Updated: October 2026

A good language school can take you from “una cerveza, por favor” to real conversations in a few months. With hundreds of schools across Spain, though, quality and prices vary a lot. This guide is for new residents and longer-stay visitors who want to choose well. It covers course types, how to check accreditation, the questions worth asking and what each city offers.

Types of Spanish courses

• Intensive courses: usually 20 or more lessons a week in small groups. They are the fastest route if you have just arrived and can study in the mornings.
• Standard or part-time courses: a few hours a week, often in the evening, for people who work.
• One-to-one lessons: flexible and focused – useful for business Spanish, medical vocabulary or exam preparation.
• DELE and SIELE preparation: courses aimed at the official exams. Many schools are also official DELE exam centres.
• Specialist courses: Spanish for teachers, for over-50s, for healthcare staff, or combined with cooking, flamenco or surfing.
• Junior and summer courses: for teenagers, often with activities and host-family accommodation.

If budget matters more than speed, compare these with the public Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas and town hall classes in our guide to learning the Spanish language.

Accreditation: how to spot a serious school

Anyone can open a language academy in Spain, so look for independent quality checks.

Instituto Cervantes accreditation

The Instituto Cervantes – the Spanish state body for the Spanish language – runs the only international accreditation system for schools that teach Spanish as a foreign language, known as SACIC. Accredited schools have passed a review of their teaching, staff, facilities and information to students, and may show the official “Centro acreditado” logo. The Cervantes accreditation website lists all accredited centres in Spain, so you can check a school’s claim in a minute.

School associations

• FEDELE: the Spanish federation of language schools, made up of regional associations with around a hundred member schools in more than 25 cities.
• EEA (Andalucía): the association of Spanish schools for foreigners in Andalucía, with members in Málaga, Granada, Seville and Cádiz. All members hold Instituto Cervantes accreditation.

Questions to ask before you book

1. Group size: what is the maximum number of students per class? Fewer than ten is a good sign.
2. Level test: do they test you before placing you, and can you change group if the level is wrong?
3. Teachers: are they qualified to teach Spanish as a foreign language (ELE), and do they stay long term?
4. Lesson length: is a “lesson” 45, 50 or 60 minutes? Compare total hours, not just lessons per week.
5. Extra costs: enrolment fee, books, exam fees, accommodation and activities.
6. Cancellation and refunds: what happens if you need to stop early?
7. Visa letters: if you need a student visa, can the school issue the official enrolment documents the consulate asks for?

Non-EU citizens who plan a course longer than 90 days usually need a student visa, and the course must meet the consulate’s rules on full-time study. Read more in our guide to visas and work permits in Spain.

Where to study: popular cities

Working remotely while you study? Our guide to Málaga for digital nomads covers coworking spaces and neighbourhoods.

Getting the most out of your course

• Live with Spanish speakers: a host family or a shared flat with locals doubles your practice time.
• Use the school’s social programme: tapas evenings and excursions are low-pressure speaking practice.
• Set an exam goal: booking a DELE exam keeps you focused.
• Continue after the course: a weekly class or tutor stops you losing what you gained. If you later aim for a degree, see universities in Spain.

Useful links

• Instituto Cervantes – accreditation system for centres (SACIC)
• FEDELE – what the DELE exam is
• Andalucía tourism – association of Spanish schools in Andalucía
• Learning the Spanish language
• Visas and work permits in Spain

FAQ: language schools

Disclaimer: This article is general information only. Course prices, accreditation status and visa rules can change – always check directly with the school, the Instituto Cervantes and the Spanish consulate before you book.

Updated: October 2026

Many families moving to Spain assume a private or international school is the safe choice. Sometimes it is, but Spain’s public and concertada schools are a good option for many expat children, and they cost far less. This guide compares the options honestly – costs, language, class sizes, qualifications and social life – so you can decide what fits your child and your plans.

The options at a glance

Spain has four kinds of school: public, concertada (privately run but publicly funded), private Spanish and international. Our guide to types of schools in Spain explains each one and the school stages. Here is how they compare:

What families gain with public and concertada schools

• Cost: tuition is free. You pay for books in some regions, materials, trips, the canteen and after-school activities.
• Language and integration: children usually become fluent in Spanish quickly and make local friends in their own neighbourhood.
• Qualified teachers: public school teachers have passed competitive state exams, and the curriculum and inspection are the same across the region.
• Bilingual programmes: many public schools teach some subjects in English, especially in Andalucía and Madrid.

The downsides: you cannot always choose your school, because places go by points and catchment area. Classes can be large, and support for children who arrive with no Spanish varies from school to school. Facilities in older buildings can also be basic.

What private and international schools offer

• Continuity: an international school can keep a child in the same curriculum and exam system, such as GCSEs, A levels or the IB Diploma. This matters most for teenagers and families who may move again.
• Teaching in English: useful when a child arrives at 12 or older with no Spanish.
• Smaller classes and more facilities: many offer sports grounds, pools, music and a long list of clubs, though this varies a lot.
• Choice: you apply directly, often at any time of year if places are free.

The downsides: fees, plus extras such as enrolment fees, a joining fee or deposit, uniforms, transport and lunches. Children in an English-speaking bubble may learn less Spanish and mix less with local families. Quality also varies, so “private” does not automatically mean “better”.

Checks before you choose a private or international school

1. Official authorisation: foreign-curriculum schools must be authorised by the Spanish education authorities. Ask to see it, and ask whether Spanish pupils or other nationalities can be enrolled.
2. Accreditation and inspection: for British schools, check membership of the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) and recent inspection reports. For the IB, check the school is an authorised IB World School.
3. Recognition of qualifications: ask how pupils get into Spanish universities if they wish – for example through a UNEDasiss accreditation.
4. Full cost: ask for a complete fee list for all years, including annual increases, bus, meals and exam fees.
5. Spanish lessons: how many hours of Spanish and Spanish culture are taught each week?

Which option suits which family?

Young children planning to stay

For children under eight or nine who will grow up in Spain, a good local public or concertada school is often the best choice. It gives fluent Spanish, local friends and no fees. Starting at nursery makes it even easier – see our guide to nurseries and kindergartens in Spain.

Teenagers and mobile families

A teenager arriving at 13 or 14 with no Spanish may struggle in ESO, the compulsory secondary stage. An international school keeps their exams on track. The same applies if you are posted to Spain for two or three years and expect to move on.

The middle road

Bilingual private Spanish schools and public bilingual schools combine the Spanish curriculum with a lot of English. They suit families who want integration but worry about the language jump. Thinking about university later? Our guide to universities in Spain explains the routes for students from Spanish and foreign schools.

Tips from the school gate

• Visit more than one school and ask to see a class in action.
• Talk to other parents in local Facebook or WhatsApp groups, but remember every family’s experience is different.
• Whatever school you choose, learn Spanish yourself: it helps with homework, teacher meetings and parent groups. Our guide to learning the Spanish language has ideas.

Useful links

• NABSS – find British schools in Spain
• Ministry of Education – the Spanish education system
• BOE – rules for foreign schools in Spain (RD 806/1993)
• Types of schools in Spain
• Nurseries and kindergartens in Spain

FAQ: private vs public schools

Disclaimer: This article is general information only. Fees, admission rules and school authorisations change – always check directly with the school and the regional education department before you decide.

Updated: October 2026

Speaking Spanish changes everything in Spain, from dealing with the town hall to making local friends. This guide is for newcomers who want a realistic plan. It covers the main ways to learn, the low-cost public language schools (EOI), the official DELE exams, the tests needed for Spanish nationality, and the apps and habits that actually help.

Which Spanish will you hear?

Spanish (castellano) is the official language everywhere in Spain. Some regions also have a co-official language: Catalan in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Valencian in the Valencia region, Basque in the Basque Country and parts of Navarre, and Galician in Galicia. Everyday life works in Spanish across the country, but children at school in those regions will learn both.

Accents vary a lot. In Andalucía, people often drop the final “s” and speak fast, which can be a shock after textbook Spanish. Do not worry: the grammar is the same, and your ear adjusts with practice.

Ways to learn – and who they suit

Most people do best by combining a structured course with daily practice. For help choosing a private school, read our guide to language schools in Spain.

Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas (EOI)

The EOIs are public language schools run by each region’s education department. Many of them teach Spanish as a foreign language (español para extranjeros), alongside English, French, German and others. Courses follow the European CEFR levels, from basic up to advanced (C1, and in some schools C2), and lead to official certificates.

• Formats: in-person classes, blended (semipresencial) and, in some regions, distance learning online.
• Timing: the course follows the school year, from about October to May or June. Applications are usually made in late spring or summer, with places allocated before September.
• Entry: you generally need to be at least 16 and have completed the first stage of secondary education or equivalent. You can often take a placement test to start above beginner level.
• Demand: popular EOIs fill up, so apply on time and check your region’s calendar.

DELE: the official Spanish diploma

The DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) are issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain’s Ministry of Education. There are six levels, from A1 to C2, plus versions for schoolchildren. A DELE diploma has no expiry date, so it is useful for jobs, university applications and residency or nationality paperwork.

• Exam dates: several sittings a year. In 2026 the last general sitting is in mid-November, with registration closing weeks before. Dates for 2027 are published on the Instituto Cervantes exam site.
• Where: at accredited exam centres, including many universities and private language schools across Spain.
• Which level? A2 is needed for nationality, B1–B2 is a common target for work, and many universities ask for B2.

Spanish for nationality: DELE A2 and CCSE

To apply for Spanish nationality by residence, the Ministry of Justice requires two Instituto Cervantes tests: the DELE A2 (or higher) and the CCSE, a test on the Spanish constitution and society. The CCSE costs €85 in 2026 and is held about once a month at exam centres. Nationals of countries where Spanish is an official language are usually exempt from the DELE but still take the CCSE. Our guide to how the Spanish government works is a good introduction to the CCSE topics.

Apps, online tools and everyday practice

Apps such as Duolingo, Babbel or Busuu are good for a daily habit and vocabulary, but on their own they rarely get you to real conversations. Use them alongside a course, and add:

• Spanish TV and radio: RTVE Play has many programmes free online, often with Spanish subtitles.
• Intercambios: language exchange meet-ups in bars and cafés, common in Málaga, Madrid, Valencia and other cities.
• Clubs and volunteering: joining a walking group, sports club or charity forces you to speak. See our guide to building a social life in Spain.
• Small daily challenges: order at the market, phone for an appointment, read the local news.

A realistic plan for your first year

1. Months 1–3: survival Spanish. Take an intensive course or a town hall class, and learn the words you need for shopping, the doctor and paperwork.
2. Months 3–9: a regular course (EOI or private school) two or three times a week, plus daily app practice.
3. Months 9–12: book a DELE exam to give yourself a goal, and spend more time speaking than studying.

Families with children will find the kids often learn fastest – see our guide to types of schools in Spain.

Useful links

• Junta de Andalucía – official language schools (EOI)
• Universitat Politècnica de València – what the DELE diplomas are
• FEDELE – DELE exam dates in 2026
• Universidad de Sevilla – CCSE nationality exam
• Language schools in Spain
• Universities in Spain

FAQ: learning Spanish

Disclaimer: This article is general information only. Course fees, exam dates and nationality requirements can change – always check with the Instituto Cervantes, your EOI or the Ministry of Justice before you act.