LINGUISTIC LABS

Take your Cuba experience to the next level with personalized Spanish lessons!

Take one-on-one virtual Spanish language classes with a private Cuban teacher before, during, and after the trip. Focus on relevant vocabulary, local lingo, and cultural etiquette. Arrive on your tour with the ability to ask questions, share thoughts, build rapport, and catch the cultural nuances. Participants will have an in-person outing with their teacher while visiting the country and then continue virtual classes after the trip if desired.

Meet Paloma

Paloma Carina Henríquez Pino Santos, a graduate in Psychology and Master in Sociology (1989), served as a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Havana for 10 years (2012–2022). She was also a professor and coordinator of the scientific and organizing committee for the University Chair for the Elderly (National Senior Education Program) during the same period. From 2018 to 2020, Paloma participated as an assistant in Cuba and collaborated as a Spanish teacher for Academic Programs International. She is a singer-songwriter with the duo NU9VE (2017–2024), whose debut album, En una gota, is included in the BISMUSIC record label catalog. As an artist, she is a member of the National Center of Popular Music and the Union of Artists and Writers of Cuba.

OVERVIEW:

1. Format Options

  1. Five one-hour one-on-one remote lessons before your trip, plus one two-hour in-person small group session with Paloma in Cuba.

    - or -

  2. Seven one-hour one-on-one remote lessons

2. Cost

$350 (with renewal options available)

3. Focus areas

  • Essential Spanish vocabulary

  • Cultural etiquette and local customs

  • Cuban slang and conversational phrases

  • Practical scenarios (ordering at a restaurant, shopping, asking for directions)

Why learn Spanish?

Learning Spanish is the key that unlocks a door to an enormous and rich world. It offers a wide range of benefits, both personal and professional. Whether you're traveling the world, advancing your career, strengthening your mind, or simply enriching your life, learning Spanish is a rewarding experience:

  • Enhanced Travel Experiences: Knowing some Spanish will result in smoother travel, navigating Cuba and other countries with ease and deepening the cultural immersion. Understanding local customs, communicating with locals, making friends, understanding signs, and appreciating art, music, and literature in their original tongue.

  • Career Advancement: Bilingualism is highly valued in many professional fields and results in greater job opportunities, higher earning potential, and enhanced communication and interpersonal skills valuable in any workplace.

  • Cognitive Benefits: Studies show that learning a new language can improve memory, multitasking abilities, and problem-solving skills. The improved memory, cognitive function, and brain plasticity keeps your brain active and can help delay age-related cognitive decline.

  • Personal Growth: Learning Spanish opens your mind to different cultures and perspectives, fostering empathy, understanding, and awareness. It is a significant accomplishment that can boost self-esteem. It is an ongoing process that encourages lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity.

  • Increased Access to Information and Entertainment: Explore a rich world of literature, music, and film in their original language. Access news and information from Spanish-speaking sources.

EXAMPLE SYLLABUS:

Your curriculum will be customized to your skill level, from beginner to advanced. Below is an example of class topics for an entry-level student who is mostly new to studying Spanish.

Class 1: Greetings and Introductions

  • Welcome, get to know each other and assess your level of Spanish speaking and understanding to get the party started

  • Basic phrases for meeting people

  • Overview of the Spanish language

Class 2: Everyday Essentials

  • Asking for directions, ordering food, and shopping vocabulary

  • Role-playing common scenarios

  • Fun activity: Practice “market day” phrases with a virtual shopping game

Class 3: Cuban Culture and Etiquette

  • Social customs and how to engage with locals respectfully

  • Cuban-specific slang and expressions

  • Fun activity: Listen to a Cuban song and translate the lyrics

Class 4: Conversational Spanish

  • Building sentences for storytelling and asking questions

  • Active listening skills for picking up nuances

  • Fun activity: Break down song lyrics to learn vocabulary and grammar in context

Class 5: Preparing for In-Person Interaction

  • Recap of key lessons

  • Practical tips for speaking confidently in real-life settings

Two-Hour in-person Session in Havana

  • Practice conversational skills in an authentic setting with Paloma and 1-3 other students

  • Explore a local market, café, or cultural site with Paloma as your guide