Liza Tullidge

, USA, November 2016

Spanish World Institute was fantastic. Highly Recommend. I have struggled off and on for years learning Spanish and have always felt uncomfortable trying to speak it. Maria and Andres create a safe, comfortable environment in which to learn and practice. Over the course of one week, my comprehension, speaking and knowledge dramatically improved. The teachers will challenge you to immerse yourself as much as possible in the language, but will make sure to tailor your learning experience to the pace best suited for you.

Małgorzata Władyka

, Poland, October 2016

I will never forget the time that I spent at the Spanish World Insitute! I improved my Spanish a lot, my group was very small, it was as if we had had a private classes! and the atmospfere was incerdible, the teachers are very nice and helpful, they organized also for us some activities additional so we also leart a lot about Colombia( for ex. we went to a theatre, to a market), What is more, the school is located in a very nice district of Bogota. Thanks a lot Maria for such a great time! Thanks a mil also Nery!!

Nicholas Gleize

, France, September 2016

I was at the school for two weeks taking the intensive spanish classes and had a great experience. The classes were tailored to my level and in only 2 weeks I went from knowing nothing to being able to have small conversations and get around in Colombia. Maria and the teachers are excellent and very nice, and often take students on tours around the city to visit or have a bite in a local restaurant. The school is also very well located. I definitely recommend it!

Chris West

, USA – August, 2015

The Spanish World Institute has been a fantastic experience for me. I had some travel spanish previously, but taking classes here has helped me improve my base of the language even during my short time here. Hopefully I will be able to return and spend more time learning more about the intricacies of Spanish. The class sizes are small, and I have been lucky to have one-on-on instruction from three excellent instructors. I would highly recommend the school to anyone wanting to learn Spanish. It is immersion, so the classes are almost entirely in Spanish, which I think is the best way to learn the language. Hopefully your experience will be as good as mine has been. Till next time.

Belinda Bentele

, USA – May 2015

I am studying at Spanish World Institute since 5 months. My spanish could improve very fast at SWI, the courses are personal and there is the right course for everyone, doesnt depend your level, the teachers are well educated and extremly friendly. You can increase your level fast here at SWI because the courses are well structured.The school is located in a calm, safe area in Chapinero Alto. What I appreciate at SWI is that you can count on the Staff to help you out with whatever you need, also for your personal issues. Here you will not feel alone. I highly recommend SWI to anyone who wants to learn Spanish.

Agdev Singh Samra

, India, 2012

Spanish World Institute is the best Spanish teaching centre in Bogota. In my 7 I have learned a lot. It has a very friendly environment, and very helping staff. I would highly recomend this institute.

Andreas Haueisen

, Germany, 2012

Ein guter Ort um Spanisch zu lernen :-) Ausgebildete Lehrkraefte und ein familiaeres Ambiente liessen mich in den letzten sechs Wochen gerne in diese Schule gehen. Nette, kompetente Lehrer und kleinste Lerngruppen haben es moeglich gemacht, dass ich mein Spanisch in relativ kurzer Zeit deutlichst verbessern konnte.

Paget Fulcher

, United kingdom, 2012

In the last 16 weeks at SWI I have completely transformed my level of Spanish from relatively basic to advanced. The combination of knowledgeable teachers and tiny class sizes is a massive advantage. The social activities organised by the school are also great for anyone new to Bogota.

Marie Louise Hansen

, Denmark, 2012

Jeg har nu gået på denne skole i en måned og har min sidste dag i morgen. Jeg har været enorm glad for at gå her og har lært en meget bare på en måned. Jeg takker alle lærene fordi de har være taget så godt i mod mig og har lært mig en masse. :)

Markus Widmer

, Switzerland, 2012

Quando llege en bogota solamente sabia unas palabras en espanol. Estudie dos meses en el SWI y aprendi mucho. Ya puedo comunicar sin problemas con la gente en la calle. Los classes son muy pequenos, asi se puede practicar mucho. Ademas los professores son excelente y tienen tiempo para cada estudiante. Tambien las actividades a fuera de la escuela son divertidas y interessante. No aprendi solamente el idioma, sino muchas cosas del pais y de la mentalidad.

Arjan van Harten

, Holland, 2012

I have been living in Bogota for almost two year and never took the interest to study some Spanish. Needless to say that I had copied a lot of mistakes in my speech as well in my writing and thinking. In the four week period that I have been here now, I can say that I have upgraded my level in Spanish. It is because of this good experience that I´ve decided to come back. So that when I am finished I will have the level in Spanish that I primarly wished to have.

Edwige Takasi

, Togo, 2012

Very good courses, a mix of theoretical courses, practice and games, with different teachers and different teaching styles. Perfect for intensive courses and for meeting other people.

Julianna Tan

, Canada, 2012

I arrived in Bogota three weeks ago not knowing a word of Spanish and since then I have been studying at the Spanish World Institute. I can´t believe how much I have learned! It has been a great experience!

Inger Bride

, Australia, 2012

Yo he tenido un tiempo muy bien en Spanish World Institute! Los profesores son muy simpáticos :) Vale la pena ir a todas las excursiones tambien, porque Bogotá tiene mucho para ofrecer. Mis clases han mejorado mi español después de 2 semanas! Gracias a todos a Spanish World Institute!

Colin M

, Edinburgh, 2011

I had taken some Spanish evening classes before, but SWI quickly figured out that although I technically knew a fair amount of stuff I needed lots of revision and practise, and they tailored the lessons well to me. Highly recommended.

Jos A

, Norway, 2011

I´ve been attending SWI for the last 3 weeks. Their curricluam is structured and teachers are friendly. I`ve had good experience with this school.

Chase B

, USA, 2011

I needed to put some finishing touches on an already pretty advanced level of Spanish. The personalized instruction I received through taking private lessons at the Institute helped enormously to fix the fine points of my grammar and pronunciation, and I am a much better speaker and communicator because of it.

Markus H

, Finland, 2011

I stayed in SWI for 4 weeks, during which I took classes in Spanish and Salsa. I am very pleased with both. The standard of the teaching is mostly very high and my Spanish improved explosively during this period.

Melissa S.

, Melbourne - Australia

I found the Spanish World Institute to be very good. Very intensive. Class sizes are small. For a beginner like myself I found it exhausting but certainly it has given me fundamental base to build from.

Henriette B.

I have decided to study Spanish in a native country because I needed to rapidly improve my portunhol...usually Brazilians think that we have only to add IENDO at the end of every word, and there it is you´re speaking Spanish. Before choosing the country, I have talked to some friends that have been to Colombia before, and all of them told me that I would be surprised with the people and the place. And I must say...I am surprised! Bogota is a nice city, with a horrible traffic, but people are always willing to help, just like all latins. Choosing the school was not easy because the only tool I had was Google, but fortunally it was really helpfull. After finding SWI, I immediatly sent an email to Maria requesting for more information, and again, I was surprised on how quicky she responded. As I never took a course abroad, I can not say much about prices, but I believe that the price I paid was worth, each dollar. Teachers are simply fantastic, I had classes with Jose Roberto, Nancy and Luz... 3 different people, 3 different methodologies, 3 different background to make each class more interesting. Thank you all for helping me to improve my spanish skills, and for being around for all that was necessary. Special thanks to Maria who was so kind and helpfull all the time.

Allen C

I have taken spanish language classes in the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador and now I'm in Bogotá. (I'm a very slow learner!) I'm very picky about what kind of teacher I have and how the classes are set up. I always take one-on-one classes. Spanish World Institute is an excellent school. From my initial inquiries, Maria, the director, has been extremely responsive. We finally agreed on a schedule and I was surprised that the instructor they chose for me, Luz Helena, was pretty much exactly as I requested. It was a great fit. They actually listened to me! My class was a mixture of lessons, computer use and practice—my profe was very accommodating. All the staff and other instructors were friendly and accessible. The whole school was completely professional—rare in latin america. If there was one downside it would have to be the cost. In Bogotá, I think they offer the best prices, however all the schools in Bogotá are fairly expensive. That's the only reason I wouldn't give them 4 stars.

David Reid

, 2009

I was very pleased with the facilities in the school, the classrooms and the location, but I was most impressed with the teaching staff: their professionalism and commnunication skills were first class, furthermore my teacher also ensured that the teaching was at the correct level and my progress during the week surpassed all my expectations. I wouldn't have any reservation in highly recommending the school to anyone visiting Bogota. I also enjoyed the city because within a short distance there are some great places to visit, in the mountains and surrounding areas."

Elizabeth Tromans

, 2009

"Classes were excellent with professional and patient instructors. The facilities of the school were excellent, although computers often ran slowly. Bogota is a good city, with interesting things to do and friendly people. There are thefts, like in other major cities, but I found it safe. Unquestionably what I enjoyed most were the teachers in the school"

Carolyn Chin Choy

"The school was great. I really enjoyed the course, the teaching style and the surrounding activities like the coffee break. My host family was always encouraging and willing to show me around, besides the neighborhood was very safe. I also used to venture out into Bogota. The only thing that I regret is not having booked a longer stay"

Bradley Sherrill

"The school is located in a pleasant neighborhood (Alto Chapineiro) in a charming old house. I was fortunate enough to have private 1:1 lessons, both in the morning and afternoon, which greatly enhanced my learning experience. This part of Bogota is quite charming and with the brown brick architecture and style of homes, could easily be mistaken for some city in Western Europe. I think that Bogota (and Colombia, for that matter) is in the midst of positive changes (better security, more foreign investment, etc.) and that would-be Spanish students should feel safe in selecting this program for their language needs."

David Dodds

, 2008

"My experience at the school in the primavera of 2008 was excellent beyond all expectations. The premises are pristine, professional and immaculate. The location is in Chapinero Alto which is tranquil, pleasant and located close to many stores and restaurants. Many misconceptions persist about Colombia but I felt safe and the warmth and sincerity of Colombians was a revelation. The willingness to customize the course to an individuals personal interests was vastly appreciated and the depth of knowledge and enthusiam as displayed by my instructors Maurizo and Leonardo was remarkable. This is my fourth language immersion experience as I previosly have studied French in Paris, Italian in Rome and Spanish in Buenos Aires. Everything about the school is on par with the best language instruction I have ever received and was truly world class. Muchas Gracias!!!"

Mark Green

"The school was excellent and in a very good central location, which was easy to get too. It was also well maintained and the classes where everything I could of wished for and more. The classes were, fun, relaxed and most importantly allowed me to learn all the things I wanted. And also the emapanadas!"

Dustin, USA

, 2008

Colombia is absolutely beautiful! I only saw a few places outside of Bogotà, but all of them were completely different in their beauty than the others. I was fortunate enough to visit Santa Marta for a week, which was an amazing time of relaxing on beaches, snorkeling, gorging myself with delicious food, and sipping on cocktails while watching the sunset. All in all, these past three months have been more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.A year ago, I never thought that I’d be living in Colombia right now, but now, I can’t imagine my life without this time in Colombia. I am a different person, a more grateful person with so much more perspective on life. Colombia definitely has a special place in my heart!, I will certainly return to Colombia and will recommend it to everyone. For anyone that wants to learn, or expand their Spanish, I would highly recommend the Spanish World Institute (SWI). Our teacher Roberto, is very patient and helpful. He thoroughly answers any questions that we have and sometimes he would even type up lessons based on our questions, such as, the difference between por and para. He was very detailed in everything that he did and said, so that we weren’t confused about anything. And he also taught us very useful vocabulary for situations we were in or would be in, while in Bogotà. Maria, the owner and founder of the SWI, made us feel like we were a part of a family here in Bogotà. She worked with us based on our time and finances and made us feel at home. I always looked forward to the monthly events (restaurants, bars, sightseeing, etc.) with the other students and other foreigners. Maria was always willing to make our time in Colombia the best that it could be. I’m definitely happy that we chose the SWI to study Spanish, and I would recommend it to anyone!

Susie O’Keefe

, Australia

I found the classes to be quite intensive and at times have found it difficult to concentrate solidly for 5 hrs a day… especially as I struggle a great deal with conjugations! As a result, Gustavo has attempted to keep the classes light and if he senses my frustration at not being able to grasp a concept, we move along to another topic or we go for a coffee or a bite to eat. Although I put up a good fight, he has managed to teach me the basics of sentence construction and how to use the conjugations given the present , past and future tense. Adriana is always smiling and has always made me feel welcome at the school. She was always willing to help me with my homestay arrangements and my travel plans around Colombia. Maria has also been a great support and has gone out of her way to make me feel welcome in Bogota. She has been a wonderful host and I appreciate the time she has taken out of her busy schedule to show me the parts of Bogota and surrounds, that tourists rarely get to see. In summary I have found SWI to be very professional, yet flexible in their teaching styles, to enable the student to meet their objectives. I know I was lucky to have the opportunity to have a one-on-one teacher for the past two weeks, as it has provided me with the basics of the Spanish language so I can begin my travels through South America with relative ease.

Akiel Ghany

, Trinidad & Tobago

I took ninety hours of classes at the school and I am satisfied with the amount of material that I have covered in this time period. I took Spanish classes to prepare myself for a job I will be starting after I leave as well as to give me a base for more, business oriented classes that I will be taking back in university. The teachers here were all very flexible and able to fit my needs. They were also able to accommodate any special topics that I requested; Professor Roberto was especially helpful in this area. The teachers exposed me to a variety of different techniques of learning Spanish including listening to Spanish music and watching Colombian cartoon clips so as to see if I understood a variety of different accents. Lunch and break with the teachers were also very rewarding as our discussions during these times revolved around politics, traditions, history and values and they allowed me to get a better idea of Colombia and the Colombian people. In addition, Maria Pilar, the owner of the school did a lot to make my experience in Bogota enjoyable. She spent one of her Saturday afternoons taking out of Bogota through the mountains to the Alpina factory then on to Andre Carne de Res where we spent the evening having Colombian rum and learning how to dance to the different types of Colombian music. This is one of the most memorable nights in Bogota .This is much appreciated and shows how much she cares for the students. All in all my trip to Bogota was very enjoyable and I cannot wait to return sometime soon. Thanks to everyone at Spanish World Institute for making my journey worth it!

James Healy

, London

I have greatly enjoyed my time here and certainly hope to return soon; I will not hesitate to recommend Colombia as a travel destination to my friends. Bogotá is a thriving metropolis with much to offer the visitor in the way of shops, restaurants and in particular, nightlife. I have felt very safe at all times here. I feel Bogotá was definitely the right place for me to learn Spanish, I will definitely recommend it I will also definitely recommend Spanish World Institute, both to my friends and more generally on the Lonely Planet Thorntree website. The teaching I have received here from Miguel and Fernando has been great – I couldn’t really ask for more. The vast majority of my 120 hours of class have been one-to-one tuition and my Spanish has certainly benefited a great deal from such attention. Classes have been inventive and interesting – such innovations as field trips to the supermarket, using Spanish language music CDs for listening exercises, and conducting class debates on contentious topics have been very effective at keeping things interesting and varied. I also feel I have a learned a good deal about Colombian history from some of the homework essays/presentations. All in all I have had a very enjoyable, interesting, and educational time in Bogotá, and in Colombia as a whole, and wish to thank all at SWI for all their help, assistance, and hospitality during my stay. Hopefully I will be able to return one day, in the meantime I will definitely recommend SWI as a great place to learn Spanish.

Ellie B. Chow

, July 2013

I feel really lucky that I found SWI! I studied at the school for 2 week and I enjoyed it so much! I spoke no Spanish at all before I arrived. The teachers here are so nice, knowlegeable and professional. I also stayed at the shared apartment the school provided, really nice and cozy place. And the roommates I had are great! The executive director Ms. Maria is wonderful!!! She took us out and pratice Spanish in real life situations. She takes good care of her students. I will definitely come back and learn the beautiful language!

Christina Meile

, September 2013

Vor nun schon mehr als einem Monat besuchten wir das Spanish World Institute. Ich denke oft und gerne daran zurück. Es war zwar eine kurze, aber sehr schöne Zeit bei euch! … y en español… (un experimento): Más que un mes pasado desde visitado el Spanish World Institute. Tuvimos poco tiempo, pero era muy interessante y educativo. Y las excursions me permanecerán en mi memoria!

Shannon Maraghy

, August 2013

I had a wonderful experience at SWI. My grammar and speaking improved so much, thanks to my wonderful teachers. I love Bogota and really want to come back. I would recommend the school to anyone. My time here has been so enriching, and the school provided activities and help in everything that I needed. Que chevere!

Andreas Herre

, November 2013

Die Schule gefaellt mir sehr gut. Am ersten Tag wurde ich sehr herzlich aufgenommen und integriert. Trotzdem, dass ich Unterricht in der Gruppe gebucht hatte, dabei aber der einzigste mit Niveau A1-Anfaenger war, wurde ich nicht in eine hoehere Klasse eingeteilt, sonder erhielt Einzelunterricht. Die Lehrer(innen) sind sehr hoefflich, geduldig und halten perfekten Unterricht. Die Schulleitung ist ebenfalls sehr hoefflich, kuemmert sich um die Anliegen der Schueler nach bestem Koennen, auch weit ueber die schulischen Belage hinaus. So konnte ich wichtige Kontakte, die ich fuer meine Freizeitgestaltung benoetigt habe, ebenfalls ueber die Schule erhalten. Ich war sehr zufrieden!!!

Lea Schlunegger

, October 2013

Muchas gracias para la buena experiencia. SWI es una escuela pequena en un barrio muy lindo con muchos cafes para charlar en los pausas ... pero tambien las horas de clases eran interessante. entre subjuntivo y condicional hablamos de la cultura, la politica y la historia de colombia. los profes son juvenes que tienen mucha energia y motivation. saludos a todos

Bryan Pu-Folkes

, USA – 2014

I just completed the first of two weeks of Spanish language classes at SWI. My first week took place in Cartagena and so far my experience with the school, it's instructors and administration have been super! Prior to travelling school officials were extremely nice and patient in explaining the curriculum at SWI and as well did not hesitate to help me in choosing where to stay as well as in planning transportation logistics between Santa Marta and Cartgena and Cartagena and Bogota. My instructor in Cartagena was Karen Amaya and I cannot rave enough abou how effective, competent and nice she was as a Spanish language teacher. She gave me an evaluation prior to travelling and developed a curriculum that honed in on the areas where I needed the most help (e.g., preterite and future tense conjugation and use of reflexive verbs). Vicky Mestre was my activity guide and she is simply amazing. Vicky took me throughout the historic colonial district, the famous fortress (Castillo de San Felipe), the Cerro de la Popa, the vocano in Cartagena (la Volcan) and many other places. The first day I had to run some errands and she didn't hesitate to help me with a smile. I am looking forward to my next week in Bogota! You can expect an update soon (with photos)!

Brittany Giroux Lane

, USA - 2014

Classes at Spanish World Institute is a wonderful school - in a great neighborhood and a fascinating city. The teachers for the school are professional, well-prepared, positive, and supportive. My husband and I spent 9 weeks at the school - I started as a beginner and now feel quite comfortable communicating in Spanish throughout the city. It has really opened up the world of Bogota and Colombia for me. The classes were well-structured with grammar work in the morning and practice in the afternoon. Additionally, the teachers were very good at keeping the work interesting and fun - with games, presentations, movies, and various ways to practice the language. Truly, the classes at Spanish World Institute were extremely helpful - we studied both in Cartagena (such a beautiful city!) and Bogota. The ability to study at either location was really nice as we could travel and enjoy the various attractions Colombia has to offer. We're sad to be leaving - I greatly enjoyed our time here in Bogota.

Michael Mason

, England - 2014

I have been at the SWI for three weeks and had a great time. I started knowing very little Spanish but I have learnt a lot. Teachers were excellent and the lessons were organised and directed. I feel as though I can speak relatively confidently, although I feel that more time here would be necessary to be able to speak to a more conversational level. I feel that more speaking in class would be beneficial but this is the only minor complaint. Excursions were always eventful and fun - we were encouraged to speak Spanish to one another. Bogota is a fantastic city for someone to learn Spanish because it's a great place to be and the Spanish accent is clear and easy to understand. I would recommend the SWI for anyone wanting to learn Spanish in Colombia.

Rob Bie,NZ

, July, 2015

Muchos gracias Spanish World Institute! I have loved my time here in Bogota all thanks to this school. The classes are small and the teachers are very friendly - I felt comfortable to ask questions and speak in front of the class which improved my conversational Spanish so much. I have also made some close friends with other students in the class that i will meet up with again on my travels through South America. I found the Bogota class so helpful that i have signed up for the school in Cartagena next week!