Learn Spanish Travel Spanish Blog

We attended COINED for three weeks in November of 2008 (remember that this is Spring for Argentina).   My wife and I are at two different levels of learning, so we felt that we got a good sense, between us, of what the school would be like for most students.  This was my first immersion school, but not my wife’s, so that added to the our overview of the school.

Our experience was a postive one.  The school was in a great location, professionally run, and had an upbeat enthusiastic attitude.  The negatives were largely beyond their control and were minor.

First, the location.  Downtown.  Just a couple of blocks from a subway (subte) stop and only a few more from a subway intersection.  Buses ran nearby as well, so getting to COINED from any neighborhood was easy.  We stayed at “Georgio’s Place” in the Caballito neighborhood.  Our Subte  (Line A) was right across the street, so even though we were quite a long distance out, getting to school everyday was a breeze.  And an interesting breeze, at that.  The school is only a few blocks from the Obelisko and the Plaza de Mayo, and we walked to San Telmo fairly easily a couple of times.

I had two different teachers in the three weeks I was there, and they were both terrific.  Motivated, enthusiastic.  They really tried to make sure each student participated and understood what was happening.  I never had a class with more than 5 other students.   And it was quite an international group.  Holland, England, Brazil, the U.S., Germany and France were all represented in my classes.  All but one of my classmates were young – early twenties.  The only older person (40?) was a woman from France (I didn’t care much for her.  She seemed to hold North Americans in low regard.  No one else did.  Or if they did, they didn’t express it.  I think she was just a snob.  I’ve been to Paris, and loved it, so it had nothing to do with being French).

The classes were of course all in Spanish.  Oh, once in a while, if we were just stuck on something, the teacher might ask for the English word, but for the most part it was All Spanish, All The Time.   Tiring, but the only way to go.  It would be tough, though, if you had no Spanish at all.  It’s done, but that would be hard. The course work was logical and well thought out.  The pace was brisk.  We covered a lot that first week.  The first couple of days of the second week were review, and then we moved on quickly again.  Third week, same story.  It was good.  Fast enough to keep you motivated.

The school had a few afternoon activities, but they were mostly lame.  It was the one failing that the school had that they could have done something about.  Other schools often have afternoon dancing, cooking classes, excursions, etc.   These were visiting small museums and the like, often just on your own.  Lame. But really it doesn’t matter, because Buenos Aires has a lot to do.  And if, like MANY of my classmates, you get bitten by the Tango Bug, well, you’re going to have a problem dragging yourself into  class in the morning  anyway.  Tango City.

Another difficulty, but beyond the school’s control, was the acoustics.  The school is housed in a grand old historic building – Palacio San Miguel – and the rooms are large, with high ceilings and grand windows.  Grand windows that open onto very busy streets.   And it gets hot in Buenos Aires and there is little air conditioning, so the windows are open and the rooms tend to be a little noisy.  It was sometimes difficult to hear, so if you have any sort of  hearing problem, it can be a drawback.

So… we liked COINED.  I would go there again if I were taking classes in Buenos Aires.  Don’t forget though, that the Spanish of Argentina is unique.  Double L is SH, as is Y.  Plaza de Mayo is Plaza de Ma-sho.  Como te SHama?  It’s pretty, but takes a little getting used to.  And then of course you have to UN-learn it for the rest of the Spanish speaking world.  But I digress.  Yes, we both liked COINED.  Very much.

Tags:   Argentina · Buenos Aires · COINED · Giorgio's House · immersion · Immersion school · Immersion Schools · Learn Spanish · speak Spanish · Travel Spanish1 Comment