Learn Spanish throughout Spain with EF

My time in EF was very unique, as I stayed there in the middle of a worldwide pandemic that hit Spain pretty hard at the beginning. My first month and a half was the normal EF experience, and it was wonderful. The classes were of great quality, and EF was always very helpful with anything I needed. Then the pandemic arrived and most of the students left, however I stayed and was able to still have a good experience first in the Residence, and then later in a host family. We had online classes the rest of my time, and they worked very well. I ended up graduating from EF with a C1 in Spanish!

I went to Malaga for a month through EF, and it was an incredible time! The teachers were all amazing, and very kind! EF definitely is a lot about making money, but that didn’t effect my trip as much as others. Overall it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I had a host family, and they were incredibly sweet and accommodating. I am very happy I chose the host family because it definitely helped me learn much faster since I was much more immersed in the culture and language.

Definitely, when booking the trip I was scared and anxious, but this trip taught me how to be independent and overall expose myself to new things. I'd definitely say this was one of the most memorable things in my life I've ever done. I'd say that the best thing about this program was the immersion within the culture and so much more room individuals of any Spanish level can still grow at EF Barcelona. One thing I wish could be changed would be adding more trips to parts around Barcelona, but still was very pleasing and I would really recommend! you will make friends from all over that will become some of your closest friends. I'd definetly say don't hesitate to take the trip and become a local for your stay it really creates an unforgettable experience.

This program is not only a great way to explore Spain, but also boosts language skills. The program balances language classes with explore the country and immersing students into the culture of Spain. Traveling with EF also gives students the option to explore the city on their own terms. There isn't a strict traveling schedule everyone must follow, enabling students to do what they find most interesting. Overall, it was a great experience and I would love to go again.

I would advise everyone to go study abroad. Not only did I developed my language skills, I also developed a lot personally.
My Spanish skills have improved so much within such a short period of time. When I arrived I didn’t speak any Spanish anda after studying nine months abroad, I have the level of upper intermediate. I believe that there is no other way to become fluent in a language than to go abroad and ‘live the language’.

EF Málaga is a beautiful school, located close to the beach. During your daily life, you’ll be surrounded among local people, which is great for your cultural experience and language improvement.
The classes are very well organised, the staff is friendly and the school organises interesting activities and trips.

I would highly recommend EF Málaga, I’ve had the time of my life there!

I loved my experience in Málaga and I have fallen in love with the city. The teachers are amazing. One of the things that surprised me the most, is the close relation between the students and the teachers. Besides from this, it’s an amazing experience and I would recommend everyone who is able to,to make this decision. The school is located in the most relaxed neighbourhood of Málaga and close to the beach. I have learned so much about myself and have made the coolest friends but apart from all that, I speak a new language.

Coming from a small town in Connecticut I feel as though my experience in Madrid is something I will never forget. The friendships I have made have allowed me to travel all around Europe just visiting friends that I have made through the EF program, and for this I think it is a really special thing. Through my time in Madrid I have been through many new experiences, made friends I never thought I would have been so close to and improved my Spanish skills tenfold. The teachers at EF madrid are some of the best professors I’ve ever had in my student years. They are fun, and always there to help you whether It’s a small or large probelm. Having visited both EF Malaga and EF Barcelona although I think both are very good programs as well, I think Madrid as a city is better. Being the metropolitan capitol of Spain and in the center you’ll find that you will get more real Spanish speaking people and less tourists. For this reason it is a better city to improve your Spanish skills. The night life in Madrid is truly incredible and spending nights out with your friends is really something you will never forget. Overall I think my expirence at Madrid has been very rewarding

I was very excited to go to Barcelona and study abroad. My friend went through a different program and enjoyed it a lot. My Spanish improved so much and I 100% think this was a valuable experience and recommend others to study abroad. (Learning Spanish was more of a result of being in Spain not at all a result of taking those un engaging classes with bad teachers)
Having said that I have come to the conclusion that, from what I experienced during my stay, the EF program in Barcelona is unorganized, the staff are rude, and the host moms, which I spoke to(I can't speak for ones I have not met or heard about), are uneducated and rude as well. I am not saying all of their locations are like this but the interactions I had with the Ef staff in Barcelona were atrocious. They would most definetly be unqualified to work in the U.S. for speaking to customers the way they do. Not only that but I was shocked because they were complete liars. They would say anything to save their behinds and made up stories when people complained. I do not believe they were qualified for their jobs one bit as they are rude, close minded, and untrustworthy.
As much as my experience with the staff was atrocious that wasn't the worst part, and it is probably unusual as most kids just pass through the program and are simply given fake smiles. The worst part was how obviously unorganized the program was. Most host parents were not even parents. Some where just men or young women who lived alone and were never home. My host mom was not a native spanish speaker and had such a thick accent I could barely understand her. She also did not know anything about the culture and therefore it was not a "cultural experience". I spoke to many people who were there with me in Barcelona(from all over the world) and many had problems with the program and their host "families". Some were left alone to do what ever they wanted sometimes as their host "parent" would go out clubbing. One of my friends was not even fed for a few days and was forced to buy her own food(the program is expensive and includes meals). Everyone I had talked to who was vegetarian arrived at the house to find out that the host family didn't even know! My host mom did not even know how to cook for my roommate and me and due to this we wasted so much money on our own food. Her boyfriend also smoked in the bathroom and the house would reek and I had an allergic reaction to the smoke.
Over all I recommend going to Spain just not through EF. My close friend loved her program and even talks to them today! There are great programs out there- this is not one of them.