Location
  • Spain
Length
2 - 12 weeks

Program Details

Program Type
Direct Enrollment
Timeframe
Summer
Housing
Host Family Hotel
Language
Spanish
Age Min.
14
Age Max
18

Pricing

Starting Price
7950
Price Details
5-Week Program: $11,655
3-Week Program: $7,950

Program cost includes: lodging, all meals, transportation during the program, excursions and activities. Price does not include airfare to meet the group at the departure airport (JFK) or the international group flight to Spain.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance
What's Not Included
Airfare
Oct 04, 2024
Sep 18, 2024
49 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

LITA is a unique, rural focused language immersion program in Spain. Our dynamic, academically challenging programs offer students finishing 9th-11th grades a different approach to exploring the vibrant elements of Spanish language and culture. Through small groups and individual attention, LITA offers personal, highly authentic immersive experiences to motivated students with a true commitment to language acquisition.

Programs are three and five weeks in length and center around a family homestay in small/medium sized communities in northern or southern Spain. All students take language classes and complete an independent project on a cultural topic of their choice. Five-week program students have the option to participate in a volunteer internship in the community. LITA programs focus on language as it relates to family life, food, music, history, and art. LITA programs are full immersion experiences, geared toward a more motivated and enthusiastic Spanish student.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

At LITA, we stand alongside every student. Our team works closely with families to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome regardless of their ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and physical ability. We recognize that the journey toward true diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is on-going and ever-evolving. LITA is deeply committed to upholding our DEI promise and growing alongside the families and students we serve. Our philosophy is rooted in our dedication to offering students authentic and varied experiences in communities across rural Spain, emphasizing an understanding and celebration of differences.

Program Highlights

  • Rural travel.
  • Dynamic homestays.
  • Personalized programs.
  • Internship and research project opportunities.
  • Small group experiences.

Program Dates

Application Deadline
Program Dates
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Program Reviews

4.99 Rating
based on 82 reviews
  • 5 rating 98.78%
  • 4 rating 1.22%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 5
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.9
  • Housing 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 17 - 24 of 82 reviews
Default avatar
Bryan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

LITA - A Life Changing Experience

LITA is by far the best summer program I have ever done. Through this program I was able to learn more Spanish in a month than I could have ever imagined and made connections with people that will last a lifetime. LITA is the only program that truly offers complete language immersion thanks to its enforcement of speaking Spanish 100% of the time. While this can be challenging at times, it is absolutely what makes this program so special and unique.

The program's first week consisted of cultural and exploration activities in a small town in Aragon (northern Spain), which gave me invaluable knowledge about Spanish culture and taught me about a way of life that I previously knew nothing about. We then transitioned to the heart of the program, which was our three-week homestay in Andalusia (southern Spain). Through intense language classes, research projects, group excursions, and most of all, our host families, we truly immersed ourselves 100% in the Spanish language and culture and created bonds that will last the rest of our lives. We spent the final week of the program exploring other regions of Andalusia and continuing to expand our knowledge of Spanish culture while keeping our commitment to always speaking Spanish.

Overall, this program is perfect for people who are 100% committed to learning Spanish and are looking for the adventure of a lifetime. This program gave me the opportunity to learn a new language and explore one of the most beautiful places, physically and culturally, in the world. If you are looking for a life-changing experience in Spain this summer, LITA is the program for you!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice to future LITA students would be to maximize your time with your host family. The bonds you create with them will be priceless, and they are absolutely your best Spanish teachers during your time in Spain. Your host family is, without a doubt, the most important part of the trip, and the more time you dedicate to spending time with them, the more you will get out of the experience as a whole.
Pros
  • 100% language and cultural immersion in a small town as opposed to a large, touristic city
  • An unforgettable experience living with a Spanish host family
  • Opportunity to meet other Americans that also love Spanish, making friendships that will last a lifetime.
Cons
  • Culture shock can be a challenge
  • At times, can be difficult to speak Spanish 100% of the time
10 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Melissa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An Extraordinary Experience

Lita was one of the most challenging and rewarding programs our daughter has ever undertaken.Their unique curriculum, combined with basing their programs in rural Spain made for a wholly authentic and intense experience.

Lita excelled at selecting motivated participants. Likewise, the homestay families were fully engaged and committed to connecting with the participants. Our daughter bonded deeply with her host family…she was given a great mix of togetherness and independence. The way the families are engaged was critically important…every day there were opportunities for connection and interaction with multiple families. It really deepened the experience as there was a palpable sense of cohesion and purpose in the program’s structure.

Students were embraced by small town life: gathering in the town square for Spain’s soccer win was an electric experience our daughter will never forget. The combination of the 3 week home stay, hiking in the mountains, exploring Basque Country and ending with a 3 day stay in Barcelona made for a very complete and varied program. A+ in every way!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don’t panic about the language…you’ll be surprised by how much you’ll learn and how much you’ll be able to comprehend if you truly embrace the experience.
Pros
  • Deep learning experience
  • Home stay
  • Exploring different parts of Spain
Cons
  • Intensity of program was overwhelming at first
8 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Bryan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

LITA - A Life Changing Experience

I could not have asked for a better way to spend my summer this year than with LITA. This program changed my life by giving me the opportunity to truly immerse myself, 100%, in the Spanish language and culture in an authentic small town in Spain as opposed to a large, touristic city. Through intense language classes, cultural activities, adventurous excursions, and an unforgettable homestay, I was able to learn more Spanish in one month than I could have imagined possible.

Our first week in a small town in Aragon (northern Spain), helped us accustom to life in Spain as we transitioned to speaking Spanish 100% of the time and participated in engaging cultural activities. Our three week homestay in Andalusia was by far the most amazing part of the experience. During this time, I made a priceless connection with my Spanish host family and got to experience how they truly live, giving me a true cultural immersion experience that no other program can provide.

Pros
  • 100% language and cultural immersion in a small town as opposed to a large, touristic city
  • An unforgettable experience living with a Spanish host family
  • Opportunity to meet other Americans from all over the country that also love Spanish, making friendships that will last a lifetime.
6 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sasha
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Such a great experience with LITA!

I went into my 3 week LITA Spanish program with high expectations, yet my experience surpassed all of them! The trip realized everything I hoped for and more-- My group and leaders were all very kind and supporting, the activities we did were fun, varied, and quite informative, and my Spanish language skills improved exponentially in such a short amount of time. My favorite portion of the experience by far was the homestay, which took place in a small rural town in Castila y León. I was put with the most incredible host parents and 7 year old host sister, and I can't describe how much I enjoyed partaking in a portion of their daily lives. I made so many great memories with my family-- touring the nearby towns, learning to cook their favorite dishes in their kitchen, playing in the public pool, tasting the many traditional tapas of the region, and so much more. Although the program's emphasis on communicating exclusively in Spanish was definitely challenging, I have noticed an enormous improvement in both my skill level and my comfort in speaking Spanish. I have no regrets about my trip with LITA-- An unforgettable highlight of my summer!

Pros
  • The rural setting offers a chance to see beautiful natural scenery
  • The homestay portion is a unique component that allows you to be immersed in the daily culture
  • Small group sizes create a very intimate and supportive environment
Cons
  • Can be a bit challenging to stay in Spanish mode 24/7
  • Requires a good deal of prior study to reach the necessary Spanish language level
13 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Millie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best summer program!

I spent 5 weeks this summer with LITA on the northern trip and I am so grateful for this experience. I had never fully immersed in Spanish like this before but it had been one of my favorite classes at school and I knew it would be worthwhile for me. Spending these five weeks with a small group of like-minded students was fun, educational, valuable, and I made friends I know I will have to life. I worked in a “práctica” and stayed with a family in a small town and I am so lucky to have had this experience. My host sister was my age and quickly became a best friend of mine — she taught me everything and was always by my side. My host parents were welcoming and kind, willing to help me with whatever I needed and slow down talking when I first arrived. I watched fútbol with them, hung out with friends, went to dinners, drove out of town for day trips to explore the area, and overall made unforgettable memories. The group of students traveling with me were completely committed to the language immersion and supported me greatly in tackling the challenge of communicating in a different language. If you are looking to grow as a Spanish speaker and as a person, this is the program for you!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Pulpo - we spent the first week in the province of Galicia where pulpo, or octopus, is a classic dish. A group of us were invited to cook pulpo in the kitchen of a restaurant and I was completely freaked out by cutting up the raw octopus! Added on top of potatoes with lots of sauce and spices, this Galician dish turned out to be absolutely delicious and I would highly recommend trying if you get the chance.
Pros
  • Language acquisition
  • Host family connection
  • Exploring rural Spanish culture
11 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Mirabess
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The LITA experience

LITA is a once in a lifetime experience! I met some of the kindest people on this trip. During this trip I was pushed to grow not only academically but also socially. You are set up with a strong support system from the beginning and from there you are given space and sometimes a little push to step out of your comfort zone. Since this trip my comfortability in the world has grown so so much and I have found that I am now walking through the world differently. LITA taught me to walk through the world with compassion and wonder and that changed my life. I am eternally great full for this experience and the person I have become from it.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I did this program again I would push myself to talk to everyone that we met from the very beginning.
11 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Justine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible experience

This program was absolutely incredible and I would recommend it to anyone looking to improve their Spanish skills in a fun and unforgettable manner. My homestay community was so welcoming and so was my host family. From the start, you truly feel the complete Spanish immersion and are immediately welcomed by the chaperones and your group. We always had a fun activity and in the homestay communities you could get together with other people in the program and their host families, creating an even closer knit group. This program improved not only my Spanish speaking skills, but also gave me a deep appreciation of Spanish culture, left me with a stronger sense of self, and memories I will never forget.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar thing I ate was caracoles which are these tiny snails that come in some sort of broth.
Pros
  • Amazing communiity
  • Unforgettable learning opportunity
  • Engaging and fun activities
47 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Peter
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Life Changing Experience

Lita is an amazing program to get out of your comfort zone, improve your Spanish, and experience life in a completely new culture. I was on the 3-week program in south Spain and have amazing memories of my host family, my group, my group leaders, and the other kind people I met.

The highlight of my trip was my homestay. I loved spending time with my host family, and although I was nervous at first, they were incredibly supportive. My group was in a small, tight-knit community in a town without any tourists, and this warm and safe environment helped me immerse myself in the Spanish culture and language. I truly learned at every moment, and my Spanish vastly improved while I expanded my perspective. By the end, my host family and I had grown very close, and I was sad to leave. I am still in touch with them and hope to see them again some day.

While being eager to learn Spanish is important, it is just as crucial to be excited about the other aspects of Spanish culture by trying new foods, spending quality time with your host family, and participating in group activities. The trip really does fly by, and you will get the most out of it and the Spanish part will come naturally if you are truly excited to learn.

What was your funniest moment?
I was on a car ride with my host family talking about some of our favorite movies, and I called one of them cheesy (in Spanish). They all had bewildered faces, and then I laughed because I realized that that expression just does not translate into Spanish. Tons of small moments like these really helped me become better at conversational Spanish which is a really important skill.
41 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Thanks for reaching out Deedee! It was great speaking with you and your parents yesterday! You see each member of your group everyday, even during the homestay portion of the program. I hope that because clear in our conversation over Zoom. Thanks!

Hi Hannah, Thanks so much for reaching out to us. There are a few programatic differences between the north and south programs, but largely the differences are geographical. And it is certainly hotter in southern Spain than in northern Spain during the summer. I would be more than happy to chat with you and your parents if you would like to do that. You can reach me over email directly at jordan...