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Language Schools: anyone out there done it? by Treelooney on 7 December 2003 12:10am

Hi there fellow-travellers.
One increasingly popular way to go travelling, and to experience the culture of another country, is to go to a school there and learn the language. This is not limited to teenagers or youngsters. I have not yet done this, but I'm thinking of doing so. A logical choice would be Spanish, because there are so many countries you can choose from, including all of Central and South America except Brazil.
You would also return with a marketable skill, obviously, which can then go on your CV. Other good languages to learn are German and French, which have a lot of commercial value.
Has anyone on the board done this? Anyone got any tips?

Re: Language Schools: anyone out there done it? by Clare on 8 December 2003 12:27am

I have a Spanish friend, who decided also to learn another language, but rather than go into a language school he moved to the country and started to work there! Its a bit cheaper than paying to learn plus you have to pick up the language pretty quick just get by! I have thought about doing something similar myself though, so good luck.

Re: Language Schools: anyone out there done it? by intrepid on 20 January 2004 3:23pm

It seems like an unusual way to do it, not that I've got anything against trying it. I pay my way in this country teaching English, but I've picked up some Czech since I've lived here. I wasn't particularly qualified to teach English- it wasn't what I studied in college, but at the time they were despirate (sp? see? I don't even know how to spell despirate) and would take any native speaker with a degree in anything. Probably this is the case in any number of countries around the world. -David

Re: Language Schools: anyone out there done it? by Godfather on 20 January 2004 11:58pm

I studied Spanish when staying in Cusco, Peru. I had naturally done a Linguaphone course in Latin American Spanish for a months before leaving home, as i was doing a big trip in Central and South America. But those few weeks of learning more in Cusco, made my Spanish leap in gigantic bounds of progress, because (obviously) i could use and apply each new thing i'd learnt that morning, the second that i walked out of the door of the classroom.

It was great. I was allowed to choose the time and duration of my lessons, and at what level i wished to start. I'd get up leisurely around 9am, stroll down the cobbled streets and steep alleys,past the odd Llama or blind flute player,past the church in the Plaza and go and have breakfast in a balcony overlooking the central Plaza with a cup of tea. Then off to my lesson. I had a beautiful young Peruvian girl as my teacher too (cant complain). After my lesson in the morning (which started around 11am i think, because i'm lazy),i would go out to the sacred valley and see Inca ruins or trek or whatever in the afternoons. It was bloody perfect and i'm so glad i did it that way. You learnt so much faster when the new language is all around you 24/7.

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