Cursos y Diplomados

I spent a week in Barcelona with a friend in Monica’s home. The home was immaculate and beautiful. Monica made us feel at home from the beginning. We had dedicated class time but spent almost the entire stay speaking in Spanish which helped to improve our fluency level. Monica included us in her daily routine in addition to several pre-planned excursions to nearby towns. The scenery was tranquil and gorgeous. We had home cooked meals prepared by Monica’s father, and everything we had was delicious. We also had ample opportunity to eat out in restaurants when we wanted. We were preparing for the DELE exam, and the classes provided a nice review during the week prior to the exam. Monica went above and beyond to support us in achieving our Spanish goals. I would 100% recommend this program to solo travelers or small groups.

I was fortunate enough to spend 2 great weeks learning Spanish in the Valencia area with a very kind and helpful teacher, Pilar. She was an animated, accommodating language guide, as well as a good cook! I had never been to Spain and was only used to the Latin American accent, so after 2 weeks with Pilar, both my comprehension of the Spanish accent as well as my conversational abilities definitely improved. I enjoyed a wonderful bike ride to the coast in the city, hiked around the hills right outside Pilar's house, walked amongst orange groves, shopped for xmas gifts for my family, explored the old historic town, and spent time with Pilar's kind family while chatting in Spanish & eating some yummy Paella. Her home was comfortable and located in the mountains just outside of Valencia. I appreciated how she was flexible with my personal pace and learning style, as well as very accommodating with my dietary preferences. I’d highly recommend Spanish Express and their Valencia program!

I had a great time living my Spanish teacher's (Pilar Martinez) home in Valencia. We also had a great time practicing Spanish in real-life situations including with shopping, sightseeing or at restaurants. My favourite night was the last night (21st June), when we celebrated La Noche de San Juan, on one of the beaches. On the social side of things, I also made a new friend, some Italian girl who was also doing the immersion programme while I was there.

This was such a great experience for me. The week for me flew by so fast I couldn’t believe when it ended. The experience is very personalized. Pilar asked me what I would like to work on and I told her I needed work on listening and speaking. So we did a lot of conversations. We also did some grammar during our daily classes. We did some excursions into Valencia. Which was very exciting to be with a native to learn the local history. The food was fantastic. Paella day was super exciting for me. I loved to see how they made typical paella outside. If you are looking at doing this program don’t hesitate. Just do it. Highly recommend. I added a picture from the boat ride near the rice paddies and paella.

I had a wonderful experience with Spanish Express! I traveled with two friends where we spent two weeks in Valencia with Pilar and one week in Barcelona with Monica. My goal was to improve my Spanish listening and speaking skills and explore whatever Valencia and Barcelona had to offer. Both Pilar and Monica delivered on both! First, the accommodations at both Pilar’s and Monica’s homes were lovely and comfortable. I found the experience of living in Spanish homes much more interesting than staying in hotels and the meals they provided were typical of local cuisines and delicious. Pilar and Monica were warm, welcoming and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy, entertained and well fed. I wanted for nothing. The Spanish instruction was dedicated and customized to my needs and the needs of my fellow travelers. We were at different language levels and both Pilar and Monica were very skilled at identifying our strengths and areas in need of improvement. They tailored our lessons to support our language growth and as a result my comprehension and ability to speak properly improved greatly. While both of the homes we stayed in were located outside their respective cities, both profesoras made arrangements for us to experience many aspects of the cities and accommodated additional interests specific to us. Just as importantly, we had really cool unexpected opportunities to explore the history, art and architecture of smaller towns and cities which included some amazing meals in local restaurants. The restaurants we were taken to had an abundance of atmosphere whether it overlooked the Mediterranean, was in a farmhouse or in a medieval enclave and the food was to die for. One restaurant sported a chef with a Michelin star! Overall, I had a terrific time and would recommend this experience to anyone who is looking to learn and/or improve their language skills and have a more unique experience. Gracias a Pilar y Monica por hacer que mi viaje fuera incredible!!

I stayed with Pilar for a week in June 2023 at her beautiful home in Gilet. Her house is set near to woods, in the foothills of nearby mountains.There are many pathways through the woods, which lead to the mountains and open countryside. Pilar's house is clean, quiet and peaceful, set in a beautiful private garden where you can relax and enjoy the shade of the lemon trees Pilar was an excellent host, willing to take us to nearby places in her car and always happy to provide us with small items that were needed, eg suncream, cotton buds or the times of public transport and the areas of local interest. In one week we visited so many places and met many of Pilar's family. This made me feel like a part of the local community of Valencia, rather than just another tourist. My favourite visit was hiking up the 'Cadenas d'el Garbí' a nearby mountain. I also spent a day in the beautiful city of Alicante exploring the stunning area of the port, the huge park that encircles the city and the shops and restaurants of the old town. The beaches of nearby Sagunto are little known and were completely empty when l visited. It was possible to walk for miles along clean white sand and enjoy swimming in the crystal turquoise water. The food that Pilar provided was fresh and very healthy. A large salad was provided every evening along with delicious local dishes. One evening, a friend of Pilar's prepared and showed us how to cook paella which we shared together in the gardens. I learned a great deal about local customs, the geography and history of the area and visited places of artistic and historical interest. Pillar introduced me to a great deal of new vocabulary, was always willing to explain Spanish grammar and helpful in clarifying meaning. I recommend a total Immersion program with Pilar most strongly. You will return with more confidence in Spanish, much more knowledge of the language and culture and a host of happy memories of your visit.

(SAM - PILAR) Origin: Egypt Pilar's Spanish immersion programme in her Valencia home was a thrilling experience for me Taking part in Pilar's Spanish immersion programme in her Valencia home was a thrilling experience. I immediately felt like one of the family upon arrival. The bespoke lessons were aimed at my particular requirements and Pilar's understanding and know-how made learning both enjoyable and successful. Cohabiting with a mother-tongue speaker and experienced Spanish teacher was a valuable chance to develop my speaking skills beyond what I thought feasible. Pilar's enthusiasm for teaching was evident in her imaginative and captivating lessons. With her guidance, exploring Valencia added an extra layer of authenticity to my experience. I connected with the locals and discovered hidden gems that I wouldn't have found alone. This immersion programme not only improved my language skills but also allowed me to immerse myself in Valencia's dynamic culture.

Joining Pilar's Spanish immersion programme in Valencia was a real adventure. Her profound hospitality and professional guidance were ideal learning environment. The customised lessons were effective and suited my needs. Living with a native qualified Spanish teacher allowed me to improve my Spanish language through daily conversations and grammar. It was great to develop the Spanish language together with the knowledge of the local culture and making new friends. I have no hesitation in recommending this course.

J'ai passé une semaine en immersion totale chez Pilar, professeur d'espagnol près de Valence. Les cours prodigués sont excellents. Pilar s'adapte parfaitement au niveau de l'étudiant et fait ses cours sur des thèmes que l'on choisit, avec toujours un vocabulaire actuel, adapté aux discussions de tous les jours. Le logement est parfait. La maison est grande, calme dans un environnement arboré. En plus d'être une très bonne professeur, Picardie est également très bonne cuisinière. Elle vous fait découvrir également la cuisine du pays. L'apres-midi je profitais de ballades ou visites des environs avec Pilar. J'ai ainsi pu découvrir la ville de Valencia, et des plages autour de Gilet. Je recommande vivement ce cours

My experience with S.H.I.P. was unbeatable. I have just returned from my homestay in Barcelona with Mónica, and my only regret is not staying longer! The best thing for me was the flexibility of the programme. Staying with my teacher meant that we were able to devise a study plan that suited me and my needs, and this is something I had been searching and searching for! Most of the immersion programmes I had previously found didn’t offer a homestay with a teacher, but rather a homestay with a separate language school. S.H.I.P. allowed me to maximise the time I spent with Mónica, from our classes together, to our informal conversations on different topics, excursions, and mealtimes. I feel that I was able to get so much more out of the experience because I was able to fully connect with Mónica. Even though she was my teacher, I never felt uncomfortable. It was more like staying with a friend, where I was able to learn SO much more, and was totally immersed in her culture through mealtimes, day trips and get-togethers with her close friends and family. I am already looking forward to going back! Couldn’t recommend it more🇪🇸😊