Learn Spanish - Standard - Group - Cartagena

Cartagena overflows with romanticism and is shrouded in history from when the Spanish first discovered gold in the tombs of Sinu to the five dreadful sieges on the city by pirates in the 16th century, including the most famous (or infamous) one which was led by Sir Francis Drake!

Cartagena, Colombia is often called Cartagena of the Indies. The historic centeris within the old city walls built by the Spanish between the 16th and 18th centuries. Getsemaní is the place for street art with less expensive restaurants and vibrant community life, while Boca Grande provides a stretch of more upscale hotels.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is surrounded by an impressive 8 mile (13km) colonial stonewall and is made up of gorgeous cobblestone alleys in which you will find elegant balconies packed with colorful flowers, massive churches and eye-catching terraces.

The classes are held in our Spanish school, housed in a restored colonial building and offers all the facilities to have a good learning experience: Internet access, air conditioning, a small library, video projectors, audio material, TV, and DVD players. The school has a patio and a coffee shop where you can take a break while enjoying a good Colombian coffee

The team of teachers is very well prepared to offer our students quality service and a professional education, and the teachers are highly qualified, highly motivated and experienced. Teachers are not chosen only based on their university studies, but also based on their personality. There is ongoing focus on update, sharing and improving the teaching methods to ensure that the students get the most out of their Spanish classes.

The learning materials given to our students are well prepared by the members of our team. This material contains all the different aspects of the language with a focus on Colombian culture.

The groups are very small (maximum 8 students) in order to ensure that special individual attention is given to all the students. The small group size also enables easier exchange between the teacher and the students.

Standard course: 20 lessons per week from Monday to Friday
You will arrive in Cartagena during the weekend, and have free time to get to know the family you will be living with, relax and visit the city on your own. On Monday you will head to the school, which is walking distance from your homestay (about 25 minutes walking distance). You will be received there; you will meet your teachers and companions and you will start this fun learning process. On this first day you will have an exam to evaluate which course level is better for you.

Schedule: 9:00-12:40
Breaks: 9:50-10:00 / 11:40-11:50
Focus on: Grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, reading, writing, oral and written comprehension
Duration: One lesson lasts 50 minutes.

On the first Monday, we ask our students to be present at 8:15 (45 minutes earlier than normal start time). You will be given a brief presentation of the school followed by a personal interview with the teacher who will do the level test to make sure you're placed in the right study group. This also allows some time for the teacher to answer any questions you may have.

The school is closed on the following public holidays.

2024
25 December

2025
01 January
18 April
01 May
07 August
25 December

If your language course coincides with any of these dates, you will be compensated for the hours with after school classes during the rest of the week.

If you wish to stay at Selina Hostel, please note that there are peak season dates around Easter and in June, November and/or December that you can request at a higher price.

Minimum age of 18
Travel/Medical insurance

Weather
In this tropical climate it is sunny and warm all year around with an average temperature of 28-32°C which translates to laidback Caribbean lifestyle and friendly, smiling people.

Safety
Being the most visited city in Colombia, Cartagena provides a very secure atmosphere for all its travelers.

Culture
Cartagena is the cradle of the fusion between three mayor ethnic groups, which makes the city extremely rich in history and culture. The city walls, the San Felipe Castle, the Inquisition Palace, the cathedrals, the golden museum and the Adolfo Mejía’s theater are, among others, the most visited places in this beautiful city.

Food
Food and gastronomy play a big part in the Colombian way of life so you can find a variety of different national and international foods.

Music
There are a lot of music events and festivals organised around the city. The urban music styles are played all year around in the parks, which offers travelers a great opportunity to get familiar with the Caribbean rhythms.

Sports
The beaches in Cartagena are the best places to practice nautical sports, such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving, snorkeling, beach volleyball etc. In terms of dancing - just to mention a few of the popular Caribbean rhythms - salsa, merengue and cumbia are the travelers' favorite choices that can be practiced in nearly every corner of the city.

Nightlife
Cartagena is particularly beautiful at night. Live music as well as warm and tropical winds bring a bohemian atmosphere all over the old city.

Surroundings
Besides being well-known as a cultural center, nature lovers will find a great choice of ecotourism locations around Cartagena. For example the Rosario Islands with stunning coralline landscapes and sailing in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean ocean are located only 30 minutes by boat. There is also the well-known Ciudad Perdida cradle of the Tayronas ethnic group as well as Tayrona Park situated in Santa Marta’s Sierra Nevada, the snow mountain near the sea which makes it a unique site in the world.