Preparing for your Spanish IGCSE or A-level exams gives you less time to practice each and every subject individually. When it comes to a language, you need more practice than rot learning. Is there any other way to learn the language skills better than Immersive experience?
We don’t think so. Considering the importance of local communication and immersion, Spanish Express has designed a Language Immersion Programme for Spanish where you live in your teacher’s home. Learn from locals, communicate with locals and live the Spanish culture at its best!
This is what Megan did. She joined us in Barcelona at our founder and host teacher, Mónica’s home. You will read Mónica’s diary soon in this blog, tracing Megan’s footprints on this unforgettable experience of the Spanish homestay immersion programme (SHIP).
How Long Does It Take to Learn Spanish Through Immersion?
At Spanish Express, we’ve designed our courses to fit a minimum one-week schedule. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to extend your stay.
Many of our students choose to extend their immersion experience, not just for the additional language practice but also for the deep cultural exploration and meaningful bonds formed with their host teachers.
Just like them, you might decide to broaden your curriculum, go deeper into the Spanish culture, and take in even more of the sights Spain has to offer.
So, while one week is a good starting point, the duration of your immersive learning is flexible and can be tailored to your needs and interests.
A Level/IGCSE Spanish Immersion Trips
Studying for Spanish A Level or IGCSE exams and feel like your Spanish proficiency needs a boost? Conventional language classes often lack the in-depth cultural immersion that helps students truly grasp the nuances of a language.
Spanish Express offers specialised Spanish immersion trips that can be a game-changer in your academic journey. Our immersion programmes are designed not only to improve your language skills but also to give you a rich cultural experience.
Stay with your host teacher, take part in cultural activities, and even engage in language exchanges to make your learning holistic. This is particularly beneficial for high school students, and Sixth form college students who want to integrate language and culture into their Spanish studies.
Best for luxury homestay: Spanish Express
If comfort and a touch of luxury are what you seek in your learning journey, Spanish Express is the best option. With us, you don’t just get a host teacher; you get a luxury homestay experience tailored to your needs.
Our private lessons are conducted by experienced Spanish teacher-examiners, ensuring you receive individualised attention to improve your speaking ability.
Add to this the benefit of cultural excursions, and you have an intensive Spanish homestay immersion programme that allows you to learn in style.
Enjoy the best of both worlds—academic rigour and comfortable living—making your language immersion programme truly unique.
Programme Details
Spanish Express offers an unparalleled Spanish immersion experience where students stay in their teacher’s home. This unique approach guarantees intensive language practice and deep cultural immersion right where it matters most.
Unlike traditional language schools, our programme is highly flexible. We design your schedule based on your needs, offering a blend of one-on-one classes and group discussions for well-rounded language skills.
Our curriculum isn’t confined to the classroom; it extends to various outdoor activities, including historical sightseeing and outdoor lunches, which offer the perfect setting to practice conversational Spanish.
But it doesn’t end there. We also include visits to unique local places, providing a firsthand look at local culture and traditions. This serves to enrich your language skills and offer a complete and authentic immersion experience.
Our programme is open to high school students, Sixth form college students, and even professionals keen on improving their Spanish level. We cater to all types of learners, understanding that everyone has their own pace and preferred method of language acquisition.
So, whether you’re looking to hone your speaking ability or acquire a holistic understanding of the Spanish-speaking world, Spanish Express offers the perfect environment for an intensive Spanish immersion programme tailored just for you.
Online A-Level Spanish Programme at Spanish Express
Flexibility with Private Classes
Spanish Express offers A-Level Spanish and other Spanish Courses that are adaptable to each student’s learning curve. Our private tuition model enables a personalised language immersion programme.
This approach grants students from multiple countries the liberty to schedule lessons when it suits them, ensuring an ideal learning environment.
Effective Language Acquisition
Our one-on-one teaching method ensures that students can focus on areas that need improvement, whether it’s Spanish vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, or conversational Spanish. This tailored approach maximises language skills and helps students become proficient Spanish speakers.
Globally Recognised Qualification
A-Level online tuition not only facilitates university courses but is also a universally acknowledged qualification. It enhances career opportunities in various sectors, making you a desirable candidate for employers around the world.
Comprehensive Academic Support
With full tutor support throughout the academic year, students receive real-time feedback on assignments. We also provide practice for speaking Spanish Exams with native teacher-examiners and conduct mock exams for all three papers. This helps students gauge their Spanish proficiency and get ready for the actual exams.
Exclusive Learning Materials
Gain 12 months’ access to a variety of learning materials, including books and listening exercises. These resources are specifically designed to elevate your Spanish language skills, from Spanish vocabulary to understanding local culture.
Spanish Social Events Online
To offer an authentic immersion experience, we organise online social events. These activities range from discussions about Spanish culture to interactive language exercises, enriching your cultural knowledge and language proficiency.
Take Your Exams with Us
Being a division of David Game College, a recognised examination centre since 1974, Spanish Express allows you to take your A-Level exams here. This adds an extra layer of convenience to your study plan.
Megan travels from London to Barcelona for a Language Immersion Programme.
Now you reached for a leaf from our host-teacher diary. From now onward, you will hear from Mónica. She will lead you to another SHIP journey.
Destination: Dosrius, Barcelona
Host – Teacher: Mónica
Objective: Preparation for Spanish A-level
October
Megan is a 16-year-old student from London who is doing her two years of high school (A level in the UK), and among her subjects is Spanish. For this reason, Megan wanted to participate in the Spanish Homestay Immersion Programme (SHIP), “Live and study in your teacher’s home“, in order to spend a week with me and prepare herself well for her Pearson Edexcel Level 3 AGCE in Spanish exam.
Through Spanish Express, I am a Spanish teacher and examiner for David Game Sixth Form College following the British system, with over 20 years of experience, so for Megan, it has been a unique opportunity to spend a week with me and learn some exam techniques that will be very useful for her when she sits the exam.
Every student encounters different challenges along the way, which can be effectively addressed through individualised instruction and with this personalized immersion programme. Our mission is to help achieve the challenges of our beloved students.
Megan chose the month of October to visit Dosrius, Barcelona, as she had a week’s vacation (what in England is called Half term). As she is a good student, her parents rewarded her with the immersion trip to Barcelona to participate in the Spanish Homestay Immersion Programme (SHIP) in Dosrius, Barcelona.
SHIP begins
Family welcome meal: seafood and rice casserole
Megan arrived on a Sunday morning, accompanied by her parents, Clare and Tim, who were going to spend the week touring the Costa del Maresme and Costa Brava.
My parents and I thought it would be a good idea to invite them for lunch, so we organised a family meal. My father cooked one of his specialities: seafood casserole with rice.
Seafood casserole is a traditional dish from Spain and some Latin American countries. Since most seafood is low in fat and high in protein, seafood casserole is a healthy dish.
The saffron flavour is the most distinctive feature of Catalan seafood casserole. In some regions of Spain, fish casserole is very traditional, prepared with different types of fish and potatoes, onions, peppers, tomatoes and parsley.
As always, it was very tasty, and we had a fun time in the good company of Megan and her parents, who, by the way, are very nice.
In addition to the delicious food, the company was very pleasant. Not only my parents and I were there, but also my goddaughter Claudia with her parents, so Megan and her parents had a wonderful opportunity to practice their Spanish with several of us.
It is also worth mentioning my two beautiful golden retrievers, Rumba and Samba, who are always ready to liven up any family event.
Visit to the donkey reserve: Rukimon
Taking advantage of the fact that Megan’s parents were with us, we thought it would be a good idea to take them to visit our neighbours, the donkeys of Rukimon, a park where all the donkey breeds of the Peninsula live together. It is located in Dosrius, Barcelona, within the Natural Park of Montnegre-Corredor, in the Maresme region (45 minutes from Barcelona city).
Rukimon is one of the most important donkey reserves in Spain. Visitors can sponsor rescued donkeys and become volunteers at the reserve.
Megan is an animal lover, so she really enjoyed petting and feeding our furry friends. They love cuddles and carrots!
During the SHIP
Visit to Barcelona City
Claudia, my goddaughter, who is of a similar age to Megan, invited her to spend the day with her in downtown Barcelona, where they toured half the city. Below, I’m going to tell you about some of the places they visited together:
Downtown Barcelona
One of the most emblematic central areas is the so-called Old Town (Ciutat Vella). This area of the city is composed of different neighbourhoods, such as the Barrio del Born. The medieval streets are full of cafes, fashion stores and a wide gastronomic offer that will satisfy anyone.
Catalunya Square
Plaza Catalunya is one of the obligatory points of reference on any trip to Barcelona. It also represents a connecting point between the oldest part of the city and the second district, known as the Eixample. Several of the most important roads have their origin in this historic square, where a beautiful equestrian statue stands.
The Gothic Quarter and its cathedral
The Gothic Quarter is one of the oldest centres of Barcelona. It is important to note that its architecture remained intact until the nineteenth century, but from then on, it began to undergo major transformations. This neighbourhood also has as a tourist attraction the beautiful Cathedral of Barcelona, an imposing building 90 meters long and 40 meters wide, and is also surrounded by a beautiful garden.
The Ramblas
One of the symbols of Barcelona and one of the most visited tourist attractions, the Ramblas is a must for any visitor. It is an interesting promenade approximately 13 kilometres long, which passers-by can go back and forth from Plaza de Catalunya to the city’s port. Both day and night, the Ramblas is full of people and brims with great urban vitality.
Temple of the Sagrada Familia
The Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia is a masterpiece of the famous architect Antonio Gaudí. Curiously, despite having been started in 1882, the temple is not yet finished, but it is estimated that it will be finished by 2026. It is an impressive Catholic basilica that represents the maximum exponent of local modernist architecture.
Ending the SHIP
To end her stay, I wanted to surprise Megan with a visit to a very important place for her: Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s stadium.
Megan is a fan of football, maybe I would even say that is an understatement with the word fan because football is really her life, so I organised a tour of Camp Nou, where we spent several hours from top to bottom, visiting the most important areas of the stadium.
The tour of Camp Nou included visiting the locker room, the tunnel, the pitch and even the press room. For football fans like Megan, it was a real dream come true to see the space that has been occupied by such brilliant players as Messi, Ronaldinho and Neymar, among others.
Megan was also able to visit the interesting FC Barcelona Museum and the Trophy Room, a place where all the trophies that all the divisions and sections of the team have won throughout its history are exhibited. That is a space dedicated to showing the achievements and historical feats of this club.
Similarly, Megan visited the Multimedia Space, an interactive and very modern section where fans can enjoy the magic of FC Barcelona through the latest technology facilities. Here, you can breathe the atmosphere of an official match, watch audiovisual projections and pay tribute to the great legends who have played for this great team.
Finally, Megan discovered the Messi Space, a 70-square-meter area dedicated entirely to the Argentine star. Here, the individual awards of this brilliant player are displayed, such as his Golden Balls and Golden Boots. Undoubtedly, an unforgettable place for millions of Lionel Messi fans.
During Megan’s stay in Dosrius, Barcelona, and her walks around the city, we were able to take many photos that captured the essence of urban beauty. Megan has lived an experience she will never forget, and, at the same time, she has been able to practice and improve her Spanish.
Why Choose the Spanish Express Language Immersion Programme?
When it comes to mastering Spanish, there’s no substitute for a well-crafted Spanish immersion programme. Our unique offering enables students not just to learn Spanish but to live the language in a cultural context, whether Barcelona or Valencia, just to name some of our most popular destinations.
Native Speakers and Qualified Spanish Teachers
Our programme is led by native speakers and highly qualified Spanish teachers. This ensures you get the best Spanish immersion experience, aiding in quicker language acquisition.
Tailored Spanish Courses for All Levels
Whether you’re a high school student or an advanced learner, our Spanish courses cater to all. The courses range from conversational Spanish to more intensive courses designed to build your Spanish proficiency.
Experience Local Culture with a Host Family
Staying with a local host family provides an authentic immersion experience. It not only enhances your language skills but also gives you a real taste of the local culture.
Language Skills Beyond the Classroom
Your learning doesn’t stop when the class does. We incorporate cultural activities and language exchanges to provide a holistic language immersion programme.
Affordable Private Lessons
Our Spanish immersion classes also offer the flexibility of private lessons. This allows you to focus on areas you find challenging and to learn at your own pace.
Best in Language Immersion Programmes
We’re recognised as one of the best Spanish immersion programmes, offering language and cultural activities around some of the most visited destinations in Spain. College and university students alike can benefit from our service learning approaches.
Visit Dosrius, Barcelona, and live an experience like Megan’s
If you want to live an exciting adventure like Megan, join our SHIP! ✈️
You can discover beautiful cities like Barcelona, Valencia and Mallorca while learning and practising Spanish in our teachers’ homes. 🇪🇸
Here, you can read about our students’ experiences in Barcelona. 🧑🎓
Join us and be the protagonist of our next diaries. ✍️
At Spanish Express, you will learn Spanish in a different way! 😀
1. What makes your Spanish immersion program unique?
Our programme offers an intensive Spanish immersion experience, and you can speak like native speakers in Spain, Latin America, and the US. This helps accelerate language acquisition.
2. What language skills will I gain?
You’ll gain comprehensive Spanish skills, from speaking and understanding conversational Spanish to developing Spanish vocabulary and proficiency.
3. How does the host family aspect work?
Staying with a local family in a Spanish-speaking country offers an authentic cultural immersion. It’s a chance to practice Spanish daily.
4. Do you offer any special courses?
Yes, we offer intensive courses designed for high school students, college students, and advanced learners to improve their Spanish level quickly.
5. Are your Spanish teachers qualified?
Absolutely, our Spanish teachers are native speakers with substantial teaching experience, offering one of the best Spanish immersion programmes.
6. Can I choose the duration of the programme?
Yes, we offer both short-term programmes and longer immersion programmes, fitting the needs of students around the world.
7. Will I get to experience the local culture?
Definitely! Cultural activities and cultural excursions are an integral part of our language immersion programme. You will get a chance to interact with local families on your sightseeing trips with us.
8. Is this programme available in Latin America?
No, for now, we offer immersion trips in limited SHIP destinations, including the destinations below. But watch this space for 2024!
9. Can I take private lessons?
Yes, you can opt for private classes focused on specific areas of the Spanish language that you find challenging.
10. What about learning resources?
We offer a variety of language classes, from basic language skills to intensive Spanish courses, to suit your learning needs. You can also check our Lingo Gym section, it’s FREE!
11. Is the programme suitable for university students?
Certainly, we offer university courses and service learning for those looking to get academic credits while learning Spanish.
12. How will I know my Spanish level?
We assess all our students to ensure they’re placed in the appropriate courses, allowing for a more personalised Spanish immersion experience. Take our Spanish level test!
