- Thread starter jayt122
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learning spanish in Santiago
I've been overthere before and like it specially the fact that there is not that much english speaking folks outhere I figure it would give me the best chance to learn spanish since I would have no choice but to speak the language. I would also be interested in doing some volunteer work, what ever that may be.
Unfortunately, none of the various universities have Spanish classses for foreigners per se, ie, one has to be enrolled with a full course load of different subjects. I researched this myself by calling all of the universities in town as I wanted to refine my Spanish. What they actually recommended me doing was doing a degree in Spanish so that I could be a teacher I suppose. Go figure.
aranoid:Unfortunately, none of the various universities have Spanish classses for foreigners per se, ie, one has to be enrolled with a full course load of different subjects. I researched this myself by calling all of the universities in town as I wanted to refine my Spanish. What they actually recommended me doing was doing a degree in Spanish so that I could be a teacher I suppose. Go figure.
Oh thats unfortunate! I studied Spanish at the University of Havana, Cuba,
with a bunch of other foreigners, even some Americans there illegally.
It was $300 a month for a half a day program. They would even take us all on a bus to the beach a few times.
That would be great extra income make for the universities here.
And there is obviously interest because I was thinking about it as well.
You can always study to be a Spanish professor as they recommended to me, haha.
Hahaha is that what they recommended?
Too funny.
I guess they thought you were going to say sure great idea why didnt I think of that. LOL
I wonder if the OP found his spanish school in Santiago. I was thinking of going back for more classes myself. But I recently realized that I've progressed enough on my own since I studied in Santiago, that taking more classes would simply be redundant at this point.
Vince.
Vince.
Why don't you hand out in front of the college and find a "tutor"...I'm sure if you're serious about your intentions you could pay one of the locals to sit and work with you. You'd learn Spanish and help out someone who otherwise may not have the income....you can do the restaurant, monument, museum, hang on the street sort of classes as well as learn to write and read.......
Hey Jay,
Try a school called ALPI. It is in Central Santiago. It is a great school and they will even provide you with a condo to stay in. I can't remeber the exact cost but the school and condo I stayed for a month was around $800. The condo was in downtown Santiago near the Monument, Ahi Bar, and other restaurants. Ask for a guy name Evan. They are listed on this website.
Learn Spanish in Dominican Republic
Try a school called ALPI. It is in Central Santiago. It is a great school and they will even provide you with a condo to stay in. I can't remeber the exact cost but the school and condo I stayed for a month was around $800. The condo was in downtown Santiago near the Monument, Ahi Bar, and other restaurants. Ask for a guy name Evan. They are listed on this website.
Learn Spanish in Dominican Republic
I have a friend who went to an institute here in santiago and needless to say I'm not impressed with what he learned based on how much he was paying. In fact they didn't even provide him a grammar book! How can even one do homework then or really understand the basics of the Spanish language???
Rather than doing that I would recommend getting a private tutor. I have a neighbor who has their 21 yr old son studying with a personal tutor and has has come a long way in the last two to three years. He barely spoke Spanish when he came here even though his parents are Dominican and now this is even how we converse.
For those really interested in being able to speak conversational Spanish and actually understand what one is hearing you are really looking at an investment of two years at least of intensive studying, schooling and practicing. I did it slightly in slightly less time but even then I had many years of Franch under my belt. Also, too I had to speak Spanish to my wife as she knew no English. And finally, it was many, many years after that that I could virtually understand everybody that I talked to in the DR.
Bottom line is be patient and stick to it and don't get discouraged when you consistently butcher the language in the learning process. I can guarantee if you don't sweat the failure at times you will be successful.
Rather than doing that I would recommend getting a private tutor. I have a neighbor who has their 21 yr old son studying with a personal tutor and has has come a long way in the last two to three years. He barely spoke Spanish when he came here even though his parents are Dominican and now this is even how we converse.
For those really interested in being able to speak conversational Spanish and actually understand what one is hearing you are really looking at an investment of two years at least of intensive studying, schooling and practicing. I did it slightly in slightly less time but even then I had many years of Franch under my belt. Also, too I had to speak Spanish to my wife as she knew no English. And finally, it was many, many years after that that I could virtually understand everybody that I talked to in the DR.
Bottom line is be patient and stick to it and don't get discouraged when you consistently butcher the language in the learning process. I can guarantee if you don't sweat the failure at times you will be successful.
Chip,
Excellent post. On this board you constantly hear, sometimes angrily in a judgemental manner, 'learn the language'. Of course this is true but as your posts states it takes time, and it does not happen quickly (especially for those after a certain age) . It does not help that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible to find a GOOD, affordable Spanish language school on the island. Dont be afraid to make mistakes and most importantly be patient!!!!!!
Excellent post. On this board you constantly hear, sometimes angrily in a judgemental manner, 'learn the language'. Of course this is true but as your posts states it takes time, and it does not happen quickly (especially for those after a certain age) . It does not help that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible to find a GOOD, affordable Spanish language school on the island. Dont be afraid to make mistakes and most importantly be patient!!!!!!
I'm making progress with the latest version of Rosetta Stone supplemented by the teachers edition of a Spanish Grammar book, "Como se Dice"...
Learning Spanish has proven to be difficult for me. But I'll keep"Chipping" away at it...
Learning Spanish has proven to be difficult for me. But I'll keep
"Chipping" away at it...Learning any new language is one of those things where you'll only get as much out of the lessons as you put into them. And naturally, some people will be more gifted at languages than others. Age will be a factor as well.
But a motivated individual can pick up a language in less than a year. It happens all of the time. You just have to commit yourself to practice at every opportunity. That's why immersion is good. And attempting to learn without an instructor will result in bad grammar that takes time to correct.
Me and a buddy of mine took an immersion course a couple of years ago in Santiago. My friend had no experience whatsoever with Spanish, and he struggled mightily as a result. But after a month and a half we were speaking and writing in spanish. Not fluent, but well above functional. About three months after taking the course, my buddy was translating Spanish documents for his employer. Pretty good considering that six months earlier, he had no knowledge of spanish whatsoever.
Does my buddy have a talent for languages? I don't think so. But he did put a lot of effort into practicing both speaking and writing the language. Including purchasing a number of practice books. And he had a very good first instructor.
We took that immersion course at the American Language Partnership Institute on Calle San Luis. I can't speak for anyone else's experiences there, but my buddy and I learned a lot of spanish there in a fairly short amount of time. Are there cheaper options? Probably so. But as I said, we were motivated, and determined to learn. And I've never been one to be cheap when it comes to school and learning. We got a very good grounding in the basic grammar rules and some limited vocab. Everything else we learned came from going out into the city and practicing what we were learning.
Everyone is different. But it all comes down to how much effort you are willing to put into learning the language.
But a motivated individual can pick up a language in less than a year. It happens all of the time. You just have to commit yourself to practice at every opportunity. That's why immersion is good. And attempting to learn without an instructor will result in bad grammar that takes time to correct.
Me and a buddy of mine took an immersion course a couple of years ago in Santiago. My friend had no experience whatsoever with Spanish, and he struggled mightily as a result. But after a month and a half we were speaking and writing in spanish. Not fluent, but well above functional. About three months after taking the course, my buddy was translating Spanish documents for his employer. Pretty good considering that six months earlier, he had no knowledge of spanish whatsoever.
Does my buddy have a talent for languages? I don't think so. But he did put a lot of effort into practicing both speaking and writing the language. Including purchasing a number of practice books. And he had a very good first instructor.
We took that immersion course at the American Language Partnership Institute on Calle San Luis. I can't speak for anyone else's experiences there, but my buddy and I learned a lot of spanish there in a fairly short amount of time. Are there cheaper options? Probably so. But as I said, we were motivated, and determined to learn. And I've never been one to be cheap when it comes to school and learning. We got a very good grounding in the basic grammar rules and some limited vocab. Everything else we learned came from going out into the city and practicing what we were learning.
Everyone is different. But it all comes down to how much effort you are willing to put into learning the language.