Uruguay is situated in South America, bordering Brazil to the north and east and Argentina to the west and in the southeast the Atlantic Ocean. The name Uruguay comes from the Guarani language and means “river of the painted birds”. Uruguay is the second smallest nation of South America and is one of the safest and most politically and economically stable countries in the continent.
Why Study in Uruguay
Uruguay is a small country compared to neighbouring Argentina and Brazil but it has many interesting things to do. On the one hand Uruguay is the perfect tourist destinations due to the stunning coasts and nature without pollution. There are few places on Earth which have this privilege. There are more appealing aspects for students, safety and cost.
Languages Spoken in Uruguay
Spanish is spoken everywhere. The pronunciation and the use of the vos pronoun instead of tu is practically identical to the Spanish variety spoken in Argentina.
Portuñol (or Brasilero) is a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish used on the Brazilian border.
Amerindian traits can be found everywhere in Uruguayan culture, from cuisine to vocabulary.(But there is no amerindian population left)
Most Uruguayans living in the cities have studied some English at school but do not actually speak it. Outside Montevideo and Punta del Este there are few English speakers. You will find English spoken in most tourist spots (shopping centers and in Punta del Este) and some restaurants will probably have English-speaking staff.
Spanish Courses in Uruguay
Spanish schools offer integration programs combining Spanish classes, extracurricular activities and opportunity to stay with local families. Courses are very affordable.
Schools offer a range of Spanish courses for all ages and levels. Classes can be booked to fit your goals and your needs! You can choose to study in one of the many beautiful coastal cities of the country (including the capital city Montevideo) – these are places where you’ll not only have fun and learn in your Spanish courses, but also outside of the classroom where you’ll be fascinated by the culture and the landscapes.
In order to make your travel experience the best that it can possibly be, schools also offer home stays, where you can live in the house of an Uruguayan person or family and practice your Spanish outside of the classroom. Excursions can also be booked, so that you’ll see as much as you can doing your stay.
Popular Places to Study Spanish in Uruguay
Montevideo
Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay and is located on the Rio de la Plata, in the southern part of the country. A spacious community with broad boulevards, it is the nation’s largest city and its principal economic, administrative, and cultural center.
It is one of the major ports of South America and the governmental, financial, and commercial center of Uruguay. Much of the S Atlantic fishing fleet is based in Montevideo, and Uruguay’s exports-frozen and canned meats and fish, wool, and grains-pass through the port. The city has industries producing textiles, dairy items, wines, and packaged meats; there are oil refineries and railway factories. Tourism is also important.
Today Montevideo is spacious, modern, and attractive, with broad, tree-lined boulevards, numerous beautiful parks, and fine buildings and residences. Notable among the parks is the Prado, which, with its lovely botanical gardens containing many thousands of plant species, is a popular promenade; among the impressive buildings are the cabildo [city hall], the legislative palace, the government palace, and the cathedral. Montevideo is the seat of Uruguay’s two universities. There are fine beaches and luxurious hotels along the Plata estuary east to Punta del Este and Atlántida on the Atlantic Ocean.
Punta del Este
Punta del Este is a peninsular town situated at the southern tip of Uruguay and it has the most important tourist resort in the region. Punta del Este is located on a narrow strip of land of less than 1 km wide. It has a permanent population of 30,000 but in summer its population usually exceeds the 200,000. Its beaches are simply spectacular.
Punta del Este city combines activities for all styles, miles of beautiful coastline and pristine waters, magnificent gardens and houses with the most incredible sunsets. Today Punta del Este and the surrounding area are a destination comparable to the best resorts worldwide, known internationally as one of the most glamorous destinations in South America.
Year after year tourists come from every continent, attracted by fine sand beaches and crystalline waters, through the green spaces, with a building infrastructure that can respond to demand the finest, night attractions: cinemas, theaters, casinos, performing arts internationally renowned culinary offerings of excellent quality, shopping , shopping centers where there are major global brands throughout the year.
Atlántida
Atlántida is located 45 kms from Montevideo, 20 kms from Carrasco international airport and 100 kms from Punta del Este.
Because of its scenic gardens, beautiful beaches and its tourist infrastructure, Atlántida is an excellent place to study Spanish. It is a town characterized by the tranquillity, security and the warmth of its people.
This holiday resort has leafy forest of pines and eucalyptus, a sea with waters of high salinity, a Casino and the Country Club (center of social splendid meetings) It is possible doing aquatic sports such as surf, ski, swimming, the sailing, etc, and also it is a great place to fishing. There is as well a zoo for children, sports courts and horses to ride in the beach.
It is one of the first resorts that was founded in the Uruguayan cost where still today old and picturesque houses are conserved with balconies to the sea. Its geographical situation allows, from the town, having a great view of all the cliffs and sea to the east and the west that combines with the romanticism architecture styles of its houses.
It is important to highlight the beaches that combine air without pollution, very fine and white sands with enormous dunes and nature in pure state.
Atlántida allow you to have a wonderful life surrounded by the nature that invites to rest combating the stress of the life in the big cities.
All our Spanish courses in Punta del Este are taught by teachers whose mother tongue is Spanish and who have degrees in linguistics, education or translation, and who have specialized in teaching Spanish as a second language. Our Spanish school in Punta del Este has an innovative academic program recognized by the Ministry of Education of Uruguay.
Courses
Most classes are set up so that you’ll take be in class at least 20 hours per week, 4 hours per day. You can take courses according to this schedule anywhere from 15 days to 1 year, depending on how long you want to stay in Montevideo and how intensely you’d like to study! At our Spanish school in Montevideo, we also offer courses that can be designed for your specific needs and interests.
You can work with a personal tutor, or you can participate in cultural courses where you’ll learn about subjects like history, literature, art, and others!. We also offer homestay programs so that you’ll be sure to be practicing the language and learning about the culture as much as possible. Our classes are designed for a full language immersion, so you’ll always be practicing and speaking, as well as immersing yourself in Uruguayan culture!
About Uruguay
Language
The official language is Spanish.
Government and Politics
In Uruguay there is a mixed or semi-representative democracy in which dominates the representative character of the govern and certain ways of direct govern (such as, referendums and plebiscites). Democracy has deep roots in the history of Uruguay.
Economy
The national currency of Uruguay is the “Uruguayan Peso”. The Uruguayan economy is based on cattle production: meat, wool, leather and other sub-products are the major exports. Growing crops has less relevance, some of these are: line, rice and sugar beet. There are not many mineral resources but the industry has grown due to the importation of oil and organic matter. The main industry is foodstuff, followed by textile and chemical industry. Besides, the motorways are good and tourism is quickly improving. Tourism and financial services are important economical resources.As in other countries of the region, in the ’90’s many state reforms were made. Traditionally, Uruguay has high levels of education, social welfare and health care.
Seasons
Summer from 21 December to 21 March.
Autumn from 21 March to 21 June.
Winter from 21 June to 21 September.
Spring from 21 September to 21 December
Weather
The temperature is higher up on the north due to the diminution of the latitude (from 35º to 30º). Because of the influence of the sea, the isotherms go up from SE to NW. In Montevideo the hottest month is January and the coldest is July, with an average difference of 12º C. The maximum temperatures are of nearly 15º C in winter and 32º C in summer. The month when there are less rainy days is December all along the country, more or less of 100 mm. Foggy days are frequent in winter, mainly on the south and in the center of the country. The media of humidity is of 70% and 75%. The foggiest month is July, the media in this month is of 80%, and the driest month is January, 65%.
Demograph
Uruguay has a population of around 4 million people and historically the population is mainly constituted of immigrants. The native Indian groups have sadly almost disappeared, and nowadays, the majority of the Uruguayans are either of Spanish and Italian descendant. Only some are Guaranies and Africans.
Religion
Most people are Catholic, around 66%, even though most of them do not practice it. 2% are Protestants and 1% Jewish. Nearly 31% of the population does not practice any religion.
Reviews and Feedback
“I finished a six weeks Spanish classes and had a wonderful experience. The class size varied from four to six people. The professor, Marion Torres, was personable and professional and did a great job keeping the class interesting and engaging for the whole 6 weeks that the class lasted. I particularly appreciated his willingness to answer my frequent and repetitive questions that we all had, and thanks to that, we were able to consolidate our knowledge even better. Being the 1st experience of this kind I have to admit it went pretty well from my point of view and I would like to recommend Uruguay to anyone who is interested in learning the Spanish language” – Lauren
“I took Spanish lessons while I was working in Montevideo, and I really couldn’t have been happier with the classes I took. The teachers were great (Juan Tocci is an absolutely fabulous person and a very practical teacher), the surroundings are warm, school and location were all very comfortable, and the ambiance was probably what I was most impressed with. The staff and teachers create a fantastic learning environmentally where students are encouraged to learn not only the Spanish language but the culture, as well. I highly recommend Spanish Montevideo!” – Francis, Canada