Any athlete will tell you that strength is never built in theory. You can study every technique in the manual, but nothing replaces stepping in and doing the work, repetition after repetition, until it becomes natural. I am Pilar, the SHIP Coordinator and host teacher with the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) in Valencia, based…
When Beckie travelled from Missouri, USA, with her two granddaughters, Katie and Ollie, she wanted their time in Spain to be much more than a traditional family holiday. Katie and Ollie are first cousins, and the three of them were looking for a personalised experience combining Spanish conversation, cultural discovery and sightseeing in Barcelona. They…
Some people carry a language around for a decade like a book they never quite finish. They know the grammar, they recognise the words, yet the conversations always seem to belong to someone else. Then one summer they decide to close the book and live the story instead. I am Mónica, founder of Spanish Express…
After years of standing at the front of a classroom, Yvonne did something few teachers ever dare to do. She flew to Spain, sat down in the student’s chair, and started again from zero. I am Pilar, a host teacher with the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) in Valencia, in the peaceful town of Gilet….
The Camino de Santiago runs along our very street in Burgos, carrying pilgrims towards Compostela. This April, we welcomed a traveller of a different kind, one whose journey was measured not in kilometres but in words. I am Alberto, and together with Marisol I am a host teacher with the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP)…
She spends her working life helping students find their voice. This June, in a small Catalan town by the sea, she finally came to find her own, in Spanish. I am Ramo, a host teacher with the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) in Torredembarra, near Tarragona city centre. I welcome learners into my home on…
There is a particular kind of motivation that comes from love. Stacy did not cross the Atlantic for a grammar certificate. She came to finally speak, heart to heart, with her husband’s family in Ecuador. I am Nanda, a host teacher with the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) in Castelldefels, just outside Barcelona. I open…
Most people learn a language to tick a box. Daniel? He came to Menorca to belong here, to wander the old streets, chat with the people, and feel the island’s rhythm in his own Spanish. And honestly, four weeks later, he had. I’m Mónica, host teacher with Spanish Express, and I opened my home in…
Some students arrive in Spain for the very first time, nervous and unsure of every word. Others come back, already in love with the country and ready to push their Spanish further. Paul belonged firmly to the second group. I am Pilar, a host teacher with Spanish Express, and I welcome learners into my home…
