South American Cultural Essentials: Immigration History of Argentina

When you learn Spanish in Argentina, you may indeed fall so deeply in love with the country that you want to move there. If you feel that way, you are certainly not alone. It is interesting to note that there have been various waves of people over the years that immigrated to Argentina from all over the world. Of course, to this day, people are still immigrating to this amazing country.

Argentina has typically had a pretty open immigration policy. In fact, the preamble of the constitution mentions that its precepts apply "to all men in the world who wish to dwell on Argentine soil." Ever since the 19th century, the rulers of Argentina saw immigration as a very good thing. They were hoping to bring more "enlightened" individuals to the country to make it more modern and to boost the country's economy. As a result, in the early to mid 1900s the population of Argentina rose considerably.

Most people who immigrated to Argentina came from either Italy or Spain, though people from a variety of other European and Eastern European countries also made their way to Argentina. Middle Eastern countries like Syria and Lebanon were also represented. Interestingly, a large wave of Jews immigrated to Argentina to escape poverty or religious persecution. Today, one of the largest Jewish populations in the world is based in Argentina. You can learn more about the Argentinean Jews by visiting their synagogues, restaurants, and various landmarks.

If you are attending Spanish classes in Buenos Aires, you will find that there are a great number of historical attractions related to the days of massive immigration. Most people who arrived in the city ended up staying, and you can visit landmarks, monuments, and churches dedicated to different cultures. For example, one famous landmark is Monumento de los Españoles or Monument of the Spaniards.

When you learn Spanish in Argentina, one of the most amazing things you will discover is the diversity of the people. A significant percentage of today's Argentinean population was born outside the country. Of course, many people who live in Argentina come from other Latin American countries like Paraguay, Bolivia, and Chile, but you will also find those from places as diverse as China, Germany, Japan, and South Korea strongly represented.

Between your Spanish classes in Buenos Aires, it only makes sense to get out and discover more about the local culture. There are 50 different neighborhoods in the city, and each one has its own rich history to explore. It is exciting to immerse yourself in the culture by listening to the widely diverse conversations people are having, eating at different types of ethnic restaurants, and enjoying a variety of cultural activities.

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Spanish classes in Buenos Aires are available through ECELA, which operates two language center options to Learn Spanish in Argentina. In addition to the aformentioned cultural capital, the mountain city of Mendoza is a popular option. More information => http://www.ecela.com/loc_men.php

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