Spanish Language Schools in Spain

Spanish Language Schools in Spain

Learning Spanish is essential for integrating into Spanish life, navigating bureaucracy, finding jobs, and building relationships. Language schools throughout Spain offer courses tailored to expats: intensive programs, flexible schedules, online options, and exam preparation.

Why Learn Spanish in Spain

Immersion Environment:

  • Practice daily with locals (shops, restaurants, neighbors)
  • Hear regional accents and colloquialisms
  • Faster learning through constant exposure

Qualified Teachers:

  • Native speakers with teaching credentials (ELE - Español como Lengua Extranjera)
  • Experienced with adult learners and expat students

Cultural Understanding:

  • Learn language in cultural context (customs, gestures, social norms)
  • Understand Spanish vs. Catalan/Valenciano in bilingual regions

DELE Certification:

  • Official Spanish proficiency certificates (DELE)
  • Required for citizenship applications (DELE A2 or higher)
  • Recognized internationally for work and study

Types of Spanish Courses

Intensive Courses (20-25 hours/week)

  • Duration: 2-12 weeks
  • Schedule: Monday-Friday mornings or full days
  • Best for: New arrivals with time to dedicate
  • Cost: €200-€400/week
  • Rapid progress - Beginner to intermediate in 3 months

Part-Time Courses (4-10 hours/week)

  • Duration: Ongoing (monthly enrollment)
  • Schedule: Evenings or weekends
  • Best for: Working expats with limited time
  • Cost: €150-€300/month
  • Steady progress - Slower pace, less stress

Private Lessons (1-on-1)

  • Duration: Flexible (book by hour)
  • Schedule: Your availability
  • Best for: Customized learning, specific needs (business Spanish, medical Spanish)
  • Cost: €25-€50/hour
  • Personalized - Fastest progress for motivated learners

Online Courses

  • Duration: Flexible
  • Schedule: Self-paced or live classes
  • Best for: Remote learners, flexible schedules
  • Cost: €100-€250/month (live classes), €10-€50/month (self-paced apps)
  • Convenient - Learn from anywhere

DELE Exam Preparation

  • Duration: 8-12 weeks
  • Schedule: Intensive or part-time
  • Best for: Citizenship applicants, job seekers needing certification
  • Cost: €250-€500 (course) + €100-€200 (exam fee)
  • Certification - Official Spanish proficiency proof

Spanish + Activities (Study Abroad Style)

  • Duration: 1-12 weeks
  • Includes: Spanish classes + cooking, flamenco, surfing, cultural activities
  • Best for: Short-term visitors, gap year students
  • Cost: €400-€800/week (includes accommodation, activities)
  • Cultural immersion - Learn while experiencing Spain

Choosing a Spanish Language School

1. Accreditation

  • Instituto Cervantes Accredited: Gold standard for Spanish schools
  • Member of professional associations (FEDELE, etc.)
  • Qualified teachers (ELE certification, university degrees)

2. Class Size

  • Small groups (max 8-10 students) = more speaking practice
  • Large groups (15-20 students) = lower cost, less individual attention

3. Teaching Method

  • Communicative approach: Focus on speaking and listening (best for daily life)
  • Grammar-focused: Structured lessons (good for academic learners)
  • Task-based: Real-world scenarios (shopping, doctor visits, job interviews)

4. Flexibility

  • Start dates (weekly vs. fixed dates)
  • Level testing and placement
  • Ability to change levels mid-course
  • Refund/cancellation policies

5. Location and Facilities

  • Central location (easy commute)
  • Modern classrooms, technology (interactive boards, audio equipment)
  • Common areas for socializing with classmates
  • Library, study rooms

6. Additional Services

  • Cultural activities included (city tours, cooking classes, movie nights)
  • Accommodation assistance (host families, shared apartments)
  • Visa support letters (for student visas)
  • Certificate of attendance/completion

7. Cost vs. Value

  • Compare total cost (tuition + materials + activities)
  • Check what’s included (materials often €30-€50 extra)
  • Group discounts, long-term enrollment discounts
  • Free trial class or placement test

Typical Costs

Course Type Hours/Week Cost
Intensive group course 20-25 hours €200-€400/week
Part-time group course 4-10 hours €150-€300/month
Private lessons 1-on-1 €25-€50/hour
Online group course Live classes €100-€250/month
DELE prep course 8-12 weeks €250-€500 + exam fee
Spanish + activities Varies €400-€800/week (includes accommodation)

Additional Costs:

  • Course materials: €30-€50
  • DELE exam registration: €100-€200 (depending on level)
  • Accommodation (if provided by school): €150-€300/week

Spanish Language Schools by City

Madrid

Barcelona

Valencia

Seville

Málaga

View all language schools by city →

Online Spanish Learning (Supplement or Alternative)

Popular Apps and Platforms:

  • Duolingo: Free, gamified basics (good for beginners, limited conversational practice)
  • Babbel: €7-€13/month, structured courses (good for grammar)
  • iTalki: €8-€25/hour, 1-on-1 online lessons with native teachers (flexible, affordable)
  • Lingoda: €80-€300/month, small group online classes (structured, live teachers)
  • Verbling: Similar to iTalki, 1-on-1 online lessons
  • SpanishDict: Free dictionary, grammar guides, verb conjugations (excellent reference)

Podcasts for Learners:

  • Notes in Spanish (beginner to advanced)
  • Coffee Break Spanish
  • Spanish Obsessed

Free Language Exchange:

  • Tandem app (match with Spanish speakers learning your language)
  • HelloTalk
  • Conversation Exchange
  • In-person intercambio meetups (bars, cafés in every city)

DELE Exam (Official Spanish Certification)

What is DELE?

  • Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (Spanish as a Foreign Language Diplomas)
  • Official certification issued by Instituto Cervantes (Spanish government)
  • Internationally recognized for work, study, citizenship

Levels:

  • A1: Basic user (survival Spanish)
  • A2: Basic user (can handle routine tasks) - Required for Spanish citizenship
  • B1: Independent user (work, travel, everyday situations)
  • B2: Independent user (professional work, university)
  • C1: Proficient user (advanced academic/professional)
  • C2: Master (near-native fluency)

Exam Structure:

  • Reading comprehension
  • Listening comprehension
  • Written expression
  • Oral expression (interview)

Dates: Offered 6 times/year (February, April, May, July, October, November)

Cost: €100-€200 (depending on level, higher levels more expensive)

Registration: Instituto Cervantes website

Preparation: Most language schools offer DELE prep courses (8-12 weeks, €250-€500)

Tips for Learning Spanish in Spain

1. Choose Your City Wisely

  • Best for Spanish immersion: Granada, Salamanca, Seville (less English spoken)
  • More English, less immersion: Barcelona, Madrid (easy to slip into English)
  • Balanced: Valencia, Málaga (growing international but still Spanish-dominant)

2. Avoid Expat Bubbles

  • Don’t only socialize with English-speaking expats
  • Join Spanish-language meetups, sports clubs, volunteering
  • Live with Spanish roommates (not expat-only flats)

3. Consume Spanish Media

  • Watch Spanish TV series (Netflix with Spanish subtitles)
  • Listen to Spanish podcasts during commute
  • Read Spanish news (El País, 20 Minutos)
  • Follow Spanish social media accounts

4. Practice Daily

  • Order in Spanish at cafés (even if they speak English)
  • Chat with neighbors, shop vendors, baristas
  • Set phone/computer to Spanish language
  • Think in Spanish (narrate your day in your head)

5. Don’t Fear Mistakes

  • Spanish speakers appreciate efforts to learn
  • Making mistakes is how you improve
  • Most locals patient and encouraging

6. Learn Essential Phrases First

  • Survival Spanish: greetings, ordering food, asking directions, shopping
  • Bureaucracy Spanish: NIE, padrón, empadronamiento, cita previa
  • Focus on useful vocabulary (not obscure words)

Start your Spanish learning journey today. Integration and opportunities increase dramatically once you speak the language!