Colombia

Colombia is a fantastic destination for students wanting to experience South America. Although it is still working to shake a bad reputation from its tumultuous political past, policies implemented over the last two decades have made the country very safe. Now is the time to discover all Colombia has to offer.

Students who come to Colombia can choose to study in the hustle and bustle of Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, or in one of its smaller cities, like Cali, Medellín, or Shakira’s hometown, Barranquilla. Colombian Spanish is often considered to be clear and easily understood, crucial for students hoping to improve their linguistic skills. Colombia has rich cultural traditions and a growing economy, which makes it an attractive place to study for students of all majors.

Colombia also boasts impressive ecological diversity. From the rugged peaks of the Andes Mountains to the pristine beaches of the Caribbean Sea to the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest, there is no shortage of natural beauty to explore. After their time outdoors, students can dance the night away to the rhythms of salsa or vallenato.

For students looking to study in Latin America, Colombia offers an ideal mix of urban sophistication, colonial charm, and natural wonder.

Barranquilla
The Universidad del Norte, accredited by the Colombian Ministry of Education, is known for its academic excellence, its contribution to scientific progress, and its role in the development of the country.

Its Instituto de Idiomas offers a Spanish program characterized by its innovative methodology and its well-qualified instructors, who are also accredited by the Instituto Cervantes.

“Colombia is a country of diverse regions renowned throughout Latin America for its excellent Spanish. The Universidad del Norte is located in the city of Barranquilla, on the Caribbean coast — a magical region full of beaches, pretty historic sites, and the epicenter of Colombia’s art and culture movement. Home to Shakira and Sofía Vergara, this is the place that inspired Nobel Literature Prize winner García Márquez to write many of his masterpieces,” enthuses the university’s Karen Sánchez Reyes.

Bogotá
The Language Center at the Universidad de La Salle offers flexible schedules and competitive prices, as well as four locations in the capital — including historic downtown and the commercial hub, so students can make the most of the city.
Spanish World Institute offers personalized Spanish classes (20 or 30 hours/week), DELE preparation, Business Spanish, Spanish with Colombian history and culture, Spanish with Salsa classes, and Spanish with Excursions.

Intensive courses are accredited by the German professional education body, Bildungsurlaub. Using the latest academic tools, programs are based on the guidelines of the Instituto Cervantes.

The school is located in Chapinero Alto, a quaint residential area of Bogotá, in a restored colonial house which offers an academic atmosphere without compromising its originality and style.

Medellín
The Universidad EAFIT offers Spanish classes vibrantly taught according to a well-based curriculum, approved by the Instituto Cervantes and accredited by ACCET.

Their program is the only one to use their own materials — the Maravillas del español series (for more information, visit http://issuu.com/menujyc/docs/libro), which takes a panhispanic view of Spanish and presents the key elements of language in a multicultural context, taking into account all Spanish-speaking countries so that students can develop their Spanish locally with a global outlook.

Medellín has an urban infrastructure to rival any city in the world — in fact, it is considered, along with New York and Tel Aviv, to be one of the most innovative cities in the world.

Not only is the climate welcoming but so are the people. It is the ideal setting for language learning, with hi-tech labs and modern methodologies in small, personal groups (max. eight students), with air conditioning and soundproofing, in a vibrant university filled with warm people as well as impressive sports and cultural facilities.