LITA: A Unique Approach to Language Immersion in Spain

LITA

About

LITA is a unique language immersion program offering students a comprehensive exploration of rural Spain, a dynamic experience far removed from English-speaking tourism. Through small, intimate groups of 12-16 students and three group leaders, extensive homestay experiences in small towns, internships, research projects, and other more rural adventures off the beaten path, LITA participants advance their language skills while acquiring a genuine understanding of the diverse nature of Spanish culture as a part of a safe, structured, and personalized immersive experience.

The name LITA alludes to the philosophical foundation of our program: a Spanish word ending with the diminutive “ita” often denotes something that is small, personal, and is something or someone toward which one feels great affection. This informs all elements of our programs.

Founded
2010

Reviews

Default avatar
Zach
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A most unforgettable summer experience!

This past summer, I spent 5 weeks in rural Spain as part of LITA's immersion program. Venturing from the heart of Andalucia to the remote Casas Rurales of Alájar, a group of about 15 other kids and I were exposed to the magnificent cultures and traditions of the Spanish people. We learned to love the nuance and discomfort of adapting to a new world of language and customs, and at that, we became the best of friends. Between the laughter shared and days spent with a constant smile, I cannot recommend this immersion experience enough. At the end of the day, you will get out what you put into this experience; and should you apply yourself and engage in all that Spain has to offer, you will find yourself ineffably changed for the better.

Pros
  • Noble, honest, and caring peers.
  • Diversity of locations.
  • True Immersion experience.
Cons
  • Culture shock
  • Homesickness
  • Having to leave the group at the end of the trip (I cried)
Default avatar
Charles
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great program and summer

This past summer I went on the LITA five-week North Program. The program involved a weeklong stay in Galicia, a three-week homestay in Castilla y León, and a week of hiking and exploring in Los Pirineos. Each part of the trip was culturally unique and special that uncovered much of Northern Spain’s beauty.

Homestay — The three-week homestay was the best part of the program. Initially, I was anxious about living with another family and needing to communicate with them in a foreign language. However, my anxiety was dispelled the moment I stepped off the bus and was welcomed by my family with open arms. After adjusting to my new family and new routine the first day, the following three weeks went by in a blur of enjoyment and learning. By the end of my stay, I felt as though I was a part of the community. I still talk with my host brother daily.

Immersion — One of LITA’s great aspects is that their programs are completely immersive. Every interaction with my group leaders, fellow students, and host family was in Spanish. Because I was not able to fall back on my English, the first few days in Galicia were difficult. But once I adjusted to the entirely Spanish environment each day felt easier and more natural than the last. I have found that my confidence in speaking Spanish has improved drastically because of the immersive experience.

Jordan — I had planned to travel to Spain with LITA two years ago but Covid unfortunately altered those plans. Over that two-year span, Jordan was in constant contact with my family and me, updating us on LITA’s plans and availability for the upcoming summer. During the trip, Jordan jumped between LITA’s four groups in Spain. It was always a highlight when Jordan joined the group. From preparing for the trip to helping the group adjust and navigate Spain, Jordan was fantastic. Jordan truly is the cornerstone of the program. His expertise, passion, and care for the program were impressive to watch.

Not only has my Spanish improved immensely but I have made some of my best friends. I highly recommend LITA!

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Stella
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

the most incredible summer and best decision ever

After my trip was canceled in 2020 due to Covid, I finally was able to join LITA South 3 week program this summer. I was nervous at first to be leaving the country for the first time, thinking it would feel awkward going to a place with complete strangers, but I could not have been more wrong. The leaders in my group helped to create such a comfortable and safe environment, while only communicating in Spanish. They were patient, kind, and extremely helpful.

Jordan and his team could not have placed me with a better host family. I had the best time getting to know about the daily lives of my host parents and sister. Even after the trip I still continue to keep in touch with them and call them often. They fully took me in as their own and brought me to hangouts with friends, family dinners, and to the beach for a weekend getaway.

The itinerary was packed with the most exciting and enriching activities. I was a bit worried about being an outsider in a different country, but it didn't feel like that at all. At every place, we went we were greeted with hospitality and kindness. I learned so much about the culture in such a fun and immersive way.

If you are looking to learn about Spanish culture, improve your Spanish, and create long lasting memories, this is the program for you. I was worried that people might not want to speak in Spanish the whole time but everyone on my trip was there because they wanted to learn and wanted to improve their Spanish speaking abilities. I think the thing that impressed me the most was how my entire group was able to become so close and build such strong relationships entirely in Spanish. One of my favorite memories with the group was when we went on a long hike and to pass the time we all started singing songs acapella style together. It made for an unforgettable trip, one that I will never forget.

Words can't even express how grateful I am to have been able to go on this trip. I'll forever be thankful for the unbelievable memories LITA has given me. 100% recommend!!!!

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Sophia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Spanish Immersion and the Experience of a Lifetime

My summer with the LITA five-week South Program was an incredible experience. LITA is an amazing program committed to providing its students with a unique experience and to create personal connections with the Spanish Culture and Language.

From the moment I was first introduced to the program in late 2021, Jordan and his team made an effort to build a relationship with me, to make sure that any questions I had were answered, and to prepare me as much as possible prior to the trip in June of 2022. The back and forth zoom calls and email check-ins over those months made it clear how attentive Jordan was to the LITA applicants and the programs mission to provide the best possible experience for me in Spain. There was not a single concern I was unable to voice and get a thorough answer to before the flight.

Once we landed in Spain, every activity from then on was elaborately planned, and every day was a unique experience in which we learned new aspects of Spanish culture. There were new goals each day. Every person we met had something to teach us, and every town we visited had plenty of opportunities for us to learn. I remember our group leaders telling us that every day on this trip, we would have the opportunity to learn, and that remained true throughout the entire five weeks.

One reason the activities were so immersive was because of the rural settings of the places that we visited, as well as LITA’s connections with local guides and families. My three-week homestay in a small town was amazing, and it was clear as soon as I met my host family that Jordan and his team had put in time and effort in picking the best family for me to provide a personalized experience.

If you’re interested in greatly improving your Spanish, this program will meet your expectations. We were constantly put in situations where we had to converse with native speakers. I am extremely happy with how much my Spanish improved, and the confidence I gained in speaking it.

The relationships that I built throughout my homestay and the rest of the trip were genuine, and I learned more about Spanish culture than I ever could have imagined. This program was incredible. I fell in love with Spain this summer, and I’ve never enjoyed speaking Spanish more in my life. LITA’s commitment to language learning through immersion and creating meaningful connections between its students and small local communities in Spain sets it apart from other programs.

Definitely recommend!!

Default avatar
Lauren
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

LITA: A life changing summer

LITA is a truly one of a kind program. As a student in the LITA North group this past summer, my five weeks spent in Northern Spain were transformative in so many ways. My newfound love for the Spanish language and Spanish culture is something I will continue to explore for the rest of my life. If you are looking for a Spanish immersion program where you will speak Spanish 24/7, live in culture rich rural Spain, and be pushed out of your comfort zone, LITA is the program for you. While it can be intimidating to travel to a foreign country and speak a different language with new people, your fellow LITA students, LITA leaders, host family, Jordan, and the Spaniards you meet along the way are constantly supporting you. The homestay is definitely the core of the LITA program. LITA matched me with a wonderful, kind family in a unique rural town, and I had the opportunity to build a bond with them over the course of three weeks. I still keep in touch with my host family, and I also met my best friend the first day of the trip with whom I still talk everyday. LITA has given me the skills to confidently converse in a new language and also confidently travel to new places. It's very rewarding to be in a SUPER fun environment that is also academic. My Spanish is drastically better than I ever could have imagined. By exploring rural parts of Spain you are able to learn and experience true Spanish culture, something you wouldn't be able to do as well in Madrid or Barcelona. And the FOOD and SIESTA are just a fantastic bonus!

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

In all honesty, my sister had done it the year before. It all sounded enchanting, and so I wanted to go and experience it myself. I was also looking to travel over the summer anyway, so this was an amazing opportunity to learn while having fun.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

My program providers, Jordan Romm and Michela Corcorran had everything organized down to the T before the trip. As applicants, we needed to fill out multiple surveys to see what family we should match with and what group we should be put with. Each student attending the trip was given a binder full of logistics and necessities in preparation for the trip.

During the home stay, since I took classes instead of doing an internship, I needed to plan ahead for the project I wanted to do. In this case I researched women's rights in the working world of Spain. The main things I organized consisted of a few interviews with different members of the town.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

This trip will give you everything you could ever hope for in terms of quickly advancing your Spanish skills if you give it everything as well. In the beginning of my trip, one of my monitors, Olivia who I am currently in touch with, told us, "There are those who will leave this trip and have had an amazing time, and then there are others who will leave this trip having had an amazing, life changing experience."

It really matters how much effort you are willing to commit towards bettering your Spanish. If you put in the work, and try your best to speak Spanish even in the moments when it's the last thing on Earth you want to do, you will return from Spain a different person.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

There are four different types of days/weeks you might have in this program. The first week will most likely consist of easy hikes, frequent group chats, amazing food, and the longest, yet most entertaining bus rides of your life. I can't even begin to explain how much fun my group had jamming out on the bus!

In the home stay, you will either have a class/internship day, or possibly a group outing. The group outing could be just the LITA students, or all of the families too, and will be filled with activities. A day with a class/internship consists of attending the class, eating a snack right before lunch, lunch, siesta, going to the pool or playing sports, dinner (at 9-10), and then going out with friends until late at night. We returned home most nights at 1:30 am which was hard to keep up with, but 100% worth the adventure-filled nights.

The Pyrenees are simple days. You wake up early, hike all day on very difficult terrain, and then find a "refugio" by around 6-8 pm where you eat and sleep. They are long, challenging days, but coming home from LITA I was so inspired by the hikes that I reached out to a hiking friend of mine and ended up going on a very nice hike!

In Barcelona the days are packed to the max with trips to the differing sections to interview the people, taste the food, take a dip in the Mediterranean sea, and shop a little.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I had two main fears. I feared my Spanish wouldn't be good enough and I wouldn't be able to communicate, and I feared I would not like my Spanish family.

I conquered the first fear quickly. The first week of the trip prepped me well. My group made a pact to try and speak Spanish all of the time, so by the time I met my host family, I felt more warmed up with the language. The leaders of my group also reassured us that it is better to talk and mess up, then to not communicate at all. Sure my Spanish wasn't perfect, but the people I communicated with always understood what I was trying to say.

As for my family, I couldn't have been happier. Jordan and Michela went above and beyond when pairing me with my family. I had two sisters, a mother, and a dad who was abroad that couldn't have taken better care of me. In fact, my Spanish sister and I grew so close I plan on having her come and stay with me this coming summer.

What was your favorite part of the trip?

This is a question I am often asked, and my response is always the same: the people. This experience encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and be as sociable as possible. I chatted with tour guides, bus drivers, our photographer Ester, random people on the street, my sister's friends, grandparents, cousins, anyone I could talk to in order to practice my Spanish.

It didn't feel like a task to practice my Spanish because the people I practiced with made it enjoyable. Even the people in my LITA group were some of the most interesting, kind-hearted people I have ever met. My two leaders, Ilan and Olivia are some of my favorite people I have ever met.

One of the hardest things I've had to do recently is say goodbye to the people in my Spanish town and the people in my LITA group. I have made bonds this summer that will last a lifetime, and hope that anyone fortunate enough experience LITA, chooses LITA.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Brittany Shelley

Job Title
Assistant Director
Brittany Shelley is the assistant director of LITA. She was a high school Spanish teacher for over ten years, the highlight of many of those school years being a summer spent exploring Spain as a LITA group leader. Now joining the full-time LITA staff, she is eager to curate more unique experiences for future LITA students.
Brittany Shelley in a wine cellar wearing a white tank top, with dark hair, and sunglasses smiling

What is your favorite travel memory?

A LITA trip is a memory-making machine. Each day there are moments of discovery, reflection, pride, and connection. That being said, my fondest LITA travel memory involves a pick-up soccer game on the grounds of a centuries old monastery in Galicia (a "mystical" area in Northwest Spain). Our local guide had given us a twilight tour around the grounds, all the while spinning spooky stories of the area's past. I soaked up the theatrics of the tales, the beautiful scenery, the bonding with my LITA students. Then our guide rolled out a soccer ball and, without missing a beat, we all dove in to an impromptu soccer game on the monastery's "pitch." The sun set and we continued playing long after the ball was no longer fully visible in the dark. The entire evening was unforgettable.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

After a decade-long career as a Spanish teacher, the ebbs and flows of the academic year were baked into my DNA. My life passed one marking period at a time, and I loved being part of a school community and sharing my passion for the language with my amazing students. However, since joining LITA I have opened the fire hose of the possibilities in my professional life. While still being able to use Spanish and interact with students, I have been presented with so many new challenges and responsibilities. It is exhilarating to be learning so much in support of a project that is so near and dear to my heart. I am endlessly grateful to Jordan Romm for allowing me to join his LITA team.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

The best story from a program alum is more of a recurring theme of LITA students. When I check in with a student and they share that they have made plans to return to Spain to visit their host family or that their host family / sibling will be coming to spend time with them in the U.S. I am filled with joy. To know that from the seed of a short, 3-week long homestay a lifelong friendship spanning two continents can grow never ceases to amaze and energize me.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

The North 5 Week trip is my passion project. I have led this trip three times, and with each return to the tranquil casa rural, to the familiar homestay community, to the thrills of the Pyrenees I fall more in love with the diversity of Spain and the amazing people who call it home. The trip has the perfect balance of natural beauty, wonderful folks, and energizing experiences.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Working for LITA feels like a public service. The mission of the company is to connect students to rural travel and to forge true connections in a foreign language. The measure of "success" for LITA is not measured by the bottom line. I am proud to work with a company that is so mission driven and student-centered.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

LITA's mission statement of fostering meaningful connections informs every decision our team makes. Because we know the impact that people have on a traveler's experience we prioritize creating a strong group dynamic among students, placing students with warm and accommodating host families, and connecting with locals who are brimming with excitement to welcome our groups. Every member of LITA's staff understands the impact of these connections and that through-line is what makes LITA stand apart.