Red Tree Study: Learn Spanish in Colombia

We arranged our language course via Red Tree Study which I can highly recommend. They helped us with everything, answered our emails always immediately - good work. Unfortunately we had to skip one week of language course due to changing plans (not because of the language course!) and even that was no problem at all. The language course at Nueva lengua was also very good, always helpful and many activities to do after class.

I arrived in Medellin with a handful of words of spanish, and a desire to learn more. I had read that this city was the ideal place to learn the language - great climate, friendly people, a great social scene, surrounded by the rich and beautiful natural environment Colombia has to offer. With the sole intent of learning another language, exploring an amazing country and immersing myself in latin culture, I started in Course 1 in Spanish for Foreigners at EAFIT University. The campus is lovely, and you have access to excellent facilities - an incredible library, swimming pool, excellent modern gym, tennis courts, cafes, restaurants, computers labs, copy shops, etc. The teaching quality is excellent, the classes and chance to meet other students, both foreigners and locals, was great, and they make a real point of weaving into the course program cultural and historical lessons. I highly recommend EAFIT, and I love Medellin so much I decided to stay. I now run my own business here and my spanish is pretty good, although there is always so much more to learn! My story is a familiar one - as they say - the only risk in Colombia is wanting to stay.

Dear reader:

If you are considering coming to Colombia to study Spanish, I highly recommend it! Let me describe my experience in the hopes that it may help you plan your own time here.

I contacted Red Tree several months prior to when I was planning to be in Colombia. Ginna went above and beyond, answering all of my questions, however small they were, and always making me feel welcome to ask more questions. This is was really important for me as I hadn't heard many things about Colombia other than the primarily negative image we have in Canada of this country.
Ginna was able to set up a Skype call with my host family's mother, Socorro, who is an absolute gem. I have been living with Socorro and her family in Bogotá for two months and couldn't ask for a better host family - inclusive, welcoming, and generous, the apartment is frequently visited by several of the many aunts and uncles of the family making for a relaxed yet full social life even before you step outside the door!
The language school Nueva Lengua is excellent. The professors are talented and work hard to be great teachers, there is a weekly smorgasbord of activities both in the school and around the city, and the school is well equipped and a comfortable environment to spend as many hours as you like. I highly recommend taking the Intensive Spanish course (an extra hour each morning) as well as the dance classes - if you are hesitant to dance, this recommendation goes double for you!

Whether or not you win the proverbial lottery of living with Socorro, attending classes at Nueva Lengua, or talking with Ginna, I believe Red Tree Study can be an essential part of planning of your trip. Best of luck on whichever path you choose!

Another thank you to Alex and Ginna of Red Tree Study.
Chris Madsen

Have done a lot of language courses trying to improve my Spanish and found that Red Tree were great at directing me to a course that suited my level and needs. They offered me really good advice, got me a great deal with the school and were always available during the course for feedback and help with any issues. Colombia is a fantastic place to learn Spanish with a great variety of schools and the Colombian people are amazing. If you want to have a fun course with great social activities and high level of teaching ability look no further. 10/10

Loved my time in Colombia. My course was great and I made good progress for my travels afterwards. The school was really friendly and I liked the other students. Colombia is amazing and I wish I could spend more time there, there is so much to see. If you like the sunshine then definitely go to the beaches of Tayrona. It was great booking with Red Tree, they were very friendly and gave a me a good range of options in each place even though my course was short. And the host family they found me was just amazing! It's a great option to stay at a local house instead of a hostel if you are serious about learning Spanish. Some of the schools in Colombia are not the cheapest but overall the experience was really good.

Choosing to go abroad can be incredibly overwhelming with the amount of programs, schools, volunteer activities, and internships available. When I decided I wanted to learn Spanish abroad, I chose to go to Colombia. However, I didn't know where to start or how to proceed. Luckily, I came across Red Tree Study. This organization connects you with whatever experience you are looking for. I set up a skype interview with Ginna, who lives and works in Colombia. Connecting with someone who knows the country first-hand was incredibly helpful. She asked me what type of experience I wanted to have abroad and then presented reputable schools and programs with full reviews. She guided me through each part of the experience: the homestay, language school, and what to prepare before going. I could not have been happier!

Personal Reviews:
Homestay: Clean apartment, friendly host, own bedroom/bathroom, convenient and safe location
Language School: she found the exact fit for me (small classroom, personable teachers, good prices)
Activities: there were many activities organized through Red Tree that were available for me to join. They included small day trips, tours, cultural experiences, restaurant visits, etc.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend Red Tree for anyone who would like assistance in organizing their experience. They take the time to help you find exactly what you're looking for at no charge. With personable assistance and advise you are sure to have a wonderful experience in Colombia!

While searching for a language school in a new country it is always good to have another opinion or suggestion about the school. Red Tree did that for me and also offered advice on other parts of my travels.