The bell tower of Valencia Cathedral has exactly 207 steps. Fleur climbed every one of them, and in many ways, that climb tells the story of her three weeks with us: steady, determined, and rewarded with a view she will never forget.
I am Pilar, a host teacher with the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) in Valencia, based in the quiet town of Gilet. I welcome learners into my home and build each programme around their personal goals.
Fleur came to stay with me as a bright and motivated teenager preparing for an important exam. From the moment she arrived until the day we said goodbye, I watched her confidence grow, her Spanish become stronger, and her determination take her further. This is the story of her journey.
Meet Fleur: A Multilingual Teenager with an Exam to Pass
Fleur is a British and New Zealander student who lives in Austria, where she studies through the Austrian school system. She already speaks English and German, and after about a year of Spanish, her next goal is clear: passing the DELE A2 exam.
She came to Valencia to strengthen all four skills, speaking, listening, reading, and writing, and to build a solid foundation for her qualification.
Creative and sociable, Fleur loves reading, crafting, films, music, and staying active at the gym. She fitted into our home from the very first day.
Three Weeks of Lessons: From the Present Tense to Future Plans
Our morning classes followed a clear route through A1 to A2 content. We began with the present tense, regular, irregular, and reflexive verbs, then moved to the present perfect and the past simple.
In the final week, Fleur mastered the near future and the simple future, writing about her plans for next summer.
Every unit combined vocabulary, written tasks, and guided conversation about her family, her city, her routines, and her holidays, exactly the topics her exam will ask about.
Everyday Spanish at the Supermarket
Some of the most useful lessons happened between the shelves of our local supermarket. Fleur joined me on several shopping trips, using vocabulary for food, quantities, and daily routines in real transactions.
These small errands turned grammar into habit. Asking for products, reading labels, and understanding prices gave her practical confidence no textbook can provide.
By her final visit, she moved through the aisles chatting in Spanish as naturally as she would at home in Vienna.
A Sweet Semana Santa Breakfast in Sagunto
Fleur’s stay coincided with Holy Week, one of the most emotional times in the Spanish calendar. We began the celebrations with a traditional breakfast in Sagunto, sharing mona de Pascua with hot chocolate.
This sweet Easter cake is a beloved local custom, and tasting it together opened a long conversation about how Spanish families celebrate spring.
Moments like this show why food is such a powerful classroom. Every bite came with new words, stories, and traditions.
Processions in Sagunto and the Cabanyal in Valencia
During Semana Santa, Fleur witnessed the processions of Sagunto, including the parade of bands with the local brotherhoods. The drums, robes, and candlelight made a deep impression on her.
Days later, we travelled to Valencia’s seaside quarter, the Cabanyal, famous for its maritime Holy Week celebrations.
Standing among local families, Fleur absorbed the language all around her. These celebrations gave her hours of authentic listening practice and a genuine insight into Spanish cultural identity.
Exploring the Roman Castle of Sagunto
History came alive when we climbed to the Roman castle overlooking Sagunto. Fleur walked along the ancient walls, asked questions in Spanish about the site, and admired the views across the region.
Her curiosity about the castle’s Roman past turned the visit into a moving conversation class.
For a student working towards an exam, describing what she saw and learned in Spanish was invaluable practice, and far more memorable than any worksheet.
Port Saplaya and Her First Horchata by the Sea
On a sunny Sunday we visited Port Saplaya, often called the little Venice of Valencia, with its colourful houses around the marina. There, Fleur tried her first horchata at a historic horchatería by the beach.
She loved it instantly. In fact, this refreshing tiger nut drink became one of her favourite discoveries of the entire programme.
That same day, we collected Richard, another teenage student from England, at the airport. Fleur suddenly had a companion for the adventures ahead.
Climbing the 207 Steps of the Miguelete
Our visit to Valencia’s historic centre gave the trip its defining image. Fleur and Richard climbed the 207 steps of the Miguelete Tower, the cathedral’s famous bell tower.
Fleur participated with real enthusiasm and was rewarded with panoramic views over the whole city, her favourite part of the visit.
We also explored the Basilica and the L’Almoina Archaeological Museum, where layers of Roman and medieval Valencia lie beneath the modern streets.
Bike Tour: Turia Gardens, the City of Arts and Sciences, and the Beach
One fantastic day combined almost everything Fleur loves. We cycled through the spectacular Turia Gardens, built in the old riverbed, and visited the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences.
We then ate on Malvarrosa Beach under a beautiful sun before finishing with a cold horchata at the famous Horchatería Daniel.
It was already her second horchata of the stay, proof of a new devotion. Fleur described it as one of her best days in Spain.
The Science Museum and Leonardo da Vinci
Fleur had one special wish: to visit the Science Museum inside the City of Arts and Sciences. We dedicated a Saturday to it, starting with the exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions.
She also explored displays about the universe and human anatomy, both of great interest to her.
Her curiosity made the visit rich in every sense. She interacted with the exhibits, asked questions, and picked up scientific vocabulary that stretched her Spanish well beyond everyday topics.
Paella with Family and Friends
Sunday brought the most Valencian tradition of all: a paella shared with my family and friends. Around the table, Fleur found herself surrounded by native speakers of every generation.
She joined the conversations with real success, always ready with a question for someone at the table.
This lunch showed how far she had come. Weeks earlier she was reviewing the present tense; now she was holding her own in lively, spontaneous Spanish among friends.
Central Market, the Silk Exchange, and the Serranos Towers
Back in the city centre, we visited three jewels of old Valencia: the Central Market, the Gothic Silk Exchange, and the medieval Serranos Towers.
Fleur made the most of the market, buying gifts for her family and friends, including turrón and typical Valencian drinks.
Every purchase meant a real exchange in Spanish, asking, choosing, and paying. Commercial situations like these are exactly what the DELE exam expects students to handle, and Fleur handled them beautifully.
Hiking to the House of the Dragon in Gilet
Adventure called again with a hike to the famous House of the Dragon in Gilet. Fleur and Richard explored the mountainside around this extraordinary building, climbing rocks and marvelling at its fantastic decoration.
For such an active student, this outdoor afternoon was a highlight.
Between the fresh air and the laughter, the two students kept speaking Spanish naturally, describing what they saw and planning their route together up the mountain.
A Second Bike Ride to Bioparc
The first bike tour was so exciting that Fleur and Richard begged for another. This time we rode from the city centre along the Turia Gardens all the way to Bioparc, Valencia’s famous zoo.
We finished the route with a big ice cream, the perfect reward on a warm afternoon.
Seeing two teenagers request more time exploring in Spanish, rather than less, told me everything about how engaged they had become.
Sunset on the Albufera: A Perfect Farewell
We closed Fleur’s programme in the most beautiful way possible: watching the sunset from a traditional boat on the Albufera lagoon.
Surrounded by water, forest, and birds rising everywhere, she watched the sky turn gold over the natural park.
It was a fantastic ending. After three weeks of grammar, processions, castles, beaches, and bicycles, this peaceful evening gave her a final memory of Valencia to carry home to Vienna.
Fleur’s Transformation: Ready for Her DELE A2
Fleur arrived with one year of school Spanish and left with something far stronger: real communicative confidence. She progressed steadily through A1 to A2 content, mastering five verb tenses and using them in genuine conversation.
Her comprehension grew noticeably, especially when speaking with native speakers at meals and gatherings.
Most importantly, she now connects Spanish with real experiences, not just exam papers. Her positive attitude, curiosity, and enthusiasm made her three weeks a true success.
Your Story Could Be Next
Fleur’s journey shows what happens when exam preparation meets real life. Instead of studying Spanish from a distance, she lived it every day, at the table, in the market, and on the road.
Whether you are preparing for an official exam, planning a move, or simply chasing a dream, our Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) is built around you, from one to four weeks, with a dedicated host teacher in every destination.
👉 If you would like to read more real stories from students who have lived and studied Spanish with us, our diary blogs follow each journey from arrival to departure. You could become the protagonist of our next story.
To learn more about our Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) and plan your own stay in Spain, reach out to our founder, director, and host teacher in Menorca, Mónica Romero.
Phone / WhatsApp: +44 7903 867 894
Email: monicaromero@spanishexpress.co.uk
At Spanish Express, you will learn Spanish in a different way.
