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Mente Argentina

Why choose Mente Argentina?

Based in Buenos Aires, Mente Argentina is an organization founded to provide international education opportunities and top quality personal support for international students through dynamic, individualized immersion programs. We strive to provide innovative programming that allows students to enjoy Argentina in a unique and different way while, at the same time, facilitating academic achievement and promoting global competence and personal growth.

Whether it’s studying for a semester, pursuing a major degree, interning with an Argentine Organization or participating in a fun short course, Mente Argentina's programs are designed for students who want to experience Argentina from a local perspective. Explore Argentina, do what you enjoy most, and embark on this unforgettable journey with Mente Argentina

Scholarships

Mente Argentina

Seeking a shorter study experience in Argentina? Consider our Short & ELAP Programs Scholarships. These are for programs lasting between 4 and 18 weeks, with scholarships awarded from $250 to $1000.

Value
$250 - $1,000

Reviews

Default avatar
Moritz
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Semester Abroad in BA

I was going on a semester abroad through out the organization Mente Argentina in Buenos Aires. Since the beginning, I had really good and fluent contact with Mente. They helped me a lot with figuring out my specific situation which I really value and appreciate. The responses always came quite quickly and have been detailed. I arrived with a good feeling in Buenos Aires. A few minutes after my arrival, a worker from Mente showed up and gave me a starter kit, with a SIM card, a guide, and a cash exchange which made my start really easy. For any matters or upcoming problems Mente has been available and fixed them quite quickly.

Through the good network of Mente, I quickly made friends and had the opportunity to be part of a language school and my university program.
Mente organized multiple events every week. The events have been quite interesting and were definitely a lot of fun!
Since today I am grateful that I met so many people and good friends through Mente. With their helpful and open attitude, the people in the Mente Team became good friends as well. The experience at the university was really good. They offered a lot of interesting classes which helped me to improve my knowledge and my Spanish skills. The organization within the university was clearly structured. With any problems and challenges, they helped me out, supported me, and gave me everything I needed. I will definitely recommend anybody to benefit from the organisation Mente Argentina, especially if a semester abroad in the city of Buenos Aires sounds interesting :)

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advise is:

Just do it! My experiences I collected and the fun I had were incredible. Dont be afraid of the unknown, to ask people and do a abroad experience!
Pros
  • Support
  • Flexibility
  • Experiences
Cons
  • Sometimes events/ things arent working out as planned
  • Variety of events if you are there for a longer time (3-4m +)
  • Waited for reponses sometimes
Default avatar
Mack
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome time!

Amazing experience! Mente makes your arrival seamless and provides you with everything you need!
Not to mention the multiple events they have every week, which makes it super easy to meet people from all around the world and immerse yourself in Argentine culture.they also connect you with multiple internship possibilities I personally was a intern at BAIS Argentina for event planning and also volunteered at a orphanage. it's been 4 months there it was overall a great experience met lifelong friends from around the world and also got way more immersed into the Argentine culture

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
don't be nervous the Argentine People Are Awesome welcoming also meant they Argentina makes the experience super super easy they provide you with everything you need the day you get there a house card needs subway system a SIM card for your phone everything
Pros
  • Seamless
  • Fun
  • Community
Default avatar
Zara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Spanish and Volunteering with Mente Argentina in Buenos Aires

I spent 3 months in Buenos Aires with Mente Argentina and had a wonderful time! It was my first time travelling alone and they really helped by giving me a structure and support whenever I needed it. I signed up for their Spanish and volunteering programs, both of which were excellent. Mente is good at helping you settle in and feel at home. Their weekly socials are also a great way to meet new people. If you want to go on an adventure but still have support and help close by, this is the place for you. Would definitely recommend!

Pros
  • Constant support
  • Weekly socials
  • Friendly staff
Default avatar
Vincent
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Mente Argentina - Amazing Cultural Experience

Mente Argentina was an incredibly enriching experience that I would recommend to anyone considering living in Argentina or just wants to immerse themselves in Argentinian culture for a few weeks. The registration and enrollment process was seamless and the staff was very responsive and helpful throughout the program.
Intensive Language Program: I participated in Mente Argentina to enhance my Spanish language skills, and it delivered excellently on this front. Classes were conducted almost entirely in Spanish, (even for those with little Spanish skills, instructors do a great job of communicating in Spanish most of the time) fostering an immersive learning environment that was relaxed but professional. All of the instructors were native speakers (and many of them had extensive knowledge of the local socio-political context of Argentina). They all had extensive teaching experience, which helped us grasp complex linguistic nuances. I really enjoyed the small class sizes which allowed for personalized attention and active participation/conversation, making the in-class learning process extremely effective. Though after four hours, my brain was exhausted. While I was only in the language program for a week, I learned about Argentinian history, culture, literature, and politics while also learning a little Spanish along the way!
Cultural Immersion: Beyond the classroom, the Mente program emphasized cultural immersion and offered various cultural activities, such as Mate classes, dance workshops, and guided tours of historic sites, which enriched our cultural knowledge. The Mente-sponsored lunches and other programs were also a bonus and not something I expected but certainly took advantage of! I met some really cool folks from all over the world including the UK, Canada, Australia and other parts of the US. Make sure to take the La Boca tour and the Bike Tour, they were my favorites!! All of the tours that Mente offers were phenomenal and had really knowledgeable tour guides and the best part, they’re free!
DJ Program: By far this was my favorite part of my experience. The instructor for this program was absolutely the best and I could not have asked for a better experience. Though I was only in the DJ program for two weeks, I strongly recommend that you spend a minimum of 4 weeks if you are serious about learning how to be a DJ. Two weeks for me was not enough but it certainly was an experience I will never forget!
Living Arrangements:
This was also one of my favorite aspects of the Mente Program. I stayed in a one-bedroom loft apartment in Recoleta, though I’d recommend rooming with others for the social aspect. The apartment was nice and had everything I needed, best part is it was located near many cafes and restaurants and directly across the street from a laundry mat. The location was convenient too, close to bus and metro stops. I never felt unsafe especially walking around late at night.

What was your funniest moment?
The time I got kicked off the Bus because my Metro card did not have enough money to cover the fare, yeah that was fun!
Pros
  • DJ Program
  • Instructors in the Intensive Language Program
  • Location of where you will stay
Cons
  • Short-term programs are very intensive
  • Little interaction with other Mente participants
Default avatar
Judy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fantastic Way To Experience Buenos Aires

Mente Argentina was instrumental in making my 6-week stay in Buenos Aires a resounding success. I enrolled in the Spanish and Tango programs, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the quality, expertise, professionalism, and flexibility of everyone involved.

I have taken a number of Spanish intensives, and this was by far the best I’ve experienced. They make you speak in Spanish, no matter your level, and they are encouraging without your feeling pressured to perform beyond your capacity. I learned SO MUCH and made friends as well!

The tango was phenomenal. I took private lessons as well as group classes as part of the program, and my teachers were exacting, knowledgeable, and encouraging. I went from an advanced beginner level to true intermediate in only 6 weeks of hard work!

In fact, I had originally planned to stay for 4 weeks but I was having such a great time I added another 2 weeks onto my stay. I was living in a studio apartment in a terrific area - central, quiet, yet near all forms of transit. I felt like I really got the hang of being a “porteño”.

The Mente staff were really helpful - really went above and beyond, even advising me on a trip to Patagonia which was not part of their program. I always felt like I had a resource I could call on, at any time.

I was a little concerned about thinking this was mainly for college-aged or recent college grads, but I found people of all ages in the program and I felt quite comfortable in my mid-sixties with all the folks I met.

In sum - this is definitely the way to start out experiencing a complex city like Buenos Aires on one’s own - with a support team like Mente Argentina behind you!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I was surprised that I could get by speaking only (or 80%) Spanish. Because I was hearing it all the time, I was able to “think in Spanish” - admittedly, not very complex thoughts and only in the present tense :) - but I really felt like I was thinking like a Porteño. That was exciting - although it did lead to glitches like inadvertently ordering olives for lunch. Only olives.

Well I rolled with it - it was worth it to feel like a native!
Pros
  • Terrific support with any questions I might have
  • Access to the full range of what Buenos Aires has to offer
  • Every resource Mente made available was really top notch. No wasted time or efforts.
Cons
  • I wish I’d had more time!!!
  • I am glad that I came in at an Advanced Beginner level in both Spanish and Tango. If I’d come in at absolute beginner it might have made for wasted effort just learning the basics.
  • In a way, I could rely so much on the Mente team that I wasn’t thrown back on my own resources completely - that was great but also perhaps a bit of a missed opportunity. But overall it was absolutely the right way to be introduced to Buenos Aires living.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Jennifer Shuper

Jennifer Shuper is an educator, a mom of four, a wife, an avid salsa dancer and a hula hoop instructor.
Jennifer Shuper

Interview

Why did you choose this program?

I chose Mente Argentina because I saw that they run short term programs and I was interested in a 2 week Tango intensive program combined with culinary studies. I also noticed that they had programs running frequently and would also pair me up with a host family, which is what I was interested in doing so that I could improve my language skills and absorb more of the culture.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Mente Argentina found my housing for me, arranged my airport pick up and drop off and scheduled my dance and culinary lessons for me. They made the whole experience seamless and the only thing that I had to arrange myself were my flights to and from Buenos Aires. They sent me my schedule and paired me with the perfect host mom for my needs as well.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would advise them to not live alone because the experience is much richer linguistically if you live with a Spanish speaker. I would advise them to become current with regard to the volatile economic situation in Argentina because it can be tricky to access cash due to the current economic circumstances in Argentina. This has nothing to do with the program but it is a piece of advice that I think is important.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

A typical day for me included a private tango class during the day, a group tango lesson at night, a 2.5 hour cooking class at the Gato Dumas Culinary Institute and a home cooked dinner with my host mom. After that, I usually go out tango dancing from about 10 PM until 3 AM. I would go to sleep at about 3:30 am and then wake up at about 9 am and do it all again.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was personal safety since I was traveling alone. I overcame it by being cautious, being mindful of my environment, not drinking or drugging, not carrying a lot of cash on my person and not walking alone at night. As a result, I did not feel any fear and just remained vigilant and mindful wherever I went.

Write and answer your own question.

I would recommend not waiting if you have the urge to travel. I am so grateful that I did this program at this time in my life and I learned so much in a very short amount of time. I have so many stories to share but I would say that one notable one is experiencing the nightlife and when I say days which is unparalleled and seeing people my grandparents age arriving at milongas at 3 AM and dancing their hearts out until 6 AM on a weeknight.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Thais Ribeiro

Job Title
Program Advisor
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Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thaís is passionate about learning new languages, cultures, and travel. She has worked several years in the Tourism industry and loves to help people pursue their dreams.

What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my favorite travel memories is when I went to El Salvador. I had the opportunity to get to know this tiny country in Central America which is full of lovely people, good food, and enriching culture. This opportunity was amazing as it gave me an experience of being in a place that is so different from my hometown, and it made me start seeing things in a new perspective.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Working at Mente Argentina gave me the opportunity to meet people from many different places. I learned so much from their customs and cultures which greatly helped me develop a better understanding of people. Overall, it has been a truly great experience, and I hope to keep learning!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Mente Argentina receives participants of all ages. We once had the opportunity to receive an older participant with a dream to learn Tango. She has always loved dancing and had the desire to learn Tango but never had the opportunity until she was older. I was deeply impressed by how determined she was and how she never gave up on her dream.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Mente Argentina offers a variety of programs, and I personally would like to participate on the volunteer program. I believe that international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning, and it helps create global awareness and understanding between cultures as well as contribute to our ongoing effort to bridge the cultural, social, and economic gap which currently exists in Argentina.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our company is unique because we are a small team that works together. We always try to be like family to all of our participants. We think in the minimum details so they can return with the feeling that they had the best time, and most importantly, that they achieved a positive change.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe that for a company to be successful, it must always treat its customers and employees as its number one priority. When everyone in the company works together in order to achieve the same goal, success is a given; the company becomes larger than the sum of its individual parts, and great things can be achieved.