Spanish Course in Viña del Mar
- Location
- Quick facts
- Accommodation
- costs
- FAQ
- Photos
Viña del Mar is located in the northwest of Santiago de Chile (about 1.5 hours drive from the capital), right on the Pacific coast and is the fourth largest city in Chile with a total of about 300,000 inhabitants. A beautiful botanical garden, a giant flower clock ("Reloj de Flores") at the foot of the castle hill and numerous other parks earned Viña del Mar the nickname "Garden City". With glamorous flair and palm-fringed beaches, Viña del Mar attracts many national and international tourists all year round. During the summer holidays, Viña and the surrounding area is actually really busy.
A very lively nightlife, including a great casino, offers the perfect combination for beautiful days on the beach and also from a cultural point of view, the city has a lot to offer in the form of film and music festivals, cabarets, etc. For those who are more into action, local tour agencies offer a wide range of fun and adventure, such as water skiing, surfing, horseback riding, national park trekking, or paragliding.
Viña del Mar has merged southwards with the world heritage city of Valparaíso, a metro line connects the two cities conveniently.
In the hinterland, the Casablanca Valley, countless high-class wineries offer tours and wine tasting, and to the north of Viña del Mar you will find Reñaca and Concon, other great coastal towns with beautiful beaches and fun activities.
Spanish School
Our language school in Viña del Mar is located in the city center, just a few blocks from the Pacific beach and the famous Casino de Viña del Mar in a very nice old building. The beautiful district offers numerous restaurants, cafes, bars and shopping centers, an ideal location!
The Spanish lessons are of high quality and meet strict international standards. In addition to the Spanish lessons, the language school in Viña del Mar also offers a range of leisure activities where you can get to know the other students, gain new experiences and immerse yourself in the Chilean culture. These include city tours, cooking classes, visits to wineries and museums, conversation classes, dance classes, beach picnics, surf lessons and party evenings. Additionally, excursions to the surrounding area are organized on the weekends (depending on number of students and season).
Start Date
All year round. Always on Mondays for all levels.
Minimum Age
2 weeks
Spanish Levels
6 levels according to CEFR, Common European Framework of References (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2)
Duration / Lesson
1 lesson equals 50 minutes
Group Size
Maximum 6 students (average 4 students)
Minimum Age
16 years
Group Course
20 lessons / week
Homogeneous groups with a maximum of 6 students ensure fast learning and fun in class. The course takes place in the morning, only in exceptional cases, the course may be held in the afternoon.
Individual Course
10 lessons / week
Personalized attention by your teacher. The lessons are individually adapted to the need and learning priorities of each student.
Intensive Course
30 lessons / week (20 group + 10 individual)
The perfect mix of group and private lessons. The Intensive Course is particularly suitable for students who want to move forward as quickly as possible in a short period of time.
Spanish + Volunteer Work
20 lessons / week Spanish group course + 2 to 4 afternoons Service Learning
Especially for our language students, we have developed this program that offers the opportunity to look even deeper into the Chilean culture, to quickly build up a vocabulary and to give back to society. Volunteering can take place in children's homes, day care centers, homeless shelters, animal welfare projects or similar social facilities. To be part of the real life of your host country is probably the most efficient way to learn a foreign language!
Placement Test
You will do a placement test on the first day of school or online before the start of the course in order to determine your current language skills. You will then be assigned to the suitable group.
Teaching Material
The teaching material is included in the course fee. Each language level has a workbook with numerous exercises. In the classroom, these are supplemented by further work and teaching material.
Language Diploma
At the end of the course, a certificate will be issued to confirm your language level.
Spare Time Activities
Recreational activities are offered (such as cooking classes, dance classes, horseback riding, local excursions, outdoor sports, etc.). Some activities and excursions require on-site payment. With very small number of students offers may be not available.
Internet
WIFI available at school
We want you to feel as comfortable as possible while you are staying in the Spanish institute in Viña del Mar.
Living with one of our carefully chosen local homestays gives you the opportunity to practice your Spanish, explore the local culture and get to know the Chilean way of life. You will have your private room; bathrooms are mostly shared.
You will also have access to the kitchen and common areas. Upon request, you can book you room including half-board (breakfast and dinner).
All homestays are centrally located in safe neighborhoods. You will have access to local transportation and amenities.
Internet access (WIFI) is available at all our homestays in Viña del Mar.
Our language courses in Viña del Mar include:
- Personal advice and support before and during the Spanish course
- English-speaking contact person
- Pre- departure information about your stay
- Country handbook Chile
- Free internet access at school
- Teaching material
- Execution and evaluation of the placement test
- Drinks, tea, coffee and biscuits during breaks
- Spare time activities offered by the school (may have extra cost)
- Language certificate after completing the course
- 24/7 emergency number
- Accommodation (if booked)
- Airport pick-up (if booked)
Costs
Group Course (20 lessons / week)
2 weeks
US$ 400
3 weeks
US$ 600
4 weeks
US$ 800
additional week
US$ 200
Intensive Course (20 + 10 lessons / week)
2 weeks
US$ 840
3 weeks
US$ 1,260
4 weeks
US$ 1,680
additional week
US$ 420
Individual Course (10 lessons / week)
2 weeks
US$ 440
3 weeks
US$ 660
4 weeks
US$ 880
additional week
US$ 220
Homestay* (single room, no meals)
2 weeks
US$ 322
3 weeks
US$ 483
4 weeks
US$ 644
additional week
US$ 161
Homestay* (single room, half-board)
2 weeks
US$ 490
3 weeks
US$ 735
4 weeks
US$ 980
additional week
US$ 245
* High season surcharge for homestay US$ 4 / day between December 1 and February 28.
One week accommodation is equivalent to 7 days and 6 nights.
Additional offers:
- Volunteer Work (half-day, combined with a Spanish course): US$ 110 (one-off payment)
Registration fee of US$ 120 for the Volunteer Work placement. - Airport pick-up: US$ 40
The airport transfer will take you from the airport to the bus station in Santiago, where you will find many bus operators for your onward journey to Viña del Mar (departure daily, every 30 minutes). - Get your Travel Health Insurance here:
Holidays 2020
Jan 01, Apr 10, May 01, 21, Jun 29, Jul 16, Sept 18, Oct 12, Dec 08, 25. The lessons will be made up with conversation clubs.
How are students assigned to the suitable language course?
Each new student will take a placement test before starting the language course. This must either be submitted in advance by e-mail or it will be carried out on the first day of school before the course begins. Based on this test, the existing Spanish language skills are determined and the student assigned to the appropriate group. In the case of a private course, the placement test serves to determine the appropriate course material.
Where do the other students come from?
The language students represent a diverse range of nationalities. The nationalities that are most strongly represented throughout the year are Germans, Swiss, Austrians, Americans, Canadians and Brazilians. In the last couple of years the number of French and Asian students has been also increasing.
Can I do the DELE Test in Viña del Mar?
We offer preparation courses for the DELE Test (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) in the language school in Santiago de Chile. The test itself can not be completed in Chile.
Will I be picked-up at the airport?
We are happy to organize the airport pickup for you. Our pick-up service saves you the hassle of finding a trustworthy taxi driver at the airport. Also communication problems can be avoided with our pick-up service. If you book a language course in Viña del Mar with pick-up service, the transfer will take you from the airport in Santiago de Chile to the bus station in Santiago. There you can buy a ticket to Viña del Mar at one of the many ticket offices and usually get on board immediately. (Departure of the buses is about every 30 minutes, travel time about 2 hours). The airport pick-up is not included in the course price.
Where will I be living?
Participants in a Spanish course in Viña del Mar will be accommodated in Chilean homestays. Homestays are rooms in private homes where one or more rooms are rented. There are always single rooms available, double rooms can be booked on request. Half-board can be added.
Will I have Internet access at my accommodation?
Free internet access (WIFI) is standard in 100% of our accommodations. You can also use the internet access at the Spanish school in Viña del Mar for free.
Does the language school offer leisure activities?
So that you can immerse in local culture and explore more about your host country, the Spanish school in Viña del Mar also offers animation. In the afternoons, cultural activities take place (cooking classes, dance classes, etc.) and the city itself with its long sandy beach, offers a great change from everyday school life. Weekend activities are usually day trips in the surrounding area or visits to wineries, national parks, museums, etc. Also, depending on the season, outdoor sports activities are offered (rafting, horseback riding, hiking, surfing, etc.).
What should I do if I have a problem?
In the unlikely event that you experience problems during your stay in Chile, we are available to provide assistance. No matter whether you encounter these problems in your language course or whether they are of a different nature, we are always happy to help. You will find our 24-hour emergency number on your reservation confirmation. It ensures that we are available for you 24/7.
What kind of insurance do I need for my stay abroad?
To take part in a Spanish course in Chile, you need at least travel health insurance, so that you are covered in the event of illness or an accident. You can get your travel insurance online on our website. More information can be found here: Travel Health Insurance
