Conservation, Culture & Linguistics in South America
Immerse yourself in the language, arts, food and cultureDuration
You decide
Price
Locations
Any country or countries of your choice
Provider
In brief
Choose the language you have been wanting to learn and reach out the the Language Gap who will place you in the right country, course and program for you
Each trip is personalised to the individual. Would you rather stay alone or with a host family? do you want to volunteer alongisde the program? would you like to take courses in arts, music, culinary skills or more?
The language gap works with accredited language schools and local contacts to take the risk and uncertainty out of the planning process, ensuring that your Language Gap will be unlike any other and perfectly tailored for the individual and their needs.
“To those who are on the fence on the decision on whether or not to embark on a Gap Year, DO IT! I learnt so much from each experience and a huge thanks to The Language Gap for an amazing experience”
Nathan, 19
Art and Design in Guatemala
Volunteering and exploring – volcanoes, lakes, markets and more
Ellen (19) is taking a gap year before starting a Fine Art Degree at Newcastle University this autumn. After A-levels and a year of Art Foundation in the U.K., she wanted to do something completely different. The Language Gap arranged a 5 month stay in Guatemala, immersed in the language and culture in historical Antigua and then staying with a local homestay and volunteering with a fantastic organisation in the vibrant city of Quetzaltenango, known locally as Xela. She has thrown herself into the whole experience with positivity and enthusiasm and her feedback reflects the love she feels for this small country with a big heart
“I have spent nearly 3 months in Xela, Guatemala, volunteering with Trama Textiles, an amazing organisation that helps to preserve the art of traditional Maya backstrap weaving and support Maya women across the region. Over the last 3 months, I have been doing graphic design for the organisation, and also learning to weave, which has been an amazing experience. I also took Spanish lessons in Xela and Antigua which were intense, but now I am endlessly grateful to have a better grasp of the language! At Trama, the school, and around the city, I have met so many amazing people, and made friends from all over the globe. With friends, I have climbed volcanoes like Acateriango and the Santiaguito Mirador, and seen otherworldly views and huge eruptions! Visiting the colourful, bustling markets in Salcaja and Chichicastenango has been amazing too, browsing gorgeous textiles and trying local street food including tacos, pupusas, dobladas and chuchitos. Now I’m leaving Xela to travel around Guatemala, but Xela is such a special place and I already know I want to return one day.” ¡Felicidades, Ellen
Conservation & environmental – volunteering in Paraguay
Research and learning for a unique gap year experience.
Otto (19) is taking a gap year before he heads off to university to study Environmental Science. He spent a month learning Spanish from scratch in Madrid and then with a host family near Asunción in Paraguay. This was important preparation for his 2 month volunteering placement at the Para La Tierra Foundation, the only year-round scientific research station in Paraguay.
“The city of Pilar, where the Para La Tierra Foundation is based is pretty wealthy for Paraguay. There is lots to do such as play padel or head to the beach by the river for stunning sunsets. When I first arrived things, started off quiet and slow, but I was sent to work collecting black and golden howler monkey behavioural data, either close to the house on foot or cycling further away on the house bikes. I was also sent out with an intern whose project was collecting data on frogs using pitfall traps. After the first couple of weeks, I became an expert from doing these every day. As time went by, more people started arriving: the volunteer coordinator, new interns and volunteers and there were events such as national holidays or carnivals. I was also lucky enough to experience a trip to the Gran Chaco with some new volunteers who were very keen Americans. This was great trip: we stayed in the middle of nowhere going on expeditions and hikes and seeing an abundance of scary, dangerous and fascinating wildlife. For my final week, we had an important government project which involved monitoring fish populations after construction of buildings along the river. This was highly standardised scientific work and we had to be thorough without getting too wet.”
