| It might surprise you, especially if you are an | | | | town of Trinidad. |
| American, but Cuba has several flourishing Spanish | | | | You will find in Cuba that many Spanish courses are |
| language teaching schools that do a good business | | | | taught right in the teachers' homes. Partly because of |
| with tourists from Canada, the U.K., and elsewhere. | | | | this, student groups are kept small, usually no more |
| Unfortunately, this beautiful island, lying just 90 miles | | | | than three students to a teacher. This makes for |
| away from Florida, remains a closed world to all but | | | | highly personalized instruction. Also, it is the norm for |
| the most adventurous U.S. citizens, who must flout | | | | students to live with local host families, which |
| their own country's laws to enter it. | | | | provides even more opportunity to hear and practice |
| The situation could be changing. The U.S. government | | | | the language. |
| has signalled that it may start relaxing the rules | | | | Cuban Spanish is different from that of other Latin |
| against Americans being able to freely travel to Cuba | | | | American countries. It has been heavily influenced by |
| and spend money there. This means that U.S. citizens | | | | the African roots of many of its people, and there is |
| could soon have the opportunity to study Spanish in | | | | a definite Caribbean "lilt" to it. |
| Cuba, too. | | | | Do consider studying Spanish in Cuba. It is a real |
| Several Spanish schools are headquartered in Havana. | | | | option, even perhaps for citizens of the United |
| Other, smaller ones, are in Santiago de Cuba (the | | | | States. |
| country's second largest city) and the beautiful beach | | | | |