Before I went to Barcelona, I did not know what the experience of living and studying in the teacher's house would be like. I must admit that when I arrived I was surprised at how quickly I began to feel at home. In terms of improving my Spanish, the experience was phenomenal. I feel that I have improved a lot and I speak more fluently and have a more sophisticated vocabulary. When you are speaking all the time in Spanish, you start to think in Spanish. I have been exposed to the language in all kinds of elements, from hearing it on the radio, watching movies, and speaking it to people. For me it has been excellent to visit the tourist monuments of Barcelona, but also the small towns near Monica's house.

I visited the small city of Mataró, which had streets of buildings, which were decorated in modernist style, and in the city, there was the first work of the famous architect called Gaudí. In addition, on a different day, I visited the town of Argentona where the first tramline in Spain was built and a very famous museum that houses almost three million gigantic jugs and works by the well-known artist called Pablo Picasso.

For lunch and dinner, Monica's father prepared me a selection of exquisite typical Spanish dishes. Monica's parents were very hospitable and friendly and treated me like family. Monica was so nice and made my visit very fun and interesting.

Throughout the week, we visited many traditional churches, one of which is in a small town called Dosrius. Other days we visit a farm with cows, other animals, and a burrito reserve.

In my opinion, this experience is so important if you want to improve your command of Spanish. I highly recommend it; it is an experience you will never forget!

This trip was amazing and so informative, thank you Mónica for such an unforgettable experience. I was looking for a way to prepare me for my Masters programme in Spain and this was perfect. I need to be confident B1 to attend university and Mónica even built in specific vocabulary around psychology for me to prepare better for my programme. The reviews don’t lie, the course is intense but Mónica always asked if the pace was too fast or if we needed to review any of the lessons. I really enjoyed the cultural activities too and can’t wait to visit Dosrius again.

The week of immersion in Barcelona at Monica's house has been incredible.
I have loved all the activities, especially the football club, the visit to Barcelona city and the visit to Rukimon, a donkey reserve in the Montnegre i Corredor Natural Park, where Mónica lives with her parents and Rumba and Samba, two Goldens very nice who always want to play and eat. I have learned a lot about the culture of Spain and I am very happy because my listening comprehension has improved a lot and I feel more confident speaking Spanish.

In October 2022 I spent a week in Barcelona on the homestay programme with Monica to help me with my A Level Spanish. I had a wonderful time. Monica and her parents were incredibly welcoming, as were the gorgeous dogs! I enjoyed my daily lessons with Monica and learned so much (language and literature). In the afternoons we went on lots of fun trips which Monica organised to suit my interests. Monica introduced me to the daughter of a friend who I have stayed in touch with. I would recommend this experience to anyone!

My 16 year old daughter spent a week on the Spanish home immersion programme with Monica in October 2022. She had THE most wonderful time and her confidence in her Spanish speaking just blossomed. It was her first long stay away from home so we were all a little anxious but she felt instantly at home with Monica, her gorgeous dogs and her lovely parents who live upstairs. She had her own bedroom and bathroom which she loved. She enjoyed her daily language lessons and also studying Volver. Excursions included a trip to the Noucamp, a day in Barcelona and the donkey sanctuary (of course!) as well as more local trips including eg to the supermarket for valuable language practice! Monica introduced her to the daughter of a friend she is still in touch with. It was a fantastic experience all round. Highly recommended.

I can't thank Mónica and her kind family enough for their hospitality during my stay. Having decided in 2022 that I was going to learn Spanish, and approaching 2023 without a single word under my belt... I decided to jump in at the deep end with an immersion course. I had the best time, and Mónica made sure the lessons were challenging but not too difficult, and of course, fun!

Sitting in a classroom reading books for hours is my idea of hell, so Mónica made sure the learning was engaging and interactive. My highlight was visiting a local nature reserve with a Donkey sanctuary. I felt super impressed that I could ask a donkey what it's favourite colour was... and if they liked carrots (and yes, they do!). I loved seeing Barcelona, but also having the opportunity to see the little towns like Argentona which are full of local culture. Before the trip, I had a zoom call with Mónica which broke the ice, and Mónica asked me lots of questions about my interests and hobbies. This really helped me to feel comfortable and that my experience was going to be tailored for me.

I had a fabulous time staying with Pilar. When you start to use in a real context, in a Spanish environment, what you have learnt in the classroom or online, it brings it to life and it is such fun.
We had lessons on the beautiful terrace of Pilar's house at the foot of the hills in the mornings. Then off to one of many wonderful places to put our learning into practice.
Valencia is a beautiful city with so much history but also some spectacular modern locations.
The food was absolutely fantastic, everyone should try Horchata and local fish Paella.
The old market is a great place to buy local delicacies and souvenirs.
Pilar's house is very spacious, comfortable and close to Segunto, an ancient town with a lot of Roman history.

I can't express how fantastic my experience with Spanish Express was. I spent about a week each with two separate teachers: Mónica in Barcelona and Pilar in Valencia. I noticed a significant improvement in my Spanish, and I now have greater faith in my language skills. They gave me delicious local cuisine and were accommodating, courteous, and patient.

My girlfriend is from Galicia so next time I visit my Spanish family (future in-laws, etc.), I can absolutely use this experience to my advantage. When I next see them in summer, I really want to impress them with my Spanish. Looking forward to seeing their faces!

I'm very glad I found this programme since I could not have produced such an experience on my own with a conventional language school. The exposure to culture, history, and language I gained was beyond my expectations.