Intro > Testimonials

Testimonials

Lingua & Praktika students report:

Philip P. 25 years, Switzerland

"I realized right from the start that L&P is not a "students clearance machine" with a profit - maximizing plan that puts its priority in profit orientation, but that their priority really is to ensure that their students  have a valuable, extraordinary time full of nice experiences, including Salsa and Tango classes. I can really recommend to anyone that wants to learn Spanish in Mexico, do it with Lingua & Praktika!"

scroll down to read more...

---

Daniela H. 20 years, Germany

 „I have never experienced such an intensive support and supervision. It was really excellent and unique. I do not regret having chosen Mérida and Lingua & Praktika."

Mike H. 28 years, Germany

Martina W. 21 years, Germany

... more from Philip P. 25 years, Switzerland
Program (1 month): Spanish course, host family

Feedback to Lingua & Praktika:

"I realized right from the start that Lingua & Praktika is not a "students clearance machine" with a profit - maximizing plan that puts its priority in profit orientation, but that their priority really is to ensure that their students  have a valuable, extraordinary time full of nice experiences, including Salsa and Tango classes. I can really recommend to anyone that wants to learn Spanish in Mexico, do it with L&P.

My personal experiences:

"I am just doing a trip through whole Latinamerica for 1 year.

Before I started my trip I did not any Spanish and I knew that I would have to learn at least some basics.  As a backpacker/traveller, you often get into situations where it is of great value to speak the language of the country. It is an easier and clearer communication than with hands and feet and people react more friendly when you speak their language; your experiences will be richer and multifaced.

Therefore I wanted to take a Spanish course at a language school for 4 weeks. To go to Mexico was more a random than an intentional decision, just because it is the most northern latin american country. Despite the bad reputation that Mexico has abroad, I had just heard good things about Mexico from my friends.

Correspondingly my expectations in the beginning were focused to gain the necessary  language skills in order to be able to start my journey. Of course things sometimes turn out different at the end than planned...

Although I was in Mérida for just 1 month, I have benefit a lot from it! First of all Lingua & Praktika always hosts their students in secure, clean and well located houses which makes it a lot easier to feel comfortable and at home in Mexico. Furthermore Mérida is a very secure, comfortable and relaxed city where you do not need to be afraid to be mugged or to be whipsawed by someone. People here are generally very friendly. I have met a lot of very nice people in these 4 weeks and I will definately stay in touch with them. One of them are Ricardo and Sarah, the managers of Lingua & Praktika!

Where in the world do you find a language school where the boss himself picks you up, shows you around and takes such good care of you that you can not feel more than thankful?

My host family (Tere and Paola) was incredible! I have felt at home from the fist minute. I have just had loving and caring people surrounding me. Not only did I have an open-minded and obliging family where I could live, but also the language course could not have been better. In the time that I was here I took an intensive Spanish course of 3 hours private classes and an additional 1-3 hours of personal studies a day.

So the word "intensive" is not at all exaggeration. But not only quantity but also the quality needs to be mentioned at this point. Maria-Luisa, my „maestra“ really is a passionate Spanish teacher. After 2-3 days she had captured, categorized and analysed my at that time rudimentary Spanish knowledge. After that I have found myself in the middle of a "Spanish torture treatment" that at the end I can say in all conscience: „No pain, no gain!“ After just 4 weeks I am now able to lead a proper table talk, get along in the country and start my trip without any worries, without having to be afraid to get lost due to lacking Spanish knowledge.

So I can say that my expectations have been completely fulfilled and in some aspects even by far excelled.

My most beautiful experience:

Well, there were a few. But the two best experiences I had were the tango classes I took, especially my last tango class when all the ladies appeared dressed up in evening dresses. After the lesson they surprised me with a tango performance of my teacher and her partner that left me with goosebumps! I really recommend you to take the dancing lessons offered with the program. It is worth it!

The second beautiful experience was my gig at Redroom. I have met a couple of DJs and event managers and they invited my to play a DJ-set one night. That was a great experience. So if you are interested in good electro music, stop by the Redroom. Rico and Sarah will give you further information.

Tips for my "successors":

Well you Mexico travellers, go to Mexico! Talk to everybody and don't worry about making mistakes. The practice is the most important thing and you learn the most from the mistakes you make. Dance, eat tacos, sing karaoke, sweat in the midday sun, make a "siesta" in a hammock, go to the beach of Progreso and have a bee sting you, swim in a cenote (underwater cave) and climb stalagmites, struggle through the jungle and climb pyramids, watch ocean turtles, eat more tacos with habanero (hot chile), drink watery beer with lime in big amounts, go to the anthropological museum and learn about the Mayas, learn some local expressions, ...

... go to stinky, ranky bars where only the locals go and get into disputations, read the "diario de Yucatán",  go to raves in outlying haciendas and enjoy the big brown eyes of the yucatecan girls and especially keep yourself open to everything and respect all human beings in equal measure. This list makes no claim to be complete ;-)" 

My personal conclusion:
"¡A toda madre, cabron!"

... more from Daniela H. 20 years, Germany
Program (6 months): Spanish course, host family, internship

Feedback to Lingua & Praktika:
„I have never experienced such an intensive support and supervision. It was really excellent and unique. I do not regret having chosen Mérida and Lingua & Praktika."

My personal experiences:

"My experiences in Mexico were really amazing. Mérida is one of the most beautiful cities of Mexico that I have seen. It is a really save city and people are always very friendly and respectful. I enjoyed the personal atmosphere in my host family. I was integrated in the family and they took me to many family parties like weddings, baptisms, birthdays and graduations.

They also envited my to go on holidays with them to the beach. They are like my second family and I am still in touch with them.

My 8 weeks of intensive Spanish course was perfectly adjusted to my needs and I have made big advances in little time. I was able to have a conversation with people and most of the time they even understood what I said.

I did an internship at the airport in the area of import/export for 4 months. In the beginning I was a little bit afraid that people would not understand me. But since I was being well prepared in my Spanish course before, this fear increased rapidly and I was being integrated in the working team very fast. In my internship I got a good insight into the Mexican working world which I will benefit from in my professional career."

Check out the program >>

... more from Richard L. 22 years, Austria
Program (8 months): Spanish course, apartment, internship (event management/Wedding planer)

Feedback to Lingua & Praktika:

L&P organized my internship placement at Mérida's best event management enterprise.
We organized diverse events like weddings, birthday parties, fashion shows, business openings, etc. with up to 1.400 guests. I was activly involved in the organization process, learned a lot about the planning and got to meet a lot of interesting people. It was an incredible experience and L&P had a great part in this. Especially in a country like Mexico, a personal support is of great value.

 I can really recommend Lingua & Praktika and Mérida to anyone that plans on doing an internship. I would have never found such an incredible placement on my own. 

Since I was travelling to Mexico alone I did not know anyone but Ricardo and Sarah in the beginning. Already in my first week I got to know a group of people and one of the girls of the group invited me to join her at the weekend to the beach house of her parents.

As a conclusion I can say that the most important experience I made during my stay in Mexico was how important it is to be open for new experiences and friendships.

In a country like Mexico, that is well known for its hospitality and cordiality, you can have some incredible experiences - if you are open to it. I can recommend to everybody to immerse in the local live and to get to know as many people as possible. The hospitality was overwhelming and the time in Mexico was very formative for me."

... more from Mike H. 28 years, Germany
Program (3 months): Spanish course, host family

Feedback to Lingua & Praktika:

"The support, assistance and organization of Lingua & Praktika was really excellent. They were always there for me and took care of everything. Besides business issues they never forgot the personal issues which I really appreciate. I can really recommend you guys. Thanks to you I have learned a lot about Mexico. Thank you very much for your commitment. I am really thankful that you have organized everything for me! You are great!!!"

My personal experiences:

... more from Sven D. 21 years, Germany
Program (4 months): Spanish course, apartment (with my girlfriend Janna that was doing an internship as a photographer)

Feedback to Lingua & Praktika:
"The support and the organization of Lingua & Praktika was really excellent. It feels good to know that you have someone there who speaks your language , that helps you no matter when and where and that gives you important tips and information!"

My personal experiences:

"My Spanish course was great. Maria Luisa really rocks! It is a very charming lady that certainly asks for quite a bit of discipline. I lived with my girlfriend in a private apartment. That was really great. I usually got up at 10 am, got breakfast, did my homework and studied since the classes were quite challenging. I really had to make an effort to follow. At 4 pm my Spanish classes started.

At night we went partying, watched TV or cooked together, whatever we felt like. But rather partied :-)

We also traveled a lot during the 4 months: to Palenque, Tulum, Mérida, Campeche, etc. Every place had the most incredible experience waiting for us. After our 4 month stay in Mérida we went on travelling (through Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Cuba, Jamaica, Tobago, Puerto Rico, etc.). You can find nice pictures and stories on our blog www.sven-janna-trotamundos.blogspot.com

What I would like to share with you:

Do not be afraid of the country and of the people and try as much food as you can, also in the street. My conclusion is that I have learned, besides many little things, Spanish and of course the "Mexican way of life", the hospitality, cordiality and customs.

I want to go back !!!"

... more from Martina W. 21 years, Germany
Pogram (2 months): Spanish course, host family, internship

Feedback to Lingua & Praktika:
"I have felt well taken care off and supported at all times by the Lingua & Praktika team! The trips were great and I was very satisfied with the whole organization."

My personal experiences:

"In general my experiences in Mexico were very positive! I will especially remember my host family. They were just the best!!! I felt really comfortable and well taken care off. They were very nice and always supporting me. The house was amazing, especially the garden was very beautiful, the food was delicious!!! The private Spanish classes at the beginning of my stay were very effective and useful.

I did an internship in a NGO (Non Governmental Organization) for women's rights for 2 months that helped me to get an insight into the problems of the society and the country (like violence against women) and made me aware of the great importance of the work of NGOs in Mexico and their international attention. My office was within walking distance from my host family.

There was always an open and friendly atmosphere in the working team which helped me to  feel comfortable despite my Spanish problems at the beginning. Somedays we worked at the office and anotherdays we went on fieldtrips visiting the groups in towns that the NGO are supporting or organized seminaries, courses and workshops.

I have learned a lot of Spanish during my stay in Mexico. I  have visited a lot of places, like Celestún, Tulum, Chichen Itza, Playa del Carmen, Cenotes and Mexiko city. I learned a lot about Mexican society and my selfconfidence has increased a lot. The whole trip was a very nice and formative time for me. I have experienced the Mexicans as frankly, heartly and friendly.


As a conclusion I can say that the stay and my internship have helped me a lot - personally and professionally. I am really glad that I have made this experience and I hope to visit this beautiful country again soon. If you come here, try to see the most of this beautiful country!"