WELCOME TO OLSA INTERNATIONAL
Learn Spanish in Medellin with the Best Certified Spanish School
Learn Spanish in Medellin!
Learn Spanish in Medellin with the best Spanish school – according to Google Reviews (see for yourself)!
OLSA International sets itself apart from other academies with its dedicated focus to help you put the Spanish language into practice. With our three highly-interactive Spanish programs: Certified Spanish University – Learn Spanish and qualify for Colombian student visa, Conversational Spanish – Daily Spanish practice to improve your Spanish fluency, Spanish Immersion Weeks – Weekly Spanish packages with Conversational Spanish + Private Spanish Classes + Salsa Classes + Day-Excursions, our students enjoy the highest quality of interactive Spanish education with an emphasis on the practical application of the language. In other words, our program is designed to have you speaking Spanish, whether for a future employment, or for continued travel in Spanish-speaking countries.
In addition, we are the only academy in Medellin with a foundation dedicated to improving the lives of the financially-challenged population through full scholarships to our conversational English classes with natives from North America. Check out our foundation in the tab above. We invite you to participate in this important work!

Guatapé, localizado en la subregión Oriente del departamento de Antioquia – Medellín
Two Locations in Medellín!
• Certified Spanish University
• Conversational Spanish
• Immersion Weeks Packages
• Inglés Conversacional
• Salsa Dance
• Nightly Language Exchange
• Friday Night Pre-Party
• Restaurant
• Close to malls and shopping
• Certified Spanish University
• Conversational Spanish
• Immersion Weeks Packages
• Inglés Conversacional
• Salsa Dance
• Nightly Language Exchanges
• Friday Night Pre-Party
• Restuarant
• Close to malls and shopping
Spanish Program Summaries
Certified Spanish University
Qualifies for a Student Visa
Courses from 6-months thru 14-months.
Qualifies for a Colombian student visa.
Heavy focus on conversational Spanish!
Logistics
Courses are 12 hours per week
(6 hours grammar + 6 hours conversation)
A1, A2, B1.1, B1.2, B2.1 & B2.2 = 9 weeks each session (108 hours each).
Costs
Group Courses: $99 USD per week
Private Courses: $198 USD per week
Virtual Courses: $69 USD per week
Discounts for multiple sessions paid in advance.
Our students appreciate that after completing their full courses, they have the marketable skill of speaking Spanish, in addition to their experiences in Medellin and their government-backed Spanish certificates.
Conversational Spanish for
Improved Spanish Fluency
Designed for improved conversational fluency.
Focus on speaking/participating in Spanish.
Small Group In-Person Classes
Classes start weekly – 4 days per week – all levels.
Class times: 9:00am & 10:30am
Class duration 75 – 80-minutes
1 week = $60 US dollars
2 weeks = $115 US dollars
3 weeks = $160 US dollars
4 weeks = $200 US dollars
Private In-Person, or Virtual Sessions, One-On-One
Class times: 12n. 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm
Class duration 50-minutes
4 Sessions = $100 US dollars
8 Sessions = $185 US dollars
12 Sessions = $260 US dollars
16 Sessions = $320 US dollars
Immersion Weeks Packages for
Cultural Immersion
All-In-One Cultural Immersion Package
Logistics
4 Conversational Spanish Classes
4 Private Spanish Classes
2 Salsa Dance Classes
1 Day-Excursion
Weekly Language Exchange
Costs
1 week = $224 US dollars
2 weeks = $219 US dollars per week
3+ weeks = $214 US dollars per week
Improve your Spanish fluency through guided small-group conversational Spanish practice and private Spanish sessions. Develop a deeper appreciation for the Latin culture through small-group salsa lessons and weekly educational excursions. Socialize and make new international friends with our weekly language exchanges, our Friday night Pre-Party and other events. Return home with great photos and stories, to boot!
Why Learn Spanish at OLSA International?
Quality
- Internationally certified curriculum by the Secretary of Education of Medellin and the Ministry of Education of Colombia.
- USA university-accredited Spanish curriculum
- Owner is a two-time state of Arizona Private School Teacher of the Year with 25+ years experience in teaching and administration in the USA and internationally
- Professional staff with a mix of Bachelor's and Master's degrees
- Practical conversation classes
Convenience
- Able to sponsor student visas with Spanish University Program
- Option to take a conversational Spanish classes by the week
- Salsa and other Latin dance lessons by the week
- Package conversational Spanish classes, Salsa lessons and excursions with our Spanish Immersion Weeks Package
- Student / local affiliates and contacts
- OLSA Cafe coffee shop and restaurant on site
- Hub for shopping, restaurants, athletics, transportation for Medellin
Two Locations
- ESTADIO LOCATION
- Safe neighborhood with multiple public and private schools and universities.
- Next to Estadio, the main multi-stadium sport complex in Medellin
- In Colombian neighborhood away from traditionally "tourist" areas
- Ten minute walk to two different metro stations; Estadio and Floresta
- MANILA LOCATION
- Ten minute walk to the El Poblado metro station
- Five minute walk to Monterrey Mall
- In the middle of the tourist sector of El Poblado in Medellin
- Central to cultural and historical sites
Culture
- Most extensive cultural excursion program of any school in Medellin
- Language classes taught in Spanish by native bilingual teachers
- Bachata, Salsa, Porro Marcado, Vallenato, Kizomba and other Latin dance classes on location at the school
- Free weekly language exchange with foreigners and Colombians
- Friday night Pre-Party social with dance lessons
- Additional tours and excursions available upon request

John Barbera
My relationship with the wonderful team at OLSA began in March of 2021. When I first met Shane, the owner, I was immediately impressed by and grateful for his honesty, transparency, and sincerity. While taking classes (at their Laureles location) and learning a lot, I also began to feel like part of the OLSA family.
Every single person who worked there was incredibly kind and generous. They helped me in ways that extended well beyond the classroom and I will always be grateful for them. Many times, I would spend time at the school, even when I didn’t have a class, to be around Spanish speakers and the wonderful family-like environment.
Some of the team members have become very dear friends and each of them holds a special place in my heart. On April 20, 2022, I visited their new location in Manila to participate in a language exchange and was amazed by the features of the building (e.g., classrooms, meeting rooms, dance studio, restaurant, lounge area).
It’s a beautiful space. I know Shane and the team put their heart and soul into it and it shows. They are also genuinely interested in the development and well-being of their students so I highly recommend OLSA to anyone who is interested in learning Spanish in a nurturing environment while in Medellin.

Brianna Richardson
I cannot say enough about my experience here! This school is owned by an American who has a passion for Spanish language and culture.
I was doing some research on which school to attend because I was going to be spending a month in Colombia and I need to learn Spanish to communicate with my family. I contacted the school, and I received an immediate response with the protocol for COVID, (which is very safe in Colombia) as well as a very detailed summary of what classes he offers along with the pricing. He went out of his way to create a bundle for us, where we had private conversational classes, private dance classes, and excursions included on the weekends.
Shane cares about your experience and making sure you get what you are looking for! He will build you a package according to what your needs are. My teachers, Mitchell and Francisco were amazing! They are native Spanish speakers, who have degrees in teaching language to foreigners. You cant beat that. Again, this school exceeded my expectations. I came home seeing the beautiful country of Colombia as well as learning as much as possible for an amazing price!
Max Hoare
I spent nearly three months learning Spanish with OLSA and it was a really great experience. Shane and the team are very friendly and helpful and will go out of their way to help you if you need anything. The lessons were fun and interesting and most importantly effective! My Spanish has improved so much and I can now confidently have conversations with locals in Spanish which is a real help as I travel around Colombia.
The teacher Francisco has a great energy and you can tell he has a passion for languages. He would always make the lessons interesting and they were at just the right level of difficulty. He was also happy to let conversations flow organically and we covered subjects ranging from practical things about living in Medellin to Greek myths and philosophy which was challenging but fun! It was definitely the highlight of my stay in Medellín!