Job Discussion Forums

Archie Rice · Joined: 13 Feb 2013 Posts: 45

I am arriving in Spain shortly and as it's the 'dead-time' for picking up work, and I have some cash put aside, thought it would be a good idea to get aquantainted with the language.

I am open to suggestion on location, though would prefer the coast. Decent price, good teachers and class size are key. Naturally an interesting and fun location is good.

I am still undecided on where I will settle after, though am veering towards andulusia - it makes sense to go to one town for both work and classes, but I've heard the south is best avoided in July and August.

I am in my 30s, British and an absolute beginner.

RabbitWho · Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 30 Location: Spain

EOI (escuela oficial de idiomas) is in every city but they only offer Spanish in some. The classes are intensive, 2 hours a day, and they are subsidised by the government. I paid 200 euro for 130 hours of classes. Sometimes the levels offered are different depending on whether it is the first or second part of the year, so make sure Spanish is available in the place you're going at the time you are going there.

Intensive summer courses are also available in many EOIs and usually 4 hours a day and more expensive.

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

You might (understandably!) find the EOI hard to get into. Be prepared to queue up!

Another cheap alternative, if that's what you're looking for, are schools that do teacher training, who often have practice lessons for their trainee teachers. Standard does tend to vary a bit from one day to the next but I know people that go to them at IH in Barcelona who are happy.

There must be schools in other places that offer the same thing (though practice English lessons are possibly easier to find than practice Spanish lessons).

RabbitWho · Joined: 16 Jan 2010 Posts: 30 Location: Spain

That's true about it being difficult to get into, but that depends on the city, you can find out about it before you go.

The class sizes are big. I don't think that is something to worry about because it is easy to find an intercambio to correct your mistakes and help you with your pronunciation, you have to insist they be strict with you!