Program Reviews

Agualivar Spanish School is not an ordinary language school. It is a family-run school located in a luxurious villa in queit and relaxing environment with the amazing view over the sea. The special touch is created by the warmth of the family towards their students. The daughters are providing tailor-made classes for your needs and the parents are creating the framework for an amazing learning experience. You feel immediately at home with them. The approach of including the students in their everyday life enables you to see the Spanish life and learn the language at the same time. By sharing all your meals with the family you are (gently) forced to switch your brain into Spanish mode while enjoying their lovely company and amazing food - expect to gain some weight as you are not able to say no to the mother of the family and their delicious food!
I can warmly recommend Agualivar School to anyone who would like to have an intensive Spanish course in a relaxing environment. It was an experience that I will never forget!

I chose Agualivar because of the setting in a family home where you experience total immersion. The only language spoken was Spanish during the week that I lived with this amazing family. I was included in conversations and treated like a valued member of the family. The first afternoon was a struggle to understand, but, by the end of my stay, it was much easier to follow conversations.
I had the opportunity to have private lessons as I was the only student for the week. The lessons were excellent and geared to my level of understanding. We had wonderful discussions, made up stories, and played games in Spanish.
As part of the family, I was able to participate in the kitchen and had all my meals at the family table participating in the conversations. We discussed American and Spanish politics, culture, family, and anything else that came up. I was also included in evening games - playing bannanagram in Spanish is challenging - Rummy with tiles instead of cards is actually more fun and challenges the brain.
Thank you, Fani, Eli, Carmen, and Jose for a unique learning experience.

I was lucky enough to choose Agualivar Immersion School for my one-week stay in Andalucia. I had looked at other models and felt the total immersion while living with a family would be the most beneficial for me. And I was right!!
Estefania and Elizabeth are excellent teachers and customized lessons according to your ability and conversational ability. I loved the outdoor classroom on the terrace overlooking the infinity pool and Mediterranean.
The hospitality of the family was wonderful.... Carmen and Jose just brought you into the family and we helped with food prep, etc all the while continuing to speak Spanish. Our meals were all typical Andalucian meals which I thoroughly enjoyed...... fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden/orchard. And fresh fish, a true Mediterranean diet, wonderfully healthy !!
After siesta we would have cultural workshops or visit local villages (Frigiliana) , all the while learning about Andalucian lifestyle, culture, government. I felt like I learned so much more than just language, I learnt how a Spanish family works within itself, community and country.
My experience at Agualivar was short ( I wish I could have stayed an extra week!) but really quite unforgettable.
I would love to return at some point.

What an amazing experience! I admit, even though I was excited to attend immersion school, I was a little nervous at the idea of living with another family for two weeks. But immediately upon arrival, Eli, Fani, Carmen, and Jose did everything in their power to make me feel welcome. And it worked! I was immediately ushered into the family and into a very comfortable, encouraging environment. The classes in the mornings were highly informative focusing not only on language but also on culture, heritage, and even social issues. Early afternoons usually allowed for some free time (or time to study), then outings were planned for most late afternoons/early evenings. Our visits included Nerja, Frigiliana, Bodegas Bentomiz, and Rincon de la Victoria.

In addition to the classes and extra activities, the skill exhibited by Carmen and Fani in the kitchen was incredible. And Jose is great at the grill! Everything was so fresh and absolutely delicious. I believe I may have eaten in a healthier style during my two weeks at Agualivar than I have ever eaten in my life--and actually gained weight. . .

Finally, the accommodations were superb. There was plenty of privacy when desired but lots of company to be found at all times. The house and grounds are beautiful and act as a peaceful oasis overlooking the Mediterranean. It is truly a school with heart. As I stated before, everything was better than I could have imagined!!

Our family, including an 11 year old and a 10 year old, spent a wonderful week at Agualivar. From the pick up at the Malaga train station we spoke only Spanish and we learned an enormous amount informally and during the lessons over just one week. The teaching and learning environment was supportive, well structured and fun (especially for the kids) and the extracurricular excursions to Nerja and Frigiliana were fascinating as well. The physical environment in the home of our teachers was faultless. The entire family was welcoming and friendly. We had privacy, we had company, we had a pool, we had wifi, we had kids' games in Spanish, we had down time, we had meals all together enjoying fabulous homecooked meals, vegetables from the extensive garden and recipes typical of the region (some of which we learned to cook ourselves). Our teachers were both really skilled and really lovely. The lessons were pitched at exactly the right level for our two groups: kids and adults. We switched teachers midway through the morning so there was variety of material and approach. Our children went into the week with next to no Spanish and made enormous progress and clearly had fun doing it. We all laughed continuously throughout the week and could not have asked for a better Spanish homestay immersion experience. One of our outings was to the wonderful Inacua 50m pool in Malaga so our daughter could have a proper training sesson - that was much appreciated and very generous and kind. The conversations we managed to have in Spanish were broad ranging and interesting and we learned a lot about Spanish culture, politics, history and economy. We cannot recommend Agualivar more highly.

Excellent in all respects. A very relaxing and well located environment where the classes are tailor made to your needs, interests and abilities. There is a good balance of formal lessons and activities with learning taking place throughout. Very comfortable accommodation with delicious fresh produce and a very kind, welcoming approach from all the family. The perfect place to improve your Spanish.

My homestay at Agualivar was a real eye-opener for me.In a perfectly serene environment I could improve my Spanish and at the same time enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Together with my guide and Spanish teacher we visited National park Torcal de Antequera and later that week El Cielo.Two hiking routes with a variety of natural treasures.Back home ,a casa Agualivar, I had the feeling of being a member of the family.We cooked together real Spanish dishes and talked about Andalucia and Málaga provincia.
The mix of learning Spanish and being active all day is for me perfect.
There is no better place to learn a language with the comfort of a beautiful guesthouse and good teachers .Very close to the beach and within half an hour in Málaga city.The best of both worlds.
This stay was a perfect start of 2016 and I know one thing for sure.
Hasta pronto.

I experienced paradise for two weeks this past August. I was embraced as a family member into the Agualivar fold from the moment I arrived. My beautiful room overlooked the terrace, garden, Infiniti pool and the breathtaking Mediterranean view. All meals were a highlight due to the fresh locally grown produce, from their own farm, and the engaging conversation. I enjoyed participating in the daily ritual of gathering eggs and then learning how to prepare some local dishes. I never ate so well in my life nor felt so healthy. Art lessons fed my inner artist and Spanish classes focused on culture and gaining a native like fluency. Agualivar is truly a unique language school concept. Having studied in Mexico, Ecuador and other schools in Spain I recognize the value of Agualivar. This is where I will return. The search for the perfect Spanish school has ended.

This is a wonderful program that far exceeded my expectations. The language instruction was well planned, focused on my needs, and thorough. The instructors were patient, humorous, and intelligent. The immersion was total with Spanish only being spoken throughout my stay. The family was extremely friendly and accommodating. The food was unbelievable and the setting is spectacular. The house is situated on a hill in the countryside with a view of the Mediterranean. There are plenty of opportunities for excursions that combine language instruction with sight-seeing. I cannot recommend it more highly and hope someday to return.

I wanted to improve my ability to speak and understand Spanish through a homestay immersion, and I'm so glad I chose Casa Agualivar. The morning classes were customized for my level and interests, and I learned so much. The teaching materials are great - lots of variety including games, videos and exercises that really facilitated my learning. I also enjoyed the "homework" and learned a lot by correcting it with the teachers the next day.
The homestay part of the program is equally great. The family was very kind and understanding about my ability to speak. The house is large and beautiful with a lovely pool and garden, and they grow lots of fruits and vegetables. It was lots of fun and really delicious to eat my meals with the family.
I made several enjoyable trips to nearby sights with the teachers, and learned a lot about the history and was able to practice my Spanish. I highly recommend Casa Agualivar!