If you’re planning to spend an extended period in Madrid and are keen to improve your Spanish during your stay, there are several well-regarded language schools sprinkled across the city.
(Photo: Academia Contacto)
Every year, large numbers of visitors come to the Spanish capital to enjoy the sun, sea, Sangría, the occasional siesta, and increasingly to learn the lingo, too. Indeed, in recent years the number of language schools in the city has sky-rocketed, making the choice over which is the best for your preferences and needs a tricky one. To help, we’ve done some research by comparing over 20 schools and picking out 8 of the best, based on value for money, accreditations, and flexibility and diversity of courses on offer. Here’s our final selection below.
Academia Contacto
Certified by Instituto Cervantes, this popular school in central Madrid offers a wide range of courses to suit different student needs. If you’re happy to learn in a more relaxed way, the school’s standard courses may be best, but if you want to really throw yourself into the experience then an intensive course, which includes 20 to 30 hours of lessons a week, could be for you. Classes are kept deliberately small (2 to 9 per group) to ensure that all students receive maximum attention from the teachers and there’s also the option of highly personalised one-to-one courses – although these are of course more expensive. Furthermore, the school can also organise short-term internships with local companies that can really give you an extra push with your language skills. Other benefits at Academia Contacto include a regular programme of exciting cultural activities that invites students to explore Madrid, and a dedicated accommodation service that helps students find either local host families or fellow students to live with.
Don Quijote
Photo: Courtesy of Don Quijote
Set in a historic building in the central university district, next to the 18th-century Liria Palace, Don Quijote’s Instituto Cervantes-accredited Madrid school offers a variety of Spanish courses designed to prepare you to interact confidently in the real world. Whether you’re keen to certify your level with a DELE Exam, learn alongside other international students as part of an intensive course, or receive individualized attention with private one-to-one classes, there’ll be a course for or you. Classes are restricted to 8 students maximum, with lessons taught across 38 bright and airy classrooms. All students also have access to a library and multimedia centre, common areas, and vending machines. A number of cafes, restaurants and shops can be found nearby, as well as metro/bus stops and bike rentals for further exploration. The school also provides a choice of five different accommodation options, including staying in student residences and with fully-vetted host families.
Tandem Madrid
(Photo: Tandem Madrid)
Accredited by the Instituto Cervantes since 2000, Tandem Madrid offers various classes that make learning Spanish fun and engaging. These include standard small group classes, usually made up of 10-12 people and ideal for those who like conversing with others in a new language. Students who are looking to combine their Spanish skills with a cultural experience can opt for the “Spanish with a passion” courses, in which you learn the language while taking a course on wine, flamenco, art or even the films of legendary Spanish movie director Pedro Almodóvar. Independently of the classes, Tandem can also arrange to put interested students in touch with a local student who is learning English (or another language). This serves to foster a cultural exchange – “intercambio” in Spanish – and makes learning more hands-on and personal. Housing options are flexible, too.
LAE Madrid
(Photo: LAE Madrid)
Located in the picturesque, upscale district of Barrio Salamanca in the heart of the city, LAE Madrid is a Spanish academy accredited by the Instituto Cervantes. Classes are fun and interactive, run by highly qualified teachers who undergo continued training to keep them up to speed with the latest methods, skills, technology and neuro-language innovations. The school maintains small class sizes to ensure all students get plenty of attention. Courses include General Spanish and Business Spanish, ranging from one-to-one ‘power hour’ sessions to intensive courses all the way through to year-long programmes. There are also evening classes and specialised programmes for children and families. Additionally, the school offers an accommodation booking service that helps students find somewhere to live – either independently or with a host family – during their studies.
Expanish
Photo: Courtesy of Expanish
Expanish’s Madrid language school is located in the classy Salamanca district, close to some of the city’s best shops, restaurants and parks. Staff are generally from the Madrid area and so are able help immerse students in the local culture and traditions, augmented by experiential learning through various social activities. The school offers a range of holistic Spanish courses, different types of accommodation, and interactive cultural classes of varying lengths and intensities. Lessons take place across 13 spacious classrooms, with an average of 7 students per class ensuring all students receive the attention they need. Services and amenities include free high-speed WiFi, a library, common areas, and a metro station close by offering easy access to the rest of the city.
Enforex
Located in the heart of Argüelles in central Madrid, Enforex places students close to many of the city’s main attractions. Occupying a renovated two-story building, the boutique school features spacious classrooms in which groups of up to 12 students can embark on intensive courses ranging from 10 lessons a week through to 30. On-site amenities designed to help students work productively include a modern library, a video room, a quiet reading room and a computer lab. All classrooms are also equipped with audiovisual equipment and air-conditioning to stave off those stifling summer temperatures in Madrid. For relaxing and socialising, there’s a large common room with vending machines and a spacious central patio. The school has several accreditations, including from the prestigious Instituto Cervantes. For students requiring somewhere to stay, you can book courses with accommodation included