Expert: Víctor Díaz - 7/9/2009

Question
hello all,

spain is close to my heart as the spaniards ruled my people for over 300 yrs.
i would like total cultural immersion i.e. spanish language, art and dance
classes x 1 month.

i am curious as to whether you think i should take it in seville vs salamanca. i
am 25 and traveling alone.

will also need help with homestay vs dorm vs apartment.

thanks,

lauren

Answer
Hello Corazon

Sevilla and Salamanca are very good places to learn spanish and for cultural inmersion, whatever you choose you won't be wrong.

Salamanca is not a big city but it is very beautiful and hold the oldest spanish university, also many foreign students come there to study spanish etc. So it is small city but has many things to see and very lively due to the university. May be is not the best place to have dance classes. Have decent connections with Madrid, and not so good with other parts of spain and Castilla y Leon region.

Sevilla is the 4th largest city of Spain, capital city of Andalucia region has also univesity and better connections with Madrid and all andalucia. Also this would be a better place for art and dance lessons. However they speak spanish with an strong 'south' accent, instead of the 'pure' castilian accent of Salamanca.

If you are planning to do some side trips while you are there then probably Sevilla is a better place, you have all andalucia at hand by bus or train plus Madrid by high speed and rest of spain by plane.
I recommend since spain is very diverse.

If you prefer to stay in a place not as stressful as a big city but still enjoy your stay, then Salamanca would be perfect and still may do some side trips to Madrid and surrounding areas.

About homestay vs apartment... i think that for cultural inmersion if you may stay with an spanish family it would be better. If you stay in an apartment or room with some other foreing studens you have the risk of being speaking in english all the day and that would be not good for learning spanish, but will give you probably more freedom of movement as you don't have to fit with a family habits.

http://www.salamanca.es/inicio.aspx
http://www.turismosevilla.org/index.php

i hope this helps a bit.