Decide where in Spain to study. There are a couple of important factors to consider when picking a city/village in Spain. For example, not many people realize that Spain has several national languages, and opting for a region where these languages, which are not Spanish, are spoken may hinder the learning process. These cities are: Barcelona, where Catalan is the mother tongue; Santiago, where Gallego is the mother tongue; Bilbao or San Sebastian where Basque is the mother tongue; and Valencia where Valenciano is spoken.
Of course, all these regions are bilingual, and Castillian Spanish is spoken everywhere and by everyone in Spain. However, depending on how nationalistic the region is, people may be more or less willing to help students practice their Spanish, preferring to stick to their first language (this is particularly true in Barcelona and all of Catalonia).
The second factor to consider when choosing a place to study is how interesting the place is. Obviously big cities like Madrid and Barcelona will offer much more in the way of entertainment and culture than small cities like Seville, Granada, Bilbao or even Valencia. It is important to choose a place where the student will feel comfortable and will interact frequently with the Spanish in Spanish.
It is then important to check out Spanish schools in the selected city. Really, students have two options: going to a school or academy or getting a private teacher. The latter is a bit more difficult but will enable the student to learn far more because of the one-to-one attention.
When looking for a Spanish school, consider these factors: location, price, class size and materials. Most classes go for three months in Spanish academies, but month-long classes may also be offered for students on short stays. For anything less than a month, the school will probably suggest a private teacher, which will be more expensive.
Average intensive classes are held Mondays through Thursdays for 3- to 4-hour blocks with breaks. All schools will give students a placement exam before they begin the course, and students who are not already in Spain could ask to take this placement quiz via the Internet to save time.
Prices for classes depend on the school, the class, the duration and whether it is a private or shared environment. To give an idea, private one-to-one classes go for about 20Euros to 40Euros an hour. A 40-hour month long class at Madrid's International House school is about 400Euros, while an intensive one-week long course (15 hours) at the same school is around 500Euros.
Most schools will offer special classes to cater to the needs of their students. Some common and useful examples are classes such as: Spanish for students 55 and over, Spanish for young people (13 to 17) and business Spanish. Choosing the right class will help students get the most out their time learning abroad.
No matter which city or village a student chooses to begin or continue learning Spanish, a trip to Spain will be a rewarding one. There is no better place to do class homework than in a shady Spanish plaza with a cup of strong cafe con leche. Learning Spanish in Spain is not only smart because of the immersion factor, but also because of the inspiration students will feel living and participating in Spain's rich culture.
