Why Learn Spanish at a Language School?

If you haven’t read what I wrote on the front page, at the bottom, I’d like you to read that first. In this section, I’ll focus on a couple of other things.

There are in particular two aspects I would like to draw your attention to. First, learning Spanish at a language school in the country where the language you are about to learn is spoken, is by far the most effective way of learning the language.

Memory Research. There are several reasons for this. One is the sheer intensiveness of a normal program at a language school. This is well suited for the way our brain works. According to memory research, when learning something, we use a lot of time, on simply re-acquiring forgotten knowledge.

In other words, when learning a language at a college in the US, you have, say four hours a week. Naturally, there will be some time between each time you sit down to study the language. When you do sit down, a relatively large percentage of this time is used to re-gain what has been lost, instead of focusing on moving forward.

More Hours - Quantity. At a language school, you don’t have time to forget! First of all, you have at least 4 hrs/day – in class. Then the lessons continue outside of school, wherever you go, you are forced to practice.


More hours - Quality. And, as if this wasn’t enough, one hour at a language school is much more intensive than one hour spent elsewhere. The teachers, who are native speakers, will speak directly to you, and correct you each time you do a mistake. The groups are smaller, and the focus is not primarily on academic use. The focus is on how to use the language in different situations.

Motivation. Grammar is only taught as a means to an end, not an end in itself. This doesn’t mean that you won’t learn grammar. Quite the opposite. But, you will learn grammar because you see that it is necessary, indirectly.

How can you describe what you did yesterday without using the past tenses? How can you say what you’d wish happen in the future, without using subjunctive? You can’t, and therefore you’ll learn it.

You are more motivated, as you immediately see the practical necessity of learning what you learn. And, your motivation is also spurred because you can feel the progress almost from day to day. After having practiced Spanish for 10-12 hrs/day, sure you’ll learn quickly.

Fluency. How quickly can you become fluent? Many have asked me this question, and to be able to say something reasonable about it, I have discussed it with several directors (of different language schools). In the end, the answer depends on numerous factors.

The first thing we need to establish is what is meant by “fluent”? If we imply that you will talk like a native, with a perfect accent, the answer could be years.

However, if we define it as the ability to express any thought that comes to mind and understand everything said with ease, then this can be accomplished in less than a year with sufficient effort. One school thinks that 9 months with 4 hrs/day, could be sufficient.

Natural abilities, and practice - practice! Whether this is achievable will, however, depend very much on the individual. Some people are simply more talented when it comes to languages than others. Just as some people are good with numbers, some learn languages quicker than others.

It also depends on the effort you put in. Whether you study some extra in the evening, read books, watch movies, and first and foremost, whether you go out and talk with people (fellow students or Spaniards). The latter is incredibly important.

How much more effective? How much more effective are a language school compared to language tuition at a high school? This is difficult to say. However, I have experienced that two bright young women (19 years old) from Southampton who had studied Spanish for 5 years, found themselves in the same class as someone who had started from scratch 6 weeks earlier at the language school.

This is not meant as a criticism of the high schools/colleges per se. When having 3 hrs/week, this is just the results you get – it is ineffective compared to the privately run Spanish language schools in Spain.

The second topic I’d like to talk a bit about under this headline is personal growth. I have lived on different continents, in countries where the population has spoken a different language than me.

When you live for an extended period in another country than your own, you start to realize several things. One of the major advantages with the language schools is that you live away from your own home, away from your country, and that you don’t speak the language too well initially.

Confidence. How can this be good? Firstly, this means that you will meet several challenges. You will daily have to deal with things that are a bit more difficult than at home.

But everything is doable, it is not too difficult, you will find the food you like, you will be able to find your way around, you will get friends, etc., etc. Small challenges that will boost your confidence as you become more independent.

Broadens your mind. At the same time you will see that people here might think and do things differently than in your own country, and you’ll see that this is okay. It doesn’t mean that one way is better than the other, but it is different. This will make you reflect.

Actually, one of greatest revelations I have experienced when living abroad, has been in relation to my own country. Now you suddenly have something to compare with.

This makes you both love your country even more, but at the same time makes you more critical. You don’t accept that things are the way they are, simply because that’s the way it has used to be.

Miniature mirror of the world The world is a multitude of nationalities, ethnicities, languages and customs. At a language school the student body will usually mirror this diversity in miniature. You will daily discuss with people from Germany, the US, France, Italy, the UK, Brazil, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Australia… etc., etc.

Your convictions will be challenged. They are as convinced as you are, but with a different background. You’ll have to rethink your own opinions, but don’t discard them just because someone disagrees, or someone thinks differently. Re-think, re-evaluate, and absorb knowledge critically, and you will see the world clearer and clearer day by day.

Just going to the store to find something you like, is a new experience. Finding directions. Listening to music; everything will fill your mind with impressions…

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