One of the first things we must do before any trip is to define what our destination will be. And it is that, as obvious as it may seem, this is one of the most determining factors for the travel experience, and the success or failure of our adventure may depend on it. If you decided to travel through Colombia, choosing among the immense variety of places that the country has to offer is something important; And if one of your objectives is to come to learn Spanish, the question is not only important but crucial.  

So that you can make the best decision and get the most out of your trip, today at school Nueva Lengua We bring you the story of David Hach, a student from the Czech Republic who set out to learn Spanish in Colombia, exploring, learning and having fun throughout the country to achieve it. He told us about his experience traveling and studying with us, as well as his impressions of what life is like for a foreigner in Latin America.  

Nueva Lengua It is present in many and diverse places in Colombia, with different types of activities in the most varied ecosystems, and with offices in the main cities of the country. David, who was with us for 12 weeks, decided to visit them all: 4 weeks in Medellín, 4 in Cartagena, and 4 in Bogotá, which he complemented with weekends of total immersion in nature at the Ibagué and Guaduas locations.  

David enjoys traveling through different countries learning about their customs, gastronomy, music and idiosyncrasies. He is now traveling through Latin America while studying Spanish, which he practices daily living here because, as he himself says, "the best practice is immersion." He started studying Spanish about 8 months ago in Spain with a basic level, and since then he has continued to do so, to the point that he has already reached an advanced level, perfecting his grammar and delving into the rich and diverse linguistic varieties of Spanish. . 

Her expectations upon arriving at the school were to significantly advance her knowledge of Spanish and improve her ability to dance in Latin rhythms, which she enjoys very much. For this reason, David had Spanish classes in the morning at our school and private dance classes in the afternoons: “In Cartagena I had some champeta and merengue classes, and also a cha-cha-cha class in Medellín. But what I practiced the most was Colombian salsa and bachata, which are my favorite rhythms”. In addition, David tells us that, thanks to these classes, he has been able to go out and practice what he has learned in different clubs and places in the cities he has visited. 

Regarding the activities he did outside of school, David says: “I travel alone, so what I enjoy the most are the big cities, because there I can participate in many social events such as language exchanges and dance classes or events. That is why I really like Bogotá, where there are opportunities like this almost every day”. Some of his favorite language exchange activities were Gringo Tuesdays and Dame tu Lengua, where he practiced Spanish with native speakers and was able to meet interesting people who enriched the overall experience for him, as well as enjoying the city's nightlife. 

Likewise, Colombian diversity extends to the attractions and tourist places that we have throughout the country, from natural to urban places. On this, David tells us that “in Medellín what I liked the most was visiting Comuna 13; in Bogotá, the views of the city of Monserrate and the top floor of the Colpatria building, as well as the colorful streets of La Candelaria; and in Cartagena, the entire historic center. Other times I also visited the nature of Colombia, for example in Ibagué and in Guaduas, and I have to say that it is a very beautiful country”.  

But we cannot talk about diversity without mentioning the very varied expressions that David has learned in the different places he has visited in our country. “Most of the sayings I learned during my stay in Medellín, that is why I have the perception that in the city paisa It is more common to use the jargon than in other parts of Colombia, although I don't know if it's true. In Medellín I learned phrases like "Qué chimba", "Bacano", "What was there, then?", "Hey, parce", "Good or not?" or "Hail Mary, then." In Cartagena, "Nojoda" and "Costeño". In Cali, the expression "Look, see!" In Bogotá I learned to say “Qué chévere”, and terms like "Rolo" and "Cachaco". And finally a universal one: "From Guatemala to Guatepeor!"  

For David, the accents were also very interesting, which were more different between Cartagena and the center of the country, since the pronunciation and articulation vary depending on each place, which makes the study experience more diverse and curious. 

Likewise, about Colombian food, David tells us that his favorites are fruits, many of which he had never tried before and which are flagship foods of our country, such as soursop, cape gooseberry, feijoa, guava and the pitaya, as well as the food at the Andrés Carne de Res restaurant, which he visited during his stay in Bogotá and where he tried various typical dishes that he loved there. And it is that in Colombia you can find very varied typical dishes from region to region, such as ajiaco in Bogota, the Bandeja paisa in Medellin and the fried fish with coconut rice in Cartagena. 

In conclusion, David, like many of our students who have decided to take classes at different campuses Nueva Lengua, has greatly enjoyed the linguistic, cultural and gastronomic plurality of our country, managing to see a more comprehensive image of Colombians and enjoying the beauty that resides in the difference.  

So, after having read David's testimony about his experience in Colombia, and to answer our initial question about which is the best city in the country to study Spanish, the only thing we have to tell you is that this is an impossible question to answer. … there is no single city that is the right one: in Colombia they are all worth it! 

Anyone who has ever traveled to our country can tell you that each place in Colombia offers its own unique attractions and activities, so there is only one way to live the full experience: visiting them all.  

Like David, you too can learn Spanish through immersive cultural experiences. Dare to come and explore our country in all its multiplicity, while you learn Spanish with Nueva Lengua.  

Check the activities that we organize around all of Colombia, or write to us at info@nuevalengua.com for more information about our Spanish courses and cultural immersion.