Program Reviews

I spent three weeks with Corazon Cuba in La Habana. Having learnt Spanish only while travelling in Latin America I still made a lot of mistakes. After three weeks I felt much more confident in the use of the language. I am now really able to have a deeper conversation in Spanish and I make considerably fewer mistakes. The teaching was varied, professional and linked to life in Cuba. We watched and discussed movies, read poems and short stories and got an in-depth comprehension of Spanish grammar.

The housing was simple, clean and well kept, food was delicious. Meeting people from all over the world was great fun. I met interesting people and made friends. Dancing lessons were great, my teacher had a lot of patience with me.

Thank you very much, I shall come back!

I had a wonderful time. Everybody was friendly and helpful.
I would definitely return. And I already have recommended this program to many of my friends.I loved the dance lessons and my Spanish teacher was wonderful. I learned so much! Havana is a wonderful city in that location was perfect. It was easy to walk to restaurants, walk to the bus station, and walk to night dances. The rooftop was a lovely place to hang out. It’s a great way to meet people from all over the world. The staff was helpful and well organized.

I spent 10 days in the school in Havana vieja. Had a great time there. All the staff is very reliable, helpful and good teachers. Learning spanish was efficient in relaxing way and funny at the same time. After one week program of spanish lessons I decided to prolong it for another week with volunteering work and was great decision. So after spanish in the morning we went to the school and in afternoon helping children in primary school with basic english. Thanks to all of the staff and participants.... Jure

Translated by Go Overseas:

I met a lot of new friends on the first day, and I was immediately accepted into the group. The lessons were great and very individual, first with a classmate, later I even had individual lessons. The teachers are very competent and speak English very well. In the evening people go out to eat together, especially if you are traveling alone, a very nice way to connect. In this way you experience a country much more intensely. I can recommend this language school and hostel to everyone.

Original Review:

Schon am ersten Tag habe ich viele neue Freunde kennengelernt, ich war sofort aufgenommen in die Gruppe. Der Unterricht war spitze und sehr individuell, zuerst mit einem Mitschüler, später hatte ich sogar Einzelunterricht. Die Lehrer sind sehr kompetent, sprechen auch sehr gut englisch. Abends wird zusammen essen gegangen, gerade wenn man alleine auf reisen ist, eine sehr schöne Möglichkeit, Anschluss zu finden. Auf diese Weise erlebt man ein Land viel intensiver. Ich kann diese Sprachenschule und das Hostel jedem empfehlen.

Everything was amazing! from the organization, the soon replies and info that I had before my trip, the accommodation, lovely people, food and salsa classes...

Translated by Go Overseas:

Thank you for all the help that each one gave me in the hostel, from directions to get to know the city, take care of myself, enjoy, house rules and panoramas. Joy and professionalism was always present.
Thank you also for the security provided at all times.
It was a wonderful and transformative experience.
With love for each of the team members, Natalie

Original review:

Gracias por toda la ayuda que me brindó cada uno en el hostel, desde indicaciones para conocer la ciudad, cuidarme, disfrutar, normas de casa y panoramas. La alegría y profesionalismo siempre estuvo presente.
Gracias también por la seguridad otorgada en todo momento.
Fue una experiencia maravillosa y transformadora.
Con amor para cada uno de los integrantes del equipo, Natalie

Had a great time in Havana! Absolutely loved the city, loads of stuff to do. Lot of history. Staff is very nice and really want to take care of you and make sure you are safe. Spanish teachers are great too. I was the only one on advanced level so I had private classes all week. I really enjoyed the culture walks, very informative and nicely done.
Because I already danced before I changed level and then had a higher level class with 2 other girls. Really nice that this was possible. Overall the program is very flexible and alters to your wishes.

Cuba is an incredible country, but the reason I feel this way is because of the people I met there, from the amazing staff to the other travelers. From day one, I was welcomed with open arms by the Corazon Cuba team. Leonel and Leandro, the program managers, have build an incredible team of spanish teachers, a security team, wonderful cooks and more people who made my stay there super pleasant! I’ve followed 2 other language courses overseas and this was the first one where I actually learned new things, I was challenged to speak more to get over my anxiety. The spanish program was personalized specifically for my wants and needs. This was a huge plus. You’re not going to follow a random text book, but you go out, into the field, into the city to practice your spanish. The volunteer program was also very interesting, there was always someone guiding and assisting us on the project. This made me feel very safe! Nothing but love for the Corazon Cuba team. Thank you for everything.

My review is from the perspective of a parent; ie., I didn’t participate in the program to Cuba, but my daughter did. As a parent of a teen, I was full of trepidation for my daughter going to Cuba, but the attention to detail and the staff were amazing! The teachers were incredibly patient and kind, which my daughter appreciated as she doesn’t
Find learning languages easy. The companionship of the group (of other ttravelers) was key to her experience, but there was ALOT of heavy drinking, which did make my (tea-totaler) daughter feel very uncomfortable. Be warned that this was a nightly party for most of the travelers! That being said, she was still included (& accepted, despite being unwilling to participate in the drinking culture), and she really enjoyed the walking tours/cultural tours, and said the FOOD was amazing! She even loved the salsa lessons. I say “even” (loves the salsa lessons) because she can be a bit
of an introvert, so was absolutely dreading the dancing. However, to her — and my— great surprise, she saide it was “the best fun!” The teacher made it so relaxed, and
only emphasized enjoying the music & having fun. Finally, Tim P-P, the program coordinator was so wonderful. He never tired of my long list of (almost daily) questions on the lead up to the trip. He was so knowledgeable, friendly, and personable, yet
his professionalism & knowledge of Cuba/adventure travel) is outstanding. I’ll end on this —- my daughter contracted a tropical
Illness, and the staff were on it immediately, as was Tim, who communicated with me until we both felt all my questions were answered and that we both felt she was being well taken care of; she was! The staff could not have been more kind and
concerned, and I had complete
Confidence in the team, as did my daughter. I can’t recommend this program enough! Do NOT hesitate
to sign up your daughter or son for this experience of a lifetime!

Take it! Take another little piece of my heart now Cuba! (sung to the tune of Janice Joplin's 'Piece of My Heart). I honestly think I left a piece of my heart in the country. My stint there ignited in me a great love for Latin American culture - the sumptuous sights, sounds and energy of Havana's city streets are still throbbing in my veins. The local's gave us a royal welcome....fun, adventure and broad smiling faces never more than a few feet away. The teachers on the Spanish programme were incredible; they offered a window into the culture that I wouldn't be able to get through a guide book. They were friendly, accommodating and altogether encouraging in their teaching style. I learned lots!!! Not just about the language, but through the leaning, a whole different experience of Havana and broader Cuba. And I can dance a mean salsa now and haven't broken anyones toes since! ;P

I can't wait to return xxx

I've travelled solo for a few years, making holiday itineraries on my own watch, doing the things that I only wanted to do. It's a nice way to travel and for the most part - you can create the exact kind of holiday/travel experience that's right for you.

I've always wanted to go to Cuba and I thought for this trip I wanted to go a little deeper with the travel experience. Normally for me I'm pretty happy if I can take some cool pictures and some videos but I thought for this trip I would step outside of my comfort zone a little and try immerse myself into the culture and genuinely learn about a new culture in a deeper way.

After spending 4 weeks with the guys at Corazon I'm really glad I decided to do this program. For one, I feel like a did get a proper insight into what it means to be Cuban. Hanging out with Cubans is the best way to do this and I was really happy that there was so many Cubans as part of the team - along with that, they were all super interested to share their experiences and offer some insight into their country.

I also realised I am not a horrific dancer as I thought! I do say this modestly of course.

Now - to be fully honest - Cuba can be quite a frustrating country. Terrible internet, minimum selection for certain things, food is so-so... But it good to know these things AHEAD of coming to Cuba so that you enter into the experience knowing you are putting your western comforts to one side and are opening yourself up to a completely different cultural experience.

There is so much that I enjoyed in my trip and I really do thank Corazon for much of this. The girls and guys who run the program are super friendly and nice and the way the programs are structured it's easy to come away improving a ton on your skills going into it... I would recommend this program.

Now I'm still not fluent in Spanish (to my girlfriend's continuing disappointment) however I don't completely suck in conversation, but more importantly I feel I found a better frame of reference when it comes to talking about Cuba, Cubans and latino culture......