I have been welcoming students into my home in Valencia for many years now. Teachers, I think, are made by their students just as much as students are made by their teachers — and every person who has sat at my kitchen table, stumbled through their first conversation in Spanish, and left two weeks later speaking with a confidence they did not arrive with, has reminded me why I do this.
Ardi was one of those students.
He came to us from London — motivated, curious, a natural with languages but not yet where he needed to be in Spanish. His goal was the SIELE Global Exam at B2 level. My job was to help him get there. Not just through classes, but through Valencia itself — its food, its celebrations, its people, its unhurried way of life. I believe, and I have believed this for as long as I have been teaching, that staying in your teacher’s home and immersing yourself in Spanish culture is the optimal choice. As a Spanish Express host teacher, I serve not only as an excursion guide for my students but as a steadfast companion on their language journey, teaching them at every opportunity.
This is Ardi’s story. But in many ways, it is the story of what Valencia does to people who are willing to let it.
📌 A note on Ardi’s experience: Ardi’s immersion programme took place at a time when SIELE offered a remote examination option, which meant he was able to sit his exam through Spanish Express directly. That option has since been discontinued — SIELE exams must now be taken in person at an authorised examination centre. What we continue to offer is expert SIELE preparation, guided by teachers with direct examining experience. Visit siele.org to find an accredited centre near you.
Presentation of the student, his background, likes and dislikes and objectives
Ardi is a British university student with a knack for languages. He’s fluent in English, Farsi, French, and is working on his Spanish proficiency. Passionate about travel, he finds it crucial to communicate effectively in the native tongue of the countries he visits.
He’s also keen on science subjects like biology, physics, and chemistry. Sociable and adaptable, Ardi fits into various cultures with ease. His current focus is on acing the SIELE Global Exam to secure a SIELE Certificate at the B2 level.
To reach this goal, Ardi enrolled in a Spanish immersion course in Spain, Valencia. He believes this hands-on experience will enhance his oral expression and interaction skills. He aims to immerse himself in Spanish traditions and gastronomy, further sharpening his listening comprehension and written expression.
Ardi’s classes are tailor-made, and designed to prepare him for all four tests that make up the SIELE Exams. These tests evaluate reading comprehension, written expression and interaction, and oral expression and interaction. As an accredited exam centre for SIELE, the quality and good practices of the teaching are guaranteed.
Ardi has been an integral part of our Spanish Express family for some time now, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to mastering the language. His journey commenced with online lessons tailored for the SIELE exam, followed by a transformative two-week immersion program in Valencia. Even now, he remains an active participant in our learning community. With the SIELE exam approaching at the year’s end, we hold no reservations about Ardi’s potential success. His unwavering dedication and perseverance as a student have undoubtedly positioned him to achieve his objectives.
Tailor-made cultural and Spanish programme for Ardi in Gilet, Valencia (Spain)
In our custom programme, Ardi had the freedom to choose Valencia as his learning ground, a choice aligned with his love for Spanish culture. This set-up is especially beneficial for someone preparing for exams like SIELE and DELE, which require a deep understanding of the language and culture.
Ardi had a host teacher, Pilar, guide him through Valencia, which helped in sharpening his listening comprehension and oral expression. This hands-on experience is a crucial part of our teaching Spanish approach, aimed to prep students for various proficiency levels tested in exams like the SIELE.
Activities were tailored to Ardi’s interests outside the classroom, making language learning engaging and relevant for him. From exploring local history to practicing written expression, each day contributed to his exam prep and widened his knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world.
Proper planning ensured that Ardi didn’t waste any preparation time. Whether it was transportation or language lessons, each part of his itinerary was mapped out in advance. This is particularly useful for exams that have a time-based score, ensuring that Ardi is not only prepared but also comfortable during his stay.
Ardi visited Valencia with our Spanish Homestay Immersion Programme (SHIP). He asked us to create a tailor-made programme for him, as he wanted to improve his Spanish and prepare for the SIELE exam in order to obtain the Spanish Certificate at B2 level. Ardi was very motivated and very confident to do the immersion course at his teacher’s home because he wanted to obtain a high grade in his exam.
Ardi was at a level between A2 and B1 before travelling to VALENCIA, but his goal was to reach a higher level by doing the immersion course in Valencia. Our student needed an intensive SIELE exam preparation course with the personalised classes he received during his stay.
It is evident that students who do a language immersion course improve their oral communication skills as they have the opportunity to interact with their environment in order to use the language. Of course, there is no more effective way to learn Spanish than to speak it constantly.
Obviously the time spent speaking the language is much longer than if you were teaching in your home country. This improves your grammar and pronunciation.
Why learning Spanish will be easier if you know about Spanish culture
Without a thorough knowledge of Spanish culture, learning to speak the language at a high level or even becoming bilingual will not be easy.
People learn languages for many different reasons: exams, travel, work, friendships, family, etc. However, despite their different motivations, they all share a fundamental goal: to communicate with others.
If the other person cannot understand what you are trying to say, there is no communication. This is where culture comes in. It is essential to have a strong vocabulary, of course, to communicate with others, but it is also essential to know how to communicate with them, to understand what they mean when they speak, and to use language that you both understand. And culture is one of those things.
To find out why you should prepare for your SIELE exam by doing an immersion course at your teacher’s home, read Ardi’s experiences during his stay in Spain.
Ardi’s stay in Valencia coincided with the feast of St. John on 24 June
Ardi’s immersion programme in Valencia wasn’t just about hitting the books and preparing for his SIELE Spanish Exam. It was an all-around experience tailored to his interests and needs, making every day in Spain a practice exam for real life.
While in Valencia, Ardi got a chance to witness the vibrant culture during the feast of St. John. This special event is important in the Spanish-speaking world, particularly on the East Coast. He took part in the midnight beach ritual, giving him a chance to deepen his understanding of Spanish traditions.
On top of cultural immersion, Ardi kept active with his love for tennis. Training twice a week at Pabellón Polideportivo de Sagunto with his personal trainer, Valentína Da Luca, he was in good hands. This sporty routine helped him break from the intense exam prep while still practicing Spanish in a real-world context.
Ardi even enjoyed his first Flamenco show, an iconic element of Hispanic world culture. The lively event took place at Café el Duende and he shared this experience with local youth, another fun way to practice his foreign language skills.
Let’s not forget the food. Ardi savored authentic Valencian paella, a dish native to the region. Prepared on a barbecue, the rice used was locally sourced from Marjal de la Albufera, only 30 minutes from the city. It’s a meal he shared with his host family’s friends, adding a layer of real-world language interaction to his daily life.
During his extended stay, Ardi explored Valencia’s historical gems like La Lonja and the Turia Gardens. He even got to marvel at the modern architecture at the City of Arts and Sciences. Each exploration contributed to his complete modality of Spanish learning, officially certified not just by tests but by real-world experiences.
Ardi delivered an excellent, intensive, comprehensive and productive Spanish immersion programme, 100% ADAPTED to his interests.
Visit Spain with us and live an experience like Ardi!
You can discover beautiful cities such as Barcelona, Menorca, Valencia, and Burgos while learning and practising Spanish in our teachers’ homes or anywhere else in Spain, accompanied by our teachers and local guides. ✏️
Here you can read the experiences of our students in Dosrius, Barcelona. 📖
Join our Spanish Homestay Immersion Programme (SHIP) and be the protagonist of our next diaries. 😁
In Spanish Express you will learn Spanish in a different way!
You can explore more real immersion experiences here: 👉 SHIP Stories of Our Previous Students For personalised guidance and programme details, you can contact our founder directly: Mónica Romero Founder and Director, Spanish Express 📞 Phone / WhatsApp: +44 7903 867 894 📧 Email: monicaromero@spanishexpress.co.uk
How long does the SIELE exam take?
The SIELE exam varies in length depending on which modality you choose. The most complete modality takes about 3 hours. It covers reading, listening, and both written and oral expression.
What is the difference between SIELE and DELE Spanish?
SIELE and DELE exams differ in format and recognition. SIELE is more flexible, offering different test modalities and immediate results. It’s internationally recognized and more modular. DELE tests are comprehensive and results take longer to get. Choosing between DELE and SIELE depends on your needs. DELE is a lifelong certificate, while SIELE is valid for five years. DELE tends to be more focused on specific regions of Spain and SIELE use different linguistic varieties of the Hispanic world.
