Once you’ve made up your mind to study Spanish in Spain, figuring out when you would make the trip can be a little tricky. Most all Spanish language Schools in Spain have Spanish language courses almost all year round. Depending on what your language goals are, you may have to make a decision between studying on the on-season, during the academic year, or the off season, during the vacation period i.e. summertime – June, July, August.
For those of you who do not have much of a choice in terms of time flexibility and are leaning closer to studying Spanish in the summertime, here is a look into the advantages and disadvantages of studying Spanish in Spain during the summertime.of the differences between what you would get during the summer.
The Good
1. Why, the Weather of course! – Spain is located in the South-West of Europe, along the Atlantic Ocean on the Iberian Peninsula. Summers in Spain can be extremely sunny and hot – especially in Andalusia, where the beaches are filled with the whitest of sands and the bluest clear waters! You could go to Spanish class in the morning and go directly to have lunch at the beach at the many local beach bars. What beats a language exchange gathering with ocean breeze to serve as your soundtrack?
2. The Seasonal Cultural Festivals – Many of Spain’s most dynamic cultural events and traditional festivals are held
over the summertime. This would be an added plus your Spanish language learning and you could experience some of the activities discussed in your Hispanic studies course. It would be a great way to taste the delicious Spanish cuisine and mingle with the locals!
3. Unique Seasonal Courses – Majority of language schools in Spain open their doors during the summertime; adjusting minimum age enrolment restrictions and introducing a diverse array of courses that have a more dynamic, interactive and fun flair relative to those offered during the semester. What is more, certain specialized courses, such as flamenco, Spanish guitar playing and Spanish cuisine, are only available during the summer periods.
4. Diverse Student Body – Most people do indeed take the opportunity to travel during the summer months, and it just so happens that a good number of these people also capitalize on the chance to take a Spanish language course or two. And hence, you could easily find yourself in a course full of a diverse group of people who come from all over the globe which would be an added enriching bonus to your time in Spain.
5. Fiesta Fiesta! – During the summer, many language institutes try to cater to the influx of young students who come to Spain for a good time (often under the guise of Spanish language studies) so there are more extra-curricular activities introduced and a general laid-back “party” attitude that suits the status quo. If you are looking to have a GREAT time while still having something to show for it at the end of your stay in Spain, then a summer course is for you.
The Not-so-Good
1. Even the Schools are on Vacation…Somewhat – The running of many Spanish language schools in Spain could undergo a bout of summer blues which in turn could compromise the overall quality of the courses available (couple that with overcrowded classrooms or rented spaces that are not even on the institution’s site to accommodate the high enrolment numbers). The general ambience could be less Spanish learning oriented and more focused on showing the (generally younger) student body a good time in Spain. If you are truly looking to study and learn Spanish in a serious environment, then perhaps a summer course might not be your best option. Or at worst, be sure to choose an appropriate school that may not drastically alter their educational approach during the summer months.
2. Tourists, tourists, Everywhere! – The same elements that attracted you to Spain most likely will attract many other people during the summertime which means there could be an overload of tourists in all the major cities where Spanish language schools are usually located. This could detract from the authentic Spanish lifestyle that you would normally be able to observe and partake in during the cooler months. In addition, the presence of tourists could put a dent in your total immersion plans as various foreign languages will be heard all over the streets of Spain.
3. Ticket Prices Sky Rocket – No surprise there. Summertime sees a significant augmentation of prices; plane, bus and train tickets often double in price which would make it a lot more expensive to travel within Spain or visit neighbouring countries in Europe. On another note, even summer housing in student residences (with often limited spaces to cope with the summer rush!) and the average landlord seem to present an up in prices to capitalize on the summer buzz.
4. Potential Administrative Issues – Between the overload of international visitors and it being the vacation period, you could find it difficult to get the most mundane of (required) tasks executed as most civil servants could be on vacation or replaced by the less experienced substitutes. Things could move slower than usual, which for Spain, is saying a lot, and you could find yourself in a tricky situation if you need immediate administrative assistance.
5. Almost No Course Packages or Other Deals – During the summer period, there are often no promotional course packages and discount deals available at a good number of Spanish language schools in Spain that would otherwise ordinarily be available during the school year.
All in all, whether you decide to go to study Spanish in Spain during the long winter or autumn months or during the hot summer, there are bound to be both positive and negative factors to contend with. What matters most is that you fly yourself over to Spain to learn Spanish at all!
Take a look at some of the most popular Summer Courses in Spain in coveted locations and at a great deals!
There has to be something for you!
