LITA: A Unique Approach to Language Immersion in Spain

Sam enrolled in LITA the summer before his junior year, following in the footsteps of his older brother, who did it before sophomore year. Like his brother, Sam had a truly incredible experience in every respect. He fell in love with Spain and Spanish culture and built lifelong relationships with his homestay family. His language skills improved dramatically. There were many highlights, but I think what LITA does so well is handpick a set of families who are committed to the language and cultural goals of the program and are willing to have the American student become a real member of their family during the visit.

My daughter completed the 5-week South program this past summer (2026), and we couldn't have asked for a more life-changing opportunity packed into an incredibly thoughtful and enriching five weeks abroad. Knowing from experience that most large cities in Spain are easily navigated in English, we were seeking a program that would give her the opportunity to experience authentic Spanish culture and expedite her fluency through immersion in a smaller city. LITA fit that bill and then some. Newly 15 and a rising sophomore (/rising Spanish 4), she was the youngest student in her group, and (according to her) one of the most "emerging" speakers, but this quickly became a non-issue. This program is intentional and a bit more intense than some of the larger study abroad programs; the moment the kids arrive at JFK for their flight overseas, they are asked to speak with one another in Spanish. No doubt this introduction is initially a little uncomfortable and awkward for all, but a necessary hurdle to their ultimate goal of immersing fully and committing to learning the language. By all accounts, the kids adjusted quickly and by the end of her first week traveling with LITA, my daughter was blown away by how much her Spanish had already improved, how bonded her group was, and she hadn't even joined her family yet. The host family placements are incredibly thoughtful; my daughter had a host sister the same age as her, and two siblings that were roughly similar ages to her younger sisters. We had the special opportunity to meet her host family (as well as a few other LITA host families) in person as we were traveling the region as a family after her LITA experience; this precious reunion after two weeks away was tearful and joyful for both my daughter and her new familia in Spain. We were blown away by how lovely and warm all of the LITA host families we met were. By the end of our evening together, we all felt like we had extended family across the world through the magic of LITA. My daughter was supported every step of the way by the wonderful group leaders and Jordan, LITA's founder and director who personally ensures every student is having a good experience. The city where her homestay was based (in the Andalusia region) was the perfect size for the kids to have a little bit of independence while remaining completely safe. We were impressed by how the group leaders balanced the kids' need to explore independently with keeping them safe and ensuring all rules were followed. They were so supportive of the kids and available to us at all times. We cannot say enough good things about how deeply enriching this experience was for our daughter; it completely changed her worldview and she returned with a more mature, confident sense of self as well as full conversational fluency. In her transition back to the States, she was thinking in Spanish and homesick for Spain! She remains in good touch with her LITA group as well as her host family, who we hope to visit again at some point down the road. We are incredibly grateful for the gift of LITA and would recommend this program to any family who has a student that is serious about improving their fluency and studying abroad!

I was in the LITA North Three Week program this summer, and I had an absolutely amazing time--I would highly recommend the program. It's certainly difficult, but incredibly worth it. We went to three different parts of Spain over the course of the program, and in each area there were lots of activities to immerse us in the local culture and history of the locations we were in. What made most of the activities so special was the chance to interact with local people and see what Spanish daily life is like outside of Madrid or Barcelona. Although the first week and last parts of the program were very fun, my favorite part of the program was by far the homestay. My host family was so lovely and welcoming, and were basically my perfect match in terms of interests (one of my host parents worked giving tours involving a scientific field I spend most of my free time studying, so we had some really cool conversations about it--better than ones I have with my parents at home!) I still got to see other LITA students throughout the homestay during classes, but spending time with my host family was just so fun and the highlight of my entire trip. All of the people I met in during the program (both LITA students, counselors, and Spaniards) were so interesting and fun to be around. I made so many connections during my time there that I hope I'll get to maintain for a long time--I've been texting with a few different people I met in Spain pretty regularly since I've gotten back! I feel so motivated to continue learning Spanish because I want to be able to continue meeting people like those I met at LITA.

And, on the note of Spanish, LITA improved mine so much. Because everything in LITA is done in Spanish, the language aspect is so entwined with every part of the day. The majority of the time, I didn't even realize I was learning new things because I was so focused on activities or conversations. All this to say, it was a fantastic program and the only downside I can think of is that it's over!

Lita exceeded my expectations! I had an amazing five weeks, and I did not want it to end. We were exposed to many different regions of Spain, which were off the beaten path. This really gave us an authentic and immersive experience with the local people, food, and culture. The homestay was beyond incredible. The family that was chosen for me was amazing and I bonded with them instantly. Lita did a great job of picking families and making the transition into living with them seamless. I loved getting to hang out with my host sister and her friends. My Spanish skills soared while spending time with them at the local pool, mall, and plaza. The activities and excursions were different every day and very well planned. We were able to visit nearby cities and get a taste of Northern Spain. My peer group was amazing. I made many lifelong friends. This program really attracts a great group of kids from all over the country. I can't think of a better way to spend my summer. I truly loved every moment.

Amazing program for high school students who want to deepen their Spanish and have a deeply meaningful program. LITA is run by top notch educators who take tons of care to make sure students are matched with excellent host families and internships (or classes). All the the thoughtful groundwork helped the students bond with one another, and really understand Spanish culture. Truly a gem and the intentionality and framework make each day so special, and this is truly a standout program. So thankful we found it!

I had an amazing time on this trip. I was on the North 5 week trip, and we got to see a lot of different regions of Spain, from Galicia, Basque Country, Castile Leon and Catalonia. In each region, we had activities with locals who lived in worked in these communities. While we did som "traditional touristy" activities, it was always guided by a local. Many things I experienced I don't think I would have gotten on a trip with my family, like when we interviewed locals about their life in Galicia and after they taught us traditional card games. The time in the host community was amazing, I had a great time getting to know my family, and I took the classes sos I still got to see the people from my group everyday. The leaders and monitors were the best. They made sure we knew that we could go to them for anything we needed or any problems we had, no matter how small, and they were truly there for us. I got to try a lot of new food, meet a lot of new people, and form friendships that will last me a life time.

When I was planning my summer last year, I decided that I wanted to find an immersion camp to advance my abilities in Spanish. However, I wanted to make sure that this camp would be fully immersive and filled with other people with the same enthusiasm for language as me. That's when I found LITA.
From the very beginning, the LITA staff I met were welcoming, supportive, and friendly. After my initial meeting with Mari, along with an informal placement test of my speaking abilities, my excitement immediately grew.
This program is particularly exceptional due to its complex application process. In the application, you respond to a series of questions about yourself and your language abilities and aspirations. The most incredible thing, however, is the matching of a host family to a student! After you fill out a series of personal preferences, whether those be preferences on the number of siblings in your host family, pets, or even your food preferences, the LITA team finds the perfect family for each student through a complex vetting process (including meetings with Jordan and Mari, the leaders of LITA, and LITA liaisons within the individual towns). I, for one, loved my host family, and we still keep in touch, and we plan to meet again next year. Throughout my entire group, I did not find a single person who was unhappy with their host family and not sad to leave them when the time came!
One aspect of LITA that was particularly important to me was the fact that it was totally immersive. Even at the airport, where we all met before flying to Spain, we began to speak within our group in Spanish. Although it was difficult, the group monitors were able to help us whenever we needed it, whether that was in translation, grammar, or even just Spanish customs! LITA encourages total immersion at all times, bringing its groups to small towns in Spain (where the tourist and English-speaking presence is limited) and having each student live with their own Spanish-speaking host family. However, before this portion of the trip, there is a transition period in which the students and group monitors stay in another town and develop basic vocabulary, get accustomed to speaking solely in Spanish, and do various activities to bond and learn together. I found this particularly helpful, as it allowed me to establish a bond with my group while also making the transition to the immersive environment much easier (as I knew that I was surrounded by others who were attempting to learn Spanish, just like me).
Another wonderful thing about LITA is the fact that during the homestay (the time with students living with individual host families), there are still classes in the morning, during which we (the LITA students) were able to reconnect and learn, mostly through engaging activities such as a scavenger hunt through a nearby city (which required us to ask passerby questions in Spanish in order to find the locations of various pictures), a tour of an olive garden (followed by an olive oil tasting), and even an interview on a local radio show! And then, despite all of the activities of the morning, we were still able to spend the rest of the day with our host families, who had cleared their schedules for that time simply to accommodate us (for which I am forever grateful).
All in all, my short three week trip to Spain with LITA was a fun and meaningful immersion experience, and I hope to participate in this program again next year! I would definitely recommend this program to all eligible students who are avid Spanish learners and looking for an immersive experience in Spain that captures a perfect balance between language, history, exploration, connection, and fun!

LITA was a life-changing experience for me this past summer. I was a part of the 2024 South 5 trip. We started in Teruel, in eastern Spain where we spent the first week of the program connecting with our group members and leaders, and had activities with the community everyday to start practicing our Spanish and immersing ourselves in Spanish culture. This first week was designed very well to get us comfortable with each other in Spain. I remember my first full day, we went on a bike route through the beautiful Spanish scenery, then we had a guided tour through a bunker used during the Civil War, and finally we went to the beach where we had an amazing paella lunch by the water. This day had everything, from academic learning about Spanish history in the bunker, to enjoying Spanish food on the beach, to building time for all of us students to connect and have fun with each other on bikes and in the Mediterranean. This is how most days of the first week went. The bulk of the trip, though, was the middle where all of us spent three weeks living and connecting with host families in Andalucía. This was a transformative experience like no other. Not only was it a way to facilitate incredible language growth, but also a way to form deep connections with a family that lives their lives completely differently than you. I was able to build an incredible relationship with my host family. They welcomed me, provided me a place to sleep, food to eat, and all of that with a smile on their faces because they wanted to build that relationship just as much as I did. It was immediately obvious to me how much thought and care everyone involved in the program at LITA puts into selecting families that they know will not only provide a safe and comfortable environment for students, but also people that will be a good fit for each student. I am fortunate enough to say that my host family pairing was perfect and I am still in close contact with all of them and hope to stay in touch with them forever because of how connected I feel to them: I feel like a part of their family. During the homestay, our group leaders facilitated daily activities where we experienced and engaged with different parts of our homestay community. These were all good ways for us to connect with our host siblings through activity, and it helped bring all of the American students together. Those three weeks spent living with a new family completely in Spanish formed an "única" experience, the best single adjective in Spanish or English to describe it. It was truly special and the most impactful three weeks of my life bar none. The final week of the program was bittersweet because, instead of building relationships with group members to last the next five weeks, we had the end of our trip looming over us. The group leaders were aware of this though, and encouraged us to reflect on all of the goals we set for ourselves at the start of the trip and how we had met and exceeded them, and focus on making the most of our last few days. We had another series of awesome agendas and there was clearly so much effort put into organizing everything so that we really could make the absolute most of our time in Spain.