Residential Language Courses

Learn Spanish in Santiago de Compostela

In this wonderful, Blanca Fernández Piñeiro, an English language graduate with extensive experience in teaching Spanish, organises courses in her own home for a maximum of three people at a time, so that they can receive a thorough grounding in Spanish language and culture.

The course consists of one week of intensive learning with specially adapted classes for 3 hours in the morning, 5 days a week, and the opportunity to continue practising the language during the rest of their stay.

Spanish course for adults

As adults, we are no longer looking for typical language courses, but instead a process of cultural and linguistic immersion, with new experiences along the way. We do not want to feel like foreigners, and we are eager to come into contact with the country’s inhabitants, learning about the way it works, and discovering all of the different quirks that make it unique. During the one-week course, Blanca opens up her house to visitors, offering all of her knowledge and teaching skills, and dedicating all of her time to ensure that students reach the objectives they have set themselves in relaxed, comfortable environment.

In particular, the Spanish course for adults welcomes senior students who have a friendly attitude towards the culture they visit, seeking to return home knowing they have learned new things that it’s unlikely they would have experienced on their own. 

Adult students are more aware of the learning process, and with Blanca as their teacher, host, and guide, accompanying her in her daily activities, their knowledge of Spanish language and culture will be greatly enhanced, discovering in person how the Spanish really live, and what they get up to in their free time! And cooking with her! Meals at Blanca’s home are traditional and delicious Spanish and Galician recipes,

You will spend a week in her magnificent home town, Santiago de Compostela, where Blanca will be your host and will suggest all of the available events or visits that best suit your interests: history, art, wine tasting, walking a section of the Way of St. James as a pilgrim, a visit to a Galician country manor, a visit to our camelia gardens, shellfish harvesting, wine harvesting, mushroom picking, cinema, a visit to the beach, an excursion in boat to see the mussel beds, a tapas tour, etc. What a better experience than this one of being accompanied by a truly connoisseur of her culture?

Spanish Course for Teenagers

The course consists of one week of intensive learning, with specially adapted classes for 3 hours in the morning, 5 days a week, and the opportunity to continue practising the language during the rest of their stay. The course is adapted to their needs – preparing oral exams at different levels and going over what they have learned at school (years 9 to 13, 6th form, International Baccalaureate).

Spanish as a Second Language

This is completely different from a normal language school course: the children live and study in the teacher’s home or at her office in a business centre, receiving lessons at their own rhythm, from the moment they are collected at the airport until they return home.

The daily routine begins with classes in the morning. The children then help out in the kitchen, laying the table and doing other tasks that help them to learn vocabulary. In the afternoons they explore the city together with Blanca, discovering its buildings, museums, parks and businesses.

Meals at Blanca’s home are traditional Spanish and Galician recipes, although they can be adapted to the children’s tastes.

During the week, the children must be prepared to take part and discover new things, with an open-minded attitude that helps them to make the very most of their stay.

Other optional activities include table tennis, gym, rock-climbing, painting, “zumba” lessons, stand-up paddle in the beach, etc.

Spanish course aimed to IB students currently doing the diploma programme

Blanca organises a one-week Spanish course in her home in the old town of Santiago de Compostela for pupils who are completing International Baccalaureate. The course is aimed at honing the necessary skills to deal with university life, and prior to it, the important stage of the International Baccalaureate course that is writing the Extended Essay.

Pupils are presented with a wide variety of authentic texts throughout the week, helping them to perfect their critical and communicative skills, making observations and reaching both objective and subjective conclusions to help evaluate the topic in question in great detail.

This is an excellent educational opportunity, which favours the pupil’s development at intellectual, emotional, and ethical level, guided by Blanca towards preparing for university studies. During their stay in Santiago, the pupil acquires the necessary abilities to develop and complete an independent research task. Over this week, Blanca and the pupil work independently, but also collaboratively, as she helps to open their eyes to new perspectives through her deep cultural background, discovering diversity and learning in context. 

Based on these study criteria, during the one-week course pupils work on topics of their interest, also practicing linguistic aspects of the Spanish language that will help them to improve their level. In addition, Blanca offers different free-time activities such as trips to the beach, tours around the city, visits to exhibitions, Zumba classes, films, or concerts. 

This course includes tuition, accommodation, all meals, picking and dropping the student at Santiago airport. In summer Blanca also arranges visits to the beach (if possible) which are included in the price.