Matt at the port in Valparaiso (neighboring city to Viña del Mar)

If you are adventurous, intellectually curious and interested in other cultures, a Spanish immersion program is for you. Immersing yourself in a new culture with a foreign language is a life changing experience.

Can you imagine a Canadian traveling across the world and assimilating to Chilean culture?

That's exactly what Matt Van Strien did. The Toronto native has made Chile his home thanks to our Spanish immersion program.

The Initial Transition

Matt left snow-covered Toronto for sunny Chile and he has absolutely no regrets. He first began studying Spanish with lessons on Skype.

As his interest in the language grew, he enrolled in our Spanish immersion program and now studies Spanish in his new home of Chile.

Yet Matt is not just a student of the language. He has found a paying gig as an English teacher and has plans to stay in Chile indefinitely.

Matt's success in our Spanish immersion program did not happen by accident. He performed extensive research on an array of programs and chose ours after determining that its quality surpassed those offered by other options.

Matt's Typical Day

Matt enjoys two Spanish classes every morning.

The first class consists of one hour 40 minutes worth of conversation designed to promote the use of Spanish in everyday conversation. He then proceeds to another class where he learns Spanish grammar for about an hour and 40 minutes.

According to Matt, the daily grammar lesson is more helpful to him as he is quite the social animal. He regularly engages in conversations with local Chileans where he practices his Spanish and learns new slang. It is much easier to learn the ins and outs of proper grammar in a classroom setting with a patient teacher and helpful textbooks.

His classes are diverse in terms of sex, age and ethnicity. There are even some senior citizens partaking in the program.

Their presence is a testament to the fact that it is never too late to learn something new. In terms of the academic challenges, Matt reports that subjunctive Spanish is a bit difficult to master.

Yet he praises his teachers for their patience and ability to communicate new words, phrases and concepts.

Entrevista

Listen to Veronika Vilski, host of Planeta Ecela, 15-minute interview with Matt.

We touched base with Matt Van Strien, from Toronto, Canada, who has now made Chile his home.

He is studying in Viña del Mar, Chile, and will remain there to teach English.

Matt gives a straightforward view of worthwhile day trips, a nightlife that lasts until dawn, and how to get the most out of your classes and being in a new country.

Matt also teaches English to pay for life's necessities. The extra money also comes in handy for Chile's extraordinary night life.

When dusk hits, Matt sets his sights on having fun with the locals. He has taken full advantage of Chile's world class bar scene, gorgeous beaches, amazing restaurants and resort towns. He surfs, dances, partakes in wine tasting tours, goes out of his way to forge alliances with the locals and takes full advantage of the hopping nightlife.

Matt's Advice for Those Considering a Spanish Immersion Program

Ecela Viña del Mar is located only a few blocks from the beach.

Matt advises prospective Spanish immersion program participants to dive right in, head-first. It's all about putting yourself out there and soaking up as much culture as possible. While the program's classroom sessions are quite helpful, students should make sure to use the language and experience the culture by interacting with the locals.

Matt testifies that Chileans are incredibly friendly people who enjoy conversations with visitors.

He also advises potential program participants to study as much Spanish as possible before arriving. Matt has committed himself to learning at least a couple new Spanish phrases each day to continue his steady progression toward fluency.

There really is no “bad fit” for the program save for those who are not willing to stray from their comfort zone and socialize with new people.

Matt's Success Story is Possible for Anyone

Matt loves the fact that the school's location is right by the beach, making it the polar opposite of his home in snowy Canada.

He credits his initial Skype conversations in Spanish along with his cultural curiosity for his smooth transition into the Chilean culture. He also uses Skype to stay in touch with his friends and family back in Toronto.

However, Matt's success story is in no way unique. He is one of many individuals who have made a successful transition into a new culture where a foreign language is spoken.

His Spanish immersion program experience can be easily replicated by anyone who has a genuine interest in learning a foreign language and enjoying new experiences abroad.