Na'atik Language and Culture Institute

As someone who is far removed from university but with a huge interest in the spanish language, I found this program so helpful. Most programs are for university students, but this one is for anyone who is interested. Yes, it is a little pricier than other programs, but that is because the tuition covers the english program for the kids. There were so many kids learning english and I even got to volunteer in the classrom. When you volunteer, you help the kids with english while they help you with spanish. I am almost done with my final week of 4 and I do not want to leave!

I stayed in Carrillo for one week and had the best time. The class time was super great and the instruction was well-paced and well-suited for my language level. There was only one other person with me in class so there was lots of opportunity for conversation. My home stay was also really great and gave me the opportunity to put what I learned in class into action. The accommodation was also very well-appointed and the food was incredible! The house I stayed in didn't have hot water and coming from Canada this was out of the ordinary for me but you really don't miss it, and it was no problem at all. The excursions I took were really special and made the week really meaningful and fun and helped to understand the culture and again use language skills in a different setting. I felt incredibly well taken care of the entire time from communication the week before I arrived, to having someone waiting for me when I landed at the airport to when I was delivered back to Cancun. I would 100% recommend doing this immersion program and it gave me a real confidence boost with my speaking comfort. I even got several compliments on my Spanish when I was talking with people in town and then in Cancun after my stay in Carrillo. I only wish I could have stayed more that one week. If I can, I will definitely go back!

I flew in and out of Cancun and the only thing I would change if I go again is to fly in and out of Tulum instead just because Tulum is closer and nicer.

Like so many other people I know I had spent over 5 years learning Spanish thru Duolingo but found that I would freeze up when someone would start speaking Spanish to me. I even had a tu tot twice a week but that wasn’t working. So, I decided to do an immersion program. After considering several I chose Na’atik because they just felt right.

My instincts proved correct. Over the course of 7 days in the town of Carrillo I took 5 days of 4 hour classes which were outstanding. But even better was the fact that I was surrounded by people speaking spanish 95% of the time (for 11 days total - we spent 4 days in Cancún. That experience is definitely transforming. I finally can differentiate the individual words that I’m hearing. I didn’t start speaking confidently durian the trip but now that I am home I find myself speaking in Spanish in my mind, constructing Spanish answers to English questions. Now it’s not just vocabulary or grammar. It’s using the two to make sentences.

My adult daughter came with me which was a special treat spending all that time together. The staff and our host family made us feel truly welcomed and at home (and we were WELL fed with home cooked meals cooked by our host family 3 times a day). The town of Carrillo is a definite contrast to our American way of life. The local people live more simply with less stuff and they are happier than most Americans I know. They are a warm community and we felt completely safe walking all around the town every day.

We both plan on returning sometime in the next few years and staying longer.

I absolutely loved my two weeks here. My host family made me feel more welcome than I ever expected and the combination of school and time with them made my learning so seamless. The school was very supportive if there is anything I needed and my teacher had a fun and helpful teaching style - lots of activities and practice to learn. There were many fun activities to do in the afternoon and on weekends like cenote and mountain biking or learning to cook local food. My host family put so much effort into sharing the local food culture with me and my host mom was an excellent cook!

When I decided to do an immersion trip to improve my Spanish skills, I did a lot of research to find one that provided an authentic, well organized experience that was safe with plenty of interactive activities and this program fit the criteria perfectly.

The entire process went smoothly from booking the program, to the classes, the activities and the stay with the local family. There was support and communication daily.
This experience was much better than I had expected.

The classes were well organized and based on what I and my other classmate needed and/or wanted to learn. Oscar is an excellent teacher and gave very clear examples and explanations. He made learning fun with activities and games and when we brought up a question or another topic, he went with it. He was very diligent at following through to make sure we understood everything.

The activities were wonderful and helped me connect with the people of the community and their culture. I experienced swimming in a beautiful Cenote and learning about it’s ecosystem from its owner, learned about the history and customs of the Indigenous Maya at the Maya cultural center and tasted coffee made in artesanal coffee makers made by indigenous women from natural materials. I learned how to make Alote and Pan de Muerto in an amazing restaurant from a chef who converted the home of her grandmother into an amazing restaurant combining modern elements with traditional elements.

I stayed with a beautiful family who welcomed me into their home and shared their daily life with me and fed me amazing meals.

Honestly, it was a life changing experience for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the culture and language of this region