Travel While You Learn

Where to go to study on the best foreign language courses while immersing yourself in local life.

Self improvement is on many of our minds this time of year. Here, Celeste Kinginger, language-study expert and author of Language Learning and Study Abroad, recommends the best trips for budding linguists.

STARTING OUT

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, MADRID
The method For those whose skills are elementary or non-existent, formal language schools are the best way to learn, as they will understand and accommodate beginners' needs.
Book with International House (ih) has 147 schools in 53 countries and has been going since 1953. Choose from Intensive (20 hours a week), Super Intensive (30 hours) and Intensive Plus (includes one-to-one tuition).
Try this one ih Madrid (ihmadrid.com) is expanding across the city, with nine centres. Enjoy the authentic student experience with a stay in halls close by.
Fly to Madrid (20-minute drive).

IMPROVING SKILLS

EUROLINGUA, PESCARA
The method A home-stay approach allows those who already have basic knowledge to immerse themselves in local life and develop their social interactive abilities. This is a sure-fi re way to make friends, as well as learn the way people really speak.
Book with Eurolingua (eurolingua.com) offers homestays for wannabe English, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and Swedish speakers.
Try this one You'll stay as a guest of an experienced, native Italian tutor, sharing meals and activities at their villa in Pescara.
Fly to Rome (two-hour drive).

ADVANCED LEARNERS

GOLEARNTO.COM, NICE
The method People who have some language ability and want to develop their vocabulary in a specific area (ie, cookery or dance) will get the most out of language and skill courses.
Book with Golearnto.com has a wide range of combination holidays, so you can choose lessons in Spanish and dance, Arabic and painting or even Portuguese and surfi ng.
Try this one An eight-day food, wine and language course on the Côte d'Azur, including wine tasting and vineyard visit, five hours of cooking and 10 one-to-one language lessons.
Fly to Nice (30-minute drive).

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