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Learning Spanish in Mexico Katy Salter writes..."My hammock is rocking almost imperceptibly, buffeted by a lethargic Caribbean breeze. The presence of inquisitive lizards, a slightly cross-eyed cat and even the odd toucan, lost en route to the jungle, are all ruining my chances of finishing my homework before salsa class. I have to smirk discreetly - A Level French was never like this. Yet, a few weeks back, my New Year’s resolution to learn Spanish looked destined to go the way of so many failed resolutions before it. I decided drastic action was needed if Project Español was ever to get off the ground. A quick search online revealed three options: 
The January weather in London was so maliciously cold, I thought my ears might fall off. There was only really one choice. I opted to conjugate my verbs in Playa del Carmen, a popular beach resort on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Soléxico language school is set in landscaped tropical gardens, six blocks from the beach. Lessons take place in the thatched classrooms five days a week, from 9am - 12pm, with optional tutorials in the afternoons. Students are divided into classes of no more than five people, according to ability. The school attracts gappers, students and linguistically-inclined holidaymakers from many countries with the majority coming from Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, the USA, Canada and the UK. When you’re not studying or spending some serious down time at the beach, the teachers organise social activities ranging from salsa classes and cookery lessons, to social nights, parties and weekend excursions to nearby Mayan ruins, colonial towns and ecoparks. The school also organises your stay with a local family. My host family, the Navarros, lived half-an-hour’s walk from the school. The Navarros, like many of the families, take in up to five students at any one time. The Swiss and Austrian students in the house all spoke near fluent Spanish and probably got much more out of the homestay than me, because they could already engage in decent conversation. Even though I‘d signed up for the beginner’s programme, I felt embarrassed about my basic Spanish, and spent the first week communicating though a combination of nodding, smiling and saying gracias repeatedly at every hint of an awkward silence. But my confidence gradually improved, and by the end of two weeks, I was able to ask questions during a robust family discussion about the local election. Mike, the Austrian student, who seemed a whiz at Spanish to me, also cheered me up by revealing that in his first week he’d mispronounced his age as‘30 anos’ instead of años, thus informing his classmates he was the proud owner of thirty anuses. One of the first words I learnt was delicioso (delicious) as Isela, my host mother, was an excellent cook. She prepared traditional national or local Mayan dishes, explaining their origins to us at mealtimes.  Playa del Carmen is a beautiful town, but it’s developing at a dangerous rate. An hour south of Cancun, it might not be as well-known as its bigger, naughtier sister but the hotel developers and American chains like McDonalds and TGI Friday’s are arriving in their droves. Luckily, at the moment, the place still retains the languid charm that’s inspired many Italian, French and Argentinean ex-pats to set up shop here and it’s still a popular destination for backpackers and language students - the town boasts two other language schools similar to Soléxico. Tourists, backpackers and students alike are all drawn to the gorgeous white sand beach, lapped by indecently blue Caribbean waters. It’s also an excellent base if you’re into diving or snorkelling - opportunities to get up-close and personal with turtles, sharks and dolphins abound. If you can draw yourself away from the beach and venture inland, the nearby jungle is full of cenotes - freshwater pools hidden in shaded clearings and caves. Studying a language at a school like Soléxico is a great way to spend part of your gap year, or to include in your RTW trip. If you’re travelling on your own it’s easy to meet fellow travellers, not to mention the local people. It will really boost your confidence if you can get some basics under your belt or brush up on existing skills before heading off on your own. Many of my fellow students were travelling through Central America after their course, and several were planning to reap the benefits of their improved Spanish on an internship or volunteer placement in other parts of Mexico. These days there’s a wealth of language schools on offer around the world, so here’s some tips to help you find a good deal...Do...
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 Click here >> for loads of ways to learn languages on your gap year Click here >> for Soléxico language school, which Katy used. |
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