a country where Spanish is spoken may be the quickest way for you to learn the language. If you enjoy traveling, this may be the right approach for you.
Jim Zorn is web master of the Spanish Learning Guide. Please visit to find out more about learning Spanish through local schools, studying abroad and educational technologies.
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