When someone thinks about the food in Argentina, beef is always the first thing to come to mind. Argentine´s claim it is the best in the world, and so do many foreigners. My personal opinion? It is excellent, but it is not the best in the world. I have tried steaks that are just as good in North America, where there is also some excellent, high quality beef. However, one of the great things about the beef here is high quality beef is easily accessible, and is not too expensive, especially when compared to other food prices. However, just like anywhere, the more you pay, the better the quality, and there is certainly meat that is not worth eating here.

You will find that Argentine beef is definitely a little different than beef in other parts of the world. First of all, in most parts of the world, the cattle tend to be grain fed. Here in Argentina, they have lots of space and the cattle is generally grass fed. Grass fed cattle usually has less marbling, and grows slower, meaning the beef that you eat is older. However, I´m not an expert on the process of Argentine beef, but somehow, they have beef with lots of marbling, and it is very very tender. Some rib eye and filet mignon steaks here practically dissolve in your mouth, and have a delicious buttery flavor!

The beef is nearly always cooked on BBQ using different types of charcoal, which gives it a nice smoky taste. They do not season the meat here, other than a little bit of salt. Be prepared for plain beef, there are no steak rubs here! I am quite fine with that, because the beef is so good, and it does have a great BBQ’d flavor. However, if you like a little flavor added to your meat, the beef here is served with Chimi-Churri, which is a mixture of spices, vinager, and oil. It is always served on the side, and is up to you if you want to put it on your steak!

Some of the cuts of beef here are different, so many times there is no exact translation. Here is a list of the most common, in Spanish and English, and I explain what each cut is like.

Ojo de bife (Rib-Eye) – this is my favorite cut of meat. It is usually fairly tender, well marbled, with excellent flavor.Bife de Lomo (Filet Mignon) – the most expensive cut, also the most tender. Should have very little to no fat. Flavor is good, but not as strong as some of the other cuts. In general, one of the best things you can order on the menu. Filets here in Argentina are deliciously tender!

Bife de Chorizo (new york strip loin) – a good Argentine bife de chorizo is prettty hard to beat.  This cut is from the same part of the cow as a strip loin, so you can expect a juicy and very flavorful cut of meat.  There is some marbeling, and if you get a cheap cut, it can be really fatty.

Vacío (flank steak) – this is a delicious cut of meat and it is not available in most parts of the world. It is a thin cut of meat, from the flank, and has a thin layer of fat on both sides. A good quality vacío is tender, flavorful and very juicy, contains no fat (other than the layer surrounding it.   Argentines love this cut (it is a must have at an asado), especially how the outside gets crispy when cooked slowly over coals.  It is also an interesting cut for foreigners because it is usually a cut they have never tried.  It is important to get good quality vacío, or you could end up with a leathery piece of meat, with more fat than anything else.

Asado/Asado de Tira (short/cross cut ribs) – they are served differently than in North America, as the ribs are cut very short. There is not usually a lot of meat around the ribs, but they are quite flavorful. Another staple that is always served at an Argentine asado.

Asado de Costillar (beef rib) – this is not a common cut in Argentine, but if you can find them, they are delicious! The meat is very tender and juicy, and without too much fat. They are usually preferable to the standard asado de tira, because they are far meatier!

Matambre (similar to a flank steak) – a tougher cut, but can be very juicy and flavorful.  It can be found in various thicknesses, and is often served with a layer of fat on one side.  It is similar to a flank steak,  but comes from a part just beside it.  This cut is not usually found in North America.

Colita de Cuadril (rump steak) – this is the tail end of the rump. Great cut, can be done on the BBQ, or makes a great roast in the oven. Flavorful, very juicy, and very little fat.

Bola de Lomo (knuckle) – located just beside the colita de cuadril, this is the most common cut for milanesas and for lomito sandwiches.  It is a decent cut and can be found very cheap in Argentina.  It is juicy, fairly tender, and does not contain much fat.

Tapa de Nalga (top inside round) – Located beside the Bola de Lomo off of the cows leg near the kneecap.  A very cheap cut, it is somewhat tough.  Is mostly used in stews.

Peceto (eye of round) – comes from the very top of the cow’s rump.  This is a great cut usually used for roasts, but is also sometimes cut into medallions to be served as milanesas.  It is a bit tough, but has good flavor and very little fat.

Entraña (skirt steak) – a bit tough, but very flavorful and juicy. This is a fairly common piece of meat for Argentine asados.

Bife Angosto (strip loin) – located along the back of the cow, from the back ribs to the rump. Lots of marbeling, and usually one edge is covered in fat. A cheap option for beef, and usually a bit tough.

There you have it, the major cuts of Argentine Beef. There are still some other cuts, if you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I will answer what I can.

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The festival is essentially two events that happen at the same time. The first is a huge tango festival, which can be described as “everything relating to tango.” The highlight is all of the tango shows, ranging from traditional to electronic tango, and some of them by the best known tango groups in the world. You get to see loads of tango performances, and all of them for free!

Nonetheless, this festival is much more than just watching tango.  If you are interested in learning more about tango, as well as how to dance, there are free seminars and dance classes. These classes are put on by some of the finest teachers in the city, and are available for both beginners and advanced.

Some other highlights of the event:

• A Tango fair, which sells all sorts of products relating to tango – specifically clothes, music, and art.
• A selection of cinema about tango
• The presentation of books about tango
• Clinics for tango musicians, or anyone interested in tango music
• Conferences

To finish off the two weeks of tango is the World Tango Championships. The top tango dancers in the world compete to be named as the top dancers in the categories of Tango Salon and Tango Escenario.  If you are not familiar with tango, you probably do not know the difference between the two, and for most people, Tango Escenario is by far the more appealing to watch.  Here is a very basic definition:

Tango Salon:  tango dancers dance in couples on stage, at the same time as various other couples.

Tango Escenario: each couple dances alone on stage to their chosen song, using their choreographed routine.

Although all performances and events are free, you still have to pick up tickets.   Most of these have to be picked up within the first few days of the festival, and if you miss it, you won’t be able to get into most shows. For more information, visit the main site at http://www.mundialdetango.gob.ar/.

When: End of August
Where: Various locations throughout the capital
Why: You have even the slightest desire to see Tango or to learn more about it.

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According to Wikipediait was invented by the Dr. Enrique Ernesto Febbraro, to celebrate the arrival of man on the moon. It is celebrated in Uruguay and Brazil on the same day, and in other South American countries on different days. By far the most popular way to celebrate is to have dinner with friends. This usually includes going out, and many restaurants take advantage of this by creating special menus for the dia del amigo. Going for drinks is also popular, so most bars are full as well. Basically, it is a great excuse to see some friends who you haven´t seen for a while, and to let them know you still care.

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In Argentina, fernet is everywhere.  A coke and fernet is one of the most popular drinks among young people in Buenos Aires, if you go to a bar, a house party, or a disco.  If you are trying it for the first time, make sure to add lots of coke, this will help sweeten it and make it more drinkeable.

To prepare, you will need:
Ice
Fernet (Branca is the best brand, according to most people).
Coke
Highball glass
Slice of lime

Fill glass with ice.  Add one ounce of fernet, fill with coke, and garnish with a lime.

Fernet Menta (mint)
Fernet Menta is a mint version of the original fernet, and was invented by Branca.  It isn´t as strong (20% alc, compared to 43%), and is much sweeter.  It is typically served with sprite, and makes a green radioctive looking cocktail.  Fun and easy to drink.

To prepare, you will need:
Ice
Fernet Menta
Sprite
Highball glass
Slice of lime

Fill glass with ice.  Add 1.5 shots of fernet menta.  Fill glass with sprite, and garnish with a slice of lime.

Gancia Batida
Gancia is an Italian aperitif, but is commonly used for cocktails at bars and clubs in Buenos Aires.   This drink is sweet, slightly thicker than wine, and has a bitter aftertaste.   The alcohol content is only 14.8%.

The most common cocktail made with Gancia is a Gancia Batida, which is a light, refreshing drink.

To prepare, you will need:
Ice
6 oz Gancia
1 oz lemon juice
1 spoon sugar
Cocktail Glass
Slice of lemon

Add all ingredients to a shaker, and shake until sugar has dissolved.  Garnish with lemon slice.

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One possible explanation is that to celebrate this event, the Argentines wanted to do so with a food that was typical to the area (and not originating from Spain).  Locro fit this role perfectly, because not only was it a delicious, abundant dish, but it originated from the indigenous people of Argentina.

Another explanation is that that many years ago, some of the poorer people would sell food on the street during events and celebrations.   These were often the indigenous Argentines, and locro was already a staple of their diet.  25 of May was always one of the largest celebrations in Argentina, and therefore the indigenous would prepare large quantities of food to sell, and one of these dishes was locro.  The Argentines liked the locro so much that it slowly became a tradition to buy it from the street vendors during the celebration of their independent government.  In fact, it became so popular with the immigrants that they eventually began to prepare it themselves, and always made an effort to eat this delicious dish on the 25^th of May.

No matter what the true origins of this tradition are, almost everyone will agree that locro is a delicious stew, often made from whatever you have lying around, and is perfect to warm you up during the cold days leading up to winter.

Not sure how to make locro?   Check out our locro recipe: http://exposebuenosaires.com/argentine-locro/

On the 25^th of May, there are many restaurants that specially prepare locro.  You can also try these restaurants that permanently have locro on their menu:

Las Cholas - Arce 306 – Las Cañitas  Tasty locro, and very cheap.

El tafí – Raul Scalabrini Ortiz, Av. 2815 – Palermo – Take out restaurant with delivery, and a fairly good locro.

La Paila – Costa Rica 4848 – Palermo – delicious locro, decent Price, and the restaurant offers live music most nights.

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So why is the 29^th day of every month ñoquis day? Just like many old traditions, nobody is certain, but there are a couple different stories:

1-Potato Patron Saint

Legend has it that a young doctor by the name of Pantaleon, a recent convert to Christianity, performed a number of miracles.  The most famous is that one day, when he was travelling on a pilgrimage, and he was in serious need of something to eat.   He stopped at a farmer’s house and asked for food.  The farmer was very poor, but proceeded to offer him what little he had.  Pantaleon was very grateful, and he told the farmer that for helping a man of god, he would have a plentiful harvest the following year.  Sure enough, the year that followed was the most prosperous the farmer had ever experienced.

On the 29^th of July, Pantaleon was canonized, and became Saint Pantaleon, patron saint of Venice, along with St. Marcos.  To honour St. Pantaleon, the people would eat ñoquis on the 29^th of every month.

2- The Potato Switch

One year in Italy, nearly an entire harvest of wheat was lost, which was the staple of their diet.  Without wheat, they would go hungry.  Luckily, the potato harvest was a good one, and although they were normally used for animal feed, the farmers were forced to use eat potatoes as well.  They used potatoes to make a sort of pasta, which turned out to be the origin of potato ñoquis. The people were very overjoyed with the delicious results, and from that year onward, they would gather in the plaza on the 29^th of every month,  in honor of the Patron St. Pantaleon, to celebrate the potato harvest.  Naturally, during this celebration, potato ñoquis were served, and money was placed under the plates as a symbol of luck.

3 – Penniless, but not potato-less

During the sudden arrival of so many Italian immigrants in Argentina, there was also a lot of poverty.  Many of these immigrants struggled to live on their meager salaries.  As a result, by the end of the month, they were often out of money, and had to eat as little as possible.  Ñoquis are a very economical meal, as well as nutritious and very substancial, making them a perfect meal for those without money.  The ñoquis would be served with some pesos underneath the plate, wishing luck to the person eating them.  Making ñoquis near the end of the month became a common occurrence, and slowly turned into a tradition on the 29^th day of every month.

4 – Club del Ñoquis

A few decades ago, a group of food journalists would have monthly meetings, alternating between members’ houses, and the host would be responsible for preparing dinner for their guests.  One particular meeting happened to fall on the 29^th of the month, and the host, aware of the history of Italy and Saint Pantaleon, decided to prepare ñoquis. The meal was a huge success, and as the monthly meetings became more and more popular, they became known as the “Club de Ñoquis,” meeting on the 29^th day of every month. This became a exclusive club whose events were attended by some of the city’s most prestigious people.  Each month, different styles of ñoquis were served, and the idea eating ñoquis on a monthly basis began to spread to restaurants and people’s houses. It became somewhat of a trend, and turned into the tradition as it is today.

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Unfortunately, this is not the case in Buenos Aires. New Years takes place during some of the hottest possible weather in Buenos Aires, and if you´ve ever experienced the heavy, uncomfortable summers in the concrete jungle, you´d understand why so many people leave the city during the summer. A large majority of the population goes to party in the swanky Punta del Este, or in the mini Buenos-Aires-on-the-ocean (aka Mar del Plata). The result is a huge decrease in the amount of people that are actually IN Buenos Aires for New Years Eve.

Another reason that a Porteño New Year´s isn´t an overly memorable event for foreigners is because the celebration tends to be a family oriented event. Extended families will gather together in the evening for dinner or snacks, and at some point will eat Turron (type of nougat) and Pan Dulce (Pannettone).

On the strike of midnight, there is the required New Year´s toast, followed by fireworks. The younger members of the family will go outside and set off dozens of fireworks, and those that don´t, will watch the fireworks going off throughout the city (starting in the early evening, peaking at midnight, and carrying on till the sun rises). It is also quite common to light candle lanterns that float off into the sky, which looks beautiful when you see candles from everywhere floating through the night sky.

As a traveler, you may not get the chance to partake in these family celebrations, and if this is the case, you will find the city is surprisingly quiet…it actually feels like a Sunday night in the summer. The streets are deserted, most stores, kiosks, and restaurants are closed, even many bars are shut down. It is definitely not the pulsing nightlife that one gets used to in Buenos Aires.

Nevertheless, a fun Buenos Aires New Year´s Eve is still easy to have in this nation´s capital. There are still plenty of house parties going on, a few bars will put on special New Years Eve parties, and there are some clubs that open up later on. Very few put on a night that is much different from a regular weekend night in Buenos Aires, but still offer a place for you and your friends to make it a night to remember.

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Christmas season kicks off on the 8^th of December, the day of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Maria.  Although not much is done on this day (especially for the non-practicing Catholics), it is a public holiday throughout Argentina.  In the succeeding days leading up to Christmas are pretty relaxed, and most of the population is working (and sweating) just like during any other summer month.  Stores are noticeably busier, but you won´t find anything akin to the shopping hoards that invade the stores of the north from black Friday onwards.

There are very few businesses or public areas that put up more than a few decorations, nor is there much Christmas music, which you will only hear in a the shopping malls and a few stores (although more and more seem to jump on the bandwagon each year).  The tradition of carolers or families getting together around the fire to sing O Christmas tree is non-existent in Argentina.  Families are more likely to be planning their summer holidays to the coast than be singing about the birth of the Christ child.

The tradition of bringing your children to visit jolly St. Nick at the mall has started to spread widely in Argentina.  Here, Santa Clause is known as Papa Noel, and looks just like he does in New York, Toronto, and Atlanta.  He still comes from the North Pole (even though the south is closer) and has elves and reindeer. Of course, why would Santa change, since there is only one real Santa?

Christmas truly arrives on December 24^th, which is the big day in Argentina.  The 24^th is not a public holiday, but many companies will close and give their employees a day off.  In the evening, extended families get together and begin the festivities with a huge feast.  Being Argentina, this often involves an asado (though not always), but there are also many other dishes that are eaten for Christmas dinner.  Some traditional Argentine Christmas dishes include:

Pionono (thin pastry rolled up with tuna salad), Russian salad (potatoes, carrots, peas and mayo), Roasted Chicken, Waldorf Salad, Stuffed Tomatoes, Beef and Chicken Matambre (cold meat rolled up with egg, pepper, ham, and other items), Vitel Thone (slices of beef with a creamy sauce on top).

This feast is often washed down by pop, wine, champagne, sparkling cider, and beer; note that there is no such thing as eggnog, nor do they drink the usual hot beverages such as hot apple cider, hot chocolate, or spiced wine.  Of course, what can you expect, given the stifling temperatures.

After dinner comes dessert, which some families will start eating right after dinner, and others will wait until after midnight.  Common desserts include pan dulce (Argentine panettone, same as the Italian bread), turrón (type of nougat), candied peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, chocolates, and ice cream.

Midnight is when Santa stops by and leaves the presents, so the children have to be distracted while someone places the presents under the tree.  The family will then take turns opening gifts while eating more sweets.   It is also very common to set off fireworks at midnight and to toast with champagne and cider.  The families that don´t have fireworks will often sit and watch as other fireworks go off nearby.  This is followed by more visiting (and partying for some), and eventually bedtime.

December 25^th tends to be a very quiet day for most Argentines.  Families may get together again, and will usually eat leftovers.  It is a quiet, relaxing family day for most, and is a public holiday.

The only other day that is Christmas related is January 6^th which is mainly celebrated in Argentina by families with small children (it is not a public holiday).  This is the day the three kings visited Jesus with gifts, and in Argentina, the children put grass and water in their shoes on the evening of Jan. 5^th (for the camels) and on Jan. 6, they should find little presents beside their shoes.

This ends the Christmas and New Year´s celebrations, and mean it’s time for summer holidays.

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Argentine Castellano, or better said, caste-SH-ano, is significantly different from all other forms of Castellano (which means the Spanish language).    If you have come here to learn Spanish, be aware that there are many differences, and you will be learning a Spanish that differs a lot from Spanish spoken in all other countries.  That being said, it is still the same language, so it is not a bad thing to learn it here.

There are two major differences in Argentine Castellano that distinguish it from the Castellano spoken in other countries.  These differences are the intonation, and the accent.

1- Intonation – the main reason the Argentine intonation is so different is because of the use of the Vos form.

Vos should not be confused with Vosotros.  In Argentina, when speaking using the 2nd person singular form, they use “Vos” instead of using “Tú” as is used in all other forms of castellano.  This Vos form is conjugated differently.
-  When using Vos, the stress comes on the last syllable of the verb, and for this reason, an accent has to be added.  Ex. Vos hablás – Tú hablas.  Vos cumplís – tú cumples.  Vos comés – tú comes.
-  The Vos form does not do the stem changes that the Tu form does  Ex.  Vos almorzás Tú almuerzas.  Vos querés – Tú quieres.  Vos pedís – Tú pides
**Important note – this difference only exists in the present.  The past, future, subjunctive, are all the same as the Tú form, although they still say Vos.  Ex. Vos fuiste

Commands - also change the intonation of Argentinian castellano.  A normal Tu (informal) command from castellano spoken in other countries has the stress on the 2nd to last syllable (assuming no direct or indirect object pronouns are used):  calla, manda, come, escribe.  In the Vos command form, similar to the present conjugation of verbs, the stress is on the last syllable: callá, mandá, comé, escribí.   Of course, most commands usually have a pronoun attached, so here are some comparison examples of how the commands change.

Other Countries    Argentina
mándamelo               mandámelo
ábrelo                        abrilo
cómelo                      comelo

The other thing to note with argentinian commands, is that they don´t have any irregular commands.   The ones that are irregular in other forms of castellano are regular in argentine.

Other Countries    Argentina
di                               decí
ven                             vení
haz                             hacé

Notice that with the Argentine command form, all you need to do is drop the r, and add an accent.  Really, it is easier than the tú commands.

The location of the stress of the vos form makes a big change in the intonation when speaking Spanish.  However, the intonation is also different here because of the countries Italian roots.  Remember, nearly half the population has Italian roots, and at one point, there were a large amount of Italian immigrants in Argentina.  If you´ve ever heard someone speak Italian, you know their intonation goes way up, and way down, various times in one sentence.  The argentines speak someone like that, way more so than Spanish speakers from other countries.

2- Accent – The Argentine accent is significantly different, namely the “shh” sound.  In Castellano, a “ll” o “y” make a “ye” sound.  This varies from country to country.  For example, in Columbia in is more of a “je” sound.  Here in Argentina, and more specifically Buenos Aires, it is a “sh” sound.  Hence, what you would pronounce “caste-YA-no” in Spain, here is pronounced “caste-SHa-no.”  The verb llegar in Spain is pronounced “Yay-gar” and here is pronounced “Shay-gar.”

So there you have it.  You now know why Argentine Spanish sounds so much different, and now you know how to speak proper Argentine Next step is to learn the Argentine slang and expressions!

Questions….comments?   Let me know!

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If you are visiting or living in Buenos Aires, you probably are trying to learn or improve your Spanish. The obvious way to learn and improve your Spanish would be to take a Spanish course, and then make sure to speak as much Spanish as possible. However, there are many other ways you can improve you language skills, and many of them are free. Read on for a few different approaches on how to improve your Spanish, and having fun while doing so.

1. Spanglish

Have you ever heard of speed dating? Well, think of speed dating, but instead of meeting potential dates, you are meeting local Argentines with whom you can practice your Spanish. At the same time, they get to practice English, and it´s all in a fun, casual setting.

Here´s how it works: Depending on the night, you meet up in a bar. It´s a mix of locals and foreigners, and you are paired up for 10 minutes each. For 5 minutes, you speak English, and for five minutes you speak Spanish. After the 10 minutes are up, you rotate, and speak with a different local. Its very casual, lots of fun, and on top of improving your Spanish, it´s a great way to meet new people. Any age can go (over 18), and most nights you will find people of all ages. Cost is $15 pesos, and includes one beer, and something to snack on. For more information, visit: http://www.spanglishba.com/

2. Conversation Exchange

This is a website where you can be paired up with a native Argentine that lives in Capital Federal. You exchange contact information, and then arrange to meet whenever it´s convenient. The idea is to speak in both English and Spanish, so both people can improve.

You can also pair up with someone through online text or voice chat, which is great if you have less time, and can´t get out as much. The site is free, easy to use, and it works great! There are lots of Porteños who are willing to meet up, and not only will you get practice with Spanish, this is also a great way to meet people. Visit: http://www.conversationexchange.com/

3. Get a girlfriend or boyfriend that doesn´t speak English, or speaks very little

What better way to improve your Spanish than dating an Argentine? Far better than having friends that speak Spanish, dating someone who does not speak much English will help you advance very quickly. Not only are you forced to interact in Spanish, you will also be exposed to an Argentine environment – Argentine friends, Argentine parents, Argentine TV, Argentine books and magazines, etc. This is one of the TOP ways to improve your Spanish, and at the same time, you get to be surrounded by another culture!

4. Listen to Argentine music, and learn the lyrics

There is plenty of great music to listen to from Argentina, and if you study the lyrics, you will quickly learn new vocabulary. At the same time, you will be learning more about Argentine culture, and you will understand a whole lot more about the country. Find a style of music you like, then try to find the artists that are popular in that category. Once you find some songs you like, look up the lyrics on line. Type the name of the song, the artist, and the word “letras” (meaning lyrics) into Google, and you´ll get a list of sites with the lyrics written out. Look the words up that you don´t understand, and from then on, when you listen to the song, make sure to listen for the words, and think of the meaning. This method is great for comprehension and learning new vocabulary.

5. Chat online

This may not seem like an obvious method, but chatting with a native speaker is a GREAT way to improve your Spanish, especially if you are a high beginner or low intermediate. Chatting gives you time to think before you “speak.” It also gives you time to look words up online, and to see your sentence structure. You learn a lot by reading the chats of your friend, because you have time to see each and every word, and again, have time to look up words you do not know. I highly recommend chatting with Latin American friends as much as possible, you will learn quickly.

6. Read in Spanish

Reading is another great way to learn Spanish, and if you read magazines and newspapers, you will learn a lot of the common local expressions and phrases. Try to pick a publication that really interests you, and read it regularly. Every week, or every month if it´s a magazine. Don´t look up all the words, just the ones that you need to know to understand what´s written.

Books and magazines are usually better than novels, because the language will be much more colloquial, and the vocabulary won´t be so difficult. On top of that, you will be reading short articles, which is important when reading in another language. If you try reading novels, it is easy to lose interest too quickly, and you risk setting the book aside forever.

7. Join something

It could be a club, it could be volunteer work, it could be a sport, whatever. The important thing is you will be surrounded by Argentines, and forced to take part. Find something that you enjoy, that interests you, and happens on a weekly basis. It can be difficult at first, but will definitely pay off in the long run.

8. Live with people who only speak Spanish, or who speak very little English

Buenos Aires is full of South Americans that are here to study or live, and that look for shared accommodation. If you are looking for a room in a shared apartment, try to find one that is shared with Latin Americans. They often prefer to share with a native English speaker, so that they can also learn some English. This will force you to speak Spanish, and you will learn quickly.

9. Limit the amount of English speaking friends you have, and try to avoid English speaking activities

This is the number one biggest mistake that people make when they come to Buenos Aires, and hope to learn Spanish. They stay in a hostel, meet English speaking friends, go to activities with English speakers, and find it to difficult to break away from that. When you arrive in Buenos Aires, try to limit your group of friends to mainly non-English speakers. Stay away from expat groups, expat bars, and things that are geared to tourists. Although this may not work for everyone, if you are here to learn Spanish this is very important.

Once you have developed a group of Spanish speaking friends, and are part of a Spanish speaking community, then it is fine to seek out English speakers. In fact, it is important to spend at least some time with English speakers, to reduce the risk of culture shock.

10. Find a job where you need to use Spanish

Most foreigners come here, and end up working in a job where they only use their English. Try to find a job where you are working with native Argentines, and have to use your Spanish at least some of the time. It could be in a restaurant, an international company that operates in English and Spanish, a magazine, etc. This forces you to use your Spanish, and puts the pressure in you to do it well.

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