If you’re a mature student thinking of combining language learning with an exciting trip abroad, Spain offers many excellent Spanish language immersion courses aimed at students in their 50’s and beyond.
Below you’ll find five excellent 50+ Spanish courses in Spain that also include cultural and social activities designed for mature learners. Located in four major cultural cities – Madrid, Seville, Malaga and Barcelona – we’ve also included some useful information about each one, to help you choose the right destination.
1. DESTINATION: MADRID
Madrid Sampere 50+ Course
The Sampere Madrid school, officially accredited by the Cervantes Institute, offers courses aimed specifically at mature students from age 50 onwards. The course lasts for 2 weeks, and combines language learning with experiencing Spanish culture and lifestyle. The programme includes 20 lessons per week (Monday to Friday), held in the mornings, and there are 4 cultural or social activities every week, such as tours of Madrid, visits to its main sites, cultural evenings, tapas and wine tasting and dance and music shows – as well as weekend excursions to nearby cities like Toledo or Segovia.
The school’s teachers are all degree-qualified, and Sampere Madrid’s modern premises include a library, a common area, air conditioning and internet. The school is located in central Madrid with easy public transport access, and is close to the city’s largest and most famous park, El Parque del Buen Retiro.
AIL Madrid Club 50+ Course
Ail Madrid’s Club 50+ Course is aimed at people over 50, who want to not only study Spanish, but learn about Spanish Culture. The course lasts for 2 weeks, includes 20 Spanish classes (4 each morning from Monday to Friday) and fun afternoon activities, like flamenco shows, film evenings, guided walking tours of Madrid, visits to the Prado Museum or the Royal Palace. The course also includes one free dance class per week and free rental of a Spanish mobile phone.
This school offers many little extras, like a 24-hour emergency telephone and a Student Care Team who look after you during your stay, and the school also makes up for any course dates and after-class activities missed on Spanish bank holidays. The school has modern facilities and services, including WiFi and a Self Study Centre and it is located in an elegant, old Madrid neighbourhood where you’ll find many grand buildings, tree-lined streets and great boutiques and restaurants.
DESTINATION TIPS: Why pick Madrid?
If you like visiting big cities, you will fall in love with Madrid. Spain’s capital offers modern Spanish city living, at a wonderfully relaxed pace.- In Madrid you’ll find excellent gastronomic experiences; typical local and national cuisine, international restaurants – and plenty of outdoor café terraces ideal for sipping café con leche and reading Spanish newspapers.
- Castilian Spanish, the purest and easiest to understand of all the Spanish accents, is spoken everywhere.
- Madrid has more green parks and sunshine than in any other European capital city.
- The Prado and Reina Sofia Museums, the Thyssen Gallery, as well as the Spanish Royal Family’s palaces and many other famous museums, monuments and historic sites.
- Madrid’s public transport system is safe, cheap, efficient and easy to navigate, and it’s easy to get low-cost flights to Madrid Barajas airport.
2. DESTINATION: MALAGA
Malaca Instituto Master Class Course
The Malaca Instituto Master Class Course is aimed for students over 50 years of age, who wish to learn Spanish as well as study the country’s history, culture and customs. You can choose a course-duration of 2 or 4 weeks, and the programme includes 15 Spanish classes each week. There are also many daily and weekly activities with a cultural and social emphasis – like Spanish film night, culture discussions and dance classes.
Malaca Instituto has an excellent reputation in Spain and also internationally, and the school offers its own teaching materials. The teachers at this school are all degree-qualified and receive on-going teacher training. Malaca Instituto is situated on a hill with views over the Mediterranean sea, and the premises include a multimedia learning-centre, internet access, an onsite residence, a restaurant and a bar, sun terraces and a swimming pool – a complete package for a fun and stimulating break abroad, while learning Spanish.
DESTINATION TIPS: Why pick Malaga?
Malaga is a sunny, Mediterranean city, which is known for its vibrant, new port development with many restaurants, as well as its many museums, including the birth home of Picasso, the new Picasso Museum and the Contemporary Art Museum.- The city has a charming old town district with a cathedral, many boutiques and high street shops, tapas bars and salsa dancing venues – all overlooked by the grand Gibralfaro Castle.
- Malaga’s long beach and the beach promenade are also ideal for sunbathing and strolling during most of the year, because Spain’s south coast enjoys such a mild climate.
- Malaga’s international airport makes it an easy and cheap destination to reach by air, and the city provides an excellent starting point for exploring the rest of Andalusia’s culture-rich cities, like Granada, Seville and Cordoba.
3. DESTINATION: SEVILLE
CLIC Sevilla50+ Course
This Spanish course for mature learners focuses on learning Spanish by studying the most interesting and significant customs and cultural history of Spain. The course is based on a wide range of in-depth topics and cultural leisure time activities, especially designed for students over 50, from beginner to upper intermediate level. The courses last two weeks and are specifically timed over some of Seville’s most interesting cultural weeks, like Easter, or the Seville fair, or tailored to include activities like dancing flamenco and wine tasting.
CLIC Sevilla gets high reviews from its students and is probably one of the best Spanish language schools in the country. The teaching staff is highly trained in Spanish linguistics and the school highlights the importance of speaking Spanish outside of the classroom in social situations. The premises and facilities are modern and pleasant, including a computer room with internet access, audiovisual equipment, a library and sun terraces and a garden. There is also a language exchange programme.
DESTINATION TIPS: Why pick Seville?
Seville is the capital city of the region of Andalusia in southern Spain – and also the cradle of flamenco music and dancing. This city is an excellent choice for mature language students, because of its rich cultural offering, many historic sites, small city centre that can be easily walked, and great flamenco tablaos where you can enjoy authentic dance shows and music.- Seville is set on a river, and the city offers many outdoor bars, cafés and restaurants, as well as shopping.
- Although Seville is very hot in July and August, the winter, autumn and spring in the city are generally sunny and mild.
- Seville is also known for its cheap living costs, especially when compared to bigger Spanish cities like Madrid and Barcelona, so you’ll be able to stretch your budget far here.
4. DESTINATION: BARCELONA
Camino Barcelona50+ Spanish Programme
The Camino Barcelona 50+ Spanish course includes Spanish language classes, as well as cultural activities and excursions. The course is held over 2 weeks, and includes 15 Spanish lessons. The extensive activities programme includes events like workshops on Barcelona customs and history, guided walks to visit sites like La Pedrera, Museo Picasso and Parc Güell, evenings out having dinner in typical Catalan restaurants or wine tasting, and a trip to the Dali Museum.
Camino Barcelona is probably one of the most popular and highly rates language schools in Spain right now, because of its high standard of teaching, fun social and cultural activities, its excellent location right in the centre of Barcelona and its high quality onsite accommodation. The premises include modern audio-visual and computer equipment, and WiFi.
DESTINATION TIPS: Why pick Barcelona?
- Barcelona is best known for its Gaudi architecture, including the famous Sagrada Familia Cathedral, and its many museums and galleries, such as the MACBA.
- Catalonia, the region where Barcelona is located, enjoys a mild, sunny Mediterranean climate and has great city beaches.
- Barcelona is a hub of gastronomy, and you’ll find many excellent Catalan and international restaurants and tapas bars here.
- The city has many exciting neighbourhoods, each with their own character: such as the Gothic District or the Montjuïc Mountain.
Prices
The course prices for 50+ courses can vary greatly, depending on duration, time of year, location of the school and activities included in the price. At the cheaper end, you can expect to pay around 380-450€ for two weeks, and that will include Spanish lesson and activities, but you’ll have to pay separately for accommodation. At their dearest, the course fees may can range up to 1000€, especially for longer stays in bigger cities like Madrid and Barcelona.
How to book
UniSpain is a long-standing company that specialises in providing Spanish language immersion courses in Spain and we are happy to help with any inquiries about 50+ Spanish courses. You can read more about 50+ courses on our website: www.unispain.com/Mature-Student-Courses-Spain.
To book, you can contact us directly by email [email protected], or by telephone from Monday to Thursday, 9am to 7.00pm, and Fridays, 9am to 3pm (Spanish time GMT+1).
Spain: (+34) 952 222 998
USA: (347) 708-0285
UK: (020) 3287-5375
