I feel like I learned more Spanish in Guatemala in 6 weeks than I have during 2 years of Spanish classes in University.

- Lloyd Cuzzo

The cornerstone of the Somos Hermanos Student Immersion Program is intensive langauge instruction.  Language instruction is conducted by a pool of university-trained Spanish instructors with specialists in all areas of grammar and for all levels of students (beginner through advanced). All classes are one-on-one and teacher-student pairs are rotated throughout the course of the program so that the students are exposed to a variety of teaching styles and idiosyncrasies.

Language instruction is divided into four phases:

Phase 1 (8 weeks): 4 hours a day, 5 days a week
Phase 2 (2 weeks): 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, Part-time volunteer projects
Spring/Fall Break (1 week)
Phase 3 (6 weeks): 3 hours a day, 2 days a week, Full-time volunteer projects
Trip to Oaxaca, Mexico and El Salvador (3 weeks)
Phase 4 (4 weeks): 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, Completion of a thesis in Spanish on the topic of choice relating to Latin America, immigration, health care, or other pertinent issues.

During the trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, (between Phase 3 and 4) students study in small groups with Mexican language instructors, focusing on differences in Mexican vocabulary and accent.