Learning Spanish in Spain

A1 and A2 are beginner for simple daily life, B1 and B2 intermediate that open work opportunities in most sectors and study in vocational institutes, and C1 and C2 advanced for university and demanding professions.

• For Spanish nationality DELE A2 is required, for residence by roots a level or report may be required, and for regulated professions such as medicine and teaching usually B2 or C1.
• For Spanish universities B2 or its equivalent is usually required.
• Check the level required for your goal before planning, and remember that moving from one level to the next often takes a few months of intensive learning.
• And Arabic speakers learn Spanish with relative ease in reading and writing, and need more training in pronunciation and tenses.

Town halls, regions and organisations such as Cruz Roja, Cáritas, ACCEM and social centres provide free or reduced courses for migrants, often at beginner levels and including material about society.

• Official language schools (EOI) offer structured courses at reasonable prices with recognised certificates, and may require an admission exam and registration in set periods.
• Adult education centres (CEPA) offer Spanish courses and basic adult education.
• Universities offer Spanish courses for foreigners, the Instituto Cervantes courses and diplomas, private schools intensive courses at higher cost, and online and apps flexible lessons.
• Choose according to your time, since there are morning and evening courses, and according to your goal and level, and try a trial lesson.

Many basic courses are free or symbolic.

• SEPE and the regions provide training courses for the unemployed including Spanish for work purposes, and the employer may fund courses for his employees.
• And the bonified training system (formación bonificada) lets companies deduct the cost of training from their contributions.
• For those in the residence by roots for training route accredited courses exist.
• Public libraries offer free conversation groups (intercambio de idiomas) and graded books.
• Ask social services about free nearby courses, and if you find none compare school prices and check the course's accreditation and that it gives a recognised certificate.
• Avoid paying large fees in advance to unknown schools.

DELE are official diplomas from the Spanish Ministry of Education through the Instituto Cervantes at levels A1 to C2, and are accepted worldwide for work, study and nationality and do not expire.

• SIELE is a digital test with scores recognised for academic and professional purposes and valid for five years.
• Exams are held in accredited centres in Spain and around the world on set dates, so register early, and fees range between one hundred and three hundred euros depending on level.
• The exams include reading, listening, writing and speaking, so practise past papers and simulate test conditions.
• And the official language schools offer their own certificates.
• Keep the original certificate and copies since they are requested for nationality, some jobs and study.

Lessons alone are not enough.

• Speak Spanish with neighbours, colleagues and shopkeepers even with mistakes, since Spaniards appreciate the attempt and talk a lot, and some may answer in English so say politely Prefiero practicar español.
• Join language exchange groups (intercambio) and language cafés, and sports clubs, associations and volunteer at a school, mosque or organisation.
• Listen to radio and podcasts and watch series and news with Spanish subtitles, such as RTVE, and read simplified newspapers and graded books.
• Build a short daily habit, since twenty minutes a day beats two hours a week.
• Note new words daily and review them with flashcard apps.
• And remember that dialects differ, and Andalusian and Canarian are pronounced quickly, so ask people to speak slowly.

What is DELE?