Best destinations for a language holiday

Looking for a deeper cultural connection on your travels? A language holiday can be the ideal way to break through the outsider barrier and interact more meaningfully with your destination.

Kids have summer camps and students have their courses, but as an adult, sometimes you just want an introduction (or a refresher) to the language of the place you’re visiting. An increasing number of travellers are now looking to learn a new language while also experiencing local activities. So, here are a few holiday-length courses that provide a rewarding way to fully immerse yourself into the local culture.

Putonghua: Hutong School, Beijing  

Learn Chinese in Beijing’s lively Sanlitun district while engaging with local culture through experiences such as Chinese cooking, tai chi, local cinema, board games and more. The Hutong School started in Beijing and now has branches across the Chinese Mainland. Its part-time group courses are ideal for travellers looking to dip their toes into the language while exploring the culture. The school can also arrange accommodation and even help you plan a travel schedule to other destinations in China. 

Language level: all
Duration: flexible
Address: Xinzhong Street No.7, Building 2, Dongcheng District

Korean: Yonsei University Korean Language Institute, Seoul 

Yonsei offers a range of immersive summer courses in Seoul, providing an introduction to Korea’s language and culture, especially its culinary traditions. The four-week summer afternoon course is designed for total beginners and includes opportunities to participate in cultural activities and field trips. Best of all, you'll be based in the picturesque surroundings of Yonsei University, an oasis of ivy-covered academia located just west of the city centre, close to the old royal palaces of Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung.

Language level: various
Duration: 3-6 weeks
Address: 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu 

Indonesian: Jembatan Bahasa, Bali 

This Indonesian immersion programme includes plenty of cultural activities to soak in all that Bali has to offer, including cooking, visiting markets and temples, and learning all about traditional Balinese dress. The course at Jembatan Bahasa involves Indonesian lessons with professional instructors, self-study with guided homework, extra learning resources and cultural exploration to help you practise the language in real-life settings. How long you attend is entirely up to you: you can arrange to stay from one week to six months.

Language level: beginner
Duration: flexible
Address: Jl. Subak Daksina Gg. Ayu No.4, Tibubeneng, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung

Hindi: Hindi Hour, Jaipur

Hindi Hour places you with a welcoming Indian family for a three-, four- or eight-week immersion programme in the city of Jaipur – Rajasthan’s famous “Pink City”. The course covers the basics of Hindi, enabling you to interact with your host family and the wider community. By the end of the course, you’ll have learned some useful working vocabulary for navigating everyday situations and making basic conversation. Optional extras include yoga, music and dance classes, and cooking lessons.

Language level: beginner
Duration: more than 3 weeks
Address: 3 TA 25, near SBI Bank at Matrix Mall, Jawahar Nagar

French: Alpine French School, Morzine 

This language school in the French Alps combines French lessons with skiing and snowboarding in winter, and mountain biking, hiking, climbing and paragliding in summer. The immersive course is designed to help you progress quickly while enjoying a mountain setting. The schedule is flexible, too: you can choose language lessons in the morning or afternoon and stay as long as you like in a hotel, hostel or homestay. 

Language level: all 
Duration: flexible
Address: 934 Route des Bois Venants, 74110, Morzine

English: Blue Noun, Perthshire, Scotland 

Open from April to October, this easy-going language centre in the Scottish Highlands teaches English through small group activities, including hiking, drawing and taking in the local landscape. Instead of classrooms and courses, Blue Noun teaches English through shared experiences – conversation, movement, food, culture and time spent together. You’ll be using English in real-life scenarios, with thoughtful support and plenty of space to relax into the language.

Language level: all
Duration: flexible
Address: St Ninian's Lodge, Lodge Street, Crieff

Italian: Ente Lombardo Lingua e Cultura Italiana (ELLCI), Milan  

ELLCI ’s study holidays offer a relaxed crash course in Italian while you get to know Milan, its people, its culture and the wider region. You’ll study in the mornings with a small class and explore the city of fashion in the afternoon. ELLCI’s courses are available at the beginning of every month and cater to all levels of Italian. 

Language level: all  
Duration: 1-2 weeks 
Address: Via Niccolò Paganini, 18, 20131 

Spanish: Tandem, Madrid 

This language centre offers an array of “Spanish and a passion” courses that you can take for any number of weeks in the Spanish capital. If your passion is for flamenco, fashion, art, nightlife, food or exploring cool neighbourhoods, then this course is for you. You can start on any Monday, any time of year, with language lessons in the morning and workshops based on your cultural activity of choice in the afternoon.  

Language level: any
Duration: flexible
Address: Calle Marqués de Cubas, 8, Centro

Latin: The Paideia Institute, Rome

Want to brush up your long-lost Latin? If you know the basics, this two-week summer course at The Paideia Institute in Rome could be for you. As well as studying ancient and medieval texts in a seminar setting, you’ll also have the option to visit historical sites and attend lectures on topics related to Roman history and culture. It’s your chance to say “veni, vidi, vici”, and mean it.

Language level: more than one year 
Duration: two weeks in June-July
Address: Cornell in Rome, Palazzo Santacroce, Piazza Benedetto, Cairoli 6, 00186