Extensive Spanish Course for au pairs

As I am planning to move part time to Spain and as I am a senior retired professional who is motivated to learn, the school experience for me was not optimal. I have tried two schools now for one week intensives and have not felt my money was well spent. This is not because of the teachers, but my classmates. In general the location and facilities of Tandem were excellent. I did not need housing. I did not participate in activities mostly because the whole vibe of the student body was geared towards 20 year olds and I am just not that interested to hang out with them. Sorry...nice kids and enjoyed them but just not my social group. The teachers (I had two), were generally good but the second teacher was not as good. (I don't remember his name, but he was an older gentleman). He focused alot on spanish geography, history, and word origins, which though interesting, did not expand my language skills that much and that's why I cam to the school. Overall, I would say simply the exposure to someone speaking spanish for four hours helped me, but I didn't feel there was an overall structure or strategy to learning that built from basics to more advanced. So I am not sure what the learning model is for Tandem's approach. The main difficulty for me, which happened in both schools and which is why I will not enroll further, is that most of my classmates were about 20 years old and not as committed to learning as I was, so the class moved quite slowly because they often would come in 30 to 60 minutes late, not do homework and not really seriously engage in the learning process. I was 20 once too, so I get it. They were in spain for a fun experience and language learning was just a part of their total travel. As a mature person, I am focused and serious about my study and I found the learning environment with these kids not to be helpful for that. Also I am a beginner but not a total beginner but I was in class with people who had never studied at all, so they dragged down the level and pace of learning too much for me. Maybe its not possible due to lack of mature students, but I wish I could find a school that catered to more mature and focused students who are serious about learning the language. So, though I can recommend the school to a young person, I would not recommend it to anyone with some maturity and serious commitment to learning.

I enjoyed the lessons. The teachers were very engaged and I liked my classmates even though I am 63 and the youngest of them were 16 with the oldest 18! I thought the textbooks we worked from were well put together and the lessons were well structured and interesting. Having homework to do was a good thing as it made me reflect on the things we had learned during the day. The guys on reception were very helpful and discreetly ignored the age difference between me and all the other students.

I’d say that I found it quite difficult to hear what was being said in the classroom. There was background noise from the projector all the time.

The location of the school is first rate.

The class room I was in was tiny and slightly disappointing compared with the grandeur of the entrance hall. The water dispenser is sandwiched between the two toilets and really ought to be moved. We had coffee on the first day at the break but otherwise nothing.

The school building is literally a regal palace in one of the most beautiful areas possible of Madrid which is one of the most beautiful cities on earth. The management and teaching staff are focused and ready to serve, super friendly and helpful.
The classes are tailored (the one on one classes) and deliberate to accommodate the most important needs you wish to address.. The professor is experienced and knows how to meet you where you are at.
I had my own accommodations. I wish I could have had many more classes - but time did not allow. I did not participate in social activities because I was only around for three days, hence no time. I am sure that they are otherwise great!

This was my first experience with Tandem Escuela Internacional Madrid, generaly speaking , very positive . I liked it all . Location is fine , nices and comfortables classrooms.Very talented , skilled and professional teachers , especialy Patricia and Luis who make courses very lifely and particularely interesting . Amount of home works to produce every evening was fine.
To sumarise , first experience with Tandem Escuela Internacional Madrid , but probably not the last one , I envisage to sign up next year , hopefuly for 2 weeks

Thanks to the team .

Christian DESSONET

School was well located, facilities appropriate.
Both teachers were different but excellent, enthusiastic, informative and informal.
Cultural activities were interesting and useful. Again the guides were enthusiastic and positive and went beyond doing simply what was necessary.
Accommodation was disappointing. I had booked a homestay which was cancelled at very short notice. I then had to pay more for hostal accommodation, which was fine in itself but the process of confirming this was disorganised. It all worked out ok in the end.

TANDEM School is situated in a very nice area in Madrid, easy to reach by underground and bus.
The school inside is well organized and the teachers are very nice and prepared, the staff too.
The school organize some activities during the week, I took part in two of these and was very useful, because you can speak Spanish while having fun with others!
I think that my level was between two levels (A2 and B1) so, perhaps for me was better study in the class B1 in order to improve more my spanish instead of A2. However, I met some really nice people and I was invited at my classmate's party!
Extrano mucho Madrid, mi companeros y Tandem tambien! :)

Spanish lessons took place in the town center , very easy to reach by metro or bus, schedules were perfect for me with a little 15 minutes break for drink a coffee . The group was reduced what offers possibility for much more conversations and it was again mixed, that is to say that existed a way to connect to the lessons by webcam for people who couldn't go to school because they were in a foreign country. By this way i can continue to participate at the class from France this week and i really enjoy. in the course we make some grammar or conjugation but above all we practice a lot and i think it s a good way to learn. The fact to live in the courses city help too cause we have to listen, to read (in the museums for example) , to speak Spanish all the day and it s sure the best way to discover a culture which takes part for a big part of the language. in Madrid there is lot of architecture, classic, modern and contemporary art , a very nice park , a pleasant atmosphere . The school propose some events like visits with a guide that are interesting too. And i was living homestay , the woman who received me was very nice but i think actually in Madrid it s not a good idea to come back to have dinner wit the habitant because most part of the live take place on the evening. In school we meet others students we go out with on the evening or for visiting, it s a very nice experience too. So, i m very happy with my stay in Madrid, i recommend!

I liked the fact that the teachers do not put any pressure on us and they show a lot of patience. Being in a small group also facilitates learning because the teacher can take the time to correct each student and understand these difficulties. The courses are not too long and the breaks between each are beneficial, moreover the school is well located geographically with particular parks nearby to go to revise or work quietly. The only thing I regret a bit is that I have not been able to get to know other students in other classes better, but that may not be a Tandem problem, but rather the students themselves.

I liked my teachers very much: Mabel and Natalia. They were very professional and enthusiastic. Also Luis in my direct class was fine.
The some classrooms were a bit tiny, but changing rooms every week, was a good idea.

I did not join any activities, as I know a lot of Spanish dance and Argentinian tango.

My host family was excellent .

Staff and teachers were very friendly, helpful and accommodating. Always willing to help and make changes/arrangements based on feedback.

Classes were generally good, although sometimes syllabus is disorganised. Would have preferred fixed teachers and fixed syllabus/lesson plan, tailored specifically for the student. Instead, teachers and classes changed week on week and teaching level varied as well.

School activities were merely average and could be better. Only 3 activities a week in general - not much choice.

Location is excellent, near to Banco de Espana Metro station and only 15 minutes' walk away from city centre. Facilities were adequate.

Housing seemed hit and miss, although my housing with my host family was excellent and definitely recommended. However, some fellow students had different experiences (eg houses very far away, poor hosts, etc)