School Blog

When we arrived in Granada, we thought we were coming for a school trip to improve our Spanish. After one week, we realized it was so much more than that.

We are a group of students from Donauwörth in Germany. Some of us had never been to Spain before. We were nervous, excited, and curious about what the week would bring. Now we can say: it was one of the best school experiences we’ve ever had.

Spanish classes that were actually fun
The Spanish lessons were dynamic and interactive. We didn’t just sit and listen — we worked in groups, played language games, practiced real-life conversations, and learned useful expressions we could immediately use in the streets of Granada.

Our teachers made us feel comfortable speaking Spanish, even when we made mistakes. After just a few days, we felt more confident ordering food, asking for directions, and talking to our host families.

Visiing the Alhambra
One of the highlights of the week was visiting the incredible Alhambra. Seeing it in real life was much more impressive than in photos. Walking through the palaces and gardens made us feel like we were inside a history book.

We also visited Córdoba, discovering even more of Andalusia’s culture and history.

Cooking, Flamenco and new experiences
We didn’t only study Spanish — we lived Spanish culture.

In the cooking workshop, we learned how to prepare a Paella. During the flamenco performance, we discovered how expressive and powerful this Andalusian art form is. 

These activities made the experience much more interactive and memorable.

Living with a Spanish host family
At first, many of us were nervous about staying with host families. But it turned out to be one of the most special parts of the trip.

We stayed in half board, shared meals with our hosts, and practiced Spanish every day in a natural way. They were welcoming and patient, and we learned a lot about daily life in Spain.

It helped us become more independent and open-minded.

This week in Granada was not just about improving our Spanish. It was about:

• Gaining confidence
• Making international friends
• Discovering a new culture
• Becoming more independent
• Creating unforgettable memories

Granada is the perfect city for students — not too big, not too small, full of history, and with a friendly atmosphere.

Dear teachers, classmates, and the entire Escuela Montalbán community,

During the time we have spent together learning Spanish, we have grown not only in the language but also through our experiences and friendships. We want to deeply thank everyone who has supported us on this journey.

Thank you to the teachers for your patience, dedication, and for sharing your knowledge with us in such a warm and special way. You’ve shown us the beauty of the Spanish language and culture, making every lesson a unique experience.

Thanks also to my classmates for their support, good spirits, and the laughter we’ve shared. Learning together has made this process much more fun and enriching.

Although the school is closing for the Christmas holidays, we know this is only a temporary break. We will return in January with even more eagerness to continue learning and enjoying all that is yet to come in this wonderful journey.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, full of joy and special moments with your loved ones.

With all our thanks and affection,
Group of students from the Arab and African countries

Today our group from the Luis de Freitas Branco Secondary School in Portugal has to leave Escuela Montalbán school after a fantastic week in Granada :(.

Hoje o nosso grupo da Escola Secundária Luis de Freitas Branco, em Portugal, tem de deixar a Escuela Montalbán depois de uma semana fantástica em Granada :(.

Escuela Montalbán is an excellent language school with very competent and committed teachers and an excellent range of courses. I completed a two-week course ‘Cultura Al-Andalus’ here, consisting of an intensive language course (C1/C2) and a special programme on Moorish history, art and culture in Granada. I had very good lessons in the morning with Marisa and José and every afternoon a full and fascinating programme in the form of workshops and excursions with Francisco and the partners of the school (e.g. an Arabic wrting course or a cooking course). Concha, the hostess provided by the school, welcomed me as a friend, so I was able to speak Spanish every day in my accommodation. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. Absolutely recommended!

Susanne (Gemany / 48 years old)

Our candidate JOÃO MAURICIO DA SILVA OLIVEIRA from Brasil sent us this comment after passing the DELE exam C1 on the 12 of July 2024.

Buenos días María,
Te escribo para darte las gracias por la simpatía y disponibilidad. Han sido todo facilidades que, sin duda alguna, hacen todo el proceso más llevadero. Da gusto examinarse así.
Un saludo
Mauricio

Our examiners do everything to ensure that all candidates for the DELE exams receive preparation and the best conditions to pass the tests in our school. For more information about this year's DELE exams, please visit our website:

I very much enjoyed my one week with Escuela Montalban. They were very friendly and encouraging from the beginning. I felt they placed me well in a class of students that had already been there a couple of months I had 90 minutes of grammar, 90 minutes of conversation, and one hour of cultural Spanish information it was a great way to break up each day, and not be too overwhelming. The professors were fun and engaging, helping each students feel more confident with their Spanish. I would recommend this school for any students. We ended up not having any extracurricular activities because other students were not as interested as I was mainly because they were college age and had other classes to study for. It would’ve been nice to have some extra activities for those of us in town and not taking out college courses . thank you for helping me find this placement.

Tobi Moriarty (58 years old / USA / February 2024)

Gabriele Leguina-Morel from the Viken Fylkeskommune in Oslo, Norway wrote us this regarding her trip with a secondary school group to Granada last October:

Hola Marga, 

¡Ya han pasado casi dos semanas desde nuestra semana en Granada! ¡Qué rápido pasa el tiempo! 

Estoy leyendo los textos de reflexión que han escrito los alumnos sobre su viaje de estudios y, cómo siempre, están muy contentos con la semana con vosotros. Sí que se lo han pasado muy bien en el tiempo libre, pero sobre todo hablan de lo bien que han estado en clase y en todas las actividades en común que hemos tenido.  

Os quería dar las gracias por vuestra paciencia, flexibilidad y profesionalidad en todo lo que hacéis. Por algo vuelvo siempre con vosotros porque sé que puedo confiar 100 % en que los chicos van a tener lo mejor de lo mejor.  

De nuevo: gracias! 

Os deseo un muy buen fin de semana. 

Un abrazo, 

Gabriele. 

Dominik Messer from the FOSBOS Amberg, Germany wrote us this regarding his trip with a secondary school group to Granada last October:

Hallo Marga

.... zunächst einmal herzlichen Dank für die abermals tolle Organisation. Die Fahrt wird gefühlt von Jahr zu Jahr immer noch besser, auch wenn es jedes Jahr kaum zu toppen scheint ? Die Schüler waren auf alle Fälle hin und weg - 4 von ihnen haben sich sogar als Erinnerung ein Tattoo stechen lassen (eine davon einen Granatapfel). Ich stelle mich nach der kulinarischen Genusswoche bei Antonia besser bis zur nächsten Spanienreise nicht auf die Waage ...

Our student Adama from Senegal has been studying Spanish for 6 months at our Spanish language school in Granada. We wish you good luck for the future!

In an interview he has described his experience in Granada and at our school. Check out his interview at our Escuela Montalbán YOUTUBE CHANNEL

"Los padres de los alumnos me han mandado correos con frases como "semana fantástica", "superó las expectativas. Gracias a todos"

Attie Knol
Docent Spaans
SINGELLAND / BURGUM
Schoolstraat 101, 9251 EB Burgum
The Neatherlands