In June of 2014 my husband accepted a two year work assignment in Bogota and I arrived in the city knowing only a few common phrases in spanish. That being said, one of the first things I did was look for a spanish language school and am so glad to have found Nueva Lengua. After six months of classes, I am proud to say that I can not only have conversations with friends and people I encounter in everyday life, but that I have also learned a lot about Colombian culture and Bogotá.

One thing that drew me to Nueva Lengua was the structure of the classes. Each morning from 9 am – 11 am we studied and practiced grammar with one professor and after a quick break, our last hour was spent with a different professor and focused mostly on conversation. The professors rotated every two weeks, so that you are always hearing a new accent and way of speaking. The assignments in class always served two purposes—as we learned new vocabulary and practiced speaking, we also learned about cultural and social aspects of Colombia.

Learning Spanish wasn’t the only benefit from attending Nueva Lengua; I was able to meet people from around the world and have made several friends that are now a part of my life here in Bogotá. The school offers activities in the afternoons and they were another great way to familiarize myself with Bogotá, continue practicing spanish and in some cases (such as the Comedor San Francisco activity) to see a different side of the city.

The biggest asset of Nueva Lengua is the professors. Of course they each have their own personality and interests, but as a whole they are all professional, patient, funny, and interesting! I am very thankful for my time at Nueva Lengua and am happy with the progress I made in learning spanish. In fact, I have just recently returned to the school to continue with private lessons one afternoon per week.

This article was originally written in English