Salamanca pontifical university and Spanish countryside

Learn Spanish in Salamanca (Premium)

Learn Spanish in Salamanca, a vibrant and interesting city, unspoilt and untouched by mass tourism.

23 classrooms (upper floors via an elevator
Library with books and DVDs
Conference room used for watching Spanish films
Computer room
Kitchen for cookery classes
Communal study area
Vending machines serving food and drinks
Outdoor patio
Courtyard with artistic displays
Accredited by the Cervantes Institute
Course materials included
Fully air-conditioned building
Wi-Fi available throughout

Our school in Salamanca (Premium)

Our Premium Spanish language school is located in the San Juan district of Salamanca, just a few minutes’ walk from the Old Town. This area is popular with Spanish residents due to its proximity to the centre and is full of amenities, including grocery stores and cafés. Less than 10 minutes away is the popular Alamedilla Park which, with its café and duck pond, is a great place to spend an afternoon soaking up the sun. Because the area is less touristic than the centre, you’ll get an authentic feel of day-to-day life here and are more likely to interact with native Spanish speakers. What’s more, if you do want to visit the centre, it’s just minutes away! Our Premium school is within easy walking distance of many interesting attractions, such the circular Church of San Marcos and the Plaza de los Bandos, home to a variety of 14th- and 15th-century mansions once owned by Salamanca’s ruling families. The most notable examples include Casa de las Conchas - an eye-catching palacio decorated with over 300 stone shells - and the enigmatic House of Death.

This school, which boasts 23 classrooms, is a relatively large facility spread over 5 storeys (upper floors accessible via an elevator). This means that there are always lots of students here, allowing you to meet people of all ages and backgrounds. Despite its size, there’s a maximum of just 12 students per class, enabling teaching staff to provide expert tuition tailored to each individual’s needs. The school has been welcoming international pupils for over 20 years, so staff are accustomed to training students of all nationalities and ability levels. As well as its classrooms, the building has a library full of multi-media learning materials, a video and conference room used for watching Spanish films, and a computer room available to all students. Cookery classes take place in the on-site kitchen, and there is also a communal area that’s ideal for studying, socialising, or relaxing. If you want snacks and refreshments, you can get a variety of food and drinks from the school’s vending machines - or simply head to the café next door! On sunny days (of which there are many), you can take your tea or coffee on the school’s patio. This school also has an arrangement with a local gym; fitness freaks can have access to a popular city-centre facility and all its amenities for a highly discounted price.

As a member of the Association of Spanish Schools of Castile and Leon and with accreditations from the Cervantes Institute and the National Federation of Schools of Spanish for Foreigners (FEDELE), we can guarantee that the immersive tuition here is of the highest quality. To supplement students’ learning, the school also offers free lectures on subjects such as literature, history, and regional traditions. The lectures are held twice a day, so you’ll have the chance to gain insight into Spanish life regardless of your class timetable. The building has its own student residence and is well-served by the local amenities, including San Juan Market just next door. With a bus stop less than 2 minutes’ walk away, you can also easily explore other parts of the city once your lessons have finished.

Photos

Learn Spanish in Salamanca
Having fun in a Salsa class
Lunch together
Exploring Salamanca

Salamanca

Located on the western edge of Spain is Salamanca, a vibrant and interesting city and an excellent location in which to learn Spanish. Most people know Salamanca for its university, one of the oldest in the world and the first institution to develop European concepts of human rights and morality, as well as new theories of philosophy and economics. In more recent times, the University created the internationally recognised DELE Diploma to evaluate foreign students’ Spanish proficiency - over 60,000 students from over 100 countries sit this exam annually, and these papers are still designed and graded in Salamanca on behalf of the Cervantes Institute.

Known by locals as ‘La Dorada’ (‘the Golden City’) for the way its sandstone buildings glow beneath the setting sun, Salamanca - and especially its central Old Town, which is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site - is a truly beautiful city. It has a youthful atmosphere thanks to the thousands of students attending its education centres every year and the care-free attitude of its citizens. There is always something happening in the city, from live bands to festivals to art exhibitions to public lectures to comedy shows to historical re-enactments - and more! Many attractions can be found in the area around the famous Plaza Mayor, the city’s central meeting place and home of the annual Nochevieja celebrations. Not your usual New Year’s Eve party, students gather in the square on the last week of term to eat 12 jelly beans with each strike of the town hall’s clock (instead of the traditional grapes eaten during Spanish New Year’s Eve ceremonies). More than 35,000 students from the city, the surrounding towns, and the rest of Spain participate each year!

Salamanca is also a city full of history, first settled by Iron Age tribes. Evidence of these peoples can be seen in the Verraco del Puente, an ancient stone boar that is several thousand years old and one of the most emblematic symbols of the city - so much so that, like the 1st-century Roman bridge it guards, it features on the city’s coat of arms. In the Middles Ages, Salamanca was ruled by noble families whose disputes - dubbed ‘la Guerra de los Bandos’: ‘the War of the [two] Sides’ - plagued the city for decades. Their legacy can still be seen today in the mansions and manors in and around the Plaza de los Bandos, many of which are open to visitors on a daily basis. Though not very well-known outside of Salamanca, all children in the area grow up hearing the almost Shakespearean stories of los Bandos.

Whichever parts you choose to see during your time here, this city is easy to explore because its centre is compact and almost completely pedestrianised, while its outer districts are accessible by extensive public transport links. The best tapas bars can be found north of the Old Town, where you’ll find fewer tourists and more locals. In Carmelitas you’ll find Sunday street markets filled with curiosities, and in San Juan, where our school is located, there’s a different pace of life from the lively centre - but it’s still just a short walk from the most exciting attractions the Old Town offers!

Courses in Salamanca (Premium)

Available courses

    The standard Spanish programme at this school is the Intensive course, which consists of 20 group classes per week. Lessons usually take place in the morning from 09:00 - 13:00, though they may also run in the afternoon between 14:00 and 18:00. Your placement will depend on your starting ability level and the number of other students at the school; your exact timetable can therefore only be confirmed by the school on your first day.

    To increase the overall benefits of this course, you can add specialised classes and receive 5 extra classes each week covering culture, literature, conversation, translation, or tourism. These options are available for 1 to 4 weeks; if you wish, you can change the subject of your extra classes each week to get a thorough insight into these topics.

    For a more rigorous programme, select the Super-intensive course of 30 weekly lessons. You’ll have the same 20 core lessons plus an extra 10 classes covering various topics. With more contact time with the teacher and a more in-depth analysis of society and grammar, this course is guaranteed to give you a well-rounded immersive experience.

    If you’re looking to achieve notable progress but still want the dynamic, social aspect of group classes, we recommend booking mini-group lessons. These classes follow the same principle as the standard group sessions but have a maximum of just 6 students. The small size of these sessions means that you’ll get even more personal attention from the teacher than you would do in a larger group, helping you to rapidly advance your language skills.

    If you want to study certain subjects, or if you feel that you need extra guidance during your studies, you can book private tuition and receive focused teaching that can be tailored to your exact requirements. You’ll have 20 one-to-one lessons per week on the standard package, but can book more if you wish. This type of tuition is ideal if you want to make rapid improvements during your time in Salamanca.

    This school also offers a Business Spanish course, a 4-week programme combining the development of practical vocabulary - covering themes such as commercial correspondence, business terminology, and letter-writing skills - with economic analysis as it relates to Spain and Spanish businesses. You’ll have 10 lessons per week that are split between the two topics. Please note that you must have B1 or higher Spanish proficiency to be eligible for this course.

    Whichever course you select, you’ll receive a daily lecture or film included in the course price. Lectures cover topics such as art, history, literature, and culture. On your first day you’ll have a welcome meeting that will help you to get to know the staff and your fellow students. You’ll already have submitted your Spanish level test prior to arrival, so you’ll be placed in a group suitable for your starting ability. Please note: if you have no experience with Spanish you will need to start your group programme on a specific beginners’ date - contact us to find out more about available dates for beginners.

    Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact us today to see if we can arrange a bespoke package for you!

    Accommodation

    Available accommodation

      If you want to benefit as much as possible from your time in Salamanca, then homestay lodging is the choice for you! This option allows you to practice your Spanish skills with your host(s), enabling you to maintain your immersion in the language and thus carry on learning even outside the classroom. Carefully selected native hosts offer private single or twin rooms* and provide 2 or 3 meals per day as part of your accommodation package. We can usually accommodate special diets, e.g. vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, etc; please let us know if you have any requirements of this kind prior to placing your booking. Hosts all offer a comfortable and safe environment in which to stay during your language course; they also provide bed linens and a weekly laundry service (towels are not included, so you should bring your own). You will have your own keys to come and go as you please, but you must respect house rules and schedules.

      If you prefer to spend your time in Salamanca with other students, one of the school residences is a great option. Each residence is located just 10 minutes’ walk from the school building, meaning they’re perfectly placed to give you exposure to the city and its residents without being too far away from our language facility and the city centre. Each residence has single or twin* bedrooms, modern amenities, a communal dining room, and a reception area or office where staff will be on-hand to help you should you need assistance with anything. You can book your lodging on a half-board or full-board basis, meaning you’ll receive 2 or 3 meals per day as part of your accommodation package. These meals are served on-site in the residences. Bed linens and a laundry service are included, but towels are not, so you should bring your own.

      For more independence, stay in a shared apartment with other international students. You’ll have a single or twin* room, a fully-equipped kitchen with a washing machine, and a lounge with a television and comfortable seating. Bathroom facilities are shared between residents. The common areas are cleaned weekly, and you are responsible for keeping your own room clean and tidy. Bed linen is provided but towels are not, so you should bring your own. Wi-Fi access is available in most apartments but cannot be guaranteed; please let us know if this is a requirement for you. Do note: these apartments are only available for students over the age of 18, and are not recommended for students over the age of 25. Though clean and comfortable, these apartments are most suitable for younger students looking for a social travel experience on a budget.

      The school aims to provide lodging within 15 minutes’ walk of the school, but please note that this may not always be possible. All accommodation is available after 12:00 on the Sunday before your course starts until 12:00 on the Saturday after your course ends. We may be able to arrange extra nights in your room for you if needed - please let us know about this prior to making your booking.

      *Twin rooms are only available to students travelling together. If you select a twin room but are travelling alone, you will be swapped to a single room.

      Activities

      To maximise your enjoyment in this beautiful city, our school organises an extensive social and cultural activity programme designed to be both entertaining and educational. Each activity is conducted in Spanish and thus helps to complement your classroom learning with experience in real-life scenarios.

      The school always offers various lectures and film screenings each week. Other activities are also available; some may incur an additional fee to cover entrance and/or transportation costs. The exact schedule changes throughout the year but may include:

      - Guided tours of the city (first Monday of every month)
      - Visits to local museums and/or art galleries
      - Cookery classes
      - Group games/sports like bowling or football
      - Salsa classes
      - Tapas ‘caminas’
      - Farewell dinners (last Thursday of every month)

      As well as the above activities, the school also arranges half- and full-day excursions to nearby locations such as Zamora, Toledo, and Segovia. Arranged in conjunction with a local travel agency, Spanish people from the city are eligible to attend these excursions as well so they present a great opportunity for language practice! Please note that a minimum of 20 students is required for an excursion to go ahead.

      How to get there

      The nearest international airport to Salamanca is Madrid Barajas. It takes just over 2 hours to drive from the capital to Salamanca, so you should plan the times of your flights accordingly.

      From Madrid, you can either make your own way to your accommodation or we can arrange an airport transfer service for you for an additional charge. The school arranges two types of service, which are detailed below.

      Private transfer: a driver will be waiting for you at the airport when you land and will take you directly to your accommodation; if you select this service on departure as well, you will be collected from your lodging on your last day and taken back to the airport in time for your departing flight.

      Escort transfer: a member of staff will meet you on arrival at the airport and escort you to the appropriate public transport station. They will help you buy your ticket and ensure that you get on your bus or train safely.

      Students should arrange to arrive in Salamanca on the Sunday before their course starts and depart on the Saturday after their course finishes. We may be able to arrange extra nights on arrival and/or departure for you if needed.

      Location: San Juan district
      Nearest convenience store: next door!
      Nearest café: next door!
      Nearest metro stop: n/a
      Nearest bus stop: Plaza de Gabriel y Galán, 150 m
      Distance from train station: 1.2 km
      Distance from airport: 213 km (Madrid Barajas)


      Location of our school in Salamanca (Premium)

      Course

      4.5 / 5
      Accommodation

      4.3 / 5
      School Staff

      4.6 / 5
      Average score for our school in Salamanca (Premium) based on 36 previous client reviews.

      Student reviews & feedback

      Mini-group 20 with Host Family
      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      I enjoyed every aspect of it and was very impressed that, over and above the lessons, there were films and lectures/tours to attend . Hence it was fully immersive.

      My host was lovely and encouraged me to speak and helped me choose where to eat etc and fed me well.

      I had a brilliant time and will return.

      Intensive 20 + Conversation lessons with Student Residence
      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Brilliant course, classes and teachers. Very engaging and interesting.

      Accommodation was in a great location and friendly staff.

      Intensive 20
      Course
      Accommodationn/a
      School Staff

      The course was great. Sorry I didn't have more time to continue on beyond the two weeks I scheduled. Teachers were good at presenting us with a lot of new material, while at the same time were patient and kind. I learned a lot in a short period of time.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Learnt alot about Spain and learnt alot of Spanish which will be very useful in future trips to Spain and exams. The classes helped not only my grammatical but also my oral spanish. I really enjoyed both my teachers Jorje and Fernando's classes and i hope to return next year. Our host and her family were very friendly and showed us great hospitality. The food was always good and the apartment was always kept very clean.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      It was very nice and I learned a lot about the spanish language and of the spanish culture and history. The teachers there were friendly.

      I lived in a shared appartment, which was very big and alltogehter clean and nice. I had my own room. There were two other rooms and a big living room, two bathrooms and a kitchen. It took around 4 minutes to get to school by foot and 6 minutes into the center of Salamanca.

      Intensive 20 with Student Residence
      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Absolutely loved it- so so much fun. I got back home and immediately booked another course! My accommodation was a really great, multi-cultural experience. Overall a wonderful experience. I met some amazing people and can't wait to go back!

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      The teachers are very friendly and helpful. The course is very entertaining and is appropriate for me. The students in this language center are very nice to me. The facilities inside my apartment meet my expectations. The bed is comfortable and soft. The rooms are very clean. The surrounding area is very quiet and safe. My neighbors are friendly!

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      The course was very well done, small classes, good atmosphere, competent teachers, pleasant! The accommodation was great! Very welcoming, clean rooms, very good food. An experience to live and relive!

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Absolutely amazing, never would have believed I could learn so much and have so much fun. Really friendly family comfortable, clean, excellent food. Could not have wished for more.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Course was great, there was no problem finding the right level for me, teachers were amazing and extremely helpful. The school had a great variety of after classes events and excursions which i think was great. Everybody was very flexible and wanted to make sure i am satisfied with the course. Choosing the school in Salamanca was definitely the best decision in my life. My family was great, they treated me as if i was their own daughter. The food prepared by my family was great and the whole atmosphere was outstanding. The house was very spacious and i had my own room giving me enough privacy and possibility to study. Salamanca is probably the best place to recommend for students to study Spanish.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Very good course. I especially enjoyed the grammar sessions which were very useful and pitched just at the right level. The accommodation was clean and adequate. My host was very helpful and took me to the school on the first morning and gave me a brief tour of the town.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      The teachers were excellent and very energetic. It made the course more interesting. They covered a vast amount of material in two weeks. I felt at home with my host family. There were very accommodating and lovely.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Really enjoyed it, but took a few days to get used to the grammar teaching as I'm not used to everything being in Spanish. Very challenging. Learned a lot. Grammar classes particularly good. Would like to do a month next time if possible. The 'conferencias' on Spanish history and artists in the afternoons excellent. Salamanca brilliant venue! Very friendly family. Fantastic food at lunchtime. Soon made to feel at home. Felt relaxed about coming and going as I chose as well as watching TV with the family on occasions and having interesting chats at lunchtime. Perfect location. Would love to stay there again! The two weeks I spent at the school were really stimulating and enjoyable. As a very 'mature' student, I was very apprehensive before I started. By the end of the first day, however, I had made several friends and soon felt relaxed in the very pleasant, lively environment of the school. It was great being surrounded by people of so many nationalities and ages,all doing our best to converse in Spanish! A fantastic experience which I hope to repeat sometime next year.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      The course was intensive but forced me to improve my Spanish and my understanding especially hearing it spoken at its normal speed! The pace was workable and there was plenty to keep me occupied! The flat was lovely, very clean and well decorated. I couldn't have asked for anything better. I just loved the whole experience, the school, the staff, EVERYTHING. Perfect location and perfect school! It was great!

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      I had one to one tuition from 3 teachers all of whom I thought were excellent. They were lively and interesting and guaged my level correctly and made me work hard. I was impressed that they liaised with each other about how best to work with me.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      We found it very well thought out and very intensive.The teachers were more than helpful and we really enjoyed it. Our neighbours have told us that our Spanish has improved and we will go back next year. Our accommodation was excellent and our host was kind and a great cook. The apartment was clean and very well maintained.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Learnt a lot about Spain and learnt a lot of spanish which will be very usefully in future trips to Spain and exams. The classes helped not only my grammatical but also my oral spanish. I really enjoyed both my teachers' classes and I hope to return next year. Our host and her family were very friendly and showed us great hospitality. The food was always good and the apartment was always kept very clean. Really enjoyed my time in Salamanca, hope to return

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      During and after my course I noticed a considerable improvement in all aspects of my Spanish. It is definitely more profitable to study the language in Spain itself than in England. I had 4 hours of lessons each day which was ideal as I never got bored from them being too long yet still gained a lot from them. I stayed in a student apartment and although the facilities were quite basic they were comfortable. The whole experience was very enjoyable, I especially liked meeting people from so many different countries, there were only three other english people there and so I learnt a lot about other countries both in Europe and further afield.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      Course was good, the classes were the right size, teachers were great - friendly and helpful.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      The teachers were really fun and enthusiastic and made sure all our lessons were enjoyable as well as useful! The lady I stayed with was very friendly and helpful. Despite the fact that my Spanish was poor she always made an effort to communicate with me and share information about her favourite places in Salamanca. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Salamanca: the people were friendly, the teachers enthusiastic and fun and the city itself was beautiful.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      It was a very helpful course and the teachers were very good. The accommodation was clean.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      I found my course was very interesting, the teachers make the lessons so much fun and just the general atmosphere in the school is awsome. I would definitely go back there again. I learnt so much! To show how much I enjoyed it I was meant to be out there for 6 weeks but I ended up staying 3 and a half months! I was living with 13 students from all over the world and the atmosphere in the house was so friendly. If we had any problems we were always able to talk to the host parents. Im still in contact with them now.

      Course
      Accommodation
      School Staff

      The course was excellent just was I wanted. I learned so much in my week there. Fabulous.

      School statistics

      Nationality (%)


      China (6)
      England (10)
      France (18)
      Germany (16)
      Holland (7)
      Ireland (6)
      Italia (6)
      Japan (6)
      Others (14)
      Rusia (9)

      Average Student Numbers



      Average ages (June - Aug)

      * Statistics considered correct at the time of publishing

      Student stories on our blog

      Hidden Treasure in Salamanca!

      There is no better place on Earth to study Spanish than in Salamanca! The city’s majestic architecture, cultural history, and linguistic purity are unique characteristics that, for me, make Salamanca a city of hidden treasure. Due to its lavishly decorated sandstone cathedrals and university buildings, Salamanca is so distinctively called La Dorada (“The Golden City”). Not only does the sun bathe Salamanca’s landmarks in resplendence right before sunset, but the city is rich with local legends and stories. I tagged along a guided tour of the city and learned about the cleverly hidden “lucky frog” (“la rana de suerte”) on the main façade of the Universidad Civil building. According to legend, university students received good luck for a year with their studies if they found the frog without help. Nowadays, tourists will gaze upward for an hour in the hopes that they find the frog and are then blessed with one year of good luck. If you go to Salamanca, this is a must-do before you leave! Read more...

      Prices for Salamanca (Premium)

      Choose your course below to view our prices in pounds sterling (GBP), US dollars (USD) or euros (EUR).

      (b) = start dates suitable for complete beginners and all other levels
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      Our schools are rated  (4.59/ 5) based on 3984 customer reviews!
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