Ok, so... I’m having a hard time being coherent today because yesterday essentially spilled over in today and well, suffice to say that there’s a never ending supply of places to go out in this city and it never stops. I haven’t even made a dent in it, nor have I done many of the touristy things... I did see the big metal flower that opens and closes and is the place to hang out underneath and drink a mate in the sun. I also went to Malba which is a gorgeous art gallery and it has a great cafe.
Winetasting last night, and after that we went to a restaurant that’s so underground that it’s only open once a week and only twenty people know about it and the food is thai.. the best thai I’ve ever had.
We went to another bar after that, basically I didn’t sleep very much, so this morning in the bus I really wasn’t with it and almost got robbed in the bus. I was hanging on with one arm staring out the window in a full ‘colectivo’ and then got rather annoyed as a little man who kept kind of pushing upto me. I looked down and literally caught him red-handed with my bag clip opened and his hand IN my bag. I was so baffled I forgot all my Spanish and yelled lots of expletives at him in English. He told me "You’re crazy", IN ENGLISH and got off in a hurry. I stood there seething but figured out pretty quickly he didn’t take anything. When I got to my class my teacher was so kind to fill me in on what words I should have used to ‘make a scandal’, as they say here.
I flew Andes Air during the July vacation period when I had family in town. We flew from Buenos Aires to Salta during the high-season and paid around 800 pesos round trip which was a significant savings from other airlines. (FYI: Taking the 22 hour bus was about 650 pesos round trip.)
Andes serves the Northwest Region, Iguazú and Puerto Madryn. I was initially pretty nervous to fly an airline that I had never heard of before, but after talking to a travel agent friend they assured me that it is a legit company.
Although their website is pretty terrible and they sometimes don´t answer their phone (oh Argentina!) I am satisfied with the service. The plane was much bigger than expected -- 3 seats on each side of plane!
Even better is that they did not charge a different price for foreigners, it was all the same fare! If you travel in low season they had some excellent promotions as well.
Spanish (Castellano or Castillian) is spoken by approximately 275 million people in 19 countries and it is the official language in Argentina, but Argentinian Spanish have some differences from the Spanish spoken in Spain and other areas.
In the areas around the Rio de la Plata, including Buenos Aires, is spoken the Rioplatense Spanish dialect, that is Castellano language with influences of French/Italian/English and pronounced with a slight Italian Accent, it is one of the things that differentiate the city of Buenos Aires from the rest of the Spanish-speaking world; to the north out of Buenos Aires, the type of accent is most related with Latin American style Spanish.
Other languages spoken in Argentina are: Italian, German, English, and French. Indigenous communities have retained their original languages, like Tehuelche, Guarani, Quechua and Aymara. Also, exists immigrants communities whom speak their native languages until today
PRONUNCIATION
The accent of the Porteños, as the inhabitants of the Argentine city of Buenos Aires are called, has similarities with the Neapolitan dialect of Italia. This match with immigration patterns. Argentina, and specially Buenos Aires, accepted an ample number of immigrants from Italia in the beginning of the 20th century. The Italian immigration had a profound influence on Lunfardo. Before that, the Argentine accent was similar to that Andalucia, Spain.
You could try to learn about Argentine pronunciation, watching Argentine films, like "El Hijo de la Novia", "Nueve Reinas", "Valentin" and listening to Argentine radio stations in Internet.
Some features in the Argentine Pronunciation are:
In Buenos Aires, "ll" = "y", and it is uttered with a sound between "sh" (shop) and "s" (pleasure). Effect known as "yeísmo", nowadays, "yeismo" is becoming "zeismo", with the increasingly use of the "zh" instead "sh", almost an English 'j'.
The "v" = "b" = In some Spanish-speaking countries the "v" is like the English sound (as in "very"). In Argentina, this rule is not full-filed, with one exception: when someone is spelling a word they may pronounce it as in "very" for clarification.
The "j" and "g" (before an "e" or "i") can also be pronounced like a German "ch" in "ich".
There is no "th" sound (as in "thick") in Argentinian Spanish.
"s", in the end of a word, before a consonant, is uttered with a sound like the "h" in Hardware, except at the end of a word before a pause or a vowel.
What the Buenos Aires Intermediate program has to offer
• An intermediate Spanish language program perfect for students with two to three semesters of university-level Spanish • Program located in Buenos Aires, the vibrant cultural capital of South America • Combination of intermediate Spanish courses and integrated university courses at Universidad Católica Argentina's (UCA) Latin American Studies Program • Program excursions and activities focused on the art, culture, sports and lifestyle that make Buenos Aires one of the world's most exciting and cosmopolitan cities
Housing • Housing is with a carefully selected host family • Program fee includes two meals per day Sunday through Friday and one meal on Saturday • IFSA-Butler houses only one student per family for maximum cultural and language integration
Academics
• All courses are conducted in Spanish by university faculty • Two program courses, Intermediate Spanish and Latin American and Argentine Literature (3 U.S. semester credit hours each), are mandatory for all students • Students directly enroll in one to three courses in UCA’s Latin American Studies Program, taking specially designed classes alongside Argentine and international students • Available UCA subjects may include international relations, political science, language and literature, film studies, community service, history, business and more • Earn university credit for community service with local organizations through a special course at UCA • Academic tutors available
Argentina have high academic standards, in particular at the University of Buenos Aires, students will receive teachings from many of the country's most respected writers, historians and analysts. Course timetables are flexible, to allow students to work to pay their education, generally, the classes take place between 7.00 am and 11.00 pm
If you are a foreign student with residence in Argentina, shall comply with the admission requirements applicable to Argentine applicants; if you are not Argentine resident, yo have to go to the Argentine consulate in your country, and request for a seat under the Ministry Resolution No. 1523/90 ruling. For more information, contact the Secretariat of University Policies of the Ministry of Education.
The following is the information required to enroll in University in Argentina:
First, second and last names.
Birth date.
Passport or Identity Card number.
Country of birth / nationality.
Marital status / profession / religion.
Country of residence.
Consulate where the passport will be visaed.
Address of residence in Argentina.
To see the complete list of all the documents required, visit the Secretariat of University Policies of the Ministry of Education page.
If the student want information about to validate a degree or equivalences, must contact to the Department of National Validation of Degrees and Studies
You can check the list of universities and university institutes (both public and private) of the ArgentineRepublic, issued by the Secretariat of University Policies of the National Ministry of Education.
This is Maradona as the two-time Palme Dor winner Emir Kusturica sees him: the revolutionary, the footballer, the man, the God, the family man, the drug-addict, the legend. Acclaimed filmmaker Emir Kusturica traces the remarkable story of soccer legend Diego Maradona in this documentary featuring music by composer Manu Chao and Sex Pistols. Maradona has a reputation as the people's champion, an athlete who rose from humble beginnings to achieve worldwide fame, and who has overcome incredible adversity to become a living legend. As the director and his subject grow increasingly intimate, Maradona reveals details about his life that have never come to light in the public eye. A tour of the places that mean the most to Maradona offer a unique look at the way the soccer star was shaped by his surroundings, and conversations with the people closest to him offer a unique glimpse into his colorful personality. A conversation with Cuban leader Fidel Castro highlights how even the most powerful personalities become awestruck while speaking with Maradona. This is Kusturica's most expressive in form and the most radical in content since at least Black Cat, White Cat where Kusturica values Maradona not only as a virtuoso player but as man with a political view.
1. Make The ClassesInteresting & Engaging Engaging students is crucial to learning and remembering material. Using wit and charm, Bueno, entonces… not only engages; it keeps you thinking about the last lesson and looking forward to the next one. Like your favorite teachers, David & Jimena know learning doesn’t have to be dry and boring.
2. See The Words As You Hear Them Some people are audio learners, others learn visually – most people need both, absorbing different concepts in different ways. With Bueno, entonces... every word is on-screen so you see the spelling while hearing it pronounced.
3. Color-Coding. Words on-screen are color-coded in Spanish and English to help you understand word usage and sentence structure. You’ll quickly see, hear, and understand how words in Spanish correspond with English ones, and how they are used in sentences.
4. Symbols & Illustrations. Verb tenses and grammatical concepts are represented by clear symbols so you quickly learn and understand their usage. Iconic illustrations easily associate images and words, burning vocabulary into your brain.
5. REPETITION - The Key To Languages.
Any teacher will tell you this, and here’s the problem with old audio books and language software – they’re mind-numbingly boring, making them painful to repeat. Bueno, entonces… is engaging, fast-paced, and fun. You’ll repeat all 30 classes over and over, learning more each time – as your Spanish progresses, you pick up more of the humor, making it easier to repeat.
A.1. (Private Universities -or Private Schools- and short studies) LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY, specifying the studies you are accepted for. This letter is always necessary for studies to be followed in a private university and also for short studies in a public university (Seminars, Pos. Degree, Isolated subjects, etc.).
(*) For minors (less than 18) or in exchange programs organised by Rotary Club, AFS, Youth for Understanding and similar systems: Such letter of acceptance must be also a warranty:
a. Taking moral and financial responsibility for the minor whom the visa is requested for.
b. Certifying that the minors will go and return with paid tickets.
c. Certifyng the family name, surname and address with whom the minor will live in Argentina.
or A.2. (Complete Careers in a Public University) You do not need the letter of acceptance only if you will follow a complete career in a public university. In such a case you should get in contact with the Argentine Embassy -Cultural Section- before November (to begin your career in March the following year). Your registration will be done by the Argentine Embassy after having evaluated your secondary school certificates and your level of Spanish.
B. Valid Norwegian ( or other from other countries) Passport.
C. Police Certificate (it is a form that certifies your lack of record). It is possible to get it in Spanish directly from the police (most of police stations have it) and thus avoid translation expenses.
D. Medical Certificate with statement you are not suffering from infectious disease or psychic ailments and informing your RH factor.
E. Birth Certificate. Given by the Folkeregister. It is also possible to get it in Spanish directly from the Folkeregister and thus avoid translation expenses.
F. All the documents in Norwegian or English must be translated into Spanish by a certified official translator (for example: Mr. Francisco García Mora: 2223 5888 in Oslo).
G. All the documents must be legalised by a Notarius Publicus and the local Fylkesmann (The Fylkesmann’s seal is called “APOSTILLE”). In fact, the Argentine authorities require just the APOSTILLE. But some Norwegian Fylkesmann request legalisation by a Notarius before signing the APOSTILLE. Ask your Fylkesmann what she/he considers necessary.
H. One photograph (4 x 4 cm).
I. Minors (less than 18 years) must go to the Argentine Embassy accompanied by their parents one week before travelling.
After getting the above mentioned documents and -minimum- one week before travelling. (Please arrange a meeting in advance with Jesse or other visa officers in the Embassy):
J. Lack of international records declaration (possible to be made at the Embassy).
K. Request of Visa forms: to be fulfilled at the Embassy.
Our Spanish language programs are specially designed for foreigners and are taught in Spanish. A.I.E. offers the highest standard in Spanish language programs in Argentina. We are the only Spanish school in Argentina specialized in Spanish for adults and professionals.
GROUP COURSE:
Type of Program: Group classes.
Frequency: 20 classes per week (4 hours per day).
Length of each class: 60 minutes per class.
Small groups: average of students per class: 3 students.
Max. students per class: 5 students.
PRIVATE COURSE:
Type of Program: Private classes.
Frequency: from 10 to 40 classes per week (you can choose frequency).
Length of each class: 45 minutes per class.
COMBINED COURSE:
Type of Program: Group and private classes.
Frequency: 20 group classes + 10 private classes per week.
Max. students per group class: 5 students.
Average of students per group class: 3 students.
At the conclusion of your program, you will receive a DEGREE of completion of the Spanish Language Course with the following information: length, goals and level, and the number of hours you were present in class.
Each group course has a maximum of 5 students to provide a more personalized teaching. The average is 3 students per group.
In 2000 the total population in Argentina was estimated at 37 million. Argentina is divided into 23 provinces and a federal district, Buenos Aires, the Capital Federal.
Resources for Health services in Argentina were US$ 22.700 million in 1999 of which US$ 5,400 million were for public hospitals, US$ 8,300 million for Obras Sociales and Pami, US$ 2,300 in Pre-paid services, US$ 6,700 direct payment for beneficiaries.
Health expenditures as percentage of GDP were 7.4% in 1997 and 9.7% in 1999.
The public sector has an annual budget of US$ 13.012 million, representing 1,9% of GDP. The GDP per capita is US$ 8,514. Health expenditures per capita amounted to US$ 675 in 1997 and US$ 826 in 1999.
The compulsory portion of health care has two components: the government-administered component is financed through tax revenue (on a pay-as-you-go basis) and guarantees a standard minimum benefit according to principles of redistribution and insurance; the private component is geared toward savings and security, and takes the form of individual member-capitalized savings plans or company-managed plans that are funded by joint employee and employer contributions, fully and individually capitalised and regulated by the government (i.e., fully funded plans).
The voluntary plans are identical in all respects to the fully funded plans with the exception that they are capitalised exclusively by the beneficiary.
The health services system is composed of four main sub sectors: the public Hospital sub-sector (i.e., government-provided financing and services), the Obras Sociales (employee-benefit plans formerly run by unions and now organized by professional category), the private sub-sector (Pre-Paid voluntary insurance plans based on actuarial risk) and Insurance companies which cover a marginal sector of the economy. There is a strong bias toward curative care, with emphasis on hospital services. Although national, provincial, and municipal policies all define primary health care as their basic strategy, most of the jurisdictions that have adopted this strategy approach it in the form of "programme's" to be carried out at the primary care level.
The Obras Sociales plans are a system of compulsory social insurance that includes other benefits in addition to health care. Their financing comes from employer (5% monthly of salary) and employee (3% monthly) contributions. The Government is expediting deregulation of the sector in order to foster competition between the Obras Sociales plans and private (pre-paid) health insurance companies, encouraging beneficiaries to take an active role in choosing their Obras Sociales plan, and guaranteeing that all plans afford the basic benefits package of main services, diagnoses, and treatments for subscriber and dependants (PMO) as required by law. Benefits for primary and secondary care have a small co-payment (US$ 5 or US$10 for doctor's visits) but in-patient care and complex surgery/ procedures are free of charge. There is a 50% cover for drugs.
These Obras Sociales used to be linked to economic activities. Therefore each industry had its own OS as they vary in their level of quality of service and their services depend on salary scales and contributions. Nowadays members can choose any OS if they deem it to provide better care. By law, OS are not allowed to impose waiting periods, pre-existing conditions or exclusions. There are approximately 260 Obras Sociales providing care to 16 million members.
There are also Obras Sociales not associated to trade unions which offer care to middle and senior management who earn over US$2,000 monthly. These OS are financed like regular OS. The difference lies in the quality of service due to higher revenues. There are 24 institutions of this type in Argentina covering approximately 950,000 members. They have the same obligations as the trade union OS.
Except for those included under special programmes, the public sub-sector does not cover drugs for out-patient care. The public sub-sector of Obras Sociales plans defray a percentage of members' drug costs and fully subsidise all the uncommon, high-cost drugs included in the PMO (Plan Medico Obligatorio).
Pre-paid medicine companies also cover 50% of beneficiaries' drug costs. It is estimated that 8% of the population covered by the OS would also contribute to Pre-paid (PP) medicine. Pre-paid companies amount to 2,200.000 beneficiaries and operate very much any company providing private health insurance.
The only institution, which provides health care for the retired/elderly, is PAMIs, which are privately owned but managed by the government. The level of care and financing is inadequate. Pamis cover approximately 4,500.000 people. In 1992 there was an average of only one physician for every 367 residents, and a ratio of 1 nurse for every 4 physicians and 5.4 nurses per 10,000 of the population, levels in this category were also considered insufficient. In 1999 there were 24.9 physicians for 10,000 of the population.
The number of available beds was 1,55.749 in 1995, with 54% in the public sub-sector, 2.8% in the Obras Sociales sub-sector, 43% in the private sub-sector. In 1996 there were 824 self'- managing public hospitals, offering a total of 62,402 beds (almost 75.3% of the country's public beds). In 1999 there were 44.8 hospital beds per 1,000 of the population.
In the private sub-sector, the two main subgroups are: professionals who provide independent care services to members of Obras Sociales or private, pre-paid plans; and health care facilities that are contracted by Obras Sociales plans.
Argentina health is not administered as insurance, as is the case with most foreign countries.
Pre-paid medical insurance originated as cover for independent workers. The popular perception is that pre-paid medicine rates very highly, as everybody would like to afford a particular plan. Pre-paid cover has a higher rate of usage than Obras Sociales and the Pre-paid client demands good service and is not willing to pay co-payments. PPs do not need sanction from any government body to operate; they exist to satisfy supply and demand.
Regarding outside cover, there is an international network only for emergencies providing free-of- charge care for accidents and for not pre-existing conditions for up to 180 days abroad. It includes repatriation of mortal remains due to accidental death. There are various plans on offer.
Expatriates are not covered unless they choose one of the pre-paid institutions. The level of care and quality is similar to that in their home countries.
DIRECTORY OF HOSPITALS & CLINICS
Clinica Bessone Paunero 1648/86 San Miguel Argentina Tel: + 54 381 4667 2040
Clinica Del Sol Av Coronel Diaz 2211 Buenos Aires Argentina Tel: + 54 11 4821 1000
Our partner school in Buenos Aires is located in the Palacio San Miguel, one of the most valued buildings in the historic downtown area. Surrounded by gorgeous, beautifully preserved 19th century architecture, the school is conveniently located in the city center. You’ll have no trouble exploring the town using the school as your starting point, finding the best restaurants and bars, and seeing the most important sites. The school will provide an exciting yet safe environment for studying Spanish, with all the modern amenities you’ll need to feel comfortable, while you improve your Spanish by leaps and bounds.
School facilities include 20 spacious classrooms with large windows, a roof deck where you can relax after class, a common room for socializing and drinking mate (Argentina’s national drink), a video room, a computer room with free internet access, a cafeteria and air conditioning.
Spanish Courses in Buenos Aires
Intensive group course: 20 group classes/week
Super-intensive group course: 30 group classes/week
Volunteer program: 4 weeks of Intensive course is required.
Your course includes a free welcome brunch and a guided city walk to get you acquainted with the city, your teachers and your fellow students.
* The school reserves the right to change a group course into One to One in case there is no other student at the same level. If this happens, there will be a reduction of class hours of 50%.
One of the joys of adjusting from life in the US to life here in Buenos Aires is learning how to convert our screwy imperial units of measure (pounds, degrees Fahrenheit, feet and miles) into those handy metric units (grams, kilograms, degrees Celsius, meters and kilometers). Since at first this task can be just a bit perplexing, here are a few quick hints to making these adjustments yourself:
Weight (1 pound = 450 grams) You will most frequently need to be familiar with the conversion between pounds and grams while visiting your local fiambrería (deli meat seller), carnicería (butcher) or verdulería (vegetable seller). Ordering meats and vegetables are the easiest, as you can just request “dos pechugas” (two chicken breasts), or “tres zanahorias” (three carrots), and be on your merry way. Ordering deli meat is a little trickier, however, as the density of the meats varies by type. As a rule of thumb, I typically buy 100 grams of dense salted meats, such as salami, but opt for 200 grams when ordering the more common sandwich companions, including cheese, ham or turkey. These portions are just right, as they are enough to sustain me through several lunches, but won’t last too long and go feo.
Weight (1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds) When I moved into my first apartment here in Buenos Aires, I was also pleasantly surprised to see a scale in the bathroom. Only problem? It weighed me in kilograms. If you are watching your weight while you’re here, this simple conversion is handy to keep in the back of your mind.
Temperature (°C = (°F -32) x 5/9) The conversion between degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit is not only the measure that you will most frequently encounter, but also the one that can be the most perplexing. As you can see, the formula for making this conversion is a doozy!
Thanks to a dear Argentine friend that I met while still in the US, I now know a simpler way to get a ballpark figure for the conversion: just take the temperature in Celsius, double it, and add 30. This figure will always be slightly off from the exact temperature reading, but it works in a pinch.
Weather, Seasons and Average Temperatures If you don’t already know, the seasons south of the equator are the opposite of those to the north. That means, that when it is summer in the northern hemisphere, it is winter in the south, and vice versa.
Argentina is one of South America's leading media markets. The country has well over 150 daily newspapers, many hundreds of commercial radio stations, dozens of TV stations and one of the world's highest take-up rates for cable TV.
Large media conglomerates have emerged. Public broadcasting plays a minor role. Television is the dominant medium. The main national free-to-air networks - Telefe, America, Canal 9 and Canal 13 - are privately-owned.
Argentine readers are among Latin America's most voracious newspaper consumers. Clarin and La Nacion are the best-selling national dailies.
Media freedom is guaranteed by the constitution. However, Reporters Without Borders maintained in 2008 that "direct attacks on the media and obstacles to press freedom... remained high". It said former President Nestor Kirchner had shown "great hostility" to the media - and particularly the conservative La Nacion daily - while in office.
By December 2008, Argentina had 16 million internet users, comprising nearly 40% of the population (Internetworldstats.com) and giving the country the second-highest number of surfers on the continent, after Brazil.
The press
· Clarín - popular daily · La Nación - respected conservative daily · Crónica - tabloid daily · El Cronista - business · La Prensa - Argentina's oldest newspaper · Pagina 12 - left-wing daily · Buenos Aires Herald - English-language daily
Television
· Telefe (Canal 11) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Telefe · Canal 13 (El Trece) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Clarin · Canal 9 - popular national network · America (Canal 2) - popular network · Todo Noticias - cable/satellite news channel owned by Grupo Clarin · Canal 7 - state-run cultural, educational network
Radio
· Radio Mitre - private, speech-based, operated by Grupo Clarin · Radio Nacional - state-run, cultural · Radio America - private, news · Radio Continental - private AM (mediumwave) speech-based network · Los 40 Principales - private FM music network
News agencies
· Diarios y Noticias (DYN) - partly owned by Grupo Clarin · TELAM - state-run · Noticias Argentinas - set up by privately-owned newspapers
You may be thinking of planning a study abroad trip and are trying to decide where to go. Look no further, the list below will show you that Buenos Aires is the number one hot spot in Latin America.
Why Study Spanish in Buenos Aires?
1. Buenos Aires is a beautiful, exciting, cosmopolitan city in Argentina. This ‘Paris of South America’ offers and endless list of things-to-do as well as incredible restaurants, bars, nightclubs, art galleries, museums, theatres, parks, historical sites, and much more.
2. Portenos (people of Buenos Aires) are outgoing, kind, and friendly; perfect to make some local friends.
3. The food: parilla, pizza, wine, meat, cheese, international, fusion, etc.
4. To see the sensual and seductive Tango danced by professionals from Argentina.
5. The nightlife is one of a kind, comparable of that to Paris, New York, and Madrid, and simply must be experienced.
6. Argentine Spanish is unique in the world of Spanish and some of the best slang around.
7. The art, museum, and culture scene is never ending as there is always a different gallery, exhibit, or show to be enjoyed.
8. If you are looking for a new style, the shopping in Buenos Aires will give you just that; everything from local labels, to vintage, to top labels can be found on shopping streets and in shopping centres.
9. It is affordable. Many currencies have an advantage over the Argentine peso giving foreigners a financial advantage in the city.
10. To leave it! There are so many incredible destinations that should be visited in the country, perfect for weekend getaways or school breaks. Head to the North, Centre, or South of Argentina and discover a whole new world.
Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the eponymous province situated at the foothills of the Andes mountains. It has more than 464,000 inhabitants as of the 2001 census, making it Argentina's 8th largest city. The city is located in the Lerma Valley, 1,152 meters above sea level. The weather is warm and dry, with annual averages of 756 mm of rainfall and an average temperature of 16.4 °C(20.4 °C in summer, 10.8 °C in winter). January and February are the months with greatest rainfall. During the spring, Salta is occasionally plagued by severe, week long dust storms. Nicknamed Salta la Linda ("Salta the Beautiful"), it is a tourist destination in part due to its architectural attractions, such as the 18th century Cabildo, the Cathedral, and the Plaza 9 de Julio city park. It has also a number of museums, including the Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña, which houses the bodies of 3 Inca children found frozen at the summit of Mount Llullaillaco. Salta is also the starting point of the "Train to the Clouds" (Tren a las nubes), and on the way to red-soiled Cafayate, as well as to other nearby tourist destinations. The Martín Miguel de Güemes Airport(IATA: SLA, ICAO: SASA), at coordinates 24°51′S, 65°29′W, 6 kilometres southeast of the city, has regular flights to Buenos Aires, Tucumán, Jujuy, Córdoba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia).
SPANISH SCHOOL IN SALTA
Patagonia School is in the center of Salta, just 5 minutes from the terminal bus and two blocks from the Cathedral.
Study and learn Spanish:
Spanish Courses: with 1 student: 15 hrs:125 u$s p/week with 2 students: 15 hrs: 100 u$s p/week Group & One-to-one lessons, tailored for each student.
You do not need to pay registration fees.
Levels: Basic Advanced Spanish Intensive courses for tourists
Spanish Course include:Textbook and other materials Certificate of attendance Volunteer work (Optional) Theater lesson on Saturdays
Spanish continues to be one of the most popular foreign languages for Americans, and every year thousands of students of all ages travel abroad to Spanish-speaking countries to study the language. Argentina ranks high on the list of great destinations for Spanish classes for a number of reasons. Despite a weakening dollar Argentina continues to be a very affordable destination for language students from the U.S., and the country offers great cultural diversity, outstanding natural beauty, and a welcoming people. Argentina is also a well-developed country with a high standard of living, and foreign students will find all the amenities they are used to from home.
Córdoba, located in central Argentina about 500 miles inland from Buenos Aires, stands out as one of Argentina’s best locations for foreign Spanish students. Córdoba is smaller and more intimate than Buenos Aires, and Spanish study provides a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, make friends with the locals, and learn the language. The cost of living is also lower in Córdoba than in Buenos Aires, and so are the course fees. The city has a large student population, which gives it a very dynamic cultural and social life. The city center, where the university is located, is alive with coffee houses, bookstores, bars and restaurants, as well as pleasant pedestrian malls, a busy shopping district, and large tree-lined squares. Language students will be able to enjoy movies, art exhibits, tango, as well as folkloric performances and a contemporary music scene all close to the city center.
Although Córdoba is today a large modern urban center with 1.2 million inhabitants, it retains much of its historic heritage, among them the rich Jesuit history with its university, as well as churches and other colonial buildings. The Jesuit block in Córdoba and several historic Jesuit farming estates in nearby towns are today part of UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage. Outdoor enthusiasts will also find plenty to do in the vicinity of the city. The Quebrada del Condorito National Park, located in the Sierra de Córdoba mountains, is the easternmost range of the majestic Andean condor, and visiting the mountains for a hike or birdviewing trip is a great weekend getaway.
Spanish Schools in Cordoba
Able Spanish
Independiencia 233 - Centro, Córdoba, Argentina, Tel: +54-351-423-3300; ablespanish@hotmail.com; www.ablespanish.com. $30 registration fee. Offers group courses (20 hrs/wk; $120), intensive courses (30 hrs/wk; $200) and private classes ($12/hr). Refers lodging at student residences ($60-$100/wk), homestays ($75-$110/wk), hostels and hotels.
A.I.E. Argentina Idioma Español
Otto Meiling 357, 8400 Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina. info@patagoniaspanish.com, www.patagoniaspanish.com. $60 registration fee. Offers year-round classes in Córdoba, Buenos Aires, and Bariloche for several skill levels. It is possible to combine different locations. Offers group courses (20 hrs/wk, $210, max. 6 students), intensive courses (group & private instruction, $380/wk), and private classes ($18/hr). Homestays are available for $150/wk, including two meals/day; offers excursions and cultural activities.
CaserosSpanishSchool
Caseros 873—5000 Cordoba, Argentina; Tel: +54-351-4247877; cordoba@hya.com.ar; www.cordoba-spanish.com.ar. $45 registration fee; offers group instruction (20 hrs/wk, $125), intensive courses (additional 10 classes of private instruction, $225/wk, with extra cultural immersion activities: $350), and private classes ($12/hr).
Espanex
Av. Rafael Nuñez 5675 – Córdoba, Argentina; info@espanex.org, www.espanex.org. $40 registration fee. Offers group courses with up to 5 students/class (20 hrs/wk, $125), intensive courses (20 group & 10 private classes $220/wk), and private classes ($12/hr). Provides homestays ($60-$130/wk) and student apartments ($70-$110); offers excursions.
Argentina I.L.E.E.
Av. Callao 339, 3rd fl., 1022 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Tel: +54-11-47827173; info@argentinailee.com, www.argentinailee.com. Offers Spanish classes in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Bariloche, and Ushuaia. It is possible to combine different locations. $60 registration fee. Offers group courses (20 hrs/wk, $210), intensive courses (20 group &10 private classes, $380/wk), and private classes ($20/hr). Additional five tango classes/wk for $70. Students have to complete one week in Buenos Aires before continuing in Córdoba. Homestays are available for $150/wk (with breakfast/dinner); offers excursions and cultural activities.
AmeriSpan Study Abroad
Offers placement services for Spanish students in most Latin American countries, including Argentina and Córdoba; offers a satisfaction guarantee for students. 117 South 17th St., Ste. 1401, Philadelphia, P.A. 01910; Tel: 800-879-6640; info@amerispan.com; www.amerispan.com.
I stumbled across B.E. about a month and a half ago, I watched one episode and was hooked…David is an absolute riot…Jimena is a doll…and together, they are the perfect teacher/student combo…my husband gets annoyed bc I will not put my phone away…
Because you are hearing conversations and not sitting in front of the computer or with your nose in a book, each time you listen to an episode you learn both vocab and grammar without even knowing it.
Yes, it is fast paced but if you are truly dedicated to learning the beautiful language that is Spanish, and you want to do it quickly, it doesn’t matter….I listened to each lesson twice before moving on to the next…I had to make myself do this because not only are you learning Spanish quickly but at the same time you are dying to know what is going to happen btw David and Jimena…
B.E. is a new and engaging, revolutionary and hilarious approach to learning Spanish that I believe (and hope) will end up making history!
How to eat right, fit exercise into your day and avoid the foreigner 15
Arriving in Buenos Aires can be like arriving as a freshman to college. Promises of big parties, all night affairs and schmorgasborg-style eating that seem too good to be true eventually become reality. It’s all fun and games until somebody puts on 25 pounds. Here are a few ideas to help you enjoy Buenos Aires without needing to buy overpriced new jeans because you popped the zipper on your old ones.
How to eat cow and not look like one! Buenos Aires cuisine is delicious, but really fattening. From steak with all the juicy fat attached to plump empanadas to salads made of mayonnaise and potatoes, it’s hard to stay trim while enjoying the local delicacies.
Here are 10 tips on how to eat and enjoy in Buenos Aires:
1. Order lean cuts of meat, such as bife de lomo, and avoid too much choripan (chorizo sandwiches). Yes, those are chunks of fat if you were trying to convince yourself otherwise. 2. When invited to an asado, bring vegetables that are tasty when grilled, such as pumpkin, corn, sweet potato and bell peppers. 3. When invited to an asado, bring a big salad with a homemade dressing. 4. Shop at organic markets to support small organic businesses and eat healthy! My favorite is the Galpon Organico located by the Subte B Federico Lacroze at 4171 Federico Lacroze Ave. (and Corrientes Ave.) Be sure to plan ahead, though, they’re open Wed. 9am-1pm and Sat. 9am-3pm 5. Don’t order pizza or empanadas to your house – just don’t make it an option. Don’t keep the magnets on your fridge, no matter how cute the delivery boy is. If you’re craving empanadas go to Cumaná, El Sanjuanino or 1810 Cocina Regional and make it worth it! 6. Share entrees when eating out. Buenos Aires restaurants are (in)famous for their big serving sizes. 7. When you need monedas (coins) to catch the bus, go to a fruit stand and buy a few apples or bananas instead of buying an alfajor cookie at a kiosko. 8. Drink mate! Enjoy this traditional tea drink that’s also a great digestivo! 9. Remember what dulce de leche is made of. 10. Order a café or cortado instead of café con leche (most cafes don’t have reduced fat milk)
Exercising porteño Style!
Porteños love to look good and stay fit. This is proven by a phenomenon I call “that hot chick turned around and she had the face of a 70-year-old.” You’ll be walking down the street and spot a trendy looking young girl from behind. She’s trim and has all the right accessories. She looks like she was born on a Stairmaster and has beautiful shiny hair. All of a sudden, girlfriend turns around. The combination of wrinkles and botox is shocking, but damn! She takes good care of her body. She fills me with hope for the future and a desire to work out.
The men and women of Buenos Aires are very concerned with their appearance, take pride in their bodies and thanks to them, Buenos Aires is full of gyms.
From mega-fashion Megatlon to the rinky-dink Average Joe’s style gym, everyone can find one that fits their style. My style was the overpriced Sport Club (190 pesos per month) until I decided I’d never achieve the buns of the girl with the steal tush implants, so now I’m heading to the dive gym on the corner (65 pesos a month). Most gyms that have a pool are slightly more expensive. Just splurge during summer months. Don’t pay for the pool access during winter, you won’t use it. Those looking JUST to use the pool can also sign up for exclusive pool use at many gyms.
Tip: Many big gyms have “promotional plans” where if you pay with a debit or credit card you have a reduced price. Any special like this has a catch, so always read your contract carefully. I learned this lesson when I signed up at Sport Club a few months ago. Instead of the regular 350 peso a month membership I signed up for the 190 peso a month deal. Soon I realized it wasn’t for me and when I went to quit, the manager said that my contact was for 12 months and to quit I’d have to pay 2-months worth of membership. Turns out, if you drag it out enough, use the word abogado (lawyer) and one other reasonable excuse they’ll waive the fee. This isn’t a country where taking someone to court is a solution, so don’t give up all your money at first. Quitting the gym shouldn’t be an express kidnapping.
Finish reading this usefull article on LandingPad BA.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentine journalists, academics and ruling party lawmakers met Monday to challenge the conclusions of an international media group that Latin American leaders are exerting too much control over the press.
Supporters of a controversial new Argentine media law say it will limit monopolies and maintain a diversity of news outlets regardless of wealth. Critics at the annual meeting of the Inter American Press Association in Buenos Aires say it threatens freedom of expression.
"The best response to this chorus of dinosaurs is to push forth our democratic mechanisms," said Luis Lazzaro of the Federal Counsel of Audiovisuals Communication, a state-sponsored organization that regulates local radio and television stations.
Argentina's law, passed last month, preserves two-thirds of the digital spectrum for noncommercial radio and TV stations and gives political appointees a powerful role in granting licenses and regulating content.
Unless legal challenges succeed, Grupo Clarin — a frequent government critic and one of Latin America's largest newspaper and cable TV companies — will be forced to sell many of its properties within a year.
President Cristina Fernandez also signed a decree last week ordering newspapers and magazines to be sold exclusively at union-run stands. Editors fear the government now can use friendly unions to prevent the distribution of newspapers that don't follow the ruling party line.
"They seek the legal tools to silence the press along with a campaign to discredit the media," said Enrique Santos Calderon, president of the press association.
"We've been in each of the countries where there have been threats to the freedom of expression," Calderon said at the meeting of major Western Hemisphere media organizations that ends Tuesday. "We can rest assured that the IAPA remains active and strong and is being heard with great conviction where it is needed."
Passport valid for 6 months required by all except nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay who, for journeys that do not go beyond Argentina and these five countries, may use their national ID cards.
Visa
Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and US for stays of up to 90 days;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and Serbia for stays of up to 90 days;
(c) nationals of Hong Kong (British Nationals Overseas), Jamaica and Malaysia for stays of up to 30 days;
(d) transit passengers holding confirmed onward or return tickets for travel provided continuing their journey within 6 hours and not leaving the airport.
Note: Visa exemptions mentioned above are for tourist and business purposes only. However, business travellers are advised to contact the Argentinian Consulate before departure.
Required documents for visa
Tourist visa: (a) Passport. (b) Application form. (c) 1 passport photo. (d) Fee; payable by cheque or postal order. (e) Return ticket. (f) Letter from employer.
BUENOS AIRES (Dow Jones)--The Argentine government will try to settle its roughly $6.5 billion debt with members of the Paris Club by offering to issue a new bond, the Economy Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
Economy Minister Amado Boudou will pitch the idea to club members at a G20 meeting in Scotland later this week.
Before leaving for the trip, Boudou shared the idea with officials from the French Embassy in Buenos Aires. He said the plan entails issuing a new bond whose value would be equivalent to the debt owed to club members.
While in Scotland, Boudou will try to convince other Paris Club members that they ought to accept the proposal instead of a typical repayment plan, the statement said.
The bond would reportedly have the same payment structure as the loans owed to the Paris Club.
Argentine officials had previously given few details of how they planned to reschedule the debts owed to the Paris Club, which have been in default since Argentina's financial meltdown in 2001-02.
Around 14 months ago, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced a plan to settle the debt by making a lump sum payment.
But that bold plan fell apart within weeks as the global financial crisis clobbered world markets and crimped credit.
News of the new proposal comes a day after Argentina's House of Representatives passed a bill reopening a debt swap for the holders of about $20 billion in defaulted bonds.
The Senate has yet to debate the bill authorizing the offer, which requires congressional approval because a 2005 law expressly blocked a new swap.
The country is preparing a proposal to end the conflict with the holdouts who refused to accept terms of the 2005 swap. That swap involved a 65% discount, and any new offer will be on terms "more advantageous to Argentina," Boudou has said repeatedly.
Bueno, entonces... is the best selling language-learning program for the iPhone, now available on DVD and instant download! Featured by Apple as New & Noteworthy, tens of thousands are already learning Spanish with Bueno, entonces…
Taking the most effective elements from traditional audio books and software programs, Bueno, entonces... has revamped language-learning by incorporating those features into a 1-on-1 Spanish lesson format, where you sit in on private classes with fresh audio/visual teaching tools, a huge improvement over programs currently available on the market.
Bueno, entonces... takes you inside 30 private Spanish lessons with Jimena, a gorgeous Spanish instructor, and David, her jackass student from London as he learns Spanish in beautiful Buenos Aires. Like learn-Spanish reality TV, but without the guilt of getting addicted, because in just 5 weeks you'll be speaking Spanish conversationally.
Developed by world-class linguists and seasoned comedy writers, Bueno, entonces... is the most entertaining, effective language program available. Instead of your Spanish lessons being torture, you’ll look forward to every class and want to watch them over and over again!
Bueno, entonces… is the only learn-Spanish program offering true Spanish language immersion. We relocated personnel from 6 countries to produce on-location in Latin America so students get a taste of authentic language and cultural immersion.
Learn Spanish Argentina is a resource for everyone who wants to learn Spanish the way it is spoken in Argentina, or for those who are living or studying or traveling in Argentina and want to learn Spanish. Not only do we post links to great online resources to help people learn Spanish, but also to the various schools, university programs, and other programs on the ground in Argentina where you can learn Spanish.
For those of you who use Rosetta Stone or General Linguists "Bueno, entonces..." to learn Spanish, we will post tips and tricks as well as full reviews and comparisons between these and the other major products for learning Spanish. Please let us know if you have used one or both of these and would like to submit a review or comment.
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