Many of our students choose to stay with a host family because, what better way to fully immerse in the Spanish culture rather than living with real locals! Whilst it could be exciting and helpful in terms of improving your language, there are many things to look out for. Here we have 4 biggest tips from our students for what to do and not do in a Spanish host family.

Studying in a foreign country can be both exciting and scary at the same time, can’t it? You must have hundreds of questions in your mind as you prepare for your Spanish course in Spain, whether a short 1-month one or a whole year! Whilst you will explore the place and other customs as you go, we have 4 tips for making the most of your time here (my personal learnings).

El Puerto de Santa María is a beautiful beach town in the south of Spain, in the province of Andalucía. Considering whether you should visit or spend your summer here studying Spanish, here are 5 reasons why you totally should.

1. Beautiful beaches

El Puerto de Santa María is home to 22 kilometres of coastline, 16 of which are beaches. In the summer, they are literally filled with people from morning till late. Some of the renowned ones are La Puntilla, Valdelagrana, Muralla, Santa Catalina and Levante. Playa de La Puntilla is the most popular beach by far in this town due to its proximity to the city centre (only 15 mins on foot) and it’s where our students often find themselves relaxing after lessons.

We organised a welcome drink for all new students in the second week of July. Location: Casa Pepe restaurant in Puerto Sherry on the beach of Muralla.

2. The famous port

The name of El Puerto de Santa María suggests it is a port city and it has been famous for allegedly being the port that Christopher Columbus has departed for his second trip to the Americas!

3. Friendly locals

In our previous blog about ‘How to choose the best language school in Spain’, I mentioned that very few locals speak English. However, they are really friendly (especially with some drinks) and you definitely learn a thing or two that most tourists won’t know about El Puerto!

4. Buzzing nightlife

Spain is famous for its long nightlife that extends to the early hours of the morning and El Puerto is no exception. You will find the locals eating dinner at 10 PM and start their nights out at midnight. The day is long here in El Puerto and in the summer, it is buzzing with people all evenings during the week. Every day from 10 PM until 2 AM, for two months in the summer, you can find a night market along the river (near La Cristalera bar) where locals set up shops to sell souvenirs and other lovely products from Spain. It’s definitely worth checking out!

Handwritten mugs in Spanish!

Our students enjoying un chupito gratis (a free shot) after ordering a bunch of tapas! Yes it’s a thing in El Puerto.

Now that you know why we love El Puerto, head onto our Spanish course page to learn more about the types of courses we offer at Spark, from General Spanish course, summer camps, to work and study experience. Adventure awaits you here!

Studying abroad is not cheap and you have probably paid a ton of money for a few weeks or months at a language school this summer, and are probably wondering how you can make the most of your time there. In this article, we give out the top 4 tips from our own students on how they have had the best time learning Spanish with us.

1. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

There is no success without failures and the same goes for learning a foreign language. Fear of being laughed at or not understood often gets in the way of us actually speaking the language or even attempting to speak. However, practice makes perfect. There is no better way to perfect the art of speaking another language other than just do it. By just speaking it out, the first time could be discouraging when you see the other person’s confused face. But do not give up. Keep going. You will learn what you don’t know and honestly, the other person might actually want to keep the conversation going so they will help you correct the mistakes!

2. Speak Spanish outside of classes

Don’t just practice when you are with your teacher or classmates. Utilise the opportunity that you are surrounded by friendly locals, who also want to get to know a foreign speaker! They will understand that you are Spanish student, so making mistakes is essential! If you want to learn about the local culture of your Spanish school location, why not strike a conversation with a local? This way you practice both your speaking, listening and even learn a new thing or two that will surprise you!

3. Write blogs in Spanish

Beginners of Spanish with a limited vocabulary – do not fear. There are two big benefits of keeping a regular blog in Spanish whilst you’re at it. Firstly, over the course of a few weeks when you look back at your first blog, you will be impressed by how much you have improved, honestly. Secondly, isn’t this a writing practice too? You can write about what you did on the day or what you plan to do the next day – and I am sure that your usage of past and future tense will improve radically.

4. Visit nearby towns

Usually, Spanish lessons run for only a few hours a day so definitely make the most of your time by going on a day trip to nearby cities. Immerse in the culture, eat traditional food, watch a flamenco show or ask the camarero (bartender) about the origin of revuelto (a traditional Spanish dish with eggs and potatoes), you will fall in love with the country before you know it.

Our Spanish courses at Spark are designed so as students have plenty of opportunities to practice speaking Spanish. Some of our students say they have spoken more Spanish in a week than they had in their entire few years studying the language at home. Cultural events such as trips to nearby cities (Cádiz in the picture above) are also organised every week, as we truly believe that education does not stay inside the classrooms.

Head onto course page to find out what Spanish courses we offer and if you need help choosing between different Spanish school, our blog here could help!

Are you a complete beginner in Spanish? Or you already know a bit of Spanish but want to really advance your speaking skills? There is no better way to learn Spanish than by immersing yourselves in the Spanish culture.

Whether you are a first timer in a language school abroad or a returner looking for something different, here are the top 6 things to consider when choosing a school in Spain to study Spanish.

1. Where is the school located?

Big and small cities alike, there is no bigger hassle than having to take three trains and a half hour walk to find your school. This is why we think Spark Spanish is brilliant, as it is located in El Puerto de Santa Maria, a beautiful coastal city in southern Spain that is only 10 minutes away by train from Jerez airport, where there is an international airport with frequent flights to and from other cities in Europe on a daily basis.

Train from Jerez airports are frequent daily and from the train station of El Puerto de Santa Maria, it is only a short taxi trip to Spark and there will always be taxis waiting outside the station, so you can’t really get lost getting here!

See How to get from Jerez to El Puerto by the main means of transport!

      2. How big is the class size?

Never had the chance to speak in your previous Spanish classrooms? Other students were more superior making you nervous in communicating in Spanish? Your teacher spoke too fast? We know the feeling.

When it comes to the most effective way to learn, nothing beats a small classroom with fewer students. You will have more chance to practice your speaking and your teacher can pay much more attention to your development. At Spark, all Spanish classes usually only have 4-6 students (maximum 9), which means everyone here gets personalised attention from the teacher and plenty of time to digest new materials. And everyone is of the same level, which surely helps too.

I have spoken more Spanish in the past week at Spark than I have in my entire 3 years of studying so far and I love it. Check out more details on what a typical day looks like on our website here and another blog here (coming soon).

In one of our classes with Gema (a Spanish teacher)

3. Can you practice Spanish outside of the classroom?

There is no point learning Spanish then going away from the class speaking your native language again, even though we understand you probably just need a break from those intense hours of thinking in Spanish.

If you want to immerse fully in the Spanish culture where you can practice what you learn in the classroom, pick a small town where nearly everyone only speaks Spanish. In El Puerto de Santa Maria, you will find yourselves many opportunities to sharp up your skills by ordering food, asking for directions or recommendations in Spanish, because guess what, not a lot of people speak English here.

I had ordered my meals at a tapas restaurant and had a casual conversation with un camarero (a bartender) completely in Spanish only in my first week of being here, and it was such a great feeling!

4. Are there many options for accommodation?

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to where to stay, therefore the best school will offer a variety of options for accommodation. At Spark, we understand individual privacy and/or your wanting to immerse in the Spanish culture.

That is why there are a number of options in terms of accommodation for you to choose from, ranging from single and double rooms in Sparkville, the school residence, where many of other students also stay; homestay with Spanish families, renting your own apartment or even campsite on the beach!

5. Does the school offer cultural activities?

Not many people choose a language school not wanting to learn more about the culture, specifically speaking the traditional food, historical sites or getting to know what life is like for a Spaniard.

If you are looking for a school that offers rich extra-curricular activities outside of the classroom, Spark is totally where you should consider. After standard lesson hours of 10AM – 2PM, almost every afternoon there are some cultural activities, ranging from cooking classes of traditional Spanish food, day trips to the beach or other nearby cities (Cádiz, Seville, Jerez, Gibraltar), Flamenco shows, or simply get-to-know drinks and going out for tapas with all the students! You won’t have to worry about what to do after classes!

Our student in clase de conina (cooking class) with our teacher/ instructor Elena!

For first timers of a language school abroad, the first impression counts. For returner, you want to be at a better place than where you have been. However, a goal for all learners is to leave your school in the summer feeling much more confident about your skills and that you have lived life like a Spaniard. Compare different school, ask questions, see if they fulfil your most important requirements and remember to also have fun in the process!

If you are almost convinced, request more information here and a member of staff will get in touch with you! If I have successfully convinced you, book a course now and start your Spanish adventure!

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