What NOT to do on a Spanish Immersion Trip

A Spanish immersion trip can help propel your language skills to the next level. It can open your eyes to new cultures, traditions, sublime cuisine, and wonderful people. 

However, a study program abroad doesn’t come around every day. As they say in Spanish, you should aprovechar (take advantage) of every moment to reach the language level you want.

To help, we’ve made a list of what NOT to do on a Spanish immersion trip.

Hang around with your travel buddies

If you are on a group trip, no doubt you’ll be tempted to spend lots of time with your friends and thus inevitably speak in your own native tongue. Don’t do this. 

Remember, you can converse with your buddies at home. Try to break out of your comfort zone and chat with locals, stay with a local host family (more below), and generally avoid speaking English at all costs.

Don’t research the destination ahead of time

Choosing the right Spanish-speaking destination is essential. Avoid big multicultural cities where English is spoken in many places (I’m looking at you Madrid and Barcelona). 

Instead, choose a destination whose residents speak only Spanish, rural towns and villages are a good shout! Kagumu’s Spanish immersion trip in Peru includes a unique homestay with an Andean community.

Also, think of the potential comprehension difficulties. Do you desire clearly spoken Spanish like in Bogotá, Colombia? Or do you want a challenge? Chilean Spanish is, according to BreakthroughSpanish, a tough nut to crack.  

Travel with an inexperienced local travel operator

If you are planning to travel with a local operator, ensure it’s a good one! 

Your itinerary should be packed with fun and engaging experiences like immersive cultural activities, gastronomy experiences like cooking classes, group conversation opportunities, and of course tour leaders who speak Spanish ALL THE TIME.

Quick tips: ask for references from students and teachers who have traveled with them and ask them to tell you when you will be speaking Spanish during the trip.

Don’t stay with a host family

Staying with a local host family is an immersive experience like no other. 

You’ll be speaking Spanish from dawn till dusk, enjoying homemade food, and sharing laughs and stories with your newfound family. 

This daily interaction with native speakers will catapult your language skills to new heights. You’ll make memories that will last a lifetime. And, you’ll be able to keep in touch and arrange future visits!

Plus, you might even learn secret family recipes – who doesn’t love that? Click here to see what a homestay experience with Kagumu is like.

Don’t reflect on your daily activities

Writing or speaking about your experiences not only helps solidify your language skills but also allows you to share your experiences and perspectives with your travel buddies. 

A well-organized reflection activity will allow you to speak at a pace to suit you, whether in front of the entire group or in pairs. It should be at the end of the day, or at least after an activity, and be dynamic and fun.

Remember: listen to others during this session. Ask questions and you will soon see your language abilities propelled to the next level. 

Don’t volunteer or take a course

If you want to take your Spanish immersion trip to the next level, consider working with a local organziation or taking a language course.

Volunteer at local projects, community centers, or impactful wildlife sanctuaries, and interact with locals while making a difference. Or enroll in a specialized course like cooking, dancing, or painting.

Not only will you enhance your language skills, but you’ll also gain hands-on experience and create beautiful memories along the way. ¡Que bien!

Forget to truly immerse into the local culture

A huge missed opportunity would be not involving yourself in local culture by eating local cuisine, visiting grassroots projects, or traveling with native Spanish speakers. 

Try to strike up conversations at the local mercado, and embrace every opportunity to practice your Spanish.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; locals will appreciate your efforts and will help you along the way. Whether you’re ordering tapas or salsa dancing with newfound friends, embrace the eclectic mix of cultural offerings and let it enhance your language skills.

So there you have it, amigos! Avoid these pitfalls and you will enjoy a voyage of discovery while achieving your language learning goals.

Check out Kagumu’s range of Spanish language immersion trips here.