Tía Tula Colegio de Español (Spain)

Spanish language immersion school

Name of school: 

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School's city and country: 

My Review 

Tía Tula Colegio de Español is a great Spanish school in Spain, located in the intimate and historic city of Salamanca. The best thing about the school: the people! From the teachers, to the administrative staff, the people behind Tia Tula make your Spanish learning experience memorable, and you learn the Spanish language in such a way where you retain the language. I did a lengthy search for schools this being my first trip abroad, and am happy I chose Tia Tula.

PROS: Diverse options for learning, covering various aspects of learning Spanish, including: intensive study, sessions where all you do is converse in Spanish (very useful because as anyone who has learned a language will tell you, practicing is what is most important). Another big positive is the school is located in Salamanca, which is a small historic town, and it is said this is where the purest Spanish in Spain is spoken. It really benefits to learn Spanish and live in a city where when you go out you will need to use your Spanish 90% of the time. As well, Salamanca is known for its university (Universidad de Salamanca), which is the fourth or fifth oldest university in the world, so the truth is that you are nestled in a beautiful city consisting of a mix of A) students and B) folks who are natives of the city. It makes for a great experience. Some other important characteristics of Tía Tula: 1) organized: I had a well-coordinated experience with getting paperwork, communicating with the staff, locking in dates and prices, etc., and my home is Los Angeles, Calif. 2) small classes so you get intimate attention (but students come from all over the world so there is a large feel to the school), 3) Right in the heart of the city, so you are close to shops, food, etc., and 4)really thorough teachers and interactive classes, the learning is integrated with your life.

CONS: The only thing I could say (objectivity is important): If you are in the U.S. your only method of communication with the school will be email or regular mail. I would prefer they had a number I could call from the States, but as I said above, the great organization of the school is evident even with email as the sole method of communication (if you are in Europe they have a number for you to call, I just didn't want to call to Europe from the U.S.)

Overall, Tia Tula is an affordable, quality and intimate school in the intimate and historic town of Salamanca. I recommend it for anyone looking to gain a rich Spanish experience.

Quality of instruction 

Level of Spanish before attending 

Did the school accurately represent its program to you? 

Were school employees helpful outside of the classroom? 

What are some pros and cons of the school's location? 

PROS: In the heart of Salamanca, very close to the famous Plaza Mayor, right in the thick of it all. Salamanca is 2.5 hours from Madrid, very close to Portugal, and its this little historic town where Castilian Spanish is spoken and 90% of the time you will be using Spanish; few tourists, also safe!

Rate the quality of your home stay 

Personal security 

What did you most like about attending this school? 

The price I paid for the quality of school.

What did you most dislike about attending this school? 

I didn't dislike anything.

Whom would this school be best suited for? 

Anyone who wants a cultural immersion, who wants to truly acquire the Spanish language while becoming one of the "Salmantinos" for a period of time; anyone who prefers small classes, conversation-oriented learning. I'd say age range: 18-30.

Would you recommend this to a friend? 

Gerald Erichsen, Spanish Language Guide, says: