The Best Places to Learn Spanish in Colombia

Toucan Spanish School boasts the largest Spanish school in Colombia at their Medellin headquarters, with 14 classrooms and 20 experienced local teachers. They have also just opened up a new school in Cartagena and count on a network of certified Toucan School teachers available in Bogota. With small class sizes, as well as immersion activities and cultural outings, it’s arguably the best Spanish school in which to enrol in Colombia.

Another Spanish teaching centre with classes available in Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena, Nueva Lengua can cater to whatever level of Spanish you are trying to reach. With courses available in basic Spanish, beginners Spanish, and even Spanish and Sport (in Cartagena, aimed largely at scuba instructors), Nueva Lengua is ideal for whatever angle you want to take on your Spanish studies in Colombia.

While it’s not a Spanish school per say, there’s no better place in Bogota to get out and practice your new language skills with locals than the weekly Gringo Tuesdays Conversation Club at La Villa nightclub. With free entry between 5 pm and 9 pm and tables for all different levels of Spanish, it’s a perfect place to try out all of those new phrases you’ve learnt at your Spanish school.

One of Medellin’s best Spanish schools, Colombia Immersion offers a unique approach with a real focus on spoken Spanish, training their students to be able to communicate effectively in Spanish in real-life, day-to-day situations. They also offer homestays close to their Spanish school, taking you away from the tourist bubble and giving you the chance to practice your new language skills all the time.

Another Medellin-based Spanish school, the Spanish Interactive Centre sits in the Poblado neighbourhood, and their school building even boasts a pool and hammocks where you can relax after a hard day of studying. They offer a variety of excursions as part of their study packages, so you can take your new Spanish skills out and about in the country to practice properly. They even offer an innovative ‘Survival Spanish’ course: a three-hour course designed specifically for travellers to learn the basics before setting off around Colombia.

International House is one of the world’s most renowned and popular language schools, with locations in many countries worldwide. Their Bogota school lies in an old colonial house in the historical centre of Bogota and is a great place to study the language while you’re in the capital. They offer a variety of courses tailored to very specific needs, including Spanish for Ecotourism, Voluntary Work, and Business Spanish.