Location is vital when you're choosing a language study destination. Choosing the wrong location for studying abroad can make the experience overwhelming and stressful rather than educational and enjoyable, especially for beginning students.

The ideal destination depends partially on your personal interests in the cultural and the recreational attractions in the locations you're considering. Researching several locations before making a decision is important because it not only increases your interest and enthusiasm in the trip, it helps ensure the destination is appropriate for your current level of fluency in the language.

Choosing a study destination for a Spanish immersion program can be overwhelming with so many options that all seem equally appealing. Knowing your options and choosing one that is best suited for beginners is essential for success in the program.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Outside Ecela's Spanish school in Buenos Aires.

If you're looking for a big South American city that offers a lot of class and culture, head to Argentina for language study in Buenos Aires, the country's capital.

One of the greatest advantages of studying in Argentina is that Argentinean Spanish is clear and easy to understand compared to the Spanish of some other Spanish-speaking countries.

This makes it easier for beginning students who are not yet affluent, while the local slang terms and unique pronunciations enhance the overall experience.B

eing a big city, Buenos Aires offers an array of cultural attractions and public transportation to get students wherever they want to go. The logical layout of the city makes it simple to get around via subway so you don't have to worry about complicated directions or getting lost.

Getting a flight to Buenos Aires is just as easy, regardless of your country of residence. Being the capital of Argentina and situated in the middle of the southeastern coast of South America, flights originating from all over the world arrive on a daily basis.

Viña del Mar, Chile

Ecela Viña del Mar is just a few blocks from the ocean.

Viña del Mar is dream study destination for avid beachgoers. Situated along the pacific coast, this Chilean city has a pleasantly temperate climate that allows students to escape the temperature extremes seen elsewhere in the country.

During the cold season, the weather might get a little chilly but students never have to deal with below-freezing temperatures in this South American resort city.

Another benefit of Viña del Mar, especially to beginning students, is the location's friendly population. Chileans living in the city are accustomed to dealing with tourists and other foreigners who may not have yet mastered the language.

When students have to deal with shopkeepers, waiters and business owners in Viña del Mar, they are treated with patience and understanding. The locals understand that many visitors are just beginning to learn the language and many show a genuine interest in you and your home country.

One of the biggest challenges of studying in a new location is orienting yourself to the country and getting to know the lay of the land with a limited understanding and knowledge of the language. Asking for directions is sometimes overwhelming, but orienting yourself in Viña del Mar isn’t complicated.

Visitors can clearly determine directions by using geographical landmarks for reference – the ocean to the west and the hills to the east – making directions simple and easy to follow.

Miraflores District – Lima, Peru

Outside of Ecela Lima, located in Miraflores and near Larcomar and Parque Kennedy.

The Miraflores District of Lima, Peru is a popular study destination for its big city appeal and easy navigation.

Did you know that the population of this Peruvian city surpasses the population of New York City? With a population of 8.47 million, Lima is the third largest city in the Americas.

As Peru's capital, Lima has a long history dating back to 1535 with the city's founding.

While a large city offers plenty of excitement and site-seeing opportunities, getting around and asking for directions is stressful, especially for beginning Spanish students. The Miraflores District provides two central meet up points of interest – Parque Kennedy and Larcomar – both well known to locals and well situated for simple navigation.

Parque Kennedy is the place to be if you want to mingle with limeños – the local residents – and tourists alike. The area features a Roman Catholic temple known as the Virgen Milagrosa Church, the Municipal Palace, the Chabuca Granda Amphitheater and more.Larcomar, a cliff-side shopping center and entertainment complex, is an ideal place for meeting up with friends and for people-watching activities in the city.

It offers many entertainment facilities including a cinema, bowling alley, restaurants and a museum.

Like Argentinean Spanish, the Peruvian Spanish spoken in Lima is clear and easy to understand. And like Viña del Mar, Lima's coastal location makes it easy to orient yourself to the area and find your way around the city's many attractions without the stress that comes along with not understanding the directions.

Available at all Ecela locations - staying with a local host will help you feel even more at home while also giving you extra Spanish practice.

Ecela Cinco Estrella Garantía

Our five-star guarantee promises you an exceptional educational experience every week of your program, or you get TWO extra weeks absolutely free.

We guarantee…

1. Your right to change schools If you feel a change of scenery would be beneficial, simply let us know a few days in advance and you can switch - at no extra cost.
2. Significant Spanish improvement  You will make substantial advancements in your Spanish each week, by YOUR standards.
3. Thorough course enjoyment  You will look forward to class each day and to spending more time with your instructors, your classmates, and the Ecela staff.
4. Comfortable environment  Your will find our school facilities comfortable, clean, and inviting – more like a home than a language institute.
5. Friendly treatment by staff  As a welcome guest of ours, we don’t consider you just another language student. You will be treated like part of the Ecela family by all of us.

“Our goal is to help you have one of your best experiences ever, but...

"We are real people and, as a consequence, we DO make mistakes, we DO have bad days, and we DO sometimes fail to give your our best.

"If you feel that we failed at any of the above 5 points, at any time during your program, just let me know and we will give you two extra weeks of classes, to be used at any of our schools, absolutely free – no questions asked.” - Cecilia Quezada