Tthe Language & Luxury learning system comes from years of doing it the wrong way. One of our Founders said it best; the first foreign language I studied was German, taking four years in High School, four years in University, and I even took group study abroad programs in each of High School and College.  But after eight years of study and even a degree in German, I still couldn’t speak the language.
 
I could read and write OK and understood quite a bit, but I hadn’t had enough direct contact with German speakers and just hadn’t gotten comfortable enough with the conversation.  While working in the travel business a few years later, I was sent to work in Germany for two summers, where I interacted with the locals on a daily basis and after those two summers I FINALLY was able to speak the language well. Thus it took me roughly nine years to learn to speak German and ONLY after I lived and worked there (immersion).

Fast forward a couple years and I meet a woman from Mexico City who later became my wife.  Now motivated and having the German experience under my belt, I moved to Mexico City and learned to speak better Spanish in nine MONTHS than I ever spoke German after nine years.

Why?  One on one language instruction from a local, experienced Spanish teacher plus cultural immersion…I lived alone in a flat in a neighborhood, took care of myself with respect to daily activities, and spent hours with my future wife’s family and friends.

This is definitely the formula that works plus you get the added bonus of long lasting moments and life-changing experiences that come with being immersed in the foreign culture!

Richard Phelps

Founder of Language & Luxury

Listen to Richard Phelps talk about the importance of immersion in language learning, and his own journey with immersive learning.

The Language and Luxury team has conducted extensive searches and handpicked only four- and five-star equivalent accommodations comprised of flats and villas in the best locations for exploring and in the best neighborhoods for cultural immersion.

In person check-in will take place on the premises and a local Concierge service is always available for help with any needs that arise, including optional assistance with shopping, restaurant reservations, travel plans, etc. Of course fresh linens and toiletries, professional cleaning, and free wifi are always included.

Only where noted, for example in Oaxaca, Mexico, other accommodations, such as intimate boutique hotels, will be offered but with the same level of concierge service as for the flats and villas.

Every Language & Luxury vacation is a fully custom private journey to learn a foreign language, with a Personal Language Instructor, one on one, in some of the world’s greatest cities and towns.

There are three key elements in the Language and Luxury experience that are helping Americans to finally fulfill their dream to learn a foreign language:

1) one on one personal language instruction in some of the world’s greatest cities and towns,

2) living in an actual neighborhood and not in a group tour environment, plus,

3) cultural immersion, which comes both from neighborhood living as well as from activities designed to get you involved in the lifestyle, like walking tours of an open market, cooking lessons and wine tasting but with a local host or hostess, dining with a local, etc.  And we’ve made it an upscale experience, with luxury accommodations and myriad activities and options.