An Eight-Week Spanish Immersion Course in Mexico
Last Friday marked the end of my eight-week Spanish immersion program at Encuentros, a beautiful Spanish language school nestled in the home of its founder, an American woman who moved to Mexico in the 1970s and never left. Over the past two months, I not only deepened my understanding of the Spanish language but also gained a rich cultural experience that exceeded my expectations. Here’s a recap of my journey through language learning, cultural exploration, and meaningful connections.
Language Immersion at Encuentros
The school itself was inspiring, run by the founder, her husband, and two of their adult children. Seeing this family live, work, and teach together gave me life goals! They also had two other sons, both who also live in the home. One of the sons who is a filmmaker, spoke to me on two separate days about the history of cinema in Mexico. I knew that Mexico had a rich culture, but I had no idea how much I’d be exposed to in just eight weeks. The program was divided into two parts: a strong focus on Spanish grammar—conjugating verbs, understanding tenses—and conversational Spanish, which included traveler’s Spanish.
The real magic, though, was in the cultural immersion. Twice a week, we went on excursions to various cultural and historical sites around Mexico. Over the course of the program, I visited 8 museums, attended 11 site visits, and participated in 13 educational talks. We covered a wide range of topics, from Mexican art, silver production, and alternative medicine to Mexico’s medical systems, the Spanish conquest of Central Mexico, economics, and indigenous history.
Highlights of the Experience
Some of my favorite experiences included visiting museums that showcased indigenous artensenía and the famous works of Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and David Siquieros—Mexico’s most renowned artists. These visits brought the richness of Mexican history and culture to life, giving me a deeper appreciation of the country.
One of the most memorable experiences was during the final week when I visited a technical high school, Universidad Tecmilenio, for a language exchange with high school students. I spent 30 minutes talking with them in English, followed by 15 minutes practicing my Spanish. Their energy and enthusiasm reminded me of my recruiting days, and it was an incredible opportunity to connect with younger learners and practice my Spanish in a fun, energetic environment.
Practicing What I Learned
Now that the course is over, I’m excited to put everything I’ve learned into practice. I talk to everyone I can—our security guards, the local fruit stand owner, and our cook. Michael and I have also started texting and speaking to each other more in Spanish to keep improving. This experience has laid a strong foundation for my Spanish learning, and I’m confident that with continued practice, I’ll be fluent within the next few months!
Completing the eight-week Spanish course at Encuentros has been a transformative experience, both linguistically and culturally. I’ve gained valuable insights into Mexico’s culture and history while also setting myself up for continued growth in my Spanish language skills. With more practice, I’m hopeful to achieve fluency soon and keep deepening my connection with the world around me.
I’m thrilled to share a little secret with you—my children’s book is going bilingual! This means each page will include both English and Spanish text. I took on the initial translation myself and collaborated with one of my language teachers to review and fine-tune it. Now, I’m excited to have the book in the hands of a professional Spanish editor to ensure it’s polished to perfection. The book will be available worldwide, opening up the story to even more readers. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us!
