Language Programs in Havana, Cuba

I booked a 2-week Spanish course (60 hours) in Havana Vieja, the old part of Havana. My teacher was Laritza, a young, highly motivated, professional and funny teacher. Apart from giving me a hard time in learning grammar (irregular verbs ARE a nightmare), she allowed several deep dive into Cuban history, culture, traditions and much more. This was extremely interesting! All people at the casa particular where I stayed are extremely helpful and friendly - within 2 hours and despite the jetlag they made me feel at home! They will do everything to make life as easy for you as possible - and this is really difficult given the continuous power cuts, the incredible head and air humidity. So having an aircon in your room is nice but does not help very much if there is no electricity ... At the end, you will turn to take your matress and take it out on the terrace, sleeping as everybody else outside. All in all a positive experience I will never forget.

I decided to treat myself to some time at a language school in Cuba, combining a fascination for a culture I knew little about with a love for the Spanish language and an interest in salsa dancing. I had taught myself Spanish using Duolingo and this program was my treat for having completed the app. Surprisingly I really knew a lot of Spanish before arriving, but the school was able to put me into an advanced class and was also wonderful in adapting group activities to make sure that I had ample opportunity to speak Spanish even when mixed with students at more beginning levels. The staff really care about the students and it all feels like one big family. Yes, there were sometimes the normal issues that unfortunately come with Cuba - electricity shortages or (temporary) no hot water - but I honestly didn't notice them at all. I had so much fun and would recommend this program to anyone - it is a great way to learn Spanish, see and learn about the country, and be instantly in a group of like-minded people all looking to explore.