Spanish Language Schools in Peru

Ladies and gentlemen, the first thing you should know is that Peru has three main geographical regions: coast, mountain, and jungle. Learning Spanish in Peru is possible in all regions, but you should take into account that big cities tend to have more tourists, which perhaps is not the ideal environment to start learning Spanish in. On the contrary, smaller villages will be less populated and your language learning experience, therefore, may be richer and more mystical.

Learning Spanish in Lima is a safe bet. Its nickname, Ciudad de los Reyes (City of the Kings), gives clues about its glorious past, which remains very much present in its buildings. There are many treasures close to Lima, including the Caral settlement, the oldest civilisation of America. For the romantics, el barranco is the perfect district in Lima, because it is the romantic and bohemian area of the city. Lima also offers a variety of meals for all you foodies out there, such as ceviche in Pedro Solari’s place, which was the favourite of Celia Cruz; if she tried this masterpiece of Peruvian cuisine there, why wouldn’t you?

You could just as easily embrace the Inca spirit while learning Spanish in Cusco, also known as Qusqu or Qosqo. Regardless of the way it is written, what is truly important is all the enchanted spots you’ll find. Buy a tamal in a street market, maybe even the most famous one, el mercado de San Pedro, and eat it in San Blas to enjoy views of the entire city. And by all means, do not forget to spend at least a day in Machu Picchu. You’ll not only be able to enjoy the last treasure of the Inca Empire, you’ll get to see some cute alpacas too.

There are even more places to learn Spanish in Peru outside the big cities. One hour from Cusco lies Urubamba, the largest town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where there are almost no tourists, which means your Spanish will be lo mejor de lo mejor (really awesome!) by the time you leave. Urubamba is close to the ruins of Inca Empire, including Machu Picchu, which means lovers of these ruins will be delighted by learning Spanish here. If your Spanish program happens to fall in June, you’ll even get to experience El Señor de Torrechayoc festival, a very colourful celebration where villagers dance and honor their patron, Torrechayoc. Festivals and traditions can tell more about a civilization than thousands of books, so what are you waiting for? ¡Vámonos!

Peru has as much variety of papas as it does Spanish language schools, so the only challenge you’ll face is having to choose just one! To get started, think carefully about how much time you’d like to spend in Peru and how fluent you’d like to be when you leave.

If you really want to truly accelerate your Spanish language skills in Peru, you should take intensive Spanish courses provided by local language schools, which usually last two to three weeks. It is generally easier to find Spanish language schools, rather than universities, that offer foreigners the chance to learn Spanish in Peru. If you are worried about not receiving academic credit for your Spanish courses in Peru, have no fear; many Spanish language schools in Peru can provide transferable academic credits for Spanish courses.

Spanish language schools in Peru not only offer students a more relaxed atmosphere for learning Spanish, they also provide additional benefits. For example, it is easy to find tandem programs provided through Spanish language schools, which will allow you to practice your skills for free, something that is not very common at universities. In tandem language programs, you’ll be able to speak real Spanish with real local people, giving you unique first hand experience and challenging your language skills in real life conversations.

Other types of supplemental activities are included in almost all Spanish language programs in Peru, ranging from excursions to museums to organized trips to other cities. There is so much to see in Peru that it is often better to have someone who knows the country very well by your side, so you don’t waste a single second, making these pre-arranged activities even more valuable. A final word of advice: say “yes” to every single trip that you can add on to your Spanish language program in Peru; you won’t regret it!

In addition to excursions and other activities, most Spanish language programs in Peru include accommodation, and some will even provide you with three meals per day. Language learners may be provided with accommodation in guest houses, apartments, dormitories, or homestays. If you want to learn all the Spanish you possibly can in Peru, and speak it de corrido (really good), don’t be shy and grab the chance to stay with a local family. Living with a homestay is not only an excellent way to learn Spanish in Peru, it can also be the key to immersing yourself in the local culture; after living with a local family, Peruvian culture will become part of your soul. However, if you prefer to stay in an apartment during your Spanish language courses in Peru, try to look for local roomies and not foreigners, so you can stay focused on speaking Spanish at home too!

First thing’s first. While it’s well known that there are many variations of the Spanish language, this fact doesn’t mean that Spanish speakers can’t understand each other. If you’re able to speak Spanish fluently, you’ll be understood in the whole of South America and Spain! Plus, you’ll not only learn standard Spanish, but also the Peruvian dialect.

If there is one thing that makes Peru a unique spot to learn Spanish abroad, it is its linguistic abundance. In Peru, Spanish lives together with Quechua, Aymara, and 150 other local dialects, which are often spoken in rural villages, but not in big cities like Lima. While taking Spanish courses in Peru, you may hear words like poncho, which is a Spanish word, but actually comes from Quechua. Learning Spanish in Peru, a country where there are many languages that live side by side, will feel like you are traveling to multiple different countries, as you’ll fluidly hear different languages being spoken on the same street.

One thing you must know: Peruvian Spanish is very different from other Spanish modalities, such as Castilian; it has a recognizable, pleasant melody of its own. Since Spain is à la mode, some newbies don’t consider other countries for learning Spanish abroad. However, learning Spanish in Peru will shape your ears to understand all kinds of Spanish, so when you leave there won’t be any Spanish modality you can’t understand.

Learning Spanish in Peru will not be a fast process. All the pronouns and verbs are a bit challenging and it can be difficult sometimes to know when to use them. And if you already know some Spanish, you’ll find that some words you already knew have a completely different meaning, like pata (paw) (which means amigo) in Peru. You’ll have to struggle through a lot of new situations and conversations before you start to get a handle for Peruvian Spanish, but no one said learning Spanish was a piece of cake.

However, learning Spanish in Peru is the best way for new speakers to acquire a huge vocabulary. It is vastly known that South America possesses the purest spoken Spanish, but the country with the most vocabulary opulence is definitely Peru, due to all the languages that live together side by side; yes, that means Peru is the chosen one!

Don’t be afraid. Despite the difficulties you will go through, you will experience a great satisfaction the moment you understand someone on the street. You’ll know you can truly speak Spanish when a local asks you for an address and you can have a brilliant chat afterward, without worrying about your accent or the speed of your conversation. Fluency takes time, so enjoy the journey!

Peru is a region of boundless happiness. Once you land, Peru will hug you and never let you go. Take time to enjoy learning Spanish in Peru by speaking with the local people, whose charm and tenderness will make you feel at home. Dare to dream and grab the chance to learn Spanish in Peru; hope to see you there!