Pichilemu School

My teacher, Cata, was really great, and I felt she could relate to my classmate and I. Our classes were interesting and were about relevant topics. The location was wonderful. The housing I stayed in was great. I loved Vivi, Carlos, and the family.

The only thing that could have been better was having a notebook with the lessons provided. It was tedious to always have to carry so many sheets of paper with me to class.

I also didn't get picked up from the bus station upon arrival like I was told I would. Everything was fine but had it been my first time traveling internationally, it could have been an issue.

I didn't have much of a plan when I came to Pichilemu Language School. I thought I might stay for two weeks and then move on to another school in Santiago, but Pichilemu and the Language School make people change their plans. The town is so incredibly charming and the people at the school welcoming and helpful. Cata is an amazing teacher. We learned so much more in our lessons (chatting informally as well as practicing grammar) than I learned in 5 years of traditional classroom Spanish. Though the town is small, it has so much to offer that we were always busy. Hiking, horseback riding, cooking, surfing, wandering. I can't speak to the level of accommodation offered by the school as I stayed in a nearby hostel that I arranged myself, but from what I heard from other students they were very comfortable and had a great social atmosphere living with other students.

Chris, Cata, the language school and Pichilemu all made for an amazing stay. I can't recommend it enough.

At the end of 2014, I spent 10 weeks at the Pichilemu Language School. This was the perfect place to learn Spanish for me. Pichliemu is a small town, at the coast that can get very crowded during weekends but you get in touch with the locals during the weeks when it is a bit more quiet. This is also due to the very friendly staff of the school that took us to local 'carretes' (Chilean for party). Another place to get to know the Pichileminos is the surf school, where everyone hangs out. Other activities, like mountain biking, yoga, running, or sunbathing fill your day and before you notice it, you have to get ready to go out in the evening. Everything is within walking distance of a couple of minutes.

The habitation was clean and the food at noon was the daily delight. The house was located near the centre of town, next to the cultural centre and the tennis court and two minutes from the beach.

The language school is really small and familiar. My average class size was 2 persons for a group course and the teachers were very competent. Without any prior knowledge, I managed to learn most of the grammar and to get fluent in listening and speaking. It certainly helped a lot to get to know the locals.

Notably, Pichilemu is a very safe place, even in comparison with Europe.

Overall, I spent the time of my life with the friends I found in Pichilemu!

The language school is located in a beautiful place, the facilities are adequate and the homestay the school arranged was excellent.

Being an in-country school, I was expecting an interactive immersion style of learning and this school does not work like that. The instructors are competent but as far as curriculum and teaching style, it was similar to studying in the States. You are in a classroom with a teacher and a few other students hearing about grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, then you have homework. So if you are staying in a hotel or hostel you are not going to speak much Spanish which in my opinion is an essential part of learning a language.

Since I was staying with a family who were quite friendly, I was able to spend much of my time talking with them and getting to know the family. This was greatly beneficial to my learning about the culture of Chile, as well as improving my ability to communicate in Spanish. However, my actual classroom time, while useful, was not what I had hoped.

I started at PILS as a complete beginner, and within a few weeks, I was having conversations about the culture and politics of Chile with my host family. Pichilemu is the perfect setting for learning Spanish. After class, you're only a few minutes away from world class surfing. The teachers and staff at PILS are energetic, friendly, and well qualified; they also make a huge effort to create a family-like environment at the school and in the community. PILS has been one of the best investments of my life, and my only regret is that I didn't spend more time there.

I like Pichilemu. It is really chilled and safe. I guess it depends which time of the year you go there, I was there in April. You can reach all destinations there just by walking or riding with the bike. It has a good vibe! I loved the location of the school because it was central, but you could still see the sea from the balcony. I liked the school, because it is small and you get to know people who work there pretty good and therefore feel very comfortable. Also Spanish class was fun, even though I shouldn't have been so shy talking! The facilities the school offered was awesome too, like free computer access/internet access, books, and videos. The place I was housed was rather quiet, but nice (most of all the house owner was really nice). It would have made sense though, if I chose the package where you eat with the family, in order to practice Spanish.
For sport loving people there is a lot to do in Pichilemu (surfing, swimming, riding the bike, running, hiking, basketball, etc). So you won't get bored. Also there is a cultural center with different activities each week and a market twice a week. They have the best strawberries I ever ate in my life. I never went out at night time, but I think it's quite good to party. Often, there are things like bonfires going on.

Pichilemu is a great place to arrive in Chile and to learn the country and its people. Not to mention that it is located directly on the sea and the surf is an important part of everyday life. So, simple, Chilean country life pleasantly blends with the fascination of the ocean.
The school is located at the intersection of the two main streets of the Centre and in the immediate vicinity of the beach. A market visit is quite quick according to directions to the part of the Spanish classroom.
He was always well prepared and in small groups, so he was very intense. My teachers were all from Chile and were very open, friendly, and helpful.
In the premises of the school, there is a nice lounge area, a beautiful terrace with views of the sea, and a shelf full of books in many languages and you are cordially invited to spend time there. Together with other students, you can take walks on the beach, visit Punta de Lobos (great sunset), or bicycles to explore the surrounding area.
Also very important: surfing lessons at one of the many surf schools in La Puntilla and Punta de Lobos. This can be booked directly with the language school and is recommended in any case! Anyone who is in Pichilemu should try surfing. Those who have a little more experience can rent, of course, simply the equipment including a wetsuit and board.
My host family was very loving, caring, and has helped me a lot. Initially, the understanding was somewhat difficult, because my Spanish was not so good, but you learn the fast! I had no problems with my vegetarian diet. Every day there was another great dish, which I now have taken over by some in my own repertoire. My host mother was very uncertain because meat usually plays a very important role. Also, the many fruit and the delicious avocado is great!
Pichilemu and the Pichilemu Language School are great ways to know and love Chile, its people, and culture.

I studied at Pichilemu Language School for two weeks taking group Spanish lessons every day. I liked the fact that the school is very small so the service is very personalized. I was in the advanced group and felt like the balance between grammar and conversation was good. The teachers are amazing and have great attitudes; they always make the class interesting and fun. The facilities at the school are good and the view to the ocean is really nice. It's a good and relaxed place to be. I stayed the first week in La Sirena Insolente, out in Punta de Lobos, which was a small and super fun hostel. Getting to school from there was no problem. The second week, I stayed at a family hostel in town which was also great, and the meal plan with three meals a day was a great deal. I would definitely recommend Pichilemu Language School for anybody who wants to learn Spanish efficiently in a relaxed atmosphere, by the ocean and amazing surf!