Program Reviews

My language course at Instituto Hemingway was a big success. Not only does the school offered excellent facilities, the teachers were professional, very proactive and enthusiastic. Also, a student was placed within a group of students that matches his or her level of Spanish. In total, there were almost 6+ classes that guide students in their quest to learn Spanish.

Also, the after school activities were fun and was a great way to get to know the city or other students. There was a wide variety of activities to choose from (one activity per day) and the activities itself were well organized.

I can also recommend staying with a host family, because it makes the immersion in the Spanish lifestyle complete. The family I stayed with was amazing and I couldn't have planned for a better way to feel at home in Bilbao.

All in all it was a perfect time for me! I met a lot of nice people and could learn a lot of Spanish! The teachers had been very friendly and motivating and it was easy to change classes and get an accommodation! Most of accommodations are new and really nice There were a lot of possibilities to do activities in your free time! I love Bilbao and Instituto Hemingway was perfect

I would recommend anyone who wants to learn/improve Spanish to go to this school!

Interning abroad has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life so far. From the beginning of the process, Instituto Hemingway went above and beyond to make sure that I was going to get the best placement possible. At my Spanish course in Northern Spain, I learned so much and was very grateful to be a part of an incredible team. I cannot put into words how rewarding my experience was and how easy Instituto Hemingway made it for me.

They were always keeping up with us and even planned fun group outings as to stay in touch! We went to a wine tasting program, did a bike tour, and day trip to a local beach town on top of many more. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I went all over Spain. Bilbao is a vibrant city with so many options for how you want to spend your time. The people are kind and the weather is great.

I liked everything. The teachers at Instituto Hemingway are amazing and they really care about your success. They are always happy and friendly. I liked the social programs, because it help you to make friends.

The teachers are nice. I very appreciate them for giving such useful grammatical knowledges during the class. It helps me a lot. I like it very much because not only the perfect teachers but also nice facilities. I liked my classes because I could change my schedule from morning to an afternoon class in preparation for a test.
My teacher was a really nice guy and it was always fun with him joking around.
The location of the school is perfect for tube connections and lunch break.

The course is very well-designed and structured. The content of the course is interesting and informative. I liked that that there are video and audio clips, especially the video clips that showed how we could teach in the classroom.
Carlos was pretty much everything you’d want as a tutor; with his ability to give you his full attention to your inquiries, with his timely responses, his encouragement and understanding, I was able to complete the course feeling confident that I can do my job as teaching Spanish as a second language in my chosen country. Throughout the course, I enjoyed working in every module. There is so much interesting information, ideas for teachers etc.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alfredo Orive for all the guidance and encouragement he gave me throughout this course. I’m thankful for the very detailed feedback, not just on what I’ve submitted but how I can improve.

Once again, I would definitely recommend Instituto Hemingway and I will be signing up for more courses in the future. I would highly recommend this course for anyone who wants to start or continue teaching and want to have more knowledge about teaching.

Jose, the director, is also very nice, always accessible and always trying to help the students. Rodrigo, the receptionist, is always available to help. I was very happy to have Carlos as my teacher, because he was always very professional, he is a great teacher but also very flexible and funny when needed.

I liked everything. The teachers were very professional, rather strict to play with my children too. It was not allowed to use the phone during the lessons, to be late etc. They gave homework and were often tested. Every Friday gave feedback.
The school is located near the metro station Abando in downtown Bilbao. Also close is the budget supermarket Carrefour. It was perfect for packed lunch.

Wifi works at the school, there is a library where you can rent a book for children too.

My children had a very bad level of Spanish at the beginning but after 2 weeks the improvement was significant. Excellent teachers who made them learning Spanish something fun and rewarding.

On Fridays we went as a compliment to the nearest restaurant with the whole group, including the teacher. It was fun and informative to communicate in an informal atmosphere.

Size of class and level of participation and comprehension good. Our teachers were fine and the five sessions with Fran were especially helpful in understanding culture, politics and regional differences. We were quite pleased with our home apartment. Bilbao is a fantastic city.

I am 28 years old and it was my first "language school experience". I appreciated the professionalism of the teachers and the efficient structure of the lessons (with both grammar and conversational skills, associated in a way that you practice efficiently what is taught).

The staff are really friendly and all of the teachers put so much effort into their jobs and they can't be thanked enough for it. The activities run through the school are very fun and I am glad I had this opportunity to study in Instituto Hemingway.

The long talks with her (a lawyer practicing from home) really added a lot to improving our speaking ability.

The school is located conveniently in the heart of Bilbao,close to many bars and restaurants
Housing is in walkable distance from the school. The school administration did an excellent job in organising housing and allowing me to stay one week longer. Thanks so much for your help and your friendliness!

The school is incredible. Teachers are very engaging and work with you to ensure you have a positive experience. They are very flexible allowing for changes and extensions to stays. The school provides after school activities every weekday. They are well attended and engaging to show you Bilbao and use the Spanish you are learning! Highly recommend accommodations were great as well. Courses were VERY interesting and Teachers are young and friendly, students come from all around the world. Instituto Hemigway is a very interesting school to progress and discover Northern Spain, in an international environment.

I spent a wonderful month with Jose, Eli, Guadalupe, Alfredo, Amaia etc. It's difficult to discribe..first at all I had a lot of fun with the teachers and the other students. I had an interesting experience. I met students from all over the world of different ages, younger and same age as me. The teacher was efficient and taught us the language very well.

It was the first time I had attended a language course and I enjoyed it so much! The one month every day and all day language class was very productive. Eli and Guadalupe are very professional and patient teachers, the lessons were tailor made and stress free. Everybody is very welcome.
They were more than just teachers, it was like staying with friends.
I enjoyed my stay so much, I have learned a lot and the activities were great: nature at its best and sightseeing to improve the use of the learned language.
I am considering arranging another visit!

Thank you for a wonderful month!
Muchas gracias y hasta luego

The program was well put together including lectures in the kitchen, daily cooking lessons and a variety of field trips to learn about the food and culture.

Living in an apartment in Northern Spain made me feel like I was home. Walking all over the city and shopping at the food markets gave me the sense that I was a local. I only wish I could have stayed longer. I learned almost everything about Spanish cuisine but also about culture. Jose, the Director of the program, is a wonderful person and is always there to give you a hand. He and his colleagues will give you nice tips about life in Spain.

I learned the value of being more active as we had to walk everywhere and how to appreciate my surroundings. It was totally the best experience ever. I think anyone who can figure out a way to finance a study abroad trip should absolutely do it!

Once I stepped foot in Spain, all bets were off, I was too excited not to succeed.

I started to realize all the reasons why I decided to come on this adventure were starting to play out, and I became enthralled on the experiences that I was gaining. I ended up getting a teaching job working Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays, then teaching private lessons on Thursdays and Fridays. It was a nice way to mix up the schedule. I moved to Spain with everything organized, job, accommodation, airport transfer and some weeks of Spanish courses to be inmersed in the new culture and language; but the School more than adequately helped me prepare properly and I built a successful life in no time. All in all my trip was amazing and was loaded with great experiences. Upon returning home to California, both sad to leave and happy to reunite with my friends and family, I found myself to be far more resourceful than ever before. I also found myself reassured with confidence, fulfilled with experience, and ready for whatever challenges lay ahead of me

I came to Bilbao because I wanted to be in a place that was very different to my home country! And Bilbao was the perfect choice, surrounded by sea and kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches, not to mention its amazing history.

I chose Instituto Hemingway because I heard is the best School in Northern Spain.

The school is the perfect size and all the staff are very friendly and make you feel comfortable right from the start.

A very well-rounded place with a lot of upsides.
There's a friendly atmosphere, effective teachers and helpful people in general (they can recommend you tons of stuff that you're interested in, in Bilbao).
I haven't done my courses yet (as of this time), but I can already say that it is very effective. And they also propose cultural activities that you can sign up for DAILY.

I enjoyed the small classes and activities that allowed us to see all the parts of the city and learn more about the culture. My Spanish improved a great deal during the summer and I look forward to coming back next year. Surfing lessons were super and just 30 min far from School!