Spanish language courses in Spain should be fun. Being in Spain is a good start, and a course on the move helps too. After a continental breakfast at our country farmhouse we put on our walking boots and take a leisurely walk through the Baztan landscape. The farmhouse is based in Zuaztoi, an idyllic hamlet of less than 30 people, and many walks lead straight out into the hills from the farmhouse door. The walks may take between two to three hours and are taken at a very relaxed pace giving us time to talk to the locals and take in the views and cultural idiosyncrasies of daily life in the Spanish Pyrenees.
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The Spanish language teacher accompanies us on the walks and often native Spanish-speaking friends join us too. Every moment is full of surprises and we are never at a loss for conversation as this beautiful scenery unfolds constantly before out eyes. The baby donkeys in the field next door, my neighbour’s burgeoning tomato plants, a crumbling farmstead or a fiesta in the nearby village – all provide a platform for conversation and a source of words and expressions in the Spanish language.
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At times we stop for a beer at the village bar, or for traditional corn talos and cider at the local water mill. Some days we have lunch at a family run restaurant or escape into Elizondo to try the local speciality of dark almond chocolate. All these are great excuses for yet another language lesson on the hoof!
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Back at the house the afternoon Spanish language lessons are usually preceded by a siesta. In the afternoon we organise a couple of hours of formal Spanish lessons, given by our professional Spanish teacher, often on the farmhouse veranda. These lessons allow our guests the time to consolidate some of the words and phrases learned during the day, and to take a look at the grammatical nuts and bolts of the Spanish language.
All lessons are tailor-made to the needs and interests of our clients and for this reason we run our Spanish language and walking holidays at four different levels:
The language courses we run at beginner and elementary level involve constant language support throughout the day, as well as the Spanish lessons in the afternoon. During our intermediate level courses, lunchtimes and lessons are held exclusively in Spanish. Guests joining us for our advanced level courses will find themselves immersed in up to eight hours of Spanish conversation practice each day as all the walks, lunches and lessons are held solely in Spanish. As we only have a maximum of ten guests at the farmhouse at any one time we can be flexible and do our utmost to adapt our teaching style and material to the interests of our guests.
The evening buffet allows time to unwind, and is a very informal affair. Many of our guests join our holidays on their own, and the evening is a great time to relax and converse away from the shackles of a foreign language. We run all our holidays in house-party style and encourage our guests to take an active role. Although the buffet is provided, those who feel inspired are welcome to join in; lay the table, uncork the wine or cut the garlic or even make an apple crumble from the apples on the apple tree outside the door.
Spanish language courses in Spain should be fun as well as educational. Although we provide a programme of walks, cultural activities and lessons, the holiday is by no means regimented and our guests should feel free to join in or opt out of any of the activities if they so desire. The wine cellar is stocked, there are books to read and wonderful views from the veranda for those who simply want to chill out and have time to themselves. Red more about our Spanish Courses in the Baztan Valley
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