ALMERIA SPANISH SCHOOL

I started "in the middle" of a course - as the other students had started one or more weeks earlier. But it was not really a problem. I got all material and could read everything I missed. The teachers were alle very good, they explained in easy, understandable Spanisch (and in English if it was very difficult). The location is fine, in the center of Almeria and within a short distance of everything. I liked the combination of classic tuition and conversation classes. Some of the conversation classes were in the afternoon/evening and I would have prefered to go outside, have a conversation in a cultural institution or just in a cafe/bar. We went out once with the conversation class, but only because I asked for it. - all in all a very good experience I would like to repeat next year.

I attended a one- to- one lessons spanish course in August for my job and I met a lovely teacher, Gisela . She was very skilled and professional, I got a certificate at the end of the course. I learned a lot during the time I was in Almeria (two weeks). The Director of the school, Mrs Patricia Fernandez Rodriguez, was always awailable to help me if I had any questions or needs. Almeria is an historical city with a modern feel, I felt myself very well in this place. So I suggest students to study in this school because the teachers are willing to help you if you want to improve a foreign language . Please pay attention: there are no social activities in August because it is holidays time, but during the year it is possible to combine your language course with other activities . It could be a great occasion to visit this lovely city. I would like to come back next year.!

My experience was a little mixed. Amaya was very nice, gave a nice tour through Almería and explained a lot. But as there were no other students, my friend and I had to join in one class. Our levels are far too different to combine and that meant that it was either too slow or too complex. On day 3 we had an extra student, more at my level, but he slowed us down by speaking English all the time. Amaya could have corrected him more often and challenged him and us by speaking Spanish only.

In all, I did learn something but could have reached more if there were more students at my level and we had constant class about grammar, vocabulary and speaking and understanding Spanish.

My expectations were not met. Language International made me believe that I had a choice to join a group (students 50- or 50+) and convinced me to join the 50+ group. Well, with 2 students of 58, that was not very difficult. They should have informed us that we were the only students, so we could choose ourselves if we wanted to continu and we would have been more prepared.

Had a great time in Almería, also due to Amaya's tour!

Despite having been told by Language International that the school could cater for my husband, a beginner, and myself, an intermediate learner, we arrived to discover that there was one class teaching at a level of B1 to B2. We decided to give it a go on the first day. It was very much a question of sink or swim. We only stayed for the whole course because Amaya the teacher is exceptional.

The location of the school was great, central and near the wonderful Casa Puga. The facilities were adequate for our needs and the staff helpful and friendly.

The course, in a small group of three students, was very satisfying, so much so that I achieved the B1 level. The teacher prof. Amaya Quintas Garrida.

The manageress Patricia and the secretary are also friendly and kind.
I was not happy with the family accommodation 7 km from the center of Almeria in a small town without any interest.

After two days I asked to change and the school put me in a great hotel in the center of Almeria.

the course had 7 students all at different levels, also the material was b1 level and we were really a2.

Warda and I were at this school for one week. In the description is mentioned that there will be a test on which level we are. This did not happen. We were for three days the only cursists. On Thursday Mark and on Friday Eva joined the class.

Apart from the different level of each cursist, it was very nice to have lessons from Rebecca. Se is a good teacher and has a lot of patience. The material we get was not much, but you can't expect much for a class of 15 hours.

Concerning the facilities: we both are teachers in the Netherlands and we work with modern materials such as whitebords, computers etc.
So using chalkboards nowadays is some steps back in time. Also the classroom is a little bit old fashioned. But this is not at all an important issue for us. What we think is important is, that Rebecca has succeed in teaching us a lot of Spanish words/verbs. in a very short time. We will certainly come back another time and hopefully have her again as teacher.

We also are glad with the heartly welcome of the staff.

A suggestion: maybe an evening walk with all cursists and visiting some tapas bars?

Kader and Warda Amrani

Der Unterricht war bestens an die Bedürfnisse und Gegebenheiten der SchülerInnen angepasst. Wünsche, Anregungen, Vorschläge sofort umgesetzt. Die Schule ist ausreichend ausgestattet. Der Umgang ist unkompliziert und herzlich und hilfsbereit. So wurde mir am ersten Tag erklärt, wo ich in der Nähe kostenfrei parken kann.

Unfortunately I did not have a good experience at the school. I was put in a class with 2 other girls both of whom were at a much higher level than me and they were also at a different level from one another. (I was deemed to be at 2A from the written test I took but I had written to the manager to explain that my verbal Spanish was not as good as my written Spanish. 1 girl was close to completing 1B and the other was at 2B and beyond. Both lived or had lived in Spain for some time.)


On the first day I spoke to the teacher about it but it seemed the only other option was to join a complete beginner who she said was extremely slow. (We looked at what she would be covering with him and it was very basic whereas I was nearing completion of 1A in my Spanish lessons at home.)


She assurred me it would be ok with the two girls and that I would be able to work with the one at 1B. We tried this on the second day but by the morning of the third day the teacher abandoned this and was in effect running 3 different lessons in the same room. She was a good teacher and did her best but it was a difficult and ackward situation. 


When she was talking conversationally to the other girls in Spanish I could understand very little but would have had to interrupt every sentence in order to learn anything. I had let her know this was the case. I did however listen in case I picked up anything but it was at a much higher level.


The situation got worse each day and on the fourth day, apart from about 15 minutes of tuition I was simply completing written exercises on my own and checking them in the back of the book. 


On the morning of the final day I decided I had to let the school manager know that I felt disappointed and let down. I had booked the course in order to practice speaking Spanish on a daily basis and had been reduced to completing exercises that I could have done anywhere on my own. I had to pass the message on via the receptionist as the manager was not there. It was suggested that I should have raised it on the first day but I had done that with the teacher. The receptionist promised to pass the message on but I have heard nothing from the school.

Most of the time 1-3 students (I was in May and beginning of June), therefore very individual and quick learning.
In the center of Almeria. Good locations for tapas etc. are very close. Car parking can be expensive. Almeria and surroundings offers beautiful nature (cabo de gata, sierra nevada, tabernas etc.)

I was together with my girlfriend Jasmin at your School twice. We like the location of the School, because it is very easy and fast to reach. My girlfriend is Swiss and i am German, we both want to learn the Spanish language. Our teacher is Amaya. I think she is a perfect teacher, she knows very well to handle students and she knows how to teach as well.

Everytime we come to Spain for at least one week we try to get lessons at your School, two hours per day. This is what we like so much: you are this flexible, that we can get lessons when and how long we want. And this is exactly what we are searching, especially with such a perfect teacher!