| By :
Ken Ingraham
Today's Spanish abroad programs offer a far wider range of educational and recreational opportunities than many people realize. A Spanish school in South America has more to offer than just the typical classroom setting. For example, students can enjoy snowboarding as they learn Spanish in Chile. Most Spanish classes are in Santiago, considered South America's most developed and modern city. Chile sports a safe and efficient subway system, excellent medical facilities and a high standard of living. Where will you live? Most students who learn Spanish in Chile opt for living with a family or choosing a shared apartment. In a homestay you will get to speak Spanish with your new family and learn local customs. In an apartment the focus is more on your social life than culture. While there are many choices in terms of where to live, there is no doubt that Providencia is one of the best options. This area is quite safe and is centrally located. Restaurants, bars, gyms, stores, and parks are all within a short walk. Of the many reasons that one should learn Spanish in Chile affordability should not be overlooked. Typical of South America, the cost of living is very low. Consider that almost all of your expenses in South America including transportation, food cost, entertainment and housing are lower that they would be in the United States, and much lower than in Europe. For example, you could expect to pay about $5 for lunch with a dessert and tip in Santiago. Likewise, language courses are also inexpensive in South American destinations, with Spanish schools in Chile no exception. If you shop around for the best options, you can find a quality 20-hour per week course at less than $180, which includes bonus refreshments and necessary materials. Brett Bold who studied Spanish in Santiago stated, “Almost everyday the school offers a cultural experience in the city whether it be a tour of a new neighborhood or salsa dancing, wine tasting, or Chilean history class.” A normal schedule for Spanish school in Chile allows you to study and snowboard in the same program. For one to four months, participants attend classes 4 days a week and then hit the slopes for snowboarding on your days off. During the Chilean winter, which runs June to September, you can expect great snowboarding and at a very reasonable price. Transport to the slopes for couldn’t be much easier. From Santiago, you merely take the subway directly to mountain shuttle buses, which leave about every 15 minutes. You can even rent equipment at a ski shop or at the mountain itself for a very modest price. While hitting the slopes, expect to meet students from all over the world. For example, you may very well share your ski lift with a vacationing Brazilian. The mountains are high altitude and are far less crowded than your typical American slopes. There are also ski courses available ranging from novice to expert level. In fact, Olympic hopefuls often come to these mountains to train. Once you’ve tackled a full day of skiing or snowboarding, you can also spend your evening in Santiago’s exciting and vibrant nightlife. The city is full of salsa bars, Irish Pubs, and restaurants for all tastes. Outside of Santiago, you will want to take a vineyard tour of Chile’s famous wine industry or head west to the Andes for hiking and horseback riding. Heading in the opposite direction, a two hour luxury bus ride (less than $7) puts you at Chile's coastline, for a potential weekend of snowboarding on Saturday, surfing on Sunday. World travelers are aware that is possible to learn Spanish in Chile while also experiencing top-notch skiing and snowboarding. For those seeking to study and have a mountain adventure during the same trip, these programs are definitely worth a look.
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articlesbacklink.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
