Language Programs in North America

The program was better than I expected and I'm really thankful to the two Harrys for everything. They are so passionate about what they do and it was such a big part of what made my time in Mexico so special. I especially loved Las Estacas and the beautiful nature there, I have never been anywhere like that before in my life but have always wanted to. I have already started making a plan on how to hopefully come back again one day. I can't recommend Iguana Abroad highly enough, you won’t regret it!!

Taking a Spanish immersion course abroad was a new experience for me but I absolutely loved it. And I loved Iguana Abroad – thank you to the Iguana Abroad organizers for making what initially felt like quite a stressful experience so smooth and enjoyable. My experience started with an email or two to Iguana Abroad, followed by a video call with Harry, one of the British organizers. From then on the whole process was very smooth and straightforward. Iguana Abroad picked me up at the airport when I arrived and they accompanied me to my accommodation and introduced me to Mayra and Emilio – the lovely Mexican couple who would be hosting me during my time in Mexico. It was such a perfect way to ease myself into a new environment and get settled in. Cuernavaca is a beautiful city. I just loved how green and fresh it was. There are so many gardens and parks in the city that it really feels like you are surrounded by nature even though you are in a city. I also loved the beautiful little cafes and restaurants in the city center that serve delicious traditional food. On the immersion program we also did a cooking class, which was wonderful. I will never forget my evening with Chef Natividad cooking, eating and chatting in her kitchen – it is a memory I will cherish for a very long time. There were so many other wonderful moments on the course that I couldn't possibly list them all here. I just want to say a huge thank you to Harry, Harry and Fabiola for making this trip so fulfilling and worthwhile. Gracias.

Before coming to Cuernavaca my Spanish was around an A2 (fairly basic). I could order food, ask basic questions and understand simple conversations, but like everybody else around that level - as soon as someone spoke naturally, I was completely lost and would want to switch back to English straightaway, and that was always kind of embarassing. After just a few weeks, I left feeling comfortably around B1 (intermediate), and, more importantly, I actually had the confidence to use Spanish every day. By the end of the program I was having conversations with my host family (who were amazing!), ordering in restaurants without thinking, chatting to locals around the neighbourhood and markets, and even making friends entirely in Spanish. It was the first time I'd ever felt like I was genuinely living the language rather than just studying it. Maybe one thing that sort of surprised me most was how much learning actually really does happen outside the classroom, and the lessons were excellent, really nice small groups, smart engaging teachers and lots of speaking—but probably the real magic was the immersion. Living with a Mexican host family, exploring Cuernavaca, visiting local markets, taking part in cultural activities and weekend trips meant I was constantly using Spanish in real situations. It never felt like a holiday with a few language classes; it felt like moving to Mexico for a few weeks. I also think Cuernavaca is the perfect place to learn Spanish. It's beautiful, safe, authentic and far less touristy than Mexico City, so you're surrounded by Spanish from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. That made a huge difference to my progress, and everybody else on the course said that as well. Harry, Harry (the two Harrys!) and the entire Iguana Abroad team (especially Fabi!) genuinely care about every student so much. From the airport pickup to the accommodation, activities and day-to-day support, everything was incredibly well organized, and I always felt looked after. That was really important to me. If you're serious about improving your Spanish, not just memorising grammar but actually becoming confident speaking with native speakers, I honestly can't recommend Iguana Abroad highly enough. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had, and I'd return in a heartbeat!

Me and my wife are planning to buy a place in Mexico next fall, so we joined the Iguana Abroad Spanish immersion program to brush up on our Spanish before making the big move. Iguana Abroad was everything we could have hoped for in a Spanish immersion program. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. We had several video calls with Harry, the program director, before we flew out, and he answered all our questions about arriving in Mexico, what to pack, and what to expect once we got there. I'd already been to Mexico several times—mostly to Baja, but also a couple of trips to Mérida—so I had a rough idea of what to expect. It was my wife's first visit, though, and both of our Spanish levels were pretty basic, so improving our confidence was one of our main goals. From the moment Harry and Hugo met us at the airport, they made us feel welcome. Even on the drive into Cuernavaca we found ourselves chatting with the driver in Spanish. We made plenty of mistakes, but nobody minded, and that really helped us relax. By the end of the first few days we were already speaking much more Spanish than we expected. If you're looking for a true immersion experience, this really is one. We thought the accommodation was basic but perfectly comfortable for what we needed. We had hot water, a swimming pool in the garden, and a simple rustic room. Nothing luxurious, but it was a great place to come back to and relax after a full day of classes and activities. We'd like to extend our warmest thanks to the entire Iguana Abroad team for giving us such a memorable experience. We made great friends, improved our Spanish far more than we expected, and came away feeling much more confident about our plans to move to Mexico. Hopefully we'll see you guys again once we're settled in Mexico this November. Hasta pronto!

I had an amazing 3 weeks at Na’atik!! The communication with the program was helpful, informative, and prompt from when I signed up to when I left. I loved my host family, they were friendly, and always patient as I learned. The accommodations were very nice and comfortable, I felt very at home (and the food was AMAZING!!). The activities were super interesting, I learned so much about the history of Quintana Roo and Carrillo. I would really really recommend Na’atik if you’re looking for an immersion experience that’s more personal and part of the community—rather than another corporation.

Studying French while actually living in France made such a huge difference. I started using the language confidently much faster because I practiced every single day outside class too. Met new people and new cities!

I took the intensive French course and was surprised by how quickly I improved. The classes were challenging in the best way and very conversation-focused. The conversations everyday helped a lot!!!!!

Kaplan gave me much more than language skills. I gained confidence, independence, unforgettable memories, and friendships from around the world. The experience was amazing meeting new friends and places!

The school had such a welcoming atmosphere. I improved my French a lot while also exploring Montreux! It was just a dream walking alongside the lake, it was paradise, reading and hanging there was amazing! Loved every part of the experience

Studying German abroad with Kaplan was the best decision I made. The immersion helped me improve faster than any app or online course I had tried before. And the new friends, activities and all the experience was really dynamic

One of my favorite things about Kaplan was meeting students from all over the world. Every day felt like a cultural exchange while improving my language skills naturally. And the city was amazing! I loved to get to know the city and make tourism in the afternoons and weekends!

The French teachers were amazing and made every lesson interactive and practical. I became much more confident speaking after only a few weeks in Nice. The place, the accommodation, the activities, I loved all the experience!

I studied German in Berlin and the experience exceeded all my expectations. The school environment was modern and international, and the city itself made practicing German super exciting. Everything was lovely!!

Living and studying French in Lyon was honestly a dream. Kaplan made the experience feel very immersive and authentic, and I loved practicing French daily with locals and classmates...................

Studying with Kaplan was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I improved my English so much faster than I expected, but what I loved most was how international and immersive everything felt. I met people from all over the world and felt like I was truly living the language every day.

Teachers, programs, destinations... everything was great :) I studied French in Nice and the coastal vibes where amazing. You really get to be in an immersive environment and you get know a lot of people!

I stayed in Carrillo for one week and had the best time. The class time was super great and the instruction was well-paced and well-suited for my language level. There was only one other person with me in class so there was lots of opportunity for conversation. My home stay was also really great and gave me the opportunity to put what I learned in class into action. The accommodation was also very well-appointed and the food was incredible! The excursions I took were really special and made the week really meaningful and fun and helped to understand the culture and again use language skills in a different setting. I felt incredibly well taken care of the entire time from communication the week before I arrived, to having someone waiting for me when I landed at the airport to when I was delivered back to Cancun. I would 100% recommend doing this immersion program and it gave me a real confidence boost with my speaking comfort. I even got several compliments on my Spanish when I was talking with people in town and then after my stay in Carrillo. I only wish I could have stayed more that one week. If I can, I will definitely go back!

Na'atik Language and Culture Institute responded to this reviewJune 12, 2026

Thank you so much, Lindsey! I do hope we see you down here again soon.

I am 69 and retired. I was fed up with my 5 years learning Spanish with DuoLingo. I determined I needed an immersion program to jolt me into being able to converse with others (I tried a tutor which helped but was still not enuf). So my adult daughter and I enrolled for the school in February 2026. She speaks Spanish much better than me but wanted to improve even more and we got to spend 11 days together, something we hadn’t done since she was a kid. Elizabeth was meticulous at providing information and making sure we understood how the program worked. To say this was a reboot for me is putting it mildly. During the weeklong classes (4 hrs/day for 5 days), activities in and around Carrillo, and living and eating with our very gracious and sweet host family, I finally became able to differentiate words when people spoke. And while I didn’t suddenly start speaking confidently I could finally see how that would happen. Being surrounded by people primarily speaking Spanish for 11 days made my mind to start thinking in Spanish. And now I find myself constructing sentences when I am idle and thinking how I would answer a question in Spanish. I have also stopped translating sentences. I cannot recommend Na’atik more highly. And both my daughter and I plan on going back for 2-4 weeks sometime in the next few years.

I had a really fun time through this program! I felt like this school was really good at communicating and I felt that three weeks was perfect for a portion of my abroad trip. My host family was so nice and instantly treated me like one of their own and I will miss them as I continue to travel.

Wow, I loved my experience at Na’atik. The town/city is really friendly and walkable. I was walking around alone as a foreign looking woman of color with my phone out on Google maps, completely safe and comfortable. My host family is so lovely and cooked me three delicious vegetarian meals a day. Plus tropical fruit EVERYDAY. Loved my private classes and excursions too. Can’t wait to come back