Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Spanish Language & Argentinian Culture

Language & Culture

Dates

-

4 weeks

Costs

$6,450

Extended Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Dates

-

4 weeks

Costs

$6,450

Extended Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Program Overview

Unleash your talent for Spanish in the "Paris of South America."

Accelerate your Spanish with four weeks of language immersion in one of the world's most beloved cities, Buenos Aires. After language classes, dive into Spanish conversations at lively markets, on colorful streets, and in the hip, historic corners of the city. Get an insider’s feel for Argentina’s multicultural identity through its tango music, street art, and fútbol. Meet local teens while visiting the cultural centers of Corrientes Avenue, the historic French-styled neighborhood of Recoleta, the Museum of Latin American Art (MALBA), and more. 

At your homestay, practice your new language skills and acclimate to Argentinian life. On weekend excursions, visit an estancia (ranch) to eat some of the best parrillada (barbecue), and embark on a trip to Iguazú, the largest waterfall system in the world, where you'll take in Argentina's lush, biodiverse landscapes. By immersing yourself in this creative and passionate country, you will not only advance your Spanish but also experience one of most unique blends of Latin American and European cultures.

Takeaways

Language Growth and Cultural Competence

Come home with a higher level of Spanish and a greater understanding of Argentinian culture. Use your STAMP 4S language proficiency pre- and post-test scores to demonstrate your language growth and help you earn a Seal of Biliteracy. 

College Credits

Choose to earn 4 college credits toward your future college degree. Take advantage of the credits to stand out on your college applications or to satisfy college language requirements.

Lifelong Skills and Friendships

Return with greater self-confidence, independence, and adaptability. Enjoy a broader worldview and diverse friendships from across the U.S. 

60

Hours Of Instruction With A Native Spanish Teacher

4

College Credits

1

Life-Changing Experience

The Destination
  • downtown buenos aires garden building
  • Global Navigator students in La Boca
  • government building in buenos aires flowers flag

The Destination

Welcome to Buenos Aires, a cosmopolitan melting pot filled with art and multicultural traditions. 

The land of tango is one of the world’s most exciting capitals. On the shore of the Río de la Plata, Buenos Aires is also one of the most important South American ports. Locals are referred to as porteños (people of the port) because so many of the city’s immigrants arrived from Europe by boat. The Porteño Spanish accent is often said to have the melody of Italian.

 The city offers a peek into Argentina’s diverse heritage—Indigenous and European, with an old-world charm and cosmopolitan spirit. Equally important is gaucho culture (similar to cowboys in North America), whose traditions, cuisine, and folklore are central to understanding the country. 

Buenos Aires is huge but easy to explore. As you hop around the different districts, the delightful blend of cultural influences comes to life. But that's not all! Argentina also boasts breathtaking natural landscapes that you won't want to miss, and you'll get a chance to explore some of them during your program, too!

Cultural Awareness

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Buenos Aires.

Daily Life

Daily Life

Monday–Friday 

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places. 

  • Breakfast at your homestay 
  • Engaging Spanish classes with expert language instructors, all native-speakers
  • Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators 
  • Out and about for authentic conversations in the community and a cultural activity  
  • Dinner and evening discussions at your homestay 

Weekends  

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites 
  • Quality time with friends and your host family

Check out the blog posts to discover more about daily life and excursions on program. 

Housing

Carefully-screened homestay

24/7 Support

1 Program Leader for every 12 students and support from local staff

Weekly Learning Goals

In CIEE classes, Level 1 is for students acquiring basic Spanish, Level 2 is for those who can carry on everyday conversations, and Level 3 is for those who can participate in discussions on social and academic topics. In the spring before you depart, you’ll take a language proficiency test and when you arrive on site, you’ll participate in an oral interview. How you do on the test and in the interview will identify the level that is right for you.

Each week, you’ll explore a Theme and create a Project. Each day in class, you’ll learn Spanish through engaging activities and then, in the community, try out your new Spanish in conversations with locals. 

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates as you explore the Identity Theme. Ask and answer questions, give information, describe your favorite things and your family at home and in Argentina. For your Project, create and present a Personal Profile

WEEK 2: Take in the local scene as you explore the Community Theme. Describe places, attractions, and events in Buenos Aires. Tell what you want to buy in shops, and express your likes and dislikes in food and fashion. For your Project, create a Photo Gallery of Life in Buenos Aires and share it in a conversation. 

WEEK 3: Continue improving your Spanish as you delve into the Discovery Theme and, for your Project, create and present a Travel Flyer for a destination in Argentina. Give and follow directions, give details of a trip itinerary day-by-day, and describe the destination, the weather, and what to do there. 

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer in this week’s Personal Growth Theme. Tell what you experienced in Argentina, make cultural comparisons, and participate in study abroad interviews. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

Each week, you’ll explore a Theme and create a Project. Each day in class, you’ll learn Spanish through engaging activities and then, in the community, try out your new Spanish in conversations with locals. 

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates as you explore the Discovery Theme. Ask about and describe family members, discover and describe exciting things to do in Buenos Aires, and compare daily routines and customs in Argentina and the USA. For your Project, create and present a Memory Book of Your Life in Buenos Aires

WEEK 2: Explore Argentinian culture during this week’s Creativity Theme. Compare musical performances, express opinions on art, tell what happened in movies, and persuade a classmate to attend a cultural event. For your Project, create a Photo Gallery on Argentinian Culture and share it in a conversation. 

WEEK 3: Delve into Buenos Aires in this week’s Community Theme. For your Project, create and present a Neighborhood Tour in Buenos Aires. Describe the city and what happens there. Role play scenes in a market and a restaurant. Report on Buenos Aires’ past and future. 

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer during the Personal Growth Theme. Tell what happened in memorable moments and how you felt about it. Make cultural comparisons and persuade a friend to study abroad. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

Each week, you’ll explore a Theme and create a Project. Each day in class, you’ll learn Spanish through engaging activities and then, in the community, try out your new Spanish in conversations with locals. 

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates during the Cultural Encounters Theme. Tell what happened on a first encounter abroad. Summarize past and current events in Buenos Aires. Express your opinions as you compare cultural norms and stereotypes. For your Project, create and present a Field Report on Buenos Aires

WEEK 2: Explore Argentinian culture in this week’s Creativity Theme. Describe street art and profile artists, express opinions on magazines and movies, and compare musical performances. For your Project, create an Arts & Culture Magazine and share it in a conversation. 

WEEK 3: Continue advancing your Spanish as you delve into the Discovery Theme. For your Project, create and present an Awareness Campaign about a global threat. Give information on its causes and effects, explain solutions, and persuade others in debates, justifying your arguments. 

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer in this week’s Personal Growth Theme. Conduct a class survey on experiences in Argentina and make cultural comparisons. Tell an original story about a memorable moment and speculate on what’s next for you. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Pizza a la parrilla? ... Yes, please!!!

By Eblin Molina at CIEE

Pizza is a favorite food of our students and one of our afternoon cultural activities was to learn how to make pizza. This was not just an ordinary pizza. This... keep reading

From CIEE

A Sanctuary in the Jungle

By Avery Stern at CIEE

Our weekend in Iguazú was packed with excursions ranging from long treks through the waterfalls and local animal sightings. On Monday, before heading back to CIEE campus, we took a... keep reading

From CIEE

Wonderful Iguazú

By Eblin Molina at CIEE

It is almost impossible to find the right words to describe the beauty of Parque Nacional Iguazú. These waterfalls in the middle of the jungle are breathtaking! It does not... keep reading

Activities

Sample Activities

Iguazu Falls

Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!

  • Hit the streets to trace the city’s vibrant graffiti and street art scene. Discover how Buenos Aires became one of the coolest capitals for this edgy artform. 
  • Step on the dance floor to work on your tango and milonga moves in a dance class. Understand the history of these traditional dances at the core of Argentinian culture.
  • Explore the ecological reserve Costanera Sur, a huge, biodiverse green space in Buenos Aires with more than 500 plant species and 300 bird species. Catch panoramic views of the Río de la Plata. 
  • Find yourself among rows of bookshelves and admire the domed roof and winding stairs at the most spectacular bookstore in the world, El Ateneo. 
  • Ride a horse at the Mimosa estancia, meet gauchos, and enjoy el asado. More than just a barbecue, it's the gathering of people around a grill for hours as different meats are cooked and shared. 
  • Fly to Iguazú Falls. At the Güiráoga nature reserve, observe wild, protected species native to the province of Misiones, Argentina. Try to spot toucans and pumas! 

Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience. 

What Students Are Saying

  • "The most memorable experience for me was the trip to Iguazú Falls. It was the most beautiful place I've ever been in my life. I got close with my peers and felt more united as a group by the time we all got back to Buenos Aires."

    Cole F., CIEE Global Navigator Alum

  • "It was an amazing opportunity. I made new friends and experienced the brilliant culture of Argentina. It helped me improve my language and leadership skills."

    Amma S., CIEE Global Navigator Alum

  • "I believe that this program in Buenos Aires will be something I carry with me for the rest of my life. I’ve made amazing friends and memories and learned more in 1 month than in 1 school year of Spanish classes."

    Tristan M., CIEE Global Navigator Alum

  • "I learned a lot in the program, made amazing friends, and truly had a summer full of cultural and social experiences that I will never forget."  

    Natalia Z., CIEE Global Navigator Alum

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current high school students—Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors—who have completed at least one year of high school Spanish. Students who have completed at least two years of high school Spanish may qualify for the Honors Language & Culture program in Madrid or Seville.
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee

$25

Optional College Credit Fee

$150

Learn more about how to get college credit for your future college degree  

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.    

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Session I 2024 4 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $6,450
Program Summer Session II 2024 4 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $6,450

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to Local Phone and WIFI

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Our Staff

Our Staff

Carolina Zumaglini

Center Director

Originally from Buenos Aires, Carolina is an experienced bilingual education consultant, historian, and professor with a vast background in developing and delivering international education programs, remote and face-to-face courses, collaborative...

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