When walking down the streets of Buenos Aires, talking with locals, or socializing in a bar, students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires will quickly realize that there are words being used that are unrecognizable to them. These words are most likely lunfardo, or in English, slang. In Buenos Aires lunfardo is used frequently, and like the rest of the Spanish language, students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires will learn these words through practice.

The use of lunfardo began in the 20^th century in the working class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. Lunfardo is said to have come mostly from the arrival of European immigrants and from people of the provinces who came to live in Buenos Aires. The word lunfardo is said to be derived from the Italian word Lombardo, meaning ‘outlaw’.

Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires would not have the same significance for students if they did not learn about lunfardo. For most studying Spanish in Buenos Aires the use of lunfardo is very important as it creates more understanding in social situations, among peers, and for fluency reasons. Learning lunfardo in the streets, among peers, or anywhere are like free Spanish classes in Buenos Aires.

Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can use the words below to kick of their lunfardo studies:

• Ché ‘Hey’, ‘Hey You’
• Barbáro: ‘Great!’
• Boludo/a: (…of a person) stupid, silly, clumsy,(term between friends)
• Canchero: a cool guy
• Chabon: fool (used as term of friendship between boys)
• Concheto/a/Careta: a snobby person, concerned only with fashion and look
• Dale! ‘Lets do it!’, confirmation
• Guita: money
• Hincha: fan (especially of futból)
• En Joda: joke; said in a joking way
• Mina: a girl/women, (usually attractive)
• Ojo eye; means ‘watch out’ ‘be careful’
• Pandejo/a: kid/child; used for someone who looks/acts young
• Pelotudo: an idiot
• Quilombo: a mess/ disaster
• Viste: expression (saw it? get it?)

Here are just a few of many lunfardo terms used everyday by residents of Buenos Aires and Argentina. Lunfardo is a great way for students taking Spanish classes in Buenos Aires to feel more like native speakers and part of the Buenos Aires culture.

(A note for students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires: Keep in mind, that like any slang, these terms are all about context, so be aware about their meaning(s) and how to use them correctly.)

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Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires no doubt acquire a taste for wine as finding great wine here is so easy and for the most part, not a costly habit. Bottles of wine can be bought in many places throughout the city, including grocery stores, kioskos (mini corner store), corner stores, restaurants and bars. Students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires should take advantage of the Argentine wines and spend sometime getting to know them.

If one had looked into the wine industry in Argentina 15 years ago, there would not have been to much to look at. Don’t mistake me, Argentina was producing wine, however, the wine seemed to only be circulating throughout Argentina, drank blissfully by its own residents. Spanish immersion students in Buenos Aires will notice that since then, the wine industry has changed, but most predominantly in the last 8 years; since the devalutation of the peso, exporting wine has become more economical as well as investing in vineyeards in Argentina. Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires will haev a changce to see just how far the wine industry has come at this years Vinos y Bodegas Wine Exhibition.

From 630pm until 12am, Sept 11-13, students in Spanish immersion in Buenos Aires can head down to La Rural to discover, taste, and enjoy wines from throughout Argentina. More than 100 of Argentina’s bodegas (vineyards) will have representatives at La Rural, each showcasing wine from their own vineyards while giving the public information about the wine and offering wine tasters. This is a perfect way for students taking Spanish classes in Buenos Aires with Expanish to expand their Spanish skills in a fun filled event.

When not sampling wine, students in Spanish immersion in Buenos Aires can find out more about the specific wine regions, soils and terrains, tasting techniques, and cooking in Argentina. This is a great way to learn Spanish in Argentina as all representatives will be Spanish speaking adn would be happy to talk to the public about wine in Argentina.

Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can sign up for Vinos Bodegas Wine Exhibition, the largest wine exhibition in South America, right at the doors. Entrance is 35 pesos, including wine glass and free tasting throughout the event.

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The popularity of fútbol (soccer) in Argentina is unimaginably great and students taking Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires will have no doubt taken notice of it’s almost cult like following. Buenos Aires is said to be home to more stadiums than any other city in the world and boasts the most fanatical fan following, besides possibly those sports fans in Brazil. Seeing a fútbol game in Argentina is a must for students taking Spanish immersion course in Buenos Aires since to some, truly understanding the Argentine culture comes by observing what happens in their fútbol stadiums.

Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires will have the opportunity to visit, in Greater Buenos Aires alone, a total of 35 stadiums; however, the 6 most popular, each able to hold more than 50,000 people are Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo, Velez Sarsfield, Racing Club, and Independiente. The stadiums are divided into sections, some offering more expensive and protected seating and others less expensive standing room seating. It is recommend that students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires take care when going to these passion filled games and perhaps spend the extra dollar to find comfortable and safe seating.

Students in Spanish immersion in Buenos Aires will see each game that the stadium fills full of screaming, singing, arm throwing fans that cheer on their own team while booing the visiting team. Fans sing Argentine songs and team slogans, shout encouraging and discouraging words, and overall just make as much noise as humanly possible. Students taking Spanish immersion classes in Buenos Aires should be sure to become part of this tradition and shout and sing along with their fellow fans. Attending Fútbol games is almost like receiving free Spanish classes in Argentina Fútbol culture!

There are two teams that students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires will immediately become familiar with: La Boca and River Plate. These two teams have dominated the league for almost a century and have very strong fan followings. La Boca is from the working class neighborhood and therefore represents the working class of Argentina; River Plate, nicknamed los millonariosis (millionaires), is from the slightly upper class north and represents the wealthier people of Argentina. Students in Spanish immersion in Buenos Aires will be able to compare the rivalry of these two teams with the class distinction found in Argentina.

Watching a fútbol game is a great way for students in Spanish immersion in Buenos Aires to learn about Argentine history, the fútbol culture, and Spanish language!

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Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires will most likely immediately become familiar with the city’s famous subte (subway) system; it is the oldest metro line in all of Latin America, the Southern hemisphere, and world second after the system in Paris. Built in December, 1913, the line grew from three separate lines into today’s system, now 6 separate lines, adjoining in the center, and managed by Metrovías S.A. This system is a piece of Argentine history and students taking Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires should board the subway, Spanish skills in hand, and explore its lines, stations, and destinations.

The subte, shaped like an open-hand, sprawls out from the city centre into, to name a few, the neighborhoods of Monserrat, Boedo, Cabalttio, Almagro, Palermo, Retiro, and Belgrano. Lines are labeled A,B,C,D,E, and H. Students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires should come armed with a city map to navigate through the lines and neighborhoods.

Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can begin by boarding line A; this is the oldest line in the city, identified by antique stations and wooden metro cars. Taking line A allows students learning Spanish in Buenos Aires to visit the older and more historic parts of the city. Students studying Spanish in Buenos Aires can board the B and E line in order to visit the working class neighborhood of Boedo or the tango neighborhood of Almagro, among others. The D line, most recently built, flows into the areas of Palermo, Las Canitas and Belgrano.

Traveling by subte is a great way for students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires to become part of the Argentine culture; in 2008, it was shown that almost one million people use the metro system per day. If students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires really want to get ´up close and personal’ with the Buenos Aires people, they can jump on the line between the hours of 8am and 930am, or 530pm-730pm; peak rush hour times.

Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires will learn that the subte here is more than just a box of moving metal but rather signifies great advances in technology, contains a mountain of history and culture, and is a crucial form of transportation for the people of Buenos Aires, successfully delivering people to their destinations everyday of the year.

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Students studying Spanish in Argentina have no doubt been exposed to the very seductive and strict dance of Tango, seen in the streets, theatres, and cafés. However, this September, Buenos Aires invites in a slightly different form of dance that involves a little more body movement, energy, and booty shakin’. Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can get their heart pumping at this year’s annual Workuba; an International Intensive Afro-Cuban and Latin Dance Workshop.

Workuba has taken various African influenced dance rhythms and combined them with modern and contemporary dances to make a total package dance workshop. Class content will include dance and presentation: Afro-Cuban, Rumba, Afro-Brazilian, Mambo, Salsa, Rueda, and Acting. Students in Spanish immersion courses in Argentina will have the opportunity to participate and learn about the different dance forms popular throughout Latin America.

As most students learning Spanish in Argentina will know, dance here, like in other countries around Latin America, has been and continues to be a very influential aspect of the culture. There has always been a connection between dance and personal freedom, and throughout history, the people of Latin America have seen a myriad of dance forms that have taken shape around each country’s culture.

This event is as popular among students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires as it is among Argentines; in years past, participants have been from Germany, Sweden, Israel, France, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, United States, and Australia. Students who come to learn Spanish in Argentina are also intrigued to learn about the tango, therefore, this workshop is a perfect addition to combine a Spanish immersion in Argentina experience with a Latino dance experience.

Students in Spanish immersion courses in Buenos Aires can sign up for Workuba any day before the 11^th of September. The workshop runs from the 13^th until the 27^th and is located in the Danzario-Americano Cultural Center (Guardia Vieja 3559, Abasto). Classes start during the week from 730pm-930pm and on Saturday from 1pm-6pm; perfect for students in Spanish immersion in Buenos Aires who can head to the center in the evenings after classes.

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