Spanish in Palma de Mallorca

Mrs Goodwin:

Study Spanish in Palma de Mallorca with CESAI expected the opportunity to converse in Spanish, increase vocabulary and knowledge of grammar, and to meet other students socially.

The teaching was excellent and the school was in a nice situation in Palma and the staff were approachable.

The best part was the 2nd week lessons with Paula who was an excellent teacher.

The course and teaching methods were excellent.

Palma is a lively, interesting town with a good choice of eating places etc. The public transport was good and cheap. We did not feel unsafe in the town, even late in the evening.

I was satisfied with the apartment belonging to the school – large and comfortable on the whole. Read More »

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Hannah – Spanish A-level course

Hannah-  AS level student who went to Madrid in Easter for a one week A-level Revision course.

“I was very nervous before my arrival in Madrid and on my first day I was just as nervous but I expected it to all be ok in the end and it was. The course definitely met my expectations; lessons were really good and interesting. The staff and teachers were amazing and so friendly – always willing to help, even if we tested their patience sometimes! The school was situated right in the centre of the city, with convenient metro connections and right next door to the beautiful Retiro Park. Read More »

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Over 50s Course in Nerja

Len Slater    2 weeks Over 50s Course / Nerja

Study Spanish in Nerja with CESA Languages AbroadOn the first day, the applicants for the Club 50+ met each other in the school garden – the new ones feeling a little awkward, the more experienced ones (who had obviously been through similar experiences before) looking more relaxed.

One by one, we were called in for the level test and finally found each other split up into two groups: one for beginners and one for a slightly more advanced students.

I ended up in the latter group, together with a Finnish lady who, delighted, could not stop talking about the many similarities there are between her language and Spanish, and three Germans with a great eagerness to learn.
Our teacher, Francisco, seemed to have identified our strengths and our weaknesses very quickly and was not put out of countenance, although at the same time he treated his ‘flock’ in a very sensitive way. Read More »

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Modern Standard Arabic in Rabat

John   4 weeks Modern Standard Arabic Course in Rabat

Streets in Rabat, MoroccoThe thing I was most pleased about was the quality of the teaching and instruction throughout the course.  It was consistently good, challenging and the teachers were excellent and very motivational.  I also enjoyed my tutoring sessions.  I liked the fact that the teaching and tutoring staff encouraged the use of Arabic outside of the classroom, as much as in it.  I was impressed by the enthusiasm that instructors and staff for their work and the intensity of the lessons, yet the sense of informality in the school.  It is a great place to study Arabic, not just because of the atmosphere but also because of the excellent facilities.  I really have nothing critical to say. Read More »

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Vocab and Chateaux in Tours

Serena Grigg   3 weeks Tours    Mini Group Course

Learn French in FranceAfter just three short weeks study in Tours, I am aware that my French has really improved, my vocab still needs a lot of work but I’m beginning to realise there will AWLAYS be more vocab!  However I was really pleased that my spoken skills and comprehension were markedly better by the end of my course.

I particularly loved the course structure at the college, the small groups, the personal contact and the fact that it was adults studying together (nothing wrong with 17yr olds, but now I’m in my 50’s I’d rather study with other adults!).  Not only was I in a course with other adult students but everyone in my class was a good reflection of my own language level (had an Alevel, somewhat rusty now, but apart from a few holidays in France I’d never really kept the language going).  Read More »

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Ms Lamb – Italian Over 50s course in Siena

Study Italian in SienaI was hoping for an intensive course with a lot of practice in listening and speaking and ideally a nice friendly atmosphere and some enjoyable tours with like-minded people.  Thankfully I can say that all of these goals were realised!

I was exceedingly challenged by the standard of the lessons and it took 2 to 3 days to understand the tutor.  The lessons were well presented, lively and enjoyable but a little more simple explanation would have been appreciated.  I felt we were always progressing at the rate of the quickest but nevertheless it was good for me to work hard and the homework was very useful. Read More »

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Learning Italian in Sorrento… Attenzione!

Sarah (20 yrs old):

“Here I am at the end of week 2 with a number of things to catch you up on.

I had a great start to my weekend, the school planned a trip to see two towns along the Amalfi Coast on Saturday. We met bright and early in front of the school, from there we walked to the bus station and off we went to Positano, our fist stop. It was incredible, Positano was truly unforgettable with its windy streets that go up and down and its history; it is a site never to foget. We had a staff member show us around. She was truly full of information and the mini talks she gave weren’t those boring, all about history, she included fun facts and jokes every now and then. Read More »

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Becoming Fluent in Spanish!

Hannah (23) spent 20 weeks in Madrid College One on a Spanish Gap Year course from July to November:

Image1I had been to the school in Madrid before. My expectation was that I would achieve fluency in Spanish at the school, by the time I had completed 20 weeks there. My expectations were met!

The class sizes were small with the average being made up of around 4 students. This meant time could be spent on things individual students found more difficult, plus there were opportuniities for all students to contribute and participate fully. Some of the teachers also allowed the students to suggest activities to do in class which were different to those planned, e.g watching a spanish film, or discussing specific topics. Read More »

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Elaine: Wanderwege in Kitzbuhel (2 week German & Hiking)

Image1I fell for Kitzbuhel on sight, there are only two main streets but they are made up of medieval houses, lovely mountain cabins mixed in with pastel-colour burgher houses, so clean, so tidy and so neatly set in the Tyrolean landscape.  The population jumps to some 20,000 during the busy ski season January to April, and is at it’s worst (or best if skiing is your thing) during the famous Kitzbuhel Super G and slalom race on Hahnenkamm, when over 70,000 spectators crowd round the slopes, late January every year.  However for me and my new companions, Kitzbuhel comes into its own in the summer – when the snows are all but gone and everything is a verdant delight, a celebration of sunshine, fresh air and solitude.  I adored the colourful Alpine flowers, but can’t name them!  I was staggered by the breathtaking panoramic views of the Kitzbuhel Alps and Loferer Steinberge mountain ranges.  Read More »

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Miss Baker: 3 week French Course

Learn French in Aix-en-ProvenceLinguistically I had taken other language courses abroad with CESA from beginner’s level so I had an idea of what to expect, I knew roughly the level of French I could expect to reach after 3 weeks which was simple conversational French.

For me all my expectations were met and I was really happy with the progress I had been helped to make at the school. I enjoyed the way the lessons were structured and the contents, especially the lessons which focused on conversation, conversation, conversation, rather than sheet work, and this was a view shared by all. When you start as a beginner its almost impossible not to make any progress. I thought everyone who worked at the school were fantastic, especially Marie Francis who was a fantastic teacher who really pushed me. Its situation in Aix-en-Provence was perfect. Read More »

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