4 Week Learn Spanish, Dance & Culture

A four week full cultural immersion based in Old Havana. Spanish classes are supplemented with dance classes, cultural tours, excursions and trips out of town.

Our ‘Learn Spanish, Culture & Dance’ 4 week program has been crafted to maximize your time in Old Havana (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Upon arrival Havana International Airport you will be picked up for a transfer to your Casa Particulares. This will be your home in Havana. You will have a shared bedroom with en suite, and take breakfast and lunch in the family kitchen diner. As with most homes, this is also a popular place to hang out and enjoy conversation with your host family! You will also have use of the family living room which enjoys balcony with cool breezes and great views of the streets below. As with most of Havana you will enjoy taking in the atmosphere which is truly unique.

Spanish Lessons

Each morning Monday to Friday from 09:00-11:45 you will receive 3* x 45 minute intensive structured Spanish lessons (each lesson is followed by a 15 minute break). Tuition is delivered by an accredited and licensed Cuban teacher, and lessons take place in the Casa. On the first morning there will be a short test to establish your level and requirements.

* The Cultural Immersion content will feature additional Spanish language tuition, oral comprehension and dialogue (approx. 4 hours per week).

Dance Classes

There are 2 dance classes per week – each approximately one hour duration, during which you will be taken through your paces learning Salsa, Son, Rueda de Casino, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, and Rumba and perhaps a few moves you haven’t heard of… The lessons are delivered a short walk from your Casa by a licensed dance instructor, and in the evenings there are MANY free live music venues where you can do your homework!

Cultural Immersion

In its day Havana was one of the most important and wealthy cities on the planet. The source of this wealth is undoubtedly controversial and Cuba’s more recent history is testament to this controversy. The faded patina of Havana’s gorgeous neo classical architecture, rumble of classic American cars and curious soviet era high rise buildings force you to question – what is Cuba?

We would like to help you answer this question through a series of cultural excursions and encounters with Cuban people. These will comprise three ‘sessions’ per week – it might be a guided tour of a museum, or a Sunday excursion down ‘Paseo del Prado’ to see the free open air art classes and discussion groups.

Jose Blanco Ramirez, known as VIANKO, will curate these cultural excursions. Vianko is a celebrated writer, humorist, poet and painter as well as a well-known academic at the University of Havana. We are excited that Vianko is collaborating with Jakera as we embark on a Cuban adventure together.

Weekend Excursions

During the 4 week program you will have three weekends, and we have included activities for each of these. For two weekends you will be accompanied on a daytrip to a beach directly east of Havana. Journey time is 30 minutes by bus and you will enjoy the exhilarating rollers that break on these pristine sandy beaches.

One weekend will feature an overnight trip to Viñales, a three hour drive to the central western region of Cuba. The Viñales is a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to the outstanding landscape, traditional architecture and agricultural techniques still used.

This four week program builds on our ‘entry level’ 1-2 week Learn Spanish program. This program takes place in a ‘Casa Particlares’ in Old Havana, Spanish language lessons take place Monday to Friday in the mornings, and in the afternoons you will receive dance classes and cultural excursions. Weekend trips feature the beach and a roadtrip to Viñales.

You will be staying in a ‘Casa Particulare’. Breakfast and lunch will be taken in the family kitchen/diner and you can enjoy the comfort of the family living room with a pleasant balcony with views of the hustle and bustle below!

This is a comprehensive program that allows you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the past and present Cuban lifestyle. You will have the chance to explore this special country.

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