Language Immersion Courses in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires has a wide choice of schools teaching Spanish to foreigners, many of them in the centre or in Palermo, and students hear Rioplatense Spanish every day outside the classroom. Some schools have been teaching for decades: Mundo Español has offered Spanish courses and educational trips since 1995, Intowords has taught since May 2004 and Vamos Academy since 2009.

The schools teach adults of all levels, from travellers who take a week of lessons to students who stay a semester and earn academic credit for their home university.

What the language schools in Buenos Aires offer

Most schools build their programmes on a group course of about 20 hours a week, Monday to Friday, with private lessons on top. Typical formats are:

• Intensive group courses of 20 hours or 20 lessons a week (Vamos, Ibero Spanish School, COINED), and super-intensive courses of 30 group lessons a week at COINED
• Small groups: Verbum works with one-to-one lessons and mini groups of two to three students
• Exam preparation for the DELE and SIELE (Vamos, Expanish, DWS, Ailola)
• Spanish combined with tango (Expanish, DWS) and other culture courses
• University and semester programmes with academic credit (Mente Argentina)

Most courses run all year. Patagonia Spanish, for example, starts courses every Monday, even during holidays, and tests your level before you start. Expanish offers courses from one week to one year. Intowords is a member of AACELE, the Argentine association of schools of Spanish as a foreign language, and Ibero Spanish School uses its own line of textbooks.

Argentina also has its own official Spanish exam, the CELU. It is the only exam officially recognised by the Argentine Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it now certifies three levels: Básico, Intermedio and Avanzado.

Costs

Prices are set by each school and are usually quoted in US dollars. As an example, Vamos Academy lists US$175 per week for 20 hours of group classes, US$122.50 to US$155.75 per week if you book four weeks or more, and US$20 per hour for one-to-one lessons (checked October 2026).

Schools also arrange accommodation: Vamos offers homestays and private apartments, COINED host families, and Ailola, one block from Plaza de Mayo, homestays, shared apartments, hostels, hotels and apartments.

Public transport is paid with the SUBE card. With the fares in force from October (checked October 2026), an underground (Subte) trip costs $1,817 with a registered card for the first 20 trips in a month.

Practical tips

• Take the school's placement test before arrival so you start in the right group
• If you need a certificate for study or work, ask whether the school prepares for the DELE, SIELE or CELU
• Students on a course outside the official education system, such as a language course, can apply for a transitory residence (residencia transitoria) of up to 365 days; the application is made online from within Argentina
• Compare weekly prices for four weeks or more: several schools give discounts for longer bookings

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Spanish course in Buenos Aires cost?

It depends on the school and intensity. Vamos Academy, for example, lists US$175 per week for 20 hours of group classes, and less per week for four weeks or more.

Can I prepare for the DELE or SIELE in Buenos Aires?

Yes. Schools such as Vamos, Expanish, DWS and Ailola run DELE preparation, and some also prepare for the SIELE. Argentina's own official exam is the CELU.

Do the schools help with accommodation?

Yes. Most arrange homestays or shared apartments, and some also offer private apartments, hostels or hotels.

Do I need a residence permit for a long Spanish course?

For a longer stay, students on a non-official course such as a language course can apply for a transitory residence of up to 365 days with the Dirección Nacional de Migraciones.