Program Reviews

LITA is by far the best summer program I have ever done. Through this program I was able to learn more Spanish in a month than I could have ever imagined and made connections with people that will last a lifetime. LITA is the only program that truly offers complete language immersion thanks to its enforcement of speaking Spanish 100% of the time. While this can be challenging at times, it is absolutely what makes this program so special and unique.

The program's first week consisted of cultural and exploration activities in a small town in Aragon (northern Spain), which gave me invaluable knowledge about Spanish culture and taught me about a way of life that I previously knew nothing about. We then transitioned to the heart of the program, which was our three-week homestay in Andalusia (southern Spain). Through intense language classes, research projects, group excursions, and most of all, our host families, we truly immersed ourselves 100% in the Spanish language and culture and created bonds that will last the rest of our lives. We spent the final week of the program exploring other regions of Andalusia and continuing to expand our knowledge of Spanish culture while keeping our commitment to always speaking Spanish.

Overall, this program is perfect for people who are 100% committed to learning Spanish and are looking for the adventure of a lifetime. This program gave me the opportunity to learn a new language and explore one of the most beautiful places, physically and culturally, in the world. If you are looking for a life-changing experience in Spain this summer, LITA is the program for you!

Lita was one of the most challenging and rewarding programs our daughter has ever undertaken.Their unique curriculum, combined with basing their programs in rural Spain made for a wholly authentic and intense experience.

Lita excelled at selecting motivated participants. Likewise, the homestay families were fully engaged and committed to connecting with the participants. Our daughter bonded deeply with her host family…she was given a great mix of togetherness and independence. The way the families are engaged was critically important…every day there were opportunities for connection and interaction with multiple families. It really deepened the experience as there was a palpable sense of cohesion and purpose in the program’s structure.

Students were embraced by small town life: gathering in the town square for Spain’s soccer win was an electric experience our daughter will never forget. The combination of the 3 week home stay, hiking in the mountains, exploring Basque Country and ending with a 3 day stay in Barcelona made for a very complete and varied program. A+ in every way!

I could not have asked for a better way to spend my summer this year than with LITA. This program changed my life by giving me the opportunity to truly immerse myself, 100%, in the Spanish language and culture in an authentic small town in Spain as opposed to a large, touristic city. Through intense language classes, cultural activities, adventurous excursions, and an unforgettable homestay, I was able to learn more Spanish in one month than I could have imagined possible.

Our first week in a small town in Aragon (northern Spain), helped us accustom to life in Spain as we transitioned to speaking Spanish 100% of the time and participated in engaging cultural activities. Our three week homestay in Andalusia was by far the most amazing part of the experience. During this time, I made a priceless connection with my Spanish host family and got to experience how they truly live, giving me a true cultural immersion experience that no other program can provide.

I went into my 3 week LITA Spanish program with high expectations, yet my experience surpassed all of them! The trip realized everything I hoped for and more-- My group and leaders were all very kind and supporting, the activities we did were fun, varied, and quite informative, and my Spanish language skills improved exponentially in such a short amount of time. My favorite portion of the experience by far was the homestay, which took place in a small rural town in Castila y León. I was put with the most incredible host parents and 7 year old host sister, and I can't describe how much I enjoyed partaking in a portion of their daily lives. I made so many great memories with my family-- touring the nearby towns, learning to cook their favorite dishes in their kitchen, playing in the public pool, tasting the many traditional tapas of the region, and so much more. Although the program's emphasis on communicating exclusively in Spanish was definitely challenging, I have noticed an enormous improvement in both my skill level and my comfort in speaking Spanish. I have no regrets about my trip with LITA-- An unforgettable highlight of my summer!

I spent 5 weeks this summer with LITA on the northern trip and I am so grateful for this experience. I had never fully immersed in Spanish like this before but it had been one of my favorite classes at school and I knew it would be worthwhile for me. Spending these five weeks with a small group of like-minded students was fun, educational, valuable, and I made friends I know I will have to life. I worked in a “práctica” and stayed with a family in a small town and I am so lucky to have had this experience. My host sister was my age and quickly became a best friend of mine — she taught me everything and was always by my side. My host parents were welcoming and kind, willing to help me with whatever I needed and slow down talking when I first arrived. I watched fútbol with them, hung out with friends, went to dinners, drove out of town for day trips to explore the area, and overall made unforgettable memories. The group of students traveling with me were completely committed to the language immersion and supported me greatly in tackling the challenge of communicating in a different language. If you are looking to grow as a Spanish speaker and as a person, this is the program for you!

LITA is a once in a lifetime experience! I met some of the kindest people on this trip. During this trip I was pushed to grow not only academically but also socially. You are set up with a strong support system from the beginning and from there you are given space and sometimes a little push to step out of your comfort zone. Since this trip my comfortability in the world has grown so so much and I have found that I am now walking through the world differently. LITA taught me to walk through the world with compassion and wonder and that changed my life. I am eternally great full for this experience and the person I have become from it.

This program was absolutely incredible and I would recommend it to anyone looking to improve their Spanish skills in a fun and unforgettable manner. My homestay community was so welcoming and so was my host family. From the start, you truly feel the complete Spanish immersion and are immediately welcomed by the chaperones and your group. We always had a fun activity and in the homestay communities you could get together with other people in the program and their host families, creating an even closer knit group. This program improved not only my Spanish speaking skills, but also gave me a deep appreciation of Spanish culture, left me with a stronger sense of self, and memories I will never forget.

Lita is an amazing program to get out of your comfort zone, improve your Spanish, and experience life in a completely new culture. I was on the 3-week program in south Spain and have amazing memories of my host family, my group, my group leaders, and the other kind people I met.

The highlight of my trip was my homestay. I loved spending time with my host family, and although I was nervous at first, they were incredibly supportive. My group was in a small, tight-knit community in a town without any tourists, and this warm and safe environment helped me immerse myself in the Spanish culture and language. I truly learned at every moment, and my Spanish vastly improved while I expanded my perspective. By the end, my host family and I had grown very close, and I was sad to leave. I am still in touch with them and hope to see them again some day.

While being eager to learn Spanish is important, it is just as crucial to be excited about the other aspects of Spanish culture by trying new foods, spending quality time with your host family, and participating in group activities. The trip really does fly by, and you will get the most out of it and the Spanish part will come naturally if you are truly excited to learn.

This program is a perfect summer trip for those who are interested in learning Spanish & Spanish culture while having fun! LITA does a fantastic job of building a sense of community throughout the trip. I remember my first week (as part of the five week Northern trip), I spent time with my group alone in Galicia and really got to know everyone well before we went to our host stay families in Castile y Leon. While a Spanish immersion trip can at times be daunting, these friendships provide crucial support to ensure you enjoy your trip while meeting that immersion challenge. On top of this, LITA provides a unique learning experience by taking students to less traveled areas in Spain. Through these experiences, you get to have one-on-one conversations with a myriad of people to learn local “dichos” (sayings) and the current happenings in Spain. In these moments, I saw the unfiltered honesty and kindness in the Spanish people. On one excursion outside of A Coruña, I remember that I got lost trying to find a church and a lady personally walked me there while talking about her experiences with the Spanish Civil War. Overall, LITA trains its students how to speak Spanish in a practical manner, which is a strong contrast to Spanish teaching methods that stuff students into a classroom and force them to memorize verb conjugations. The one piece of advice that I would have is simply that ideally, you should study up a bit on your Spanish and Spanish history before arriving. Understanding the cultural and historical context behind the places you’ll stay in helps you get the most out of your experience. Thus, if you’re not passionate about learning Spanish, this may not be the trip for you. However, if you’re interested in Spanish, this is a wonderful program to partake in!

After being put on the waitlist in 2022, I'm very grateful that I was able to join this past summer! Initially, I was leaning towards the three-week trip, as being away for five weeks seemed daunting. However, after chatting with people and us all agreeing I should go for longer, I did, and I have absolutely no regrets! The set-up of the program between homestay and traveling with the group was refreshing and allowed me to get comfortable with everyone first. My Lita group was extremely friendly, open, and caring; even though I'm not the biggest talker, I felt comfortable with everyone and more than that, our group leaders. They were always helping us out and rooting for our success in activities, which was endearing and motivating. The trips we all took together were a healthy mix of fun and educational, and we even had some outdoor things mixed in there (those were the best!).
Not only that, but I loved meeting and engaging with so many different types of people. My friends from the group were amazing, and all of the others I met from being around my homestay family were just as awesome. Experiencing daily life in Spain for my family was vastly different from how I spend my days normally, so it was refreshing and helped me to become open to any sort of activities we did. And the delicious food I had every day was like the cherry on top!
For anyone who is looking to go on one of Lita's many adventures, I promise you to do it. I was very hesitant because of nervousness, and my lack of confidence speaking in another language, but this trip essentially eliminated those issues. The development of my speaking abilities alone is enough for me to recommend this trip to anyone considering it. No matter your expectations, the Lita experience will go above and beyond what you're expecting. It's an unforgettable experience!