Walking into an Argentinian supermarket and asking for a loaf of bread and some milk is far more educational than repeating ''Donde esta la leche? - Where is the milk?'' from a sound recording in a classroom.
So, 24 Otago Girls' High School Spanish language pupils will travel to Buenos Aires and Salta in Argentina, then on to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile next week where they will experience life in South America first hand.
Teacher in charge of Spanish and tour organiser Abbie Law said the year 11-13 girls would attend the All Blacks versus Argentina rugby match in Buenos Aires on September 28, learn to tango, attend a Spanish cooking class and go sand boarding on the dunes in the driest place on earth - the Atacama Desert.
They would also experience the daily life of a South American family because they would be billeted in homestays while on the three-week tour.
''All of the students have been learning Spanish for the past three to five years, but you can only learn so much from a sound recording or a textbook.
''It's time for them to experience going into a supermarket and asking for a loaf of bread, and learning the culture first hand.
''First-hand experience is better than anything you can learn from a book or a DVD.''
Miss Law said the school chose to send the pupils to South America for their Spanish experience rather than Spain because of its proximity.
''It's closer than going to Europe. It's becoming a much more popular place to visit because it's so different from the rest of the world - the food and culture.''
The trip will cost about $5800 for each pupil.
The girls have raised the required funds by holding bakery sales, garage sales, sausage sizzles and concerts.
