What’s Included
You’re getting 80 hours of Spanish classes total, that’s 20 hours a week, 4 hours a day, Monday to Friday, in a small group of no more than 8 students at a language school in Barranquilla’s lively centro. Carnival culture immersion includes music workshops where you learn rhythms like cumbia or mapalé, plus costume-making sessions to create your own Carnival gear. City tours take you to landmarks like the Carnaval Museum and local markets, soaking up Barranquilla’s coastal vibe. Your homestay with a vetted local family includes a private room and two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, perfect for practicing Spanish in a warm, festive setting. Airport transfers from Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport are covered, both ways, along with a welcome orientation and a group dinner at a local spot. The program team’s got your back with 24/7 support for any hiccups.
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week one starts with your arrival at Barranquilla’s airport, where a driver picks you up and takes you to your homestay, and your host family greets you with maybe a glass of jugo de corozo or a big hug. At the welcome orientation, you meet your group, about 6-10 folks, grab a map of the city, some safety tips, and a rundown of the month ahead. Your first dinner with the family’s your chance to try some Spanish, probably tripping over a word like “carnaval,” but they’re super welcoming and patient.
wiflw-8efb7a-1a96c3
Day two dives into Spanish classes, 4 hours each morning at a school in the centro, where native teachers get you practicing real-life convos, like ordering sancocho at a street stall. The classes are lively, focusing on grammar, vocab, and Caribbean slang, so you’re ready to chat like a Barranquillero. Afternoon’s a music workshop, maybe learning cumbia rhythms on a tambor, and you’re picking up Spanish terms for beats and instruments. Evenings are with your homestay family, chatting over dinner, maybe fumbling “patacón” but feeling the Carnival spirit already.
Week two keeps Spanish classes going, 4 hours a day, and you’re starting to toss out phrases like “qué bacano” with confidence. One afternoon, you’re in a costume-making session, stitching or painting a colorful Carnival outfit with local artisans, practicing Spanish as you ask about sequins or feathers. Another day’s a city tour to the Carnaval Museum, where you learn about Barranquilla’s festival history and try describing it in Spanish. Homestay dinners are a vibe, with your family serving up fresh fish or arroz con coco, and you’re chatting more fluently, maybe swapping stories about Carnival legends.
Week three’s Spanish classes have you speaking smoother, maybe even joking in Spanish about the crazy costumes you saw. Afternoons bring more culture—one day, you visit a local market like Mercado del Sur, haggling for fruits or souvenirs and using your new vocab. Another day’s a music workshop, maybe trying mapalé dance moves, and you’re laughing as you stumble but catching the rhythm. The weekend’s free, so you might explore Barranquilla’s waterfront with your group or chill with your homestay family, practicing Spanish over a lazy Sunday meal of bandeja paisa.
Week four wraps up with your final Spanish classes, and you’re amazed at how you’re chatting like a local, maybe even throwing around slang like “chévere.” One afternoon’s a city tour to a historic spot like the Plaza de San Nicolás, where your guide shares tales of Barranquilla’s past, and you’re asking questions in Spanish like a pro. Another day’s a final costume-making session, where you finish your Carnival creation, ready to show it off. The group dinner’s at a lively restaurant, digging into Caribbean dishes and toasting with your group, nailing Spanish phrases. The last day’s for goodbyes—your host family might slip you a little gift, like a Carnival mask or coffee, and your airport transfer’s covered, so you leave buzzing with Spanish skills and Carnival fever.
