| Expanish: The New Way to Learn a Language | | | | Spanish. |
| Yesterday the Argentine Secretary for Tourism | | | | And as 61% of the students who come to Buenos |
| announced a 20% rise in tourism in Argentina than | | | | Aires to study the language are between the ages of |
| during the same period last year. On average the | | | | 19 and 30, courses like this are much welcomed. |
| people arriving are staying for longer, and coming from | | | | "Everything we do at Expanish is deeply rooted in |
| further afield. | | | | personal experience. Nearly everyone in our team has |
| The Deputy Secretary of Tourism, Daniel Aguilera, | | | | gone through the experience of either studying abroad |
| said: "This information shows that tourism continues to | | | | or immersing themselves in other cultures, so our |
| be one of the most dynamic sectors in the Argentine | | | | Spanish programmes, workshops and services are |
| economy. There are few places in the world which | | | | based on how we ourselves would like to study and |
| can offer the cultural and tourism attractions that are | | | | experience a language," Vignale explains. |
| available in our country." | | | | Expanish has an extensive network of schools |
| In fact, tourism has overtaken agriculture as | | | | throughout South America. It is possible to study in |
| Argentina's biggest industry. This is partially due to the | | | | Argentina, Chile or Ecuador in locations as diverse as |
| economic crash of 2001/2, which makes it so much | | | | cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, cultural Quito, or stunning |
| cheaper for the visitor when they arrive. And as the | | | | Bariloche. |
| people who come are coming for longer, incorporating | | | | And if the decision of which destination is too much, |
| language study into the trip seems to be at the top of | | | | Expanish can create a multi-destination package |
| many visitor's lists. | | | | including two or even three countries, at the click of a |
| Buenos Aires-based Expanish is at the forefront of | | | | button. The Expanish homepage, is fast and easy to |
| this new wave. Their Spanish language programmes | | | | navigate, and it is possible to book a course in a |
| include the traditional classroom language lessons, but | | | | matter of minutes. |
| also a much more natural kind of learning through fun | | | | Expanish also work with many local non-profit |
| activities outside the classroom. | | | | organisations and can arrange for students to stay on |
| Managing Director, Agustin Vignale says: "We have | | | | in-country and volunteer with an organisation after their |
| decided to nurture our Spanish programmes with the | | | | language programme ends. They do not take any |
| philosophy of 'Learning by Doing'. Our service is | | | | money to arrange this, wanting to distance themselves |
| designed around the belief that getting your hands dirty | | | | from the recent boom in organisations which charge |
| through activities beyond the classroom is the best | | | | people to give their services for free. |
| path to learning, fluency and enjoyment." | | | | What this boils down to is the personal touch Expanish |
| Their complete packages not only include extensive | | | | brings to each student's experience. A welcome pack |
| language lessons, hand-picked accommodation, gym | | | | with maps, phone cards, subway tickets and personal |
| and yoga passes and your own mobile phone; they | | | | recommendations about which pub, club or |
| can also include activities like scuba diving, rock | | | | supermarket is best is given on arrival. |
| climbing, tango lessons, theatre workshops - and even | | | | The staff is always available to give advice and help. |
| the flying trapeze! | | | | And Expanish also organises trips on weekends to |
| Of course the traditional grammar exercises and text | | | | nearby destinations. Vignale adds: "While professional |
| books still feature, but so does learning rock climbing | | | | service is our foundation, we always keep everything |
| from your language teacher, or learning to juggle in | | | | light, flexible, funny, personal and enjoyable. |