Program Reviews

I can’t say enough good things about this trip! Bilbao and all the sites we visited were amazing but what really brought the whole experience together was the tour director. I was really impressed by his knowledge and willingness to accommodate everyone to the best of his abilities. I have been on trips to Spain before and enjoyed them but I have never had a tour director that took such a personal interest in the group. There was a really good balance of scheduled time versus free time and everything was very well timed and organized. I would definitely do another trip, especially if I could get the same tour director, José! My 25 students and me felt safe, the host families were all good, and came home happy, yet exhausted. While learning Spanish students met people from all over the world. It was a rewarding experience!!

It is a high quality language school in a superb location and authentic building. Energetic instructor and a method where you can start using what you have learnt immediately. Definitely recommended. The quality of instruction is excellent and being there was also fun. I heartily recommend attending this program. My instructor was very patient with me and adapted himself to my pace of learning. It is really worth. On the first day I could only make a couple of sentences, on the last day I was able to communicate properly with all the B1 knowledge that I have studied. Thank you for the opportunity! Especially my private teacher, Sheila. The atmosphere is very cool and positive. You will learn Spanish and enjoy the time doing so. I'm going back again next year.

Bilbao was such a unique place with a one-of-a-kind culture that you will not find anywhere else. Not only did I discover this, but I also discovered a ton about myself!

I honestly have no complaints about this program or the city of Bilbao. The people are friendly, the city is a whimsical mix of past and present, there is ALWAYS something to do, you are surrounded by beautiful mountains yet a few miles from the coastline, the professors at the university are so much fun... you will find yourself never wanting to leave. Bilbao, and Basque Country in general, comes with its own culture, language, music, and history that you can never really appreciate until you are there to be a part of it. Before coming here, I didn't even know this subculture existed. It's an amazing thing to accidentally stumble upon! I'm so glad I did. If you want to study in Spain but don't want to go to a major metropolitan city, Bilbao is the place to go.

Teachers are patient, understanding, and challenging. They understand that while you are there to learn, you are also in a foreign country, experiencing so many things not just inside the classroom. Make a fool of yourself when practicing the language. Make mistakes, put yourself out there, and talk as much as you can. That is the best way to learn!

Before my semester abroad I had never been out of the country. Being in Spain and in Europe I learned to appreciate other cultures and branch out of my shy tendencies. It also gave me the nerves to finally speak Spanish with people other than my grandparents without feeling like I was being judged.

My Spanish improved significantly. I was able to see amazing things in person. I was able to adapt to and learned to love a new city. I gained about 10 pounds and a lot of international experience. I also learned so much about the culture from living in a shared apartment. It was completely worthwhile.

After about two or three weeks studying in Bilbao I felt like a part of the city. I walked to work every morning with everybody else that lived in Bilbao, had coffee and red the newspaper at the same coffee shops and drank beer and conversed with the locals after work. The people in Bilbao are incredible and make you feel at home.

I learned to be more independent, I learned how to be a traveler and not tourist, I learned how to communicate inter-culturally, I learned a lot about globalization, I learned to get out of my comfort zone, I learned about 12 different countries and cultures, I learned that the world is truly a great place.

Studying at Instituto Hemingway was a great experience. The class sizes were small and the teachers were all very encouraging and friendly. Every other Friday, they organized a dinner with all students . We also got to do some tours so it was a great way to see the city! My Spanish definitely improved and nowadays and I am fluent due to this long-term course and I would really recommend Instituto Hemingway to anyone looking for a language school.

My housing was very good in every way. The apartment of the School was located in a very nice neighborhood and I had truly nice roommates. At first I thought my level was just right for me, but after a while I felt like maybe I should have changed my level to the next one. However, I wasn't sure so I stayed in the same group and changed a little too late. Still, I enjoyed my stay very much and the fact that I stayed in the easier group for a bit too long did not bother me. I liked my teachers and made plenty of new friends.

The classes were small and allowed lots of participation. I was initially put in a class which was a little slow for my level but I was moved to a more advanced class later in the week where I learnt everything in Spanish about business. The professors were very good. They spoke in Spanish all the time and explained clearly so that I could understand. I really enjoyed Professor Guadalupe. She made the classes very interesting and amusing. I especially enjoyed my afternoon classes with her and one other student - lots of opportunity to speak Spanish!
The Location of the school is very convenient. The apartment is great and close to School too. The apartment where I stayed was very conveniently located for the school and the bus route. The host was welcoming and spoke to me in Spanish. Her house was extremely clean. My room and bed were comfortable. The shower worked well. The meals were excellent. i enjoyed the local fish and meat dishes which she cooked. There was always fruit to eat as well. The host was happy to let me come and go as I pleased. I ate my meal at 2.30pm after school which suited me so I could go into Bilbao or to the beach.
At the school Jose was so friendly and good at organising activities and I enjoyed the evening we went to the excursion with him. He looked after everyone very well.
I would really like to come back to Bilbao and this language school

A very well run school with friendly and helpful staff. On the first day I was a very nervous beginner but at the end of just 2 weeks I was able to have a conversation and express myself with confidence. the teachers were very enthusiastic, patient and motivational. Thanks to Guadalupe, Eli and Carlos for these amazing weeks at Instituto, a very positive experience for me. I would highly recommend going and visiting this place!

The school, housing and most activities were close by in the center of town. My host family was very gracious and took the time to talk with me daily and allowed me to experience the great food of Spain. Fresh fruits, vegetables, pintxos and much more.

The school was in an older building with teachers who challenged me to converse, read, write, listen and learn the grammar, history and culture of Northern Spain. There was time for short trips on the weekend and there was always something new to explore. Overall a great experience.

The teachers were really professional and prepared, but also very approachable and friendly. The school is located in a great central location in the city and close to the accommodation provided. I liked the idea of the social evenings to get to know students and professors, and to practice the language in an informal way.

An excellent course to improve my Spanish so I can enjoy my life in Spain more. I can talk to Spanish people in the Health Centre, the hospital, the bank, shops and restaurants. Thank you. I have recommended to friends and would love to do another course. I like this course because they use different interactive methods to teach and it is very interesting. Presentation is clear and understandable. All subjects and conversations are important and useful in everyday life. I wish they would do next level course as well.
These courses are a good start. I know more Spanish now than I did when I started (I also find it useful to repeat the course after a few months rest). It does bother me, however, that interpreting written Spanish is quite a deal easier than translating from English. Speaking it is even harder and good luck trying to understand the Spanish when they speak. In English, if you slur words together it's a considered a sign of intellectual inferiority. Not so in Spanish, it would appear.

I was a student at Instituto Hemingway, and I just wanted to really thank all my professors for helping me learn Spanish. This first time I went to Bilbao I did it with knowing almost nothing of the language. I signed up for an intensive course there and liked it so much that I knew I had to continue. Not only did I improve my Spanish, but thanks to the tips and suggestions from my professors - and they always recommended places to go and see, especially those that don’t come in the guide books - I experienced so much more of Bilbao and its surroundings than I would have on my own. It was great! Then last year I repeated again and fell in love again with the place and its people. It has such a wonderful atmosphere, and the people are so nice and friendly that I never had any problems with being able to practice Spanish.