Where should I study spanish in south america?

Question

I am looking for a pretty substantial city with some social work opportunites for volunteer/work while I immerse.

Answer 1

After spanish from spain, colombian spanish is the best rated spanish in latin america. Check language schools in Bogota.

Answer 2

Colombia

Answer 3

I went for Quito, Ecuador and highly recommend it.  There are a million volunteer opportunities such as working in medical clinics, teaching school, helping out an orphanages, and helping with the humane society.  Working in an environment is a great way to learn Spanish, although it is very frustrating at first!  Quito has a great international community so the people are used to understanding broken Spanish and are more than willing to talk with you to practice.  Ecuadorian Spanish is fairly easy to learn/understand although it's occasionally mixed with a little Quechua (the language of the indiginous groups).  The cost of living is cheap and is relatively safe!  Plus, if you want the weekends off you can travel very easily and find something to fit anyone's interests!  They've got Spanish schools everywhere and you can take a class for about $4/hour (or less if you buy a large package).  Good luck!

Answer 4

I would recommend Costa Rica (almost South America).  There are plenty of schools in which to study Spanish.   Spanish is spoken quite clearly and at a reasonable pace in Costa Rica making it easier to engage in conversation during your day to day life (I'll admit...Columbian Spanish is even clearer...but Costa Rica is much safer).  There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica including social work.  Costa Rica, while generally less expensive than the US, will however be among your more expensive options in Central - South America.  Good Luck.

Answer 5

It depends what your long term language goals are.  If you intend to work with Latinos in the U.S. Mexico might be best.  I would suggest Guanajuato (sic) or Monterrey.  I say that because Mexican Spanish has some unique features.  Most reputable language schools have excellent web pages that can tell you about volunteer opportunities and will give you references to people who have volunteered.

If you want to work in the Spanish speaking world,  the accents of Costa Rica and Columbia (esp. Bogota) are the most neutral and easier to understand everywhere.  

If you want to save money, the schools in Guatemala tend to be cheap and good at the same time.