Cusco is a very well visited city, both by national and international tourists, and there are several good schools that offer Spanish language courses in and around Cusco and the Sacred Valley which allow people to stay longer and fully enjoy this spectacular place.
Cusco is in the Peruvian Andes and is well-known for its friendly and warm people, and more famously for being the staging point for Machu Picchu, the "Lost city of the Incas".
Language schools often offer living with a local family while attending classes, this affords students the opportunity to discover more about the culture of South America in general and Peru in particular.
Schools often also provide volunteers varied projects in which students get involved in the community, often working with older people or with children at orphanages. Not only do volunteers get to practice their language skills during the day in natural surroundings, but they have the opportunity to gain valuable life and work experiences that they would not find in their home country.
The riches of Peruvian culture can be discovered in a manner different from that simply learned in a classroom in the native countries of the students, they are also able to visit local Inca ruins such as Machu Picchu, Pisaq, Sacsaywaman and Ollantaytambo.
Schools can have classes in medical as well as basic Spanish and an immersion class which has all day classes for one week to accelerate learning. All courses include excursions to the places mentioned above which add to the understanding of this lovely and fascinating country.
There are also extra-curricular activities such as Salsa lessons and weekly cooking classes to learn about the excellent Peruvian cuisine. All these activities try to ensure the studying of Spanish 24 hours a day, even outside the classroom, as long as students don't mingle too much and talk in their native languages.
Some schools offer language courses with the goal of promoting the diffusion of Peruvian culture by promoting cultural exchanges and immersion through experiences and more contact with the local population. Teachers are often professional Peruvians trained in teaching Spanish as a foreign language and with expertise in areas such as literature, history, economics and sociology.
The Spanish language should be taught in an easygoing manner thereby allowing students to learn and develop their language skills at their own pace. The objective is to create a warm and friendly atmosphere where the expectations of the student are met not only academically but with respect to their overall experience in Peru.
Schools also try to provide a fun environment as well as a rigorous teaching program. As we have said, the experience should be much more than just learning the Spanish language. The idea is to create a complete experience, to meet people from all over the world who want to learn to speak Spanish, and with whom long lasting friendships can be developed. The teachers become friends with the students and not only teach Spanish but share experiences of visiting the local attractions as well as that of the culture and traditions of Peru.