Long-term and Semester Spanish Courses in Spain

I didn't know what to expect with Instituto Hemingway but it ended up exceeding my expectations. I wasn't sure if a school like this would provide the education, I was looking for, but it was actually a great benefit. The professors and administrative staff knew me well and were very attentive to my needs. When I had to make changes to my schedule, the staff was very accommodating. With the classes and my private tutor sessions, I feel like I now have a good grasp of the Spanish language. The classes were structured well and not overpacked with students. This was great as it enabled for more participation from everyone and, at the same time, helped us getting to know each other better more quickly. I also took afternoon individual classes. These were excellent too as they were tailored to anything I wanted to learn or topics I was struggling with. All my teachers were amazing. They were kind, funny and very knowledgeable. This made learning really interesting and enjoyable the entire time. I liked the variety of activities they used for teaching, especially the class Kahoots! in the afternoons and evenings free leisure and cultural activities every day were programmed and it was awesome!! My apartment was located 15 minutes away by foot. I actually enjoyed traveling to school in the morning as I got to see different parts of Bilbao that I wouldn't have seen if located closer. I shared an apartment with two flat mates who were all very nice. The apartment had everything and felt at home

I’ve been wanting to improve my Spanish for a while now, but always felt I didn’t have the time. Well I finally got myself into action and signed up for a summer course. It was the perfect way to combine a lovely Spanish holiday in the sun while finally improving my Spanish. The teachers are lovely and super helpful and program has so much to offer around the city that I didn’t feel like I was in school, but just having a very productive perfect summer holiday. Would definitely recommend to anyone that wants to enjoy a great city and leave speaking Spanish! A very well-run centre with modern,clean facilities. The staff were knowledgable, helpful and friendly. I would thoroughly recommend attending courses here. They also helped me with visa because finally I stayed here 4 months in total.

I am retired and of a certain age (68) and thus was a little apprehensive about attending a language school of which I knew very little, in a city – Bilbao – where I would be a complete stranger. E-mails from AIL were very understanding and encouraging, however, so I decided to take the risk. ¡Ques uerte! The decision to enroll at Instituto Hemingway was one of the best I have made since I retired. I enjoyed every minute, both in the school and in Bilbao. To begin with, Bilbao is a very easy city in which to adapt: it took no time at all to feel at home there. The people are naturally warm and welcoming, the city is clean and extraordinarily beautiful, amenities are accessible, good food and drink are everywhere and not expensive, fine art and good architecture abound (as is well known), and public transportation is efficient and easy to use. It is impossible to be bored or at a loss for entertainment in Bilbao, and suitable accommodation is easy to find. And then there is Instituto Hemingway. I chose it for its location (in beautiful, convenient Casco Viejo area) and, as mentioned above, because the staff had been very sympathetic and encouraging when we corresponded. But by the end of my first day of class I was aware of two other supremely important advantages: the quality of the faculty and the quality of the students. My teacher was unquestionably the best, most dynamic teacher of Spanish I have ever had. She gave every inch of herself to the job and every day brought original ideas, fresh insights, and crystal clarity of explanation – as well as abundant humor and a wonderful depth of culture – to the classroom. Every day the four hours of classroom instruction passed quickly and left me eager to return the next day. My teacher’s openness and breadth of reference (as well as her humor) encouraged the interaction so essential to acquisition of familiarity with the language, and my fellow students rose to the occasion. From all over the world, they were motivated and united by an affinity for Spain and its language and a desire to learnto speak Spanish. They were open-minded and ready to engage with their colleagues. Friendships formed quickly and endured throughout. We learned from one another as well as from our marvelous teacher. Throughout my time at Instituto Hemingway the school administration was cheerful and helpful, always available to answer questions and to offer help. I attended classes at Hemingway for four weeks. It was not enough. I intend to return as soon as possible, and without hesitation I would encourage any student of Spanish to look to Hemingway for a productive and happy learning experience in one of the best cities in the world.