Timing and duration of the Spanish course or program

Academic Year or Semester Abroad:
E.I. Annual Spanish Course, E.I. Semester Spanish Course

-longer duration
-opportunities for true immersion in a foreign culture

-strongest and most long lasting impact

-some would say that the best learning takes place after adjusting to a new living and learning environment

- higher cost

Location: Where should I study Spanish abroad?

 -Europe is one of many choices
Spain is the obvious choice for those who seek European ambiance, although some of Mexico's colonial cities may have you thinking you're in Europe. Costa Rica is a natural choice for those who wish to spend the off hours enjoying nature.

SPAIN:     Learn Spanish in Salamanca    Learn Spanish in Malaga    Learn Spanish in Alcalá de Henares

LATIN AMERICA:     Learn Spanish in Cuernavaca, Mexico    Learn Spanish in San Rafael, Costa Rica

-Big City Vs. Small Town Do you want to study Spanish in a big city? A small town? A rural area? A large city offers a wide array of social choices and many cultural opportunities, but it can also be expensive, impersonal, and more cosmopolitan than national in its identity. On the other hand, a provincial town or rural area can offer a traditional way of life and more contact with local residents, but its narrower lifestyle may be too confining for some. -Nearby attractions You aren't going to spending all your time studying, so you may want to choose a Spanish school based on nearby attractions. Whether you're looking for beaches or mountains, city bustle, friendly small town atmosphere, rural or natural area or indigenous culture, chances are there is a Spanish school located in a place you will enjoy.

 -One place or many?
Do you want to spend most of your time in one place, or travel to several places? Would you like full-immersion in one location or comparative glimpses of many?

 There are some Spanish language schools which have only one location in one city. Those experienced in travel or study abroad say that some people just prefer to concentrate on one location, to get used to their surroundings to feel more comfortable and thus learn more. Or maybe you have an interest in a particular location and want to learn more in depth everything you can about that one place.

 While the majority of Spanish study abroad programs are based primarily in one location, with occasional excursions to other nearby cities, a few programs allow you to combine your Spanish studies in 2 or more cities. If you have a larger sense of adventure and a desire to travel and move around, this may be an attractive option. You may have thought about studying Spanish on the beach in Malaga but also seeing everything that Madrid has to offer or perhaps you want to experience the university life of Spain in Salamanca, see the capital of Spain and still go home with a tan.  If you don’t like the idea of having to choose just one location, then don’t.  Some larger schools with multiple destination cities allow you to get to know several Spanish cities by combining your course among two or three of the cities. You study Spanish language under the same method and with the same school, so you won't notice the difference in class but you certainly will notice a difference in your surroundings.  Combining your course different cities in Spain is a great way to really know the country, the culture and above all the language. 

The Spanish School: Service, quality and reliability The wide range of offers and sheer number of possible language schools is sometimes daunting when you begin your search. When you have narrowed down the search to several Spanish schools that offer the type of program in the kind of location you like, one important factor may be the measure of quality or service provided. Although in an Internet search you may be impressed with a well designed Website, that doesn’t always translate to quality Spanish courses and excellent service. Here are a few other suggestions to help you measure the professionalism, service and quality of your possible destinations.

 You are likely to contact the Spanish school directly either by e-mail fax or phone beforehand to ask any remaining questions. A measure of the language schools quality service in attending to your questions and concerns before enrolling can be a good indicator of the schools service and quality courses you receive when you are attending the school. While you are taking care of planning the Spanish course program with the school's administrative staff, look for a good mix of professionalism and friendly contact. This usually translates to quality professional Spanish courses and an organized prepared staff of professors and support people on site.

Another good way to check quality of courses is the schools certifications or associations. Spanish language schools in Spain are certified to ensure that only the highest quality of instruction for learning is provided. CEELE is a Certificate of Quality in the Teaching of Spanish as a Second Language (Certificado de Calidad en la Enseñanza del Español como Lengua Extranjera) granted by the Spanish Department of University of Alcalá de Henares and the Association of Spanish Economic Resources. The CEELE certification assures that certain internationally accepted criteria for quality are met. Students, professors or professionals who select a school qualified CEELE for their Spanish Course in Spain, have a guarantee that the selected Spanish school has passed an independent, objective and professional inspection. Learn more about CEELE certification.

You can also get the impressions of those who have been there before. Most Spanish schools don’t mind giving you a contact for a former student you can contact personally. 

Accommodation options: Live comfortably while you study Spanish abroad

Suitable accommodations are as important as first class teaching and facilities. Many Spanish schools offer to arrange accommodations for you as part of their services. Possibilities include host families, shared student apartments, hotels and hostels and student residences. Some programs allow you to choose one or combine more than one option during your stay  Living with a host family is one of the best ways to learn in depth about the country that you are visiting, its culture and its people, and also allows you to listen to and learn the Spanish language in its most natural form. Daily contact with your host family will quickly enhance your understanding of local customs and Spanish culture.  Sharing an apartment  is an more independent option and it means that you will live with other international students and have the chance to learn about their own countries and cultures. It also means you have to shop for food and cook your own meals, or eat in restaurants.

 Cultural Activities and Excursion Program

You won’t be in class and doing homework all the time, so think about what opportunities there are for your free time. Most Spanish schools offer some type of extra activities or excursions, either included in a program package or at separate cost. Cultural and social activities help you discover and experience the diversity of the cities where you study.  It is the perfect complement to the Spanish courses, because it gives you the chance to practice your new Spanish language skills in real life situations.  It is the best way for you to get to know your classmates, Spain and the Spanish culture. Excursions to places of historical and cultural interest give you the chance to travel extensively to nearby cities where you can learn about Spanish culture, as well as use your new language skills in authentic contexts.  The excursions provide that extra element to make your stay memorable and complete.

Spanish language use in classes

What is immersion language study?
It is learning a foreign language the same way we learned our native language: by living and experiencing it. In a typical language immersion school, the student doesn't study only in the formal sense — he or she lives the language. Classes are taught entirely in Spanish, speaking in another language at any time is discouraged, and the student lives in Spanish-speaking environment.

What is the Communicative method? 
A common concern, of beginners especially, is how will I learn Spanish if everything is in expained in Spanish? The answer is, You will!  Here’s why… 

The communicative teaching method works by placing you in real life situations encountered in everyday life. Unlike other methods of language teaching that rely on repetition and drills, the communicative method is lively, varied and full of possibilities since the emphasis is placed on communication.  The key to this method is the constant interaction between the student and the teacher or between pairs or groups of students.

 Spanish lessons are structured so that you will first acquire the new vocabulary and grammatical structures through examples and practice in structured exercises. Then you practice the new concepts in group or pair activities which are patterned after real communicative situations. The instructors coordinate lessons in such a way that you are encouraged to actively participate.  Even in beginner levels, you understand right from the first day with pictures, gestures and miming demonstrating the meaning of the words and phrases being taught. You will learn to understand and speak Spanish almost without noticing. 

Your current Spanish language level

Academic Credit for Spanish Courses Abroad
 If you are a North American student, the granting of academic credit for Spanish courses abroad may be one of the most important aspects of your program search, or you may look at it as a possible complement to investigate once you’ve decided on a program you like. In any case, if the particular Spanish school you choose isn’t one already approved by your university for credit, ask the school itself how you can earn credits. Sometimes credit can be arranged on a case by case basis with your university, sometimes an exam is required upon return from your Spanish studies abroad or sometimes a third party organization can evaluate credit earned based on National criteria.

Academic credit granted by Spanish courses at Escuela Internacional