The price of EVERYTHING seems to have gone up over the last few years but you'll be please to hear that this hasn't stopped people travelling to Spain and Latin America for an immersive language experience. You'll also be pleased (or maybe pleasantly surprised!) to hear that a 10 hour per week course can cost as little as €70 per week. And a very generous 25 hour-per-week course in Alicante or Granada can be had for less than €150 per week. In the following blog, we're going to explain how - and how much - you can save, and exactly how to go about booking your Spanish course.
HOW TO GET THE BEST VALUE (AND PRICE!) WHEN BOOKING A SPANISH COURSE ABROAD
As you have probably seen already, the Estudia-España platform offers great deals with discounts on courses (sometimes on accommodation too!) at language schools in Spain and South America. Apart from that, we have some tips on getting the best value on Spanish language courses.
Tip 1: Generally speaking, the longer you stay, the cheaper the weekly course price is. This is especially true when booking long-term courses. Of course this varies from school to school but long-term is usually from 8 - 16 weeks or more.
Tip 2: Some schools have summer supplements on accommodation and sometimes also on courses. Unfortunately that's just the way it is. If you want to avoid this extra cost at that particular school/destination, is it worth considering alternative travel dates or destinations? It's easier said than done, we know, but at least the Estudia-España discounts will ease the cost a little bit.
Tip 3: Use our platform to compare the different schools. Barcelona is probably, on average, a more expensive city to book a Spanish course than Alicante or Granada for example. Use the 'favourites' function to go back to individual school pages easily. The difference in price can be huge, so take your time and look around to find the price that best suits your budget. Here's an example:
Alicante: 4 week Spanish course, 25 lessons per week INCLUDING accommodation in a single room in a shared apartment: €1086
Barcelona: 4 week Spanish course, 20 lessons per week INCLUDING accommodation in a single room in a shared apartment: €2065
Tip 4: As in all countries, the capital city tends to have the highest cost of living. This is also true of Madrid. It's a fantastic place to study Spanish and highly recommended, but a provincial city will probably cost slightly less.
Tip 5: On our homepage you will see we have put together some packages. We've put together some "all-inclusive" deals which include a Spanish course, accommodation and any other fees applicable to the particular school. The package deals include an additional discount on top of the usual discount we provide.
Tip 6: Estudia-España offers discounts on hundreds of Spanish courses at schools in Spain. Take a look at our easy-to-use course and price calculator and find out the savings you can make. Here a few examples of special offers at selected schools. In Granada save at least 5% on all Spanish courses. 10% off most Spanish courses at all our language schools in Málaga. FREE ticket to the Alhambra when you book a Spanish course at Enforex Granada. Accommodation in a single room/shared apartment in Alicante just €110 per week!
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF STUDYING SPANISH ABROAD?
Ask anyone who has actually done it and they'll usually sing the praises of learning Spanish in a country where the language is spoken. Whether you learned the language using apps, evening classes or online from your home, these versions are not usually an immersive experience. Imagine this: In the morning you go to school and meet your classmates, who are from all over the world, and you begin the day with some friendly small talk in Spanish. After that you'll have 4 hours in the classroom learning the structures and grammar, speaking and listening - all under the expert guidance of qualified teachers. After school you'll maybe have a trip to the local store or to a tapas bar with friend, which is where you get the chance to practice what you know. During your siesta, especially in the hotter months, maybe you'll watch some Spanish TV or take part in one off the school's activities. It's yet another chance to hear and speak Spanish. Evenings are of course free too and most of our students use the chance to immerse themselves in the culture and nightlife of the city they are learning in.
We're not saying scrap the apps! They're a great way to complement your learning, but in our experience, and more importantly in the experience of our students, a language study trip is something that deepens your knowledge, takes your Spanish to a new level and is an experience that no one forgets!
HOW LONG SHOULD MY SPANISH COURSE BE?
There are many factors you'll be considering before you book your course. Cost is probably the most limiting factor when deciding how long to go for. Time too. However, it goes without saying that the longer you can be there, the more you will eventually learn. I did my first Spanish course as a beginner (I had a little bit of present simple knowledge from a couple of private lessons I did with a teacher). The immersion started immediately - learning Spanish in a class of beginners from all over the world, whose common language was Spanish. The teacher ONLY used Spanish in the classroom. Anyway, after 2 weeks I still hadn't starved, the local cafes, shops and tapas bars were no longer a challenge and I already felt that my Spanish had improved a lot. After 4 weeks something really clicked. I was, of course, FAR from perfect but the inhibitions and fears making embarrassing mistakes were gone. In week 5 our teacher took us to watch a film in the cinema - in Spanish!
To sum up: Don't underestimate the massive benefits of even just a 1 or 2 week course. I always tell people that 4 weeks is the "click" moment. And if you can do a course for even longer, then you'll be well on your way to preparing yourself for university, job-level Spanish, exams and a deep deep knowledge of the language which will open up friendships and opportunities for the rest of your life.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
If you would like more info on learning Spanish abroad, simply drop us a line and let us know what you are interested. We're happy to advise or send you a quote. We also make sure you get the best deal available. Say hi to us using our CONTACT FORM and we'll be in touch. Thanks for reading!
