Spanish Lessons

For information on ISV's High School Spanish Language and Service Immersion Program please click here.

In every Latin country, ISV offers an incredible Spanish Language & Cultural Immersion Program that takes place prior to the Volunteer Project. These Spanish Lessons are a MUST as they enhance your total ISV experience and enable you to converse with the locals. This is an invaluable opportunity for you to develop and/or improve your Spanish language skills prior to beginning your ISV Volunteer Project. This program includes some fantastic activities and excursions along with dance and cooking lessons, and is an exciting introduction to your host country's culture.

ISV has worked with Spanish Language Schools in each of our Latin countries for many years and the program consistently gets a participant satisfaction rating of 4.8/5.  The homestay experience is considered by participants to be one of their favorite aspects of the program, along with the diversity of activities throughout the week, enabling them to be well-settled in to the local culture once the project comes around.

You will arrive in your host country for your Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion Program 7 days before your ISV Program begins. You will be met at the airport by your host family, staff from the Spanish School or an ISV representative (varies by country) and taken to your host family home to settle in. You will receive an orientation meeting and be placed in small class groups according to your base skill level. During the week you’ll enjoy the cooking and Latin dance lessons along with the selected excursions and activities (vary by host country) as well as getting to know your host family. Please note the exact itineraries vary by country and the specifics will be sent to you a couple of weeks prior to departure.

You will be speaking the basics of Spanish in a matter of 7 days while having great fun practicing with your host family and learning about the culture and lifestyle of your host country.

Arrival & Meeting your Host Family

Arrival & Meeting your Host Family

Upon your arrival in your Host Country, you will first be met by a representative from the Spanish Language School then transferred to your homestay location. Settle in and meet your new host family and enjoy some of the delicious home-cooked local cuisine.

Orientation & Local Sites Tour

Begin with an orientation meeting to get to know your surroundings and then enjoy a cultural activity such as a trip to the Poas Volcano (Costa Rica), Quito City Tour (Ecuador) or a countryside tour to a rural village and stunning waterfall (Dominican Republic). At night, explore the local night life or community with your new friends or host family.

Relaxation & Recreation with your Host Family

Today is a great day to get to know your host family and enjoy the local hospitality. Those in Ecuador will also spend half a day visiting the amazing Botanical Gardens with a Spanish language professor as your interpreter. Relax and prepare for the start of classes in the morning.

Spanish Language, Dance and/or Cooking Classes

You will spend the day in Spanish Language classes developing and/or improving your Spanish language skills with evening dance and/or cooking lessons in local cuisine. If you can already speak Spanish - no problem! The classes are tailored to your level of proficiency.

More Classes & Evening Farewell Party

Another full day of Spanish Language classes during the day and then enjoy an evening fond farewell party with lots of fun games.

Half-day Classes & Departure to Your Volunteer Project

On your final day, you will spend only a half day of lessons (for a total of more than 20 hours) followed by departures to your volunteer project with your ISV group.

How do I sign up?

Since the vast majority of ISV participants traveling to a Latin American country in 2011 will participate in the ISV Spanish Language & Latin Dance Lessons (regardless of their Spanish language skills), ISV assumes your participation and will add the cost of the Spanish Lessons to your Program invoice. Any ISV participant who chooses to opt out of the Spanish Lessons (for example, you already speak fluent Spanish) must notify the ISV USA office via the ISV Flight/Options Form. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced Spanish Lessons are available.