Spanish Language Schools
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK
Posts: 3
Spanish Language Schools
We wish to retire to Spain in 2-3 years and in the intervening years we intend to take all our holidays in Spain to familiarise ourselves with the various areas to ascertain what would suit us best.
We would like to go to an intensive Spanish Language School for one or two weeks and wonder if anyone can advise of such schools?
Naturally, we will still need to go to evening classes in the UK but an intensive course would certainly give our motivation a boost!
We would like to go to an intensive Spanish Language School for one or two weeks and wonder if anyone can advise of such schools?
Naturally, we will still need to go to evening classes in the UK but an intensive course would certainly give our motivation a boost!
#2
Yaaarp
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Trying to get the hell outta Spain!
Posts: 1,354
Re: Spanish Language Schools
There´s http://www.morethanenglish.com/anglos/index.asp but it´s had some bad reviews on another forum. Has anyone on here been or know anyone that has?
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Spanish Language Schools
I went to the instituto picasso in the centre of Málaga. Highly recommended
http://www.instituto-picasso.com/
The students are from all over the world and they cater for all levels of Spanish
http://www.instituto-picasso.com/
The students are from all over the world and they cater for all levels of Spanish
#4
Re: Spanish Language Schools
Everyone aware that Open University do a Spanish course? Two different standards
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: Spanish Language Schools
OU Spanish.
Portales: beginners' Spanish
A buen puerto: advanced Spanish
En rumbo: intermediate Spanish
Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish
I always suggest getting a skype partner, but you'll need to have a basic level first. Register with one of the sites, there are always loads of Spanish wanting to swap Spanish for English. I lost my details recently, and reregistered and I had 6 people in the first few days wanting to chat, so you can choose someone of a similar level, age etc. A bit daunting at first, but I have been talking to the same guy now for a couple of years, he's extremely helpful.
#6
Re: Spanish Language Schools
Not being picky but there more than two levels. Friend of mine did the advanced, so I saw all the course material, and it's quite good. Problem is, it's very expensive. Without looking it up, it's spread over a few years, and the first year alone you have to attend a language school in Spain for a few weeks in the summer. IIRC, the course is paid for, but you have to find the flights and accommodation. I think the first year is around £800~, that's without the school, so you'll be well past a thousand pounds just for the first year. My friend is disabled, so had a grant for everything, so whilst it's good, cheap it ain't!
OU Spanish.
Portales: beginners' Spanish
A buen puerto: advanced Spanish
En rumbo: intermediate Spanish
Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish
I always suggest getting a skype partner, but you'll need to have a basic level first. Register with one of the sites, there are always loads of Spanish wanting to swap Spanish for English. I lost my details recently, and reregistered and I had 6 people in the first few days wanting to chat, so you can choose someone of a similar level, age etc. A bit daunting at first, but I have been talking to the same guy now for a couple of years, he's extremely helpful.
OU Spanish.
Portales: beginners' Spanish
A buen puerto: advanced Spanish
En rumbo: intermediate Spanish
Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish
I always suggest getting a skype partner, but you'll need to have a basic level first. Register with one of the sites, there are always loads of Spanish wanting to swap Spanish for English. I lost my details recently, and reregistered and I had 6 people in the first few days wanting to chat, so you can choose someone of a similar level, age etc. A bit daunting at first, but I have been talking to the same guy now for a couple of years, he's extremely helpful.
I looked at the site only briefly whilst in the UK and only saw the forst two levels, but yes Im sure there are more as you described, and wasnt too bothered about attending the school because of course Im already here :-)
Yes I agree its expensive and is only for a certain person
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: Spanish Language Schools
Would you ever be picky
I looked at the site only briefly whilst in the UK and only saw the forst two levels, but yes Im sure there are more as you described, and wasnt too bothered about attending the school because of course Im already here :-)
Yes I agree its expensive and is only for a certain person
I looked at the site only briefly whilst in the UK and only saw the forst two levels, but yes Im sure there are more as you described, and wasnt too bothered about attending the school because of course Im already here :-)
Yes I agree its expensive and is only for a certain person
I have attended the following school twice, and would recommend it if you re in that area.
http://www.idnerja.es/default.aspx
#8
Yaaarp
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Trying to get the hell outta Spain!
Posts: 1,354
Re: Spanish Language Schools
Not being picky but there more than two levels. Friend of mine did the advanced, so I saw all the course material, and it's quite good. Problem is, it's very expensive. Without looking it up, it's spread over a few years, and the first year alone you have to attend a language school in Spain for a few weeks in the summer. IIRC, the course is paid for, but you have to find the flights and accommodation. I think the first year is around £800~, that's without the school, so you'll be well past a thousand pounds just for the first year. My friend is disabled, so had a grant for everything, so whilst it's good, cheap it ain't!
OU Spanish.
Portales: beginners' Spanish
A buen puerto: advanced Spanish
En rumbo: intermediate Spanish
Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish
I always suggest getting a skype partner, but you'll need to have a basic level first. Register with one of the sites, there are always loads of Spanish wanting to swap Spanish for English. I lost my details recently, and reregistered and I had 6 people in the first few days wanting to chat, so you can choose someone of a similar level, age etc. A bit daunting at first, but I have been talking to the same guy now for a couple of years, he's extremely helpful.
OU Spanish.
Portales: beginners' Spanish
A buen puerto: advanced Spanish
En rumbo: intermediate Spanish
Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish
I always suggest getting a skype partner, but you'll need to have a basic level first. Register with one of the sites, there are always loads of Spanish wanting to swap Spanish for English. I lost my details recently, and reregistered and I had 6 people in the first few days wanting to chat, so you can choose someone of a similar level, age etc. A bit daunting at first, but I have been talking to the same guy now for a couple of years, he's extremely helpful.
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: Spanish Language Schools
If you google "language exchange" there are now a lot of choices, but these two have been around for some time. Plus skype itself, of course.
http://www.sharedtalk.com/
http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/
http://www.sharedtalk.com/
http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/
#10
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK
Posts: 3
Re: Spanish Language Schools
Hi everyone!
TeresaUK here - I wish to thank everyone who replied to my question about learning the Spanish language. All responses are very helpful and we can now start exploring some options. We are quite excited about the daunting challenge ahead!
Thanks again.
TeresaUK here - I wish to thank everyone who replied to my question about learning the Spanish language. All responses are very helpful and we can now start exploring some options. We are quite excited about the daunting challenge ahead!
Thanks again.
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Spanish Language Schools
This is a good one:
http://www.livemocha.com/
The beginner lessons are free. They should be more than enough to get you started. In addition, it also has the community feature for language exchange.
http://www.livemocha.com/
The beginner lessons are free. They should be more than enough to get you started. In addition, it also has the community feature for language exchange.
#12
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Valencian Province
Posts: 346
Re: Spanish Language Schools
We wish to retire to Spain in 2-3 years and in the intervening years we intend to take all our holidays in Spain to familiarise ourselves with the various areas to ascertain what would suit us best.
We would like to go to an intensive Spanish Language School for one or two weeks and wonder if anyone can advise of such schools?
Naturally, we will still need to go to evening classes in the UK but an intensive course would certainly give our motivation a boost!
We would like to go to an intensive Spanish Language School for one or two weeks and wonder if anyone can advise of such schools?
Naturally, we will still need to go to evening classes in the UK but an intensive course would certainly give our motivation a boost!
#13
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Spanish Language Schools
I would recomend private classes on a one to one or one to two basis with reading ,writing, grammar, listening and speaking for three hours a day and be prepared to do one hour of homework. A week of this would give you an excellent start and plenty of time to enjoy yourself and speak to native Span ish speakers. This is possible to arrange as a package in a real Spanish village with a Scottish teacher who is fluent in Spanish. Elspeth
I would very much recommend that you learn Spanish as part of a group and with native Spanish speaking teachers. Therefore you have people to talk to and it will help with your listening when the teacher speaks to you. It is no good being able to understand a foreigner speaking Spanish, they will speak too slowly and not with a good accent.
I know people who have been going to one-to-one lessons with so-called British Spanish teachers for 10 years and who still are only at the level where they can order what to eat (sorry, but it is true).
The people I know who have succeded have gone to proper certified Spanish courses in Spain.
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Valencian Province
Posts: 346
Re: Spanish Language Schools
I'm guessing this is a bit of self-promotion.
I would very much recommend that you learn Spanish as part of a group and with native Spanish speaking teachers. Therefore you have people to talk to and it will help with your listening when the teacher speaks to you. It is no good being able to understand a foreigner speaking Spanish, they will speak too slowly and not with a good accent.
I know people who have been going to one-to-one lessons with so-called British Spanish teachers for 10 years and who still are only at the level where they can order what to eat (sorry, but it is true).
The people I know who have succeded have gone to proper certified Spanish courses in Spain.
I would very much recommend that you learn Spanish as part of a group and with native Spanish speaking teachers. Therefore you have people to talk to and it will help with your listening when the teacher speaks to you. It is no good being able to understand a foreigner speaking Spanish, they will speak too slowly and not with a good accent.
I know people who have been going to one-to-one lessons with so-called British Spanish teachers for 10 years and who still are only at the level where they can order what to eat (sorry, but it is true).
The people I know who have succeded have gone to proper certified Spanish courses in Spain.
#15
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Valencian Province
Posts: 346
Re: Spanish Language Schools
Most of the students I have taught Spanish to, have been to several Language schools and several so called English/Spanish teachers. You cannot generalize on the abilities of people you don't Know. I speak very quickly both in Spanish and English. Have only Spanish TV and radio and read Spanish novels as well as English ones. I also write short stories and poems in Spanish with some of my Spanish neighbours and we criticise each others efforts. I taught myself Spanish from Hola magazine and the novels of Pio Baroja but I was desperate to learn. Elspeth