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 and host teacher of our Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) here in Menorca. I opened my home in Ciutadella to a learner who arrived ready to turn ten years of quiet study into a week of real Spanish conversations.
Her name is Stacy, and this diary follows her journey with me from her first night on the island to her farewell in Mahón.
Meet Stacy
Stacy is an American learner from Austin, Texas, who works in strategic restaurant partnerships. She has studied Spanish for over ten years and joined us at an A2 level, with one clear goal in mind.
Her husband’s family lives in Ecuador, and she wants to speak with them naturally, without translating in her head. During her week with me, we focused on her speaking and listening skills so that conversational Spanish would finally feel like hers.
Active, sociable and curious, Stacy loves the beach, reading and making new friends. Menorca suited her perfectly.
A Barbecue Welcome Under the Menorcan Night
Stacy landed in the evening, and we went straight from the airport to a barbecue at the home of my friend Tesa and her family. There is no better way to begin an immersion week than surrounded by laughter, food and Spanish voices.
From her very first hours on the island, Stacy was greeting, listening and answering in Spanish. The programme had begun before she even unpacked her suitcase.
La Mola and a Seaside Lunch at Cap Roig
On Sunday morning, we visited La Mola, one of the oldest fortresses in Europe. The heat was intense, so we only explored a third of the grounds, but its history and sea views left a strong impression on Stacy.
We then had lunch at Cap Roig, beside the beautiful beach of Sa Mesquida. We were joined by Auri, one of my oldest childhood friends, who spent a couple of days with us and became part of Stacy’s immersion experience. Her company gave Stacy another wonderful opportunity to practise Spanish through natural, everyday conversation.
The views from the restaurant were breathtaking, and we shared gambas al ajillo, mussels and calamari. Stacy practised ordering everything in Spanish, and the food was absolutely delicious.
The White Lanes of Binibéquer Vell
In the afternoon, Auri also joined us as we drove to the airport to collect Kelli, who stayed with us for the remainder of Stacy’s programme. Together, we headed to Binibèquer Vell, the famous whitewashed village on Menorca’s southern coast.
We wandered through its narrow lanes and dazzling white houses in one of the island’s most photographed corners. With the heat still intense, we finished the afternoon on a terrace with a cold drink, chatting naturally in Spanish as the day softened. Auri’s presence added another local voice to the conversation and made the experience even more authentic for both students.
A Picnic Day at Cala Pilar
Monday was a full beach day at Cala Pilar, one of the wildest and most spectacular coves on the island. Before setting off, we stopped at the Can Bep bakery to buy bocadillos and other typical island treats for our picnic.
Cala Pilar rewarded the walk with its red sand and crystal clear water, and Stacy and Kelli loved every minute. A day like this teaches more vocabulary about food, nature and plans than any worksheet could.
Tapas at Tritón and Ciutadella by Night
That evening we went out for tapas at Tritón with my friends, sharing plates and stories around the table. Stacy listened to fast, natural Spanish and joined the conversation with growing confidence.
Afterwards we treated ourselves to ice cream and strolled through our own Ciutadella by night tour. The old town glows after dark, and walking its illuminated streets is a lovely way to end a Menorcan day.
Spanish Lessons at Home: Mastering the Past Tenses
From Tuesday, our mornings were dedicated to structured lessons built around Stacy’s goals. She wrote a daily diary in Spanish, which we corrected together, turning her own experiences into learning material.
We worked on también and tampoco, then moved through the Spanish past tenses step by step: the pretérito perfecto, the pretérito indefinido and the pretérito imperfecto, including the contrasts among them.
With grammar units, a verbs workbook and A2 conversation questions, Stacy strengthened exactly the skills she came for: speaking and listening.
An Afternoon of Gifts in Ciutadella
On Tuesday afternoon, Stacy and Kelli had free time to explore Ciutadella at their own pace. They strolled through the stately old town, admiring its historic streets and lively squares.
They also went shopping for gifts for family and friends back home, practising their Spanish in every shop. These small, everyday exchanges are often where learners feel their progress most clearly.
Sunset at Son Xoriguer with Old Friends
On Wednesday afternoon we headed to Son Xoriguer, one of the most popular beaches on the southwest coast. Later we met Reyes, one of my childhood friends, for drinks at Neptuno, a beach chiringuito right on the sand.
As the sun went down, we took photos on the shore with the sunset behind us. It looked like a postcard, and Stacy was practising natural, relaxed Spanish with new friends the whole evening.
Discovering the Palaces of Ciutadella
Thursday took us into the noble heart of Ciutadella, where we visited two historic palaces: Palau Torre Saura and Casa Olivar. These grand homes reveal how the island’s aristocratic families once lived.
Walking through their salons and courtyards, Stacy connected the past tenses from our morning lessons with real Menorcan history. Grammar makes far more sense when you are standing inside the story it describes.
A Farewell Route Through Mahón
On her final day, after a conversation class built on A2 discussion questions, we explored the centre of Mahón and its famous port, one of the largest natural harbours in the world.
It was the perfect closing chapter: one last walk, one last round of Spanish conversation, and then straight to the airport for her flight. Stacy left Menorca with a full heart and a much more confident voice.
Stacy’s Spanish Transformation
In just one week, Stacy moved from careful, hesitant sentences to relaxed conversations at barbecues, beach bars and dinner tables. Her daily diary showed clearer structures each morning, and the past tenses stopped being theory and became tools.
Most importantly, she gained the confidence she came for. The next time she sits with her husband’s family in Ecuador, she will not be translating in her head. She will simply be talking.
Your Story Could Be Next
Stacy’s week in Ciutadella shows what happens when a language finally leaves the page and enters your life. Whether you have studied Spanish for ten years or ten days, our Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP) meets you at your level and builds the programme around your goals.
👉 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 week 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.
