Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Language Courses
BA has become a major destination for students of Spanish. Good institutes are opening up all the time and
private teachers are a dime a dozen. Cultural centers also offer language classes; the
Centro Cultural Ri-
cardo Rojas
( 4954-5523;
www.rojas.uba.ar
; Av Corrientes 2038) has an especially good range of offer-
ings, from Korean to Russian to Yiddish.
Most private language institutes organize social activities, private classes and (usually) volunteer oppor-
tunities. Homestay programs are also available but often cost more than finding a place yourself. Check
websites for fees and schedules.
University of Buenos Aires
(
www.idiomas.filo.uba.ar
) Offers intensive, long-term classes (one to four
months) in Spanish, Italian, German, French, Portuguese and Japanese. It's cheap, and great for serious stu-
dents, but classrooms can be run-down.
Spanglish
(
www.spanglishexchange.com
)
Set up like speed dating; you'll speak five minutes in English and
five in Spanish, then switch partners (and it's a bit of a pick-up scene too).
Academia Buenos Aires
(
4345-5954;
www.academiabuenosaires.com
;
Hipólito Yrigoyen 571, 4th fl)
DWS
(
4777-6515;
www.dwsba.com.ar
;
Av Córdoba 4382)
Expanish
(
5252-3040;
www.expanish.com
;
Juan Perón 698)
Rayuela
( 4300-2010;
www.spanish-argentina.com.ar
;
Chacabuco 852, 1st fl, No 11)
VOS
( 4812-1140;
www.vosbuenosaires.com
; Marcelo T de Alvear 1459)
Vamos
(
5352-0001;
www.vamospanish.com
; Coronel Díaz 1736)
Legal Matters
You're hardly likely to get involved with the local police if you follow the law. If you drive a car, however,
officers are not above petty harassment. So-called safety campaigns often result in motorists receiving cita-
tions for minor equipment violations (such as a malfunctioning turn signal) that carry fines. In most cases,
corrupt officers will settle for less expensive
coimas
(bribes), but this requires considerable caution and tact.
A discreet hint that you intend to contact your consulate may minimize or eliminate such problems - often
the police count on foreigners' ignorance of Argentine law. Another tactic, whether you know Spanish or
not, is to pretend you don't understand what an officer is saying.
