Is it worth going to language school?

And how do you choose one?

As those of you who subscribe to my Substack will know I was recently in Valencia for two weeks to improve my Spanish. And not before time, though my experience up to that point is not untypical.

I started learning Spanish four and a half years ago, back in August 2019 after visiting my daughter in law’s family in Spain when I felt deeply ashamed that her mother had to talk to me in English because I couldn’t speak a word of Spanish.

I started with Duolingo which at least set up a daily habit of practising but it was only taking me so far so I signed up - at some considerable expense - for a succession of other learning packages.

They mostly failed, either because I became demotivated, couldn’t commit to a particular time each week or, in the case of Meet-up groups, because I found myself tongue-tied talking to the other Spanish speakers. 

One obstacle - my lack of grammar - was at least partially overcome through finding a local teacher who was willing to take me on for one to one sessions in return for wine which was a nice bit of barter.

It made me pretty good at comprehension and written work but I still struggled to speak.

The problem was that Duolingo was giving me the illusion I was learning Spanish without doing anything like enough to make it stick.

I realised that if I was to make any kind of breakthrough I needed to go to Spain and take an intensive Spanish course so I signed up for two weeks at a language school in Valencia

Did it it work? Well yes and no, but mainly yes you’ll be glad to hear and here’s why.

I’ve answered the questions I though you might have about the experience quite openly so I’m putting it behind a paywall but I’ll be posting a longer, mostly free post about the other alternatives you have if heading to Spain isn’t an option.

Subscribing though brings lots of other benefits including my recipe, restaurant and wine tips which will actually save you money and you can sign up from as little as £5.

Some questions about the course you might want answered