Chile Work & study

Study

Language

Spanish-language courses can be found in Santiago, Iquique and several cities in the south. Most have both short- and long-term courses, plus one-on-one instruction. Experiment Chile (02-461-6118; www.experiment.cl in Spanish) organizes recommended language-learning/volunteer programs.

Lonely Planet's Latin American Spanish Phrasebook is helpful for beginners.

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Outdoor activities

With Chilean headquarters at Coyhaique, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS; 1-800-710-6657; www.nols.edu; 284 Lincoln St, Lander, WY 82520, USA) offers a 75-day 'Semester in Patagonia' program, emphasizing mountain wilderness skills, sea kayaking and natural history courses, with university credit available. More courses are on offer - both longer and shorter - including a five-week mountaineering course in the Campo de Hielo Norte (northern icefield).

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Wine tasting

Santiago's Vinoteca (02-343-3607; www.lavinoteca.cl in Spanish; Manuel Montt 1452, Providencia) organizes short wine courses for groups of up to 10 people on a regular basis as well as on request. The cost per person is about US$21.

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