When you learn a new language, you get another view of life. study a language it helps to better understand a place, its people and society. It opens us to new experiences. practice a language allows us to explore more. Such is the case of Debra McQueen, is a reading teacher at a school in Denver, Colorado – USA. She traveled to Colombia and studied Spanish at school Nueva Lengua at the Cartagena headquarters. In her testimony, she tells us about her learning experiences during her stay in this fascinating city: “I had an incredible experience in Cartagena. When I started planning this trip, I visited the website of Nueva Lengua and I sent an inquiry email. From the beginning, they took care of everything! They organized my stay in a host family with meals and transportation to and from the airport, and created a totally affordable package for two weeks of intensive Spanish and dance. "

hosting service it is an important component of our school. We carefully select the host families, as well as the other options. Students have the opportunity to live with Colombian families, where they can not only practice the Spanish language in a real context, but also have the valuable opportunity to experience Colombian culture. In this regard, the student commented: “Once I arrived, everything went even better than I could have expected. I showed up at the home of Juanita, the lovely woman in whose home I stayed for two weeks. She greeted me with an instant warm welcome. There were two other students in her house and she made us feel like family. She spoke Spanish exclusively, which helped all of us improve our Spanish and deepen our immersion. And... her cooking was divine! She had never done a homestay before, and I recommend it to students of all ages. It's such a wonderful opportunity."

Regarding the teaching/learning process at school, he stated that "The classes in Nueva Lengua They were just as promised: intense! I took private and group classes, and I feel like a combination of both is the way to go. The intensity of the private experience really helps you focus on your unique needs, and group classes add the social element to learning that is so essential to language acquisition. Each teacher was special and talented! Teachers are trained in the latest methods and make classes engaging, active and dynamic. They cheered us on with high expectations while continuing to create a pleasant environment. I learned a lot".

Debra loves to dance. The Latin rhythm is in your blood! She expressed her joy at the dance lessons, said, “Wow! With classes held on the school's rooftop under an awning, even in the sweltering Caribbean heat of the afternoon, there is a breeze coming from the sea. You will definitely sweat! María Alejandra, the dance instructor, was another example of teaching excellence: fun classes and becoming a very good salsa and bachata dancer! He also taught regional dances, of Afro-Caribbean origin, which, once again, deepened the cultural experience of the region ”.

During the interview, he also expressed his opinion about Cartagena de Indias: “It is an impressive little city on the Caribbean Sea. It is very hot and humid. It is also beautiful and colorful. The story is admirable and charming; There are excellent museums, restaurants with delicious food, and friendly people. There are plenty of places to drink rum and dance salsa every night of the week. In the Castillo de San Felipe I witnessed a culminating moment, literally. From above I saw the most beautiful sunset with two of my new friends from school. Cartagena is no more or less dangerous than any city in the world. My host family lives about a mile walk from the school in a non-tourist neighborhood. I felt very safe walking to and from school, just watch out for crazy traffic! Take normal precautions: don't wander around alone at night, don't flash your wad of money, keep your bag close to you in crowds, and you'll be fine. I never felt any threat of violent crime, and the police presence outside the tourist district was also reassuring.” On her last night in Cartagena she celebrated in a bar with her classmates Robert, Steven and Teresa.

At the end of his testimony he said that: “Absolutely, unconditionally I would recommend Nueva Lengua to others! For a full immersion experience in Spanish, I can't imagine anything better! ” Learning a language means learning to know another culture from the inside. It is a continuous adventure that changes the way you see the world. Would you like to undertake this adventure? Live the unique experience of learning Spanish in Colombia!