I want to learn Spanish in Mexico this summer, what cities or schools do you recommend?

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Pam

Monterrey N.L

tomnmexico

There are great schools in all of the above cities and also in San Miguel de Allende. I have lived in Guadalajara and Guanajuato and Guanajuato is by far the better of the two places. The city is smaller and you will find a smaller percentage of the populaton that speak English. It is also a beautiful city with many young people in the summer and a lot to do while you are not in class.
It is more difficult to get to Guanajuato and San Miguel but they are smaller towns and I think the experience will be better.
Wherever you decide to study, have a great time. You can't go wrong in Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Cuernavaca or San Miguel.
I am a gringo and I lived in Guanajuato and Guadalajara and there is much more bias against gringos in GDL than in GTO. Also, GTO is much safer.

joan93612

Guadalajara.
There are good schools there that teach by "immersion." Try finding a room with a family, that will help as well.
There are medical schools in the area, where a good number of American students head since they can't get into the highly impacted medical schools here.
Salut, and Good Luck!

James Dickinson

Guadalajara, hands down. Lots of good schools in all price ranges and styles of accommodations from family housing to guest houses. Large American population in the Lake Chapala area, although I prefer the more Mexican area of this very historical ans second largest city in the country. Plenty to do while not studying! And although you may not learn fluent Spanish in one summer as one negative person answered..........it is a good start! Congratulations! The Spanish Language School on Calle Ermita in the colony of Chapalita offers immersion classes starting every Monday for very reasonable prices. I live in the neighborhood and know that the school being in business since the 60's to be one of the best in the city. Buena suerte!

jcirnes

There are good schools in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. Same in Queretaro. They are nice colonial cities and there are really nice places to have fun

Doug S

Cuernavaca, Morelos and the Cemanahuac Educational Community (www.cemanahuac.com). I've been to Guadalajara and Gunajuato but I found the weather was better in Cuernavaca and the people friendlier. (Sorry you guys, that was my experience.) :-)

jaliscillo

Guadalajara. Its a much bigger city than Guanajuato, however, as a young person you will enjoy it more (more to do). Probably a little more expensive but well worth it. Also, as a white American tourist, you will not stand out as much in Guadalajara vs. Guanajuato. Not racist, just a fact, GDL boasts once of the highest white populations in Mexico. Traditionally, however, it is very Mexican. The last thing you want is everyone calling you "Gringo" and trying to take advantage of you.

Whatever place you chose, visit some of the places mentioned here, they are very nice.

angee

Another popular destination is Cuernavaca. It's small and very close to Mexico City, so you get the best of both worlds. There are tons of language schools there; I lived there for three years and for awhile volunteered at one called CETLALIC. They are a great group of people and the classes are so small that you get the attention you need to learn.

Most of these schools provide the option to live with family -- in fact, in Mexico it's rare that people our age live with roomates in their own apartments, so it's more the rule than the exception. I completely agree with the other post that the best thing you can do is avoid other Americans. It's hard, but the more time you spend around Mexicans, the more often you'll have a chance to practice your Spanish.

The best advice I can offer is to go with an open mind, be flexible, spend as much time there as you possibly can, and seek out every opportunity to go to events -- dancing to banda music, soccer games, theater, lucha libre, etc. Oh, and eat, eat, eat!

TooooL

What makes you think you're going to learn Spanish in just one summer?
Most likely you'll learn spanish cuss words, and that's it.

MAR

I lived in Guanajuato, in the state of Guanajuato.
I attended La Escuela Normal, and taught at La Universidad de Guanajuato. It's a college town, so lots of young people, weather is great, very interesting things to do and see and it's close enough to LeÃ³n, MÃ©xico's fifth largest city. You can fly directly into BJX from either Continental or American.

If that doesn't sound good enough, just make sure you stay away from GRINGOS- they speak English- :)

And, don't come home married or engaged- that was a BIG MISTAKE!!

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