Spanish Express Reviews

I had a great two weeks in Spain with the Spanish Express homestay immersion program (SHIP)! After a week in Dosrius (near Barcelona) and a week in Gilet (near Valencia) I have a stronger foundation in Spanish and am encouraged to continue learning.

The homes of both Mónica and Pilar were lovely and inviting. Both hosts opened their homes and shared their lives and knowledge with such generosity. I had an amazing time learning from their instruction and also from the cultural experiences and activities we participated in several times each week. I appreciated how learning was woven through everyday experiences in addition to more formal class time. Whether we were preparing meals, visiting with their family and friends, or exploring the beautiful cities of Barcelona and Valencia, I was constantly engaged in opportunities to practice Spanish. It was a wonderful experience!

¡Mi estancia con Pilar fue increíble! Conocí a fondo la hermosa ciudad de Valencia y su increíble diversidad, desde el casco antiguo hasta la Ciudad de las Ciencias y las Artes.

Una de mis partes favoritas fue beber horchata en la playa y hacer un picnic en el muro, ¡sin embargo es difícil elegir ya que la variedad de excursiones que hicimos fue genial!

También disfruté unirme a la familia, especialmente durante el almuerzo con los vecinos y comer comida española tradicional y deliciosa. El paseo en barco también fue increíble y me encantó aprender sobre los campos de arroz.

Las clases fueron muy detalladas y estructuradas, y las tareas me ayudaron a no aburrirme nunca. Mi español ha mejorado mucho. ¡Me siento lista para cursar mis exámenes de nivel avanzado! La inmersión total fue sin duda lo más beneficioso y le estoy muy agradecido a mi profesora Pilar por ello.

Muchas gracias, me lo he pasado increíble!

English:
My stay with Pilar was incredible! I got to know the beautiful city of Valencia and its incredible diversity, from the Old Town to the City of Sciences and Arts.

One of my favorite parts was drinking horchata on the beach and having a picnic at the wall, but it's hard to choose since the variety of excursions we took was so great!

I also enjoyed bonding with the family, especially during lunch with the neighbors and eating traditional and delicious Spanish food. The boat ride was also incredible, and I loved learning about the rice fields.

The classes were very detailed and structured, and the homework helped me never get bored. My Spanish has improved a lot. I feel ready to take my advanced level exams! The total immersion was definitely the most beneficial, and I'm so grateful to my teacher Pilar for that.

Thank you so much, I had an amazing time!

I had a great time staying in Valencia with Pilar! My husband and I stayed for a week and it worked great for us especially since we are at different levels of learning Spanish (I am a very new spanish student and my husband has been studying for a few years). Pilar was a great teacher and I feel very lucky to have spent a week with her. Along with our daily lessons there was plenty to see and do in Valencia. My favorite was honestly sitting at meals and talking with Pilar, I really felt at home with her. I hope to do this program again ❤️.

I stayed two weeks in teacher Pilar’s house, which overall was very nice.

Pros: We had activities every day, as well as a class where the teacher explained various topics over the course of the 2 weeks.

Cons: The house is not in the center of Valencia, quite far from it, I might say(35 minutes by car). There is always food in the fridge; however, most foods served on the table are boxed, for example, the gazpacho soup is already bottled.

In conclusion, the overall experience was very good, however certain aspects were mired in negative than positive.

My full immersion Spanish program in Spain was one of the most fun and unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had—especially because I got to share it with my best friend, Flora. From the moment we arrived, everything felt exciting and a little surreal. We were both a bit nervous, but mostly just thrilled to be in a new country together, ready to take on something different.

The best part was how personal the experience was. It wasn’t a big class with lots of people. It was just me, Flora, and our professor. We actually stayed at her house, which made it feel really comfortable and relaxed. Our professor was super kind and easy to talk to. She spoke English, which definitely helped when we didn’t know how to say something in Spanish, but she encouraged us to speak Spanish as much as possible, and we got better each day.

We spent most of our time practicing in real-life situations—talking during meals, asking questions while out in town, and just having everyday conversations in Spanish. It felt natural and not forced at all, which made learning so much easier and way more fun. Flora and I made plenty of mistakes, but we laughed through them and learned quickly.

The house we stayed in was cozy and welcoming, and our professor made us feel like part of the family. Mealtimes were especially fun—we’d all sit down together and talk, mostly in Spanish, while enjoying homemade food. Flora and I still talk about how good everything was, especially the paella. It was a cool way to learn the language and culture at the same time.

Even though we didn’t do huge day trips, we still got to explore a little. One afternoon, we went to the beach for a few hours. The weather was perfect, and we had a great time just relaxing, walking along the shore, and talking. It wasn’t a big adventure, but it was one of those simple, perfect moments that we’ll always remember.

Spending this time with Flora made everything better. We’ve always been close, but this trip brought us even closer. We shared everything—the excitement, the awkward language moments, the laughs, and the memories. We supported each other and had so much fun just experiencing life in a different place together.

By the end of the program, I felt way more confident speaking Spanish. We both learned a lot—not just about the language, but also about the culture and ourselves. It was a really special experience that helped us grow in so many ways.

Looking back, I’m so grateful we did it. It was fun, meaningful, and totally unforgettable

I chose a two-week immersion course staying at Monica’s home in Dosrius, and it was an incredible experience. Her home is very comfortable and perfectly located next to a national park. She has two amazing golden retrievers, and her kind parents live on the main floor. Her father’s cooking is truly restaurant quality! Each day included Spanish classes, hours of conversation with native speakers, and exciting excursions that combined adventure with more opportunities to practice Spanish. Monica and her entire team are fantastic—warm, professional, and deeply committed to helping you improve your Spanish. Monica herself is personable, extremely knowledgeable, and her hospitality is unmatched. I can’t recommend this experience enough. Thank you again, Monica!

Mi experiencia con Spanish Express fue increíble. Tuve la oportunidad de vivir con dos profesoras maravillosas: Mónica, que vive en Dosrius (cerca de Barcelona), y Pilar, que vive en Gilet (cerca de Valencia). Ambas ubicaciones fueron únicas y muy divertidas. ¡Aprendí muchísimo y ya tengo ganas de volver en el futuro!

Creo que este programa me ayudó a mejorar en todas las habilidades: habla, escucha, lectura y escritura. Además, las clases me motivaron aún más a seguir aprendiendo español.

Ahora continuaré con mis clases, me apuntaré a grupos para practicar más la conversación y, algún día, regresaré a España.

También tuve clases con dos profesoras más: Lydia y Ana. ¡Muchas gracias a Mónica, Pilar, Ana, Lydia y a las familias de Pilar y Mónica! Todos fueron muy amables, pacientes y hospitalarios.

Recomendaría este programa a cualquier persona que quiera aprender español.

English:
My experience with Spanish Express was incredible. I had the opportunity to live with two wonderful teachers: Monica, who lives in Dosrius (near Barcelona), and Pilar, who lives in Gilet (near Valencia). Both placements were unique and a lot of fun. I learned so much and can't wait to return in the future!

I think this program helped me improve in all my skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Plus, the classes motivated me even more to keep learning Spanish.

Now I'll continue with my classes, join groups to practice my conversation, and someday I'll return to Spain.

I also had classes with two other teachers: Lydia and Ana. A huge thank you to Monica, Pilar, Ana, Lydia, and Pilar's and Monica's families! Everyone was very kind, patient, and hospitable.

I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to learn Spanish.

I stayed in Valencia with Pilar for two weeks through the SHIP immersion program. Pilar made me feel at home and is a great teacher. I really enjoyed our lessons- they were very clear and structured. We also got to go on many excursions and practice authentic, everyday conversations during meals (not to mention, Pilar is an amazing cook!). I feel that my listening comprehension improved a lot in these two weeks and I’ve become more confident in speaking. I now have a good Spanish foundation and many tools to continue to practice thanks to this program. I hope to return soon.

Had an amazing week in Cádiz with Spanish Express, staying at Óscar’s place in Puerto Real. Joining the SHIP program helped me boost my Spanish skills for holidays and casual trips, and the setting was just right for that.

Óscar was a wonderful host who made me feel truly at home. Our mornings were spent in lessons, and the afternoons were for exploring the surroundings or practicing Spanish through conversation. The experience was laid-back yet really effective.

How the SHIP Program in Cádiz Boosted My Spanish ConfidenceThanks to this, I now feel much more confident using Spanish in everyday travel situations. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking for genuine, immersive language learning.

I spent a week in Cádiz with Spanish Express, staying in Óscar’s home in Puerto Real, and it was a fantastic experience. I joined the SHIP program to improve my Spanish for holidays and casual travel, and this was the perfect environment.

Óscar made me feel completely at home. We had lessons in the morning and spent the afternoons exploring the area or having conversations in Spanish. It was relaxed but very effective.

I now feel much more confident speaking in everyday situations while travelling. I’d definitely recommend this program to anyone wanting to learn Spanish in a real, authentic way.