Spanish Study Abroad

I joined Iguana Abroad because I wanted to improve my Spanish before travelling more in Latin America, like a few other people I met during my time as well. I had only studied a little before coming to Mexico, maybe just for a year, so I was quite nervous that I would not understand anything, especially Mexican Spanish. It was also my first time travelling alone outside Europe, or anywhere actually. It took only a few days and I already felt much more confident with every day. The teachers were very patient and so fun, and I never felt embarrassed when I made mistakes which is one of my biggest worries before joining and because I have learnt languages before. The classes were serious and sometimes hard but also really fun, and every day I could use what I learned outside the classroom which is what I hoped for when I applied. One thing I really liked and I hoped for as well, was that it was not only about learning Spanish in a classroom. We visited many interesting places, learned about Mexican culture, tried local food, and spent a lot of time speaking with local people, and with new friends I have now. I met so many amazing people which I am so thankful for. Also before coming to Mexico, I was kind of worried because lots of people told me it was pretty dangerous especially as a woman. After spending my time in Cuernavaca, I realised that, like everywhere, you just need to use common sense. It is no different than just using common sense in any place that you go. I always felt well looked after and safe, and having the Iguana Abroad team there as well if I needed anything gave me a lot of confidence to just not ever worry. I am so grateful for that. I would definitely recommend Iguana Abroad to anyone who wants to learn Spanish and experience the real Mexico, not only the tourist places.

I came to Mexico at 62 years old with absolutely no Spanish and really no idea what to expect either. It was my first time ever visiting Mexico and spending 15 weeks with Iguana Abroad turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Starting from total zero was definitely pretty intimidating at first, especially as I have never even practiced Spanish before but the combination of the daily group and private Spanish lessons, really amazing activities, and complete everyday immersion made so much of a difference. Even just week by week I was noticing that my level was getting better and by the end of the program I was having conversations in Spanish that I seriously never thought would be possible. One thing I would definitely want to say to anybody reading this is that one of the highlights of my whole time with Iguana Abroad and the guys here was staying with my local host family. I also spent some time in private accommodation, but if you're deciding between the two, I'd strongly recommend the homestay. I was welcomed into the family from day one and totally overwhelmed by their kindness to me. The relationships I built there have lasted well beyond the course, and I'll be returning to Cuernavaca next year for the wedding of one of my host family's relatives, and it's amazing to think that I'll be able to chat with everyone in Spanish when I get back. Harry and the entire Iguana Abroad team were excellent, and worked so hard to make this trip not just possible, but to become an important time for me. I can't recommend these guys highly enough.

Maximo Nivel fue muy flexible a la hora de organizar el curso, adaptándose perfectamente al horario que tenía disponible durante el día. Además, me encantó poder participar en actividades con otros estudiantes en San José y vivir de cerca experiencias culturales, como las celebraciones y los desfiles del Día de la Independencia de Costa Rica. También recomiendo mucho el programa de tándem, ya que me permitió conocer y conectar con personas de Centroamérica y practicar el español en un ambiente muy agradable y auténtico.

I had such an amazing experience in this program. I was the only student learning spanish at the time because it was slow season, but everyone at the school made me feel at home. I got to volunteer in the classroom of kids learning english and help with their english as they helped me with my spanish. I was able to sharpen my spanish in 4 weeks, but also learn a lot about the culture of the area.

I thoroughly enjoyed my two weeks at Maximo. My teacher Marianella was excellent and my classmates were a lot of fun. All of the staff at Maximo were overwhelmingly helpful and pleasant. The building itself wow on air-conditioned was a great place to spend downtime and do homework. the pool was an excellent bonus. I definitely improved my Spanish and I’m very pleased with the results. Additionally, the cultural experiences were excellent. I especially loved the sea turtle release and the cooking classes. I will definitely recommend Maximo to friends and family.

Really enjoyed our two weeks doing Spanish immersion. Instruction was top notch, professional. Learned a lot. The program is well organized and staff is there to help you with anything you might need. I’d recommend this program to anyone.

My 14 year-old absolutely loved her experience with Sevilla Abroad! It was the perfect mix of cultural immersion, learning Spanish, planned activities and independence. The best part was spending time with her host family. SA also had great communication when health concerns about her food allergies arose. They also had great communication as the group travel to interesting places, sending parents pictures and updates. My daughter came home and immediately wanted to return for a semester. Sevilla became a forever home abroad!

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect about my time with IA and on the program before I came. I mainly booked because I wanted to improve my Spanish, but I ended up enjoying the whole experience way more than I thought I would. The classes were really good and the teachers were great, but I think what helped me the most was everything outside the classroom. Living with a Mexican family meant I was hearing Spanish all day, every day, and after a while you kind of stop overthinking everything you want to say. We'd go out into the city, visit markets, grab food, do the cooking class, weekend trips, all that sort of thing, and you're just constantly using Spanish without really thinking about it. One thing I really appreciated was how much effort everyone put into making sure we were having a good time. Harry and Harry were always around if anyone needed anything, whether it was recommendations, helping someone who wasn't feeling well, or just making sure everybody was included. It never felt like they were just running a business. You could tell they actually cared about everyone having a good experience. Cuernavaca was also a really nice surprise. I'd never even heard of it before finding Iguana Abroad, but it's such a relaxed place and feels really authentic. There aren't loads of tourists everywhere, so you end up speaking Spanish much more than you probably would in somewhere like Cancun or even Mexico City. I also made some really good friends on the course which I wasn't expecting. Even now we're still talking about meeting up again somewhere. If you're looking for luxury accommodation and cocktails by the pool every day, this probably isn't that kind of trip you are going to be looking for to be honest. But if you actually want to improve your Spanish, experience Mexico properly, and come home with some brilliant memories, I'd definitely recommend it.

I had a great time in my week long stay at Na'atik. I did a solo trip and was able to practice my Spanish for the whole week. My teacher Licey was incredible. So patient and persistent as I was learning. She kept the content interesting and conversational while also ensuring I learned the fundamentals for communication. The program coordinator Elizabeth was always on top of things and helped make sure communication was consistent and that all the plans were well coordinated. She was also really helpful with recommendations for the town and navigating being a foreigner in a small town. The school itself is beautiful and everyone there was really kind and welcoming. The activities offered were also really fun. It was great to get to learn more about the Mayan culture and I high recommend any of the excursions that include learning about the land, practices, and people. I went during a less busy time of year, so I was the only student around. If you like the one on one time, then I recommend going in mid-end of August. If you want to be around people, don't go then. Overall, I recommend this program!

Learning Spanish in Mexico with Iguana Abroad was an incredible and unforgettable experience that truly deepened my knowledge of Spanish and my love for travel. I learnt so much during my time there – both with our teachers in our classes but also around the city during the “immersion” part of the program. I would say I learnt the most Spanish on my trip while I was talking to people around the city on the guided walks and tours with Iguana Abroad, as well as during the salsa dance class and the Mexican cooking class. The organizers of the program really encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in Mexican culture as much as possible which I found so helpful for gaining confidence with my Spanish. The Iguana Abroad team is all really supportive and welcoming and the program directors and staff really went above and beyond to make sure our group of girls felt comfortable the whole time we were on the course. I highly recommend this program for anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in Mexican culture and learn Spanish in an exciting environment through cultural immersion.

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!!

作为中文母语者，想要通过高阶的DELE考试是一项非常有挑战和困难的事情，因此我在考试前三周选择了Academia BA来进行强化练习。主要是口语部分，因为在中国很少有练习口语的机会。学校里的老师也针对我的薄弱点进行了强化，众所周知阿根廷的口音是众多口音里最难理解的，所以在这所学校进行考前强化确实对我的听力水平有极大的提升。这门preparación的课程也是完全严格按照DELE口语考试的Tarea123顺序来进行，在练习过程中，学校老师会进行速记然后在我结束发言后会精准地指出我的错误并且纠正，除此之外还会建议我使用哪些frasess hechas以及muletillas来让我的表达更地道和连贯。Highly Recommend! Especially for those students from P.R.China, R.O.China, South Korea and Japan!

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.

I started learning Spanish online with Academia Buenos Aires in January and then transitioned to in-person in July. The transition was seamless and one I highly recommend! The same immersive language experience and instruction carried over, together with passionate teachers who really cared deeply that we come to know, use, and appreciate the Rioplatense Spanish of the region. I wasn’t expecting to learn as much culture as I did, but I am leaving with a more profound understanding of the history and customs that have shaped Argentina. Each day was a joy to learn with La Academia! The office staff, the teachers, and my classmates made each day so fun! I was always greeted with a genuine smile, a “charla”, and timely or useful information whenever I needed it! I will definitely be continuing online as I prepare to write the DELE later this year. And I know Academia will continue to help me achieve that goal!

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!

My experience on the immersion course at Pilar's home in Valencia was exceptional in every way. The classes went beyond what I had expected and the cultural visits were wonderful right from the very first day.Pilar is an excellent teacher. Her personalised approach and her genuine passion for teaching Spanish made the whole process feel easy and enjoyable rather than like hard work. I never felt like I was studying in the traditional sense, it just felt like I was living and learning at the same time.I would wholeheartedly recommend this immersion course to anyone and especially with Pilar as your host and teacher. She is a true professional who clearly loves what she does and that enthusiasm is completely contagious.

I stayed with Monica as part of the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program in Ciutadella de Menorca in December and it was a truly wonderful experience. I am from Texas and I love nature and the countryside and Menorca in winter turned out to be absolutely perfect for both.Monica made me feel welcome from the very first day. Living with her meant I was practising Spanish naturally all the time through daily conversations, shared meals and just the rhythm of everyday life together. I loved walking along the Cami de Cavalls which was so peaceful in winter and visiting the beaches which were quiet and beautifully unspoiled.The food was amazing, traditional Menorcan dishes made at home with fresh ingredients, and sharing meals together was honestly one of my favourite parts of the whole experience. What I appreciated most was the calmness of the island in December which made learning Spanish feel relaxed and genuinely enjoyable rather than stressful.Staying with Monica turned this programme into something truly authentic and meaningful. I would highly recommend SHIP to anyone who values nature, culture and a warm and personal homestay environment.

The home stay was great, felt very welcome always and the food was great. My lessons were well organised and the teachers were always passionate in helping me improve, and felt like I improved a lot in only 3 weeks. Great experience overall, and i would recommend to anyone that wants to learn a new language.

Pilar was a wonderful host and an even better teacher. She was incredibly accommodating with health restrictions throughout the entire stay and always made sure we had everything we needed without any fuss.Her course was genuinely the best Spanish classes I have ever taken. I learned more in three weeks here than I did in three years of high school Spanish and I left feeling genuinely confident in my ability to speak beyond a basic level and with a real understanding of how the language actually works.The location also gave me the opportunity to go on some brilliant hikes which I took full advantage of. The nature around Gilet is so different from what I am used to at home and I loved exploring and experiencing something completely new in the surrounding countryside.The cooking was wonderful throughout and the excursions Pilar organised were all fantastic. The only downside was the lack of air conditioning but honestly it is a small price to pay for such a brilliant overall experience.

I spent two weeks in Valencia and the first week was with another school entirely. The second week was with Pilar on her immersion course and honestly it brought the joy of learning Spanish completely back for me.She kept things interesting by focusing on Spanish that I would actually use in my everyday life rather than just what a textbook says you should learn. She kept things challenging by having dinners entirely in Spanish and stepping in to help whenever we got stuck. And she kept things fun by introducing us to her family and taking us all around Valencia together.She was endlessly patient with me too, repeating things again and again as I worked out what I was actually hearing. On top of all of that she is a fabulous host and a wonderful cook. Thank you for a brilliant week Pilar.