"LANGUAGE VACATIONS" Page 1, 2, 3

language vacations - excursions - tourist activities - sightseeing - homestay

In Barcelona, you can learn to dance the sardana while studying Spanish or Catalan.

Q. Where do I live while I'm taking lessons?

The most common living arrangement is a "homestay" with a local family or individual. In addition to providing room and board at a fairly modest price, a homestay makes it easy to practice your new language.

However, most schools can also help you find a rental apartment or hotel accommodations if you aren't interested in a homestay.

Q. Will I have time for tourist activities?

Yes. Typically, you'll attend classes for three or four hours a day and have the afternoon free for sightseeing. (If you sign up for an intensive course, you'll have less time than you would with a standard course, so balance your language goals and leisure needs when enrolling.)

Many schools offer excursions, either free or at cost, for students. For example, the LSA Italian school in Siena usually has several outings a week that range from visits to nearby towns (using public transportation) to guided museum tours. When excursions are led by instructors from your school, they offer a great way to hone your language skills while sightseeing.

Q. Can my children study a language, too?

Some schools offer simultaneous adult and junior sessions, which make possible to enjoy a "family language vacation." Other schools have special sessions for children and teens only.

For more information on language vacations, see my language agencies article and my firsthand account of Italian study in Siena.

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