Claire is a 55-year-old Dutch tour guide who joined a Spanish immersion program in Valencia with her daughters to deepen her language skills and experience authentic cultural living. Passionate about travel and lifelong learning, she believes immersion transforms language into a joyful, shared adventure that builds confidence and connection.
Why did you choose this program?
I chose this program because I needed a real, living connection with the Spanish language. As a tour guide, languages are essential in my profession, and my goal is to be able to give tours in Spanish in the future. With our family preparing to move to Costa Rica, it felt important that both my daughters and I could experience Spanish not only in lessons, but in everyday life. This program offered exactly that: learning as a family while living inside the culture.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
The program took care of everything on site: our accommodation, lessons adapted to each of us, and cultural activities for the whole family. Pilar created a warm, structured environment where we could learn naturally. I only had to organize our travel to Spain and basic logistics. Once we arrived, we could relax and focus fully on learning and enjoying the experience.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
Go with curiosity and energy. Say “yes” to everything: conversations, excursions, meals, and local traditions. Even if you feel tired or unsure, those moments are where real learning happens. For families, let your children take the initiative. Their confidence grows quickly and naturally through experience and interaction.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Each day combines learning and discovery. We had lessons adapted to our levels, followed by shared meals and constant opportunities to speak Spanish. Afternoons often included excursions exploring Valencia, the coast, or local towns, tasting regional food, and even attending festivals. Every day felt different, active, and full of meaning.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear was that my daughters might feel overwhelmed or lose motivation. Instead, they flourished. Seeing them speak, laugh, and interact in Spanish changed everything. The supportive atmosphere and Pilar’s warmth helped us feel safe and confident from the very beginning.
I realized that language learning doesn’t have to be slow or academic. When it becomes part of daily life, shopping, eating, travelling, laughing, it feels natural and powerful. Immersion transforms learning into something joyful and shared.
I realized that language learning doesn’t have to be slow or academic. When it becomes part of daily life, shopping, eating, travelling, laughing, it feels natural and powerful. Immersion transforms learning into something joyful and shared.
What moment made your experience unforgettable?
For me, it was during a local festival when I confidently spoke Spanish and saw my daughters doing the same. That moment showed me how powerful immersion can be. If I could change anything, I would choose to stay longer to learn even more.