Spanish Immersion / Discover Cuba
University of Havana

University of Havana

We offer you a choice of six hotels in Old Havana and the Vedado area

We invite you to combine the 19 years of experience in Spanish second-language teaching of the University's Faculty of Foreign Languages, with a stay at one of the most interesting cities in all of South and Central America. Havana has always had an appealing attraction, and it is still very deserving of this reputation. It is the main cultural and political centre of the island.

The University is situated in the bustling Vedado area, one of the main cultural areas of the city, and within 5 blocks of the famous Malecón, the sea wall bordering the ocean.

Vedado is also about a 35-minute walk, or a 10 minute taxi (CUC 3.00) drive to Old Havana.

For more information and photos of Old and Modern Havana

Old Havana is a 4 sq. km. urban centre built from the 16th to the 19th centuries and that was declared part of mankind's cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1981, on account of its significant architectural, historical and cultural values, unique in Latin America. Visitors to Old Havana can notice the ongoing restoration works that are returning the splendor to the colonial area and its main monuments: the Real Fuerza Castle - the oldest fort in America; the Havana Cathedral, a most notable example of baroque architecture; the Cabañas Fortress where every evening at 9 P.M., a cannon blast from a 17th century artillery piece symbolically announces, as centuries before, the closing of the doors to the walled city. In ancient times, at sunset, a large chain was laid between these two fortresses to close the entrance to the bay for the night, protecting it from pirates and corsairs.

In addition to numerous restaurants, there are many other interesting sites, such as more than 30 churches and convents from the colonial era, and the Tres Reyes del Morro Fortress and La Punta Castle.

If your stay happens to coincide with any of the major political and cultural events that take place in Havana, you can take these in as well. As far as political activities, there are the May Day and the July 26 National day marches. Spend the new years in Havana! Participate in the annual New Years Party at the Casa de la Amistad. Cultural events include the Film and Jazz Festivals in December, and the two-week Havana Carnaval in July/August (Carnaval 2002, another photo).

There is a wide variety cultural activities taking place in Havana, many of them in the Vedado area where the hotels are situated. Consult the weekly calendar of activities in order to guide your outings and the practice of the Spanish language.

Choice of Hotels

For several years we have been sending clients every month from the USA, Canada and Europe to Havana to take the Spanish immersion classes. Even though it is a success, following our tradition of always seeking to improve our products, we have decided to vastly increase the choice of hotels as part of the language trip package.

We are now offering all our clients a choice of six hotels, from two to five stars, in the Vedado area and Old Havana

In popular Old Havana, we have package rates for the four-star Hotel Plaza. The great advantage is its location a few blocks from the center of the old Colonial city, all the museums, art galleries, restaurants, architecture sights, all of which is a must to visit during your trip. Just strolling around Old Havana is the highlight of any trip to Cuba. Old Havana is a very secure area for people of all ages. The disadvantage of the Hotel's location, as far as the Spanish immersion program is concerned, is the relatively far distance from the university in comparison to the hotels in Vedado located a few blocks from the university. From the Plaza to the University there is a brisk walk of about 35 minutes. If you are not up to that, a taxi drive costs about 3 CUC one-way. For a two-week course, we are talking about 60 CUC for taxis. However, most of the visits you will be making are in Old Havana, right at the doorstep of the Plaza and so you will be saving costs of transport for these visits. In addition, in order to cut down the transportation costs, we provide clients with the names and telephone numbers of others who are going to stay at the Plaza, so you make contact from home in order to work out plans to share taxi transportation costs. We can not guarantee that there will be people willing to do this every month.

Amongst the five other hotels for which we have Spanish immersion packages, three are within walking distance of the University that is from one to six blocks:

Two-star Hotel Colina, facing the university
Four-Star Habana Libre, three blocks
Five-star Hotel Nacional, six blocks

The Vedado area is also the downtown cultural center of Havana, with Jazz clubs, theatres, markets, salsa clubs, all within a short walking distance of these four hotels.

Located in another section of Vedado area is the four-star Hotel Riviera, right on the Malecón, with all rooms offering an ocean-view. The hotel has recently been renovated, featuring a new salt-water swimming pool. This hotel, which serves as the headquarters for the Jazz Festival, is also close to jazz and night clubs. It is about a 30 minute walk to the university, or about 2-3 CUC by taxi. In order to cut down the transportation costs, we provide clients with the names and telephone numbers of others who are going to stay at the Riviera, so you can contact each other ahead of time from home and make plans to share taxi transportation costs. We cannot guarantee that there will be people willing to do this every month.

The Deauville, a 3 star hotel, is located between the Vedado district and Old Havana, right at the beginning of Old Havana.

We offer a choice of six hotels in Old Havana and the Vedado area

For those who want a full immersion in the Spanish language, Havana is the place. After classes during the week, or during the week-end, you can make use of all the opportunities to discover the city, while practicing the language and getting used to understanding it. For example, you can visit on your own the many museums and historical monuments in old Havana. If you are a beginner, you can ask for a guide who translates into English. This is one way of making headway. If you are more familiar with the language, at the intermediate or advanced level, then do without translation and take guided tours in Spanish only. Whether you prefer the guided tours being translated for you or not, all of the descriptions in Cuban museums and historical sites are in their national language, Spanish. You can take your time and read the descriptions.

You can change your CUC (Cuban convertible pesos) into Cuban pesos right near the University and have some of that famous Cuban ice-cream at the ice-cream parlor while fraternizing with Cubans. Visit the nearby market and buy some fruit. All this is done in Spanish.

Seeing that only breakfast is included in the hotels, the local family restaurants, paladares, where everything is done in Spanish represents yet another opportunity to make some advances in your language training. You are enrolled at the university, therefore you have the right to attend the cultural evening and dances at the nearby student association.

There are many film theatres in Vedado. Take in a Cuban film for a few pesos.

Following the tradition that we have established for all its cultural trips, a well-organized package deal is offered which includes air, taxes, hotel, transfers, the language course of your choice and all the advice and tips necessary for you to enjoy your tour to the maximum.

The following are the itineraries:

* Schedule is subject to change without prior notice.

• Recommendations and testimonials by our clients on the University of Havana Spanish Immersion Package
• Choice of six hotels
• Prices, departure dates and group /Free trip policy
• Registration Form & Payment

• Choice of six hotels
• Prices, departure dates and group /Free trip policy
• Registration Form & Payment

A whole series of courses at the University of Havana -
from 2 weeks to a full semester!
One week available on request

The basic standard course takes place during a two-week period. Our Spanish immersion package includes two weeks of air, hotel and the course. For all other courses lasting three or four weeks, there is a supplemental fee that must be added on to the cost of the basic two-week course. Package prices for more than four weeks are on request. All courses are automatically offered the first Monday of every month throughout the year, except where otherwise indicated - "on request".

Unless otherwise indicated, all the courses are offered for:

• Beginners I (No Spanish)
• Beginners II
• Intermediate
• Advanced

1. Standard two-week course

Courses are held from 9 A.M. to 1:20 P.M. the first week and from 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. the second week, Monday to Friday, with a break between 10:30 A.M. and 11 A.M. (Total 40 hours)

12 maximum per class

A welcoming cultural activity and the awarding of the diploma event are included

A series of excursions are offered, but are voluntary and require payment in Cuba.

2. Standard course for a three week period

(70 $ CA supplement)

Same conditions as the standard two-week course, except that the classes take place from 9 A.M. to 1:20 P.M. the first week and from 9 A.M. to 12:30 the following weeks, with a 30 minutes break from 10:30 A.M. and 11 A.M. (45 hours)

3. Standard course for a four week period

(170 $ CA supplement)

Same conditions as the standard two-week course, except that the classes take place from 9 A.M. to 1:20 P.M. the first week and from 9 A.M. to 12:30 the following weeks, with a 30 minutes break from 10:30 A.M. and 11 A.M. (45 hours)

4. Proficient of Perfecting level. Four weeks

(275 $ CA supplement). On request.

People who already have completed the advanced level in any country can register for this course.

5. Business Spanish

A special course designed for those requiring special training for business purposes or for any commercial field
Two weeks (No supplement)
In order to be accepted in this course, a good knowledge of the Spanish language is required (Intermediate)
Courses are given from 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. (45 hours)

6. Special three-week course on Cuban Culture

(275 $ CA supplement)

This course is NOT offered every month, but rather every two months: January, March, May, July, September and November)

The pre-requisite: having already completed the intermediate level in any country.

Courses are offered from 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. (45 hours)

Content of the course:

I) Popular Cuban music, its history, emergence and evolution. Its social projection in contemporary urban Cuba.
II) Cuban dance. Its expansion in Cuba through the main dance companies. Popular dance in Cuba.
III) Afro-Cuban religions. Main characteristics of Cuba`s African ancestors’ religions. Its magical and religious field and social projection in the present Cuban society.
IV) Cinema in Cuba. Emergence and historical development. The main types of cinema and the challenges faced in the present century.

7. Consecutive four-week course

(see Number 3 above) for one or two additional months. Rate on request

This made-to-measure program offers the opportunity to a student to complete several levels during the same Spanish immersion trip. For example, a student can start with Beginners I for one month, then go to Beginners II for the second month and if three months are taken, one can then proceed to Intermediate; or then again, from Beginners II, to Intermediate and Advanced. Once again, the standard four-week program can be extended to one OR two additional months. It is your choice.

Same hours and conditions as the four-week course (Number 3)

8. Special four-month course: Language and Cuban Culture

Rates on request

Pre-requisite: Intermediate level in any country.

Classes are from 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. (240 hours)

9. Special six-month course: Language and Cuban culture

Rates on request

Pre-requisite: Beginners II in any country.

Classes are from 9 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. (360 hours)

10. Full semester: from October to June

Rates on request

During the first five weeks, classes take place Monday to Friday from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. Following this period, classes then take place four days a week, from 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 P.M.

All the courses begin every first Monday of the month, twelve months a year. Guaranteed departures and classes! The departures from Toronto are on Sundays and from Montreal and Cancun on Saturdays, all departures preceding the first Monday of every month.

The Travel agency of the University of Havana organizes some excursions and activities in the afternoon or during the week-end. These excursions must be booked and paid while in Cuba with the University.