School Blog

Discover more about our new and exciting mountain biking and spanish course, check the updated prices for all the courses and accommodation, 2018 D.E.L.E exam dates and other useful information in our brochure, course programme and price list documents on the download page

These documents are also available in German or Spanish on the download pages which are presented by the download icon next to the social network buttons, when accessing the site in the respective languages.

Firstly, the location. Granada is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, and while there are other that are bigger, or have a beach right on the edge of the city, none has the charm that she does.

My second point is along the same tracks, but more precise. The location within the city. It is pretty much in the city centre so it’s easy to get to and you can go sightseeing straight from the class without wasting time. Yet it is not in the busy, noisy, tourist laden part, so apart from the lone dog barking from time to time, the area is very quite, which as you can imagine, is quite the ideal place for a school to be at.

Now since this is a school, let’s get into the good stuff, classes. I spent a couple of weeks here doing the Standard Spanish course, and over the course of my time there, I had classes or at least contact with pretty much every staff member. They are, obviously, all different, but they do have one thing in common though, and that’s the passion for teaching and the patience required to do so well. All of them are very friendly and try to find new ways of reaching and captivating their students, as they know that the old ways are not necessarily always the best. Ranging from board games, through watching videos and movies to discussing the hot topics of the day (Cataluña in my case) there was always interesting to do. Obviously, you can’t just skip grammar, but it can be complemented by interesting and fun things to do, so after having learned something, you use it in order to remember it  for longer than the first 30mins after the class is over.

And last but certainly not least, there’s the cultural program that they offer. Cultural program is an important part of language apprehension, as it’s not just the language classes that you need to have in order to learn properly, you also need to get to know the culture/s behind the language and socialize a bit either with other students or locals, which once again, promotes the use of Spanish, that is the only way that you truly learn and improve.

TL: DR - I had a blast while in Escuela Montalbán, and would deffo recommend to anyone. 

(Roman Novotný / 23 years / Slovakia)

Tuesday, 24.10.2017 / 18.00-19.30 h
Visit to the Arabic bath Aljibe de San Miguel (includes massage)
Meeting point: C/ San Miguel Alta, nº 41
Guide: No / Price: 30 €

Wednesday, 25.10.2017 / 16.00-17.30 h
Film session at the school for intermediate Spanish levels
"La Isla Mínima" (Alberto Rodríguez Librero / Spain 2014)
Meeting point: school / classroom 5

Thursday, 26.10.2017 / 20.30-22.30 h
Tapa Tour in Granada city centre
Meeting point: school / guide: Marisa
Price: each student pays his own consumption

Friday, 27.10.2017 / 20.00-21.00 h
Flamenco at the Jardines de Zoraya
Meeting point: C/ Panaderos, nº 32
Guide: No / Price: 20 €*
* optional dinner at the restaurant

Saturday, 28.10.2017 / 08.45-20.00 h
Day trip to the Alpujarra Mountains
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: Juan / Price: 50 €*
* includes transport, guide, ham tasting, insurances

• Activities are organized for all Spanish levels
• Dates and activities may be subject to change.
• Students enroll and pay for all activities at the school.
• The school may cancel activities in case there is not a minimum of participants.

It is also the only Spanish one to be a member of the European Jazz Network.

In the years since the first Festival (in 1980), Granada's Jazz Festival has kept up with Modern Jazz music, with the main national and international jazz artists such as Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Charlie Haden and many others. The presence of stars of the genre like these, has created a genuine jazz movement in Granada that promotes contact and exchange of experiences between artists, both local and foreign.

This year the festival will, among others, welcome Robert Glasper, a 3 time Grammy winner, one of which was for the soundtrack to a film about the life and music of Miles Davis, "Miles Ahead". Then Ron Carter who, along with his other accomplishments, is the most recorded jazz bassist in history, and was also a member of the Miles Davis Quintet. Lastly we can mention Wallace Roney, an accomplished jazz trumpeter who, among other things, is known for being the only trumpet player personally mentored by Miles Davis.

Here you can find the program of the festival, on their official website

Since October, there has been a change in the way that you get tickets for the Alhambra. A new, simpler system has been implemented to facilitate the sales and eliminate the hogging of tickets by agencies/individuals and the following re-sale for a higher price.

All you need to do is visit the official Alhambra website and choose the ticket option of your choice, for our part, we recommend the Alhambra General which includes a visit of the whole monument including the Nasrid Palaces, La Alcazaba, and Generalife which are the huge gardens/park stretching far back behind the Alhambra complex.

Are you on your Erasmus and struggling with your Spanish, or would just in general like get better? Well look no further! We are offering a discount on our Standard Course for Erasmus and long term foreign students which makes it a special price of 100 € per week.

Our classes deal with grammar, the language itself and obviously, conversation. A range of cultural topics relating to the history of Spain or its present situation are discussed are used in class in order to impart not just the language, but also the history and culture of the language. These topics include: The reality of Spain in transition, the contradictions in the socio-political and cultural developments of modern Spain, the Moorish history, the Spanish Civil War and Franco's dictatorship, Federico García Lorca and Flamenco culture, or the situation of ethnic minorities are just a few examples of possible topics to cover.

The history and reality of Andalusia, the local region, is also an important topic, which, apart from in-class, can also be discovered via our cultural programme.

Group classes: 4 lessons of 45 minutes per day from Monday to Friday
Group size: max. 8 students
Levels: all
Starting dates: every Monday
Course duration: from 1 to 4 weeks
Enrollment fee: included
Timetable: from 09.00 to 12.15 h or from 12.30 to 15.45 h

Tuesday, 17.10.2017 / 15.50 h-19.30 h
Oliveoil tour to Nigüelas Village
Meeting point: Hotel San Antón C/ San Antón, nº 74
Price: 38 €

Wednesday, 18.10.2017 / 20.30-22.30 h
Tapa Tour in Granada city centre
Meeting point: school / guide: Marisa
Price: each student pays his own consumption

Friday, 20.10.2017 / 22.00-23.00 h
Flamenco performance "Raíz y Duende" at Taller de Arte Vimaambi
Meeting point: Cuesta de San Gregorio, nº 30-38 (Albaicín)
Guide: NO / Price: 15 €

Saturday, 21.10.2017 /07.45-20.00 h
Day trip to Córdoba
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: Juan / Price: 65 €*
* includes transport, guide, entrance fees, insurances

• Activities are organized for all Spanish levels
• Dates and activities may be subject to change.
• Students enroll and pay for all activities at the school.
• The school may cancel activities in case there is not a minimum of
  participants.
  
  

Your guide Teresa is fantastic and we really loved Mecines Fondales and the hotel she recommended. The small town had a very small delicious and unique restaurant, and the hotel was small and beautiful with many plants. Our room had a balcony and a beautiful view of the mountains. It was a nice break from the cities and not touristy. Teresa was very knowledgeable about the history of the area and the archeology and she gave us the hiking tour mostly in Spanish and helped us with learning it. I highly recommend Mecina Fondales, the hotel, the restaurant, and Teresa.

Peter, the photographer, is very knowledgeable about photography and he shared that and his knowledge of the history of the area and of Spain. We enjoyed seeing parts of the Albacin and Sacramonte we hadn't been to and went to several quiet viewpoints. He spent extra time with us and was very helpful.

Our olive oil tour guide was great too. She was super knowledgeable and very nice. We learned a lot and really enjoyed the tastings and seeing the historic presses.

Salsa dancing was somewhat difficult for me, so I am not the right person to give an opinion, but I think the teacher was nice, and Laura, who has taken dancing many times before, did great! And Laurie did well too. We all had fun.

And our teachers from the school were wonderful. They made learning Spanish fun and comfortable.

And lastly, I really appreciate all your emails and help as we planned this big trip. You were always pleasant and patient!

It was a wonderful trip for us.
Thank you.

Rochelle Howe (USA / 58 years)

Tuesday, 10.10.2017 / 20.00-21.30 h
Visit to the Arabic bath Aljibe de San Miguel (includes massage)
Meeting point: C/ San Miguel Alta, nº 41
Guide: No
Price: 30 €

Wednesday, 11.10.2017 / 14.00-19.00 h
3 hours hiking tour in the Sierra de Huetor Natural Park
Meeting point: Centro Comercial Neptuno
Guides: Paco + Marga
Price: 25 €

Friday, 13.10.2017 / 20.00-21.00 h
Flamenco at the Jardines de Zoraya
Meeting point: C/ Panaderos, nº 32
Guide: No
Price: 20 €*
* optional dinner at the restaurant

Saturday, 14.10.2017 / 08.45-20.00 h
Day trip to the Alpujarra Mountains
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: Juan
Price: 50 €*
* includes transport, guide, ham tasting, insurances

Both programs were excellent. The Spanish teachers were very professional and provided numerous insights into Spain, current local events (like a massive free music festival and a unique flamenco event) and history. Two weeks of class would have been even better.

The Arab culture sessions were eye opening- a different perspective on the influence 800 years of the melding of cultures. The class helped me to see southern Spain very differently and gain a greater appreciation for the many years of cross-cultural exchange that has occurred on architecture, art (see it in the Alhambra,) and gastronomy.

I highly recommend the school and its programs.

Edith Thacher (USA / 64 years)