The school is located in the centre of San Rafael, five block of terminal bus which is the cultural and commercial centre of Southern Mendoza. It is a thriving city and ideal for providing quality Spanish tuition immersed in Argentine life and culture. The school has classrooms, audio and visual facilities, internet access, a kitchen and dining room, and a garden equipped with a parrilla (Argentine barbeque) for long, warm summer evenings.

Our teachers are all highly trained, experienced professionals, and our Spanish courses run throughout the year at many different levels.


San Rafael:

San Rafael is a warm and vibrant city in the heart of Mendoza province, the most important and extensive wine region in Argentina.
Over 200 years old, the city is designed around perfect quadrants, cooled by a network of fresh water canals filled from the clean mountain water of the nearby Andes.
San Rafael retains much of its old world charm from the days of the European immigrants from France, Spain and Italy who brought their viticulture skills to create a wine growing oasis.
Indigenous culture is very much evident too, with a rich history and cultural legacy very evident in the warm and hospitable people of San Rafael.


The province of Mendoza is to the west and centre of Argentina, bordered by the nearby Andes and Chile to the west, Patagonia to the south, the sub tropical north, and the plains of the pampas to the east. It is easily accessible by air, with flights from Buenos Aires to both Mendoza city and San Rafael.The climate is warm and sunny, with a tempered microclimate caused in part by the fresh water canal system. There is a real sense of the seasons, with the advantage of mild but vibrant autumns and pleasantly warm springs.

 Given the proximity of the international ski resort of Las Lenas, San Rafael is worth visiting all year round. The snow capped Andes provide a dramatic backdrop to the city which is surrounded by semi arid desert rich with fauna and flora.

The mountains provide many opportunities for the adventurous, with the increasingly popular Canon de Atuel and its white water rafting, canoeing and horseriding to name but a few of the activities. The city has only just started to be noticed outside of Argentina. Europeans are beginning to uncover the secrets of the region, which has slowly begun to open up its treasures. The advantage of this is that English is not as widely spoken as in Spain which makes the learning experience even more valid.

Spanish Courses in Mendoza:
Our students take an oral and written placement test on the first Monday in order to be placed in the appropriate level. As soon as the testing process has been completed, the coursework begins immediately.
Group lessons are of no more than 4 students with a duration of 55 minutes per lesson.  Standard courses consist of 20 lessons per week, 4 hours per day, starting at 9.00 with a break in between and finishing at 12.30 for lunch.  The afternoon sessions start at 4.30 and finish at 7.00.
In all our courses we study the basic language skills individually: reading, writing, speaking and listening…then we work to integrate them.

Group programs:

 

  • 5 half days per week
  • 4 daily sessions of 55 minutes
  • 4 levels
    • beginner
    • intermediate
    • advanced
    • superior

Beginner group: At beginner level you will be introduced you to the general phonological, grammatical and linguistic aspects of the Spanish language.  Topics are relevant, up to date and vocabulary organized according to level of difficulty, starting from basic to complex. At the end of this course you will have command of linguistic and cultural basics.  Able to formulate and understand short sentences relating to basic necessities and forms of politeness, but more importantly, a solid basis to develop the language much further, either with us at your next visit, or back home.

Intermediate group: At this level you must have mastered the basic phonological, grammatical and linguistic aspects of the Spanish language.  You are more confident in your speaking skills as well as being more spontaneous.  Grammar and vocabulary will build up according to your general knowledge and experience.
At the end of this course you will be able to express ideas and describe experiences more spontaneously and independently in every day situations.

Advanced group: This class offers you the opportunity to expand or broaden your knowledge of Spanish and activities are organized to give you ample opportunities to do so. 
At this level the lessons cover topics that you can develop at a higher level using your previous knowledge and adding the new structures.  The four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening are practiced at an advanced level, and the pace of study is faster. 
At the end of this class you will have a more developed communication ability being able to solve more complicated language situations as a proficient user.

Superior group: At this level you are more able to produce coherent messages in a fluent and effective manner. 
The four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening integrated with vocabulary development, grammar and cultural aspects of the language give you the opportunity to take a step forward and study and practice more complex structures.

One-to-one: If you want the language for specific purposes such as business, conversation or prefer to study on your own you are welcome to join this course in which you have a tutor to yourself. 

This offers the possibility to work more intensively and according to your own interests, pace and level. It is also the ideal option if you want to develop language competence more quickly.

Prices:

You do not need pay registration fees.
Standard Course: 20 hours p/week : u$s 300

Spanish Course include:

Study materials.
Final Certificate

Business Spanish:

Many visitors to San Rafael come to consider investment opportunities as well as enjoy a great holiday.
Others enjoy taking a break from their normal business environment to concentrate on learning Spanish as a requirement for their careers.
Either way, simply tell us what your goals are, and we will tailor your program such that you can be more confident in dealing in business interactions.
You can learn this as part of your one-to-one study, or as a an extra to your group class. Please ask us for further details in our contact form.

Acommodation:

We offer an accommodation service that is designed to meet your particular needs and budget. On request.

  • Finca - A great opportunity for families, couples or independent travelers to stay on a farm.  A finca is a farm that usually grows vines, fruit olives and sometimes herbs and nuts. The finca is ideal for those wishing to get away from the hussle and bussle of city life, to unwind and enjoy the fresh air and country life.
  • Cabins or Apartment - Ideal for families, couples or groups. Cabañas are log or stone cabins that have all the usual comforts of home, with a rural or urban location. Instituto Andino always ensures that they will make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.
  • Hotel or Hostel - If you want complete independence, this option may be best for you. We will arrange to get you into a hand-picked hotel or hostel that suits your taste and budget. 

Sports and Leisure:

We offers you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and culture of San Rafael and Mendoza province. We can;

  • arrange a tailor made program for a desired period and book your activities.
  • help you integrate your stay with us as part of a longer tour
  • provide general advice for the independent traveler

Activties:

Wine tours and tasting


Skiing


Water Sports: windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing and power boating, rafting.


Outdoor Pursuits


Explore by 4x4
   

Getting to San Rafael

San Rafael is easy to get to. It is 2 hours flight from Buenos Aires and its airport is 10 minutes from the centre. Alternatively Mendoza city has an airport which is 2.5 hours from San Rafael and a flight of roughly the same duration from Buenos Aires.
There are regular flights to Buenos Aires from all major European capitals. Airlines such as BA, Air France and Lufthansa fly to Buenos Aires. From North America and Australasia, there are a wide variety of flights with major airlines, direct or indirect depending on location.
Alternatives include flying into Santiago in Chile using airline LAN and onto Mendoza.
Perhaps the more convenient way to travel is to book with Aerolineas Argentinas in your country and arrange both the international and national leg of your trip. Prices are very good, especially when booked in advance.

When to visit

San Rafael is ideal to visit all year round. The following chart shows what temperature ranges you could expect throughout the year. Note that San Rafael has 350 days of sun every year, so the wintertime is perfect to combine Spanish with skiing.

 

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