Stefano

OVERALL As a school teacher (of Maths and some other things), I had supported the Spanish trip here with my pupils in April 2023. I could see what a transformative experience it was for them so much so that I wanted it for myself. My time at Taronja can only be described as excellent. Everyone at the school tries to ensure you have the best time possible which is impressive based on the carousel of students who come-and-go each week. All the staff treated me with kindness and respect. Thank you to Maxi and Fernando for running such a unique place. The last 4 weeks at Taronja have been exciting, interesting, eventful, busy, enjoyable and compact with information. The last time I studied a language was 14 years ago. I was not very keen on languages in school but my time spent at Taronja has made me believe that I can learn a language to a much higher level than I ever thought possible. That alone has been worth it. LEARNING EXPERIENCE The teachers were fun and engaging. As an absolute beginner, I did the Intensive course + conversation class + private lessons. That helped with my exposure to the language and the private classes were helpful in ironing out some issues. I did this for the first three weeks, then extended by a week and "dropped down" to "only" the intensive course, which is plenty. If I were building up for an exam I would definitely pick up the private classes again. And the conversation classes were energetically delivered to give you important insights of Spanish conversational etiquette. Overall, I was able to enjoy lessons taught by patient, *knowledgeable* and kind teachers, who have reminded me about the importance of these characteristics in my own teaching practice. Teaching beginners must be tough and it was done with grace, style, poise and importantly, a smile. Thank you Laura, Carmen, Antonio, Miguel Angel, Nestor, Carol, Jenny, Nerea, and especially Mica and Paula for your infectious energy and humour. ACADEMIC ADMIN The organisation of the timetable and classes was clearly communicated in advance via WhatsApp. I know some people didn't feel as though they were in the right class for their level and changes were made almost instantly to help. This was managed by the academic team. SUPPORT Organising, arriving, and extending my stay was made very easy by the ladies at the front desk, in particular Elena and Roza! Emails were responded to promptly and they were always so helpful. Waving to them in the morning and getting a wave back made things feel a bit more like home! SOCIAL Plenty of opportunities to socialise with others at the school. Most people I attended school with were between 19-25. But there was also a considerable contingent of older pupils too (e.g. 31, 40 and 70!). This is all taken into consideration when forming classes and social activities. There are activities organised by the school for every day of the week. I went during high season (i.e. the summer) so there were a lot of people. Some activities are linked to other language schools which broadens your pool of potential connections. A lot are free. Many are heavily subsidised. Because there is a fluid change of people from week to week the extent to which you find things socialable will depend on who you share your time at the school with. But similarly minded people would pay money to attend a summer school, so it's likely to be fine for you, as it was for me! As an over-27, I was added to a WhatsApp group for additionally organised activities. BOCARIOS (Interns) An excellently led intern team support the activities and were a good group to talk to in general. Very helpful! GENERAL THOUGHTS When in Spain and doing things, there is a naturally occurring opportunity to practice the language. Whether you decide to is your own choice! And indeed your experience in general heavily depends on you 😇 . Approach it with an open heart and fresh eyes.

As a retired teacher (university) I was very impressed with the techniques used by the instructors. The classes are engaging; the teachers are motivating and supportive. I enjoyed the diversity of students in the classroom ( countries and ages). At the beginning of each week learning outcomes are presented. Then each class starts with a review of the days learning outcomes and ends with a recap of achievements-- theory, activities, and new words. Each class offers ample opportunities to practice new skills with a wide range of activities. Everyone has numerous chances to speak in every class with carefully crafted activities that are inclusive and fun. The small group size adds to the comfort for those of us who are intimidated with learning new skills.
Classes are pitched at each student's level based on a written assessment. However, during the morning of the first class each person can assess how comfortable they are with the material. They can then move to a higher or lower level class that will more closely meet their personal learning needs.
The school also offers a wide range of activities which further engages learners with more ways to practice language skills as well as to learn about the culture of Spain. I will do another post about my decision to study in Valencia

Nothing but positive things to say about Taronja I've spent 3 weeks at Taronja and i have nothing but positive things to say about the school. All of the lessons are really engaging and the staff incredibly helpful, friendly and patient (vital when trying to teach me a foreign language!). I'm in my mid 40's and what i particularly like is how well the school is geared up for students of all ages. Cracking stuff all round.

I would highly recommend this language school, with its competent teachers who are innovative and interested in their students. The material used is always of an excellent standard. The school has two bright buildings and there is a calendar of events each week both for students attending and those taking classes online.

Had a great week in Valencia made even better by first class teaching in a class appropriate for my own level of Spanish. Hope to be back!

Estupenda escuela, amables profesores, muchas actividades y una experiencia de vida fenomenal! I did an intensive course at Taronja last summer and all I can say is it was an amazing, unforgettable experience. Everything is organised very well, relaxed study environment and a certain way to make you love the language even more. Very sociable, amusing and the location is just perfect. Not to mention that Valencia is such a lovely place that since then I have been dreaming of moving there for good. I will definitely do a course there again and I would recommend it to everyone :-)))

Solo lo mejor. Perfecto para empezar o mejorar en cualquier nivel. Muchas ocasiones para hablar con chicos y chicas de paises diferentes.

Last year I attended a Spanish course in Valencia. Before I made my decision where to go to improve my language I had got very good references about Taronja school. I did not hesitate to go there. My experience with educational process, free time activities at school was very positive. All teaches were well-trained, friendly and very skillful. The classes were full of fun and plenty of new information. Tuesday paella parties were great. All the food prepared by Fernando those days and during the cuisine classes was really delicious! The cultural lessons, walking tours were very interesting. However, the best discovery I made in Valencia thanks to Taronja was the Micro Theatre, which I will certainly visit each time I am in this marvelous city again! I want to thank a lot all school staff for their enthusiasm and kind support! Looking forward to seeing you again in September! Natalia (Slovakia)