Smaller, less touristy cities in Spain to study abroad?
Hi, I'm a Spanish major and I'm really interested in studying abroad in either Argentina or Spain. I feel like I would have less contact with English in Argentina, as there are many students that go to study in Spain. However, I would still love to go to Spain to learn Spanish, so where are some of the "better" places to study abroad-i.e. less touristy, greater ratio of Spanish speakers/English speakers.
Studying Abroad - 4 Answers
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1 :
Well it really depends where you go in Spain or Argentina. Madrid, Barcelona and Buenos Aires would def. have a higher ratio of English speakers then Sevilla. In terms of education, you can find better universities in rural areas in Spain than in less touristy cities in Argentina. Plus, in Spain, you would be so close to all of Europe and can travel around more. You will have more of a student life, with students from all over Europe barely speaking English, so you would all be forced to use Spanish to communicate, it's more fun. You can check out Salamanca university, it's reeally good and the locals don't speak a lot of English so you won't have to worry about that. Good luck!
2 :
Granada, Spain. It's in southern Spain and is absolutely gorgeous! It is located at the base of a mountain and is near an old Moorish fortress, La Alhambra. There is so much history in the city. There is flamenco, gitanos, great food and music, so much culture. The people are so friendly. Plus, there are a ton of study abroad programs there. There is a major University there. There will be a lot to do, it is close to many other cities if you want to travel around on weekends. You will be able to find housing. You will be able to connect with a lot of students who would want to practice English with you and you could learn Spanish. You can take day trips up into mountain towns like Monachil. You can go visit the ocean and some castles, only one hour away by bus. You can catch cheap flights to Madrid or the north, depending on how long you will be there. You can get down to Malaga and see some things, or drive west towards Jerez de la Frontera and see some white pueblos on the hills - very picturesque. You will never want to leave Granada. You can eat churros con chocolate on the plaza below the Catedral and do some people-watching while you practice Spanish with a tutor. In the source section I'm putting several links to study abroad programs in Granada. Good luck and have fun!!
3 :
Salamanca / Granada / Segovia - Here's alink explaining about the student visa application process - http://www.tumbit.com/how-to-guides/articles/100-applying-for-a-student-visa.html - Here's a link to the Student Foreign Exchange Application Process - http://www.tumbit.com/how-to-guides/articles/102-applying-for-a-student-exchange-program-in-spain.html Good Luck !
4 :
I participated in a fabulous program, called HomeStay Spain in SPAIN. After speaking with other kids in the group who had participated in other exchange programs abroad we decided this was the best! If you are interested in a lifestyle immersion experience and willing to learn about Spanish Culture and Lifestyle, this is the most amazing program available. The beautiful and safe town of Santander is known for its cultural refinement, and an atmosphere typical of old Spain. It is so much fun!!! And we learned so much!!!! It was so enriching. I LOVED IT!!! Both my sister and I participated different summers and we had a blast! We made so many good friends we still keep in touch with! The program is really well planned out and people are lovely! Many host families have teens. They even allow you to come with a friend to stay in same host family home or in a different home. And if you sign up early they allow you to choose from the available host families for a perfect fit. Check their website www.beautifulspain.com Before deciding among different programs I had a chance to speak with some contacts that had participated in this program and my parents did as well. Everyone spoke wonders about this program, the host families and the local director Nuria, who is such a nice lady,... She is usually in the US at this time of the year, so that means that you may be able to talk to her on the phone once you contact them through their web site. This program is considered the most complete exposure to a foreign country because as they say it is true that it combines CLASSES (art, debate, street talk, folklore, DANCING classes, among others) with FUN and EXCITING ACTIVITIES such as Latin Dance Classes, Bullfight, Boat Excursion, etc…, FULL DAY OUTINGS to places of historical and cultural interest such as prehistoric Altamira Caves, Guggenheim Museum, Roman Ruins, "Capricho de Gaudi", Roman Route Hiking adventure, etc... are also ALL INCLUDED IN THE PRICE while living with a local, loving and carefully selected HOST FAMILY. I know this program allows you to choose from several host families (the type of things this program does, no other program would ever) in order for everyone to be happy. Santander, if you dont know is located on a beautiful bay and flanked by numerous beaches. It is a very small, off the beaten path, town in the north of Spain. Fortunately, it is still very unknown by foreign visitors and therefore not as touristy as other cities in Spain. Argentina is packed with US students and so are the big and touristy cities in Spain such as Seville, Barcelona, Madrid etc....
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