Spanish Experience Center Guanajuato  Are you considering an immersion school but feeling unsure if it’s the right fit for you? I was in the same boat. At 77 years old, I had serious doubts about whether I would fit into such a setting. Despite my passion for studying Spanish and the progress I made over three years of self-learning, I lacked confidence in speaking and struggled to understand native speakers at their normal speed. After researching various schools in Mexico, I stumbled upon Spanish Experience in Guanajuato. What initially caught my eye were the glowing references to the city itself. Choosing a language school in the right location can make all the difference. If you’re not comfortable in the community, you can’t fully immerse yourself in the people, culture, architecture, and most importantly, the language. Guanajuato is an absolute gem. The colorful houses, blending French, Spanish, and Mexican architecture, will leave you in awe at every turn. The locals are incredibly friendly, patient, and proud of their heritage. They are welcoming and eager to help you as you navigate the city, whether you’re buying necessities or exploring the many sights Guanajuato is also one of the safest cities in Mexico, allowing you to relax and truly enjoy the vibrant culture and warm community. The school itself is staffed with two of the finest teachers you could ask for. They skillfully mix patience and humor to help you grasp and incorporate important aspects of the Spanish language. I stayed in the historical center of Guanajuato, and the school provided daily transportation, picking me up and dropping me off. I opted for a full schedule with three classes in the morning and two in the afternoon, which still left plenty of time to explore the city. One of the best decisions I made was opting to stay with a Mexican family instead of a hotel or Airbnb This was probably the hardest decision because I had no idea if I would enjoy living with a family. My only request was for a private room and bathroom. My concerns were completely unfounded as this experience turned out to be the highlight of the immersion program. I was paired with a family who had a separate apartment for me and provided breakfast and conversation every morning. The breakfasts were incredible, and the morning conversations felt like another pleasant lesson each day. The couple who hosted me couldn’t have been nicer, and I am sure the friendship we formed will continue into the future. Every single reservation I had before going evaporated within 24 hours of arriving there. I attended a two-week program, and on the one weekend I had, I opted for an excursion to visit the historical cities of Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel de Allende. This trip, with 13 Mexican citizens who were also visiting Guanajuato, turned out to be an incredibly fun experience. We sang songs by José Alfredo Jiménez all the way to his historical house and museum. They introduced me to local foods and historical facts, and even gave me the Mexican name San Francisco. This review might sound like a travel dialogue, but it’s impossible to separate the total immersive experience from the school, the community, or the people. For me, the experience was completely immersive. If you have any reservations about attending an immersion school, take a deep breath and dive in. It was a game-changer for me, and I am confident it will be for you too.

I spent 2 weeks here. I found Javier, Rojelio and Beto not only to be good and experienced teachers but also to be sincere, relaxed and friendly - caring for their students. I took the more instensive choice. They were very flexible using their long experience as teachers guide me through the aspects of the language that I wanted to learn. The morning sessions were grammar based which I found very instructive. The afternoon conversations were adapted to whatever we wanted to do. It could be unstructured conversation, field trips around the city, read and discussion, debates or show and tell. I did also of those activities. And added plus to their care and professional service is that they will pick you up each morning, teach you how to ride the local buses and take you for the most delicous steamed tacos that you have every eaten. A warning! Beware of Javier's bas jokes.

I studied at the Spanish Experience Center in Marfil ( quick ten minutes by car from the Centro in Guanajuato) for 3 weeks in March, 2023. Rogelio is a wonderful teacher of Spanish grammar. My 3 hours each morning went by very quickly. We covered so many topics. Thanks to Rogelio, my Spanish improved greatly. He is also very generous with his time: he picked me up each morning from my Airbnb. One morning we stopped and had a breakfast of tacos de vapor. In the afternoons, I spent two hours of conversation with Javier - another very experienced and skillful teacher. There are some nice restaurants with nice patios, within walking distance of the school, so we had class there. Javier is smart, funny and easy to spend time with. The course prices at the school are truly a ‘buena oferta’. This school is a great place to study Spanish.