The List: 5 programs to help you learn the local language on your next vacation

Get a whole new appreciation of Europe and beyond by enrolling in a language immersion program. Caitlin Hurley

1

LANGUAGE VACATION

www.languagevacation.com

Caters to everyone from businesspeople to travelers age 50 and older who also want to delve into an area’s culture. Sessions run five days to four weeks.

2

ROAD SCHOLAR

www.roadscholar.org

Created by Elderhostel. Offerings include a three-week intensive vacation in Trois-Rivières, French Canada’s cultural heartland, near Quebec, and a multigenerational adventure to Costa Rica, where language acquisition mixes with rafting and zip-lining.

3

AMERISPAN STUDY ABROAD

www.amerispan.com

With 15 languages taught in 40 countries, this company offers a number of vacations for those 50 and older, including a one- to two-week trip to the French Riviera and programs like Chinese and Kung Fu in Beijing.

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4

PARLONS EN PROVENCE

www.parlons-en-provence.com

This family-run school in Saint Rémy de Provence (near Avignon) begins Sunday

evening and finishes Friday after lunch. The classes are capped at six students, and include a daily lunch and afternoon excursions to nearby sights, vineyards, and the countryside.

5

VENICE ITALIAN SCHOOL

www.veniceitalianschool.com

Run by siblings Diego andLucia Catteneo, this fun and interactive school combines language immersion with after-school add-ons such as Venetian Art or History, Italian Opera, and gondola riding. Short on time? Try the two-hour survival kit to learn the basics.

CAITLIN HURLEY

Caitlin Hurley

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