LITA

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!