Españole International House
Studying Spanish at Españole in Valencia
Learn Spanish inside a Gothic palace in Valencia's old town, where an 11th-century Arab wall runs straight through the classrooms and a 14-metre historic tower still stands within the building. The school occupies over 2,000 square metres in the heart of the El Carmen district, with a roof garden and a patio among its facilities.
Classes stay small, averaging 7 students and capped at 10. The school is accredited by Instituto Cervantes, and is also affiliated with IALC, SIELE and International House. Expect a busy weekly activity programme and a genuinely international mix of students in the common areas between lessons.
A Gothic palace with an Arab wall
An 11th-century Arab wall and a 14-metre historic tower run through the school building itself, in the heart of El Carmen.
Small classes, close attention
Classes average 7 students and never exceed 10, with communicative lessons built around your own level and needs.
Accredited by Instituto Cervantes
The school is accredited by Instituto Cervantes and also holds affiliations with IALC, SIELE and International House.
- Españole School location
- 1 min walk to Liquor store valencia
- 3 min walk to Carda - Moro Zeit
- 4 min walk to San Tommaso
- 15 min walk to El Corte Inglés
Getting there
- Arrival and departure transfers can be arranged from Valencia airport, train station or bus station
- Arrival details are required at least one week before arrival to guarantee a transfer
- Host-family accommodation is around 25 minutes from school by public transport on average
- Shared apartments are around 25 minutes from school by public transport
How lessons work at Españole
Lessons follow a communicative, task-based method: classes are built around real-life Spanish rather than grammar drills alone, with vocabulary and grammar work folded into fluency practice. All teaching happens in Spanish, and you'll have at least two different teachers over the course of your stay. Groups have 6 to 10 students, with an average class size of 7. Morning General Spanish lessons run from 09:10 to 13:00, and afternoon groups run from 14:10 to 18:00, with each lesson lasting 50 minutes.The standard Intensive course gives you 20 General Spanish lessons a week; Intensive 25 and Intensive 30 add 5 or 10 elective lessons on top, and Intensive Plus or Super Intensive add private lessons into the mix. Your level is checked with an online test before you arrive and confirmed with a short spoken conversation once your course begins, so you start in the right group from day one.
Classes
Average 7 students
Average size
7
Maximum size
12
- Classes are communicative and task-based, built around real-life Spanish rather than grammar drills alone.
- All lessons are taught in Spanish.
- Classes have 6 to 10 students, with an average group size of 7.
- You'll have at least two different teachers over the course, giving you exposure to different teaching styles.
- All teachers are native Spanish speakers, and all hold both a university degree and a teaching qualification.
Courses at Españole
10 coursesA week at Españole
Eight activities run every week, and at least three of them are free. The mix ranges from a flamenco or salsa class to a paella evening with dancing, a quiz night, an Albufera excursion by bicycle and boat, and a visit to the Oceanogràfic. Alternative activities may be offered when the season or the number of signups calls for it, so the exact line-up can differ from one week to the next.
A day at Españole
Weekday
- First block of Spanish lessons Your day starts with General Spanish lessons inside the school's Gothic palace building in the El Carmen district.
- Coffee break A short break between lessons, just enough time for a coffee in the student café or a few minutes out on the patio.
- Second block of lessons Lessons continue in 50-minute segments until the morning course ends at 13:00.
- Lunch break Once morning lessons finish, there's time for lunch, including at the school's own restaurant, La Mala, before the afternoon session begins.
Students you may meet at Españole
The school's student community draws from many different countries, with no single nationality dominating the mix, and it shifts noticeably with the seasons: summer courses bring a younger crowd, while the quieter months attract more career-driven adults and independent travellers. Women make up the larger share of students here. You meet people through a welcome activity on day one, the shared spaces built into the historic building, and eight organised activities running every week. The school also opens a WhatsApp and Facebook group before you travel, so conversations with other incoming students can start before you land in Valencia.
Male and female
37% male
63% female
Noticeably more women than men in most classes.
Age
From 16 years
students accepted
19
average in summer
25
average off-season
- Under 18: 48%
- 18-24: 42%
- 25-34: 7%
- 35-50: 2%
- 50+: 1%
Estimated from the off-season mix and the summer average age.
- Under 18: 9%
- 18-24: 43%
- 25-34: 28%
- 35-50: 12%
- 50+: 8%
Worth saying plainly: in July and August the average student here is 19, and outside the summer holidays it is 25. Pick your dates accordingly.
11 nationalities
-
Netherlands
15%
-
Germany
13%
-
Switzerland
12%
-
United Kingdom
10%
-
Italy
8%
-
France
8%
-
Japan
7%
-
China
4%
-
Sweden
3%
-
United States
2%
- Other 18%
Accommodation options at Españole
Accommodation is optional. You can add it when you build your trip below.
Good to know
- Host families are carefully selected, their homes are inspected, and they are reassessed every year.
- Staying with a host family, you get your own key, with weekly laundry and cleaning included.
- Host families and shared apartments average 25 minutes from school by public transport.
- Central apartments are a 15-minute walk from school, school-area apartments just 3 minutes, and student residences between 6 and 12 minutes.
- Host families offer breakfast, half board or full board, while apartments and student residences are self-catering.
- Solo students can book a double room and will be paired with another student.
A video impression of Españole
Is Españole right for you?
This school suits adult and young-adult learners who want an immersive, sociable Spanish course in a historic old-town setting, set within a broadly international student community. Under-16s aren't accepted, so families with younger teenagers will need a different school.
A good fit if you…
- Want to study in a historic palace
- Enjoy a lively, culturally immersive atmosphere
- Value a boutique, personal atmosphere
- Appreciate a mixed, international student community
- Are aged 16 or older
Keep in mind
- Not open to under-16s
- Set in a busy central old-town area
- Activity programme may vary by season
Your first day at Españole International House
Your first day starts at 08:15 with the spoken half of your placement test, the follow-up to the written test you complete online the week before you arrive.
Once testing is done, a welcome meeting introduces you to the staff and covers practical details about the school and Valencia. You leave with your course book and your class timetable in hand.
In the afternoon, new students head out together on a guided tour of the city.
Bring a notebook and a pen; your course book is handed to you on your first day.
What happens on your first day
- Testing starts at 08:15 with the spoken part of your placement test, following the written test you complete online at least a week before you arrive.
- After testing, a welcome meeting introduces you to the school's staff and gives you practical information about the school and Valencia.
- You receive your course book and personal class timetable at the end of the welcome meeting.
- In the afternoon, new students join a guided tour around the city together.
- Bring a notebook and a pen; your course book is handed to you on the day.
Safety, support & wellbeing
Support at Españole International House works through direct contact with staff rather than paperwork. You are assigned a designated support contact for the length of your stay, and someone remains reachable outside school hours if something comes up in the evening or at the weekend. Emergency numbers are given to you on arrival, so you have them to hand before you ever need them.Medical situations are handled directly by staff, with an average response time under five minutes. The school follows a formal safeguarding policy, logs safety incidents and tracks them carefully, and carries out background checks on its staff.
Under 5-minute emergency response
Staff respond to medical emergencies in under five minutes on average.
40% of staff first-aid trained
A first-aid trained staff member is scheduled every day the school is open.
No serious incidents in two years
The school has recorded no serious safety incidents over the past two years.
Facilities & accreditations
- Student Bar
- Common Lounge
- Rooftop Garden
- Terrace
- Reception
- Self-Study Area
- High-Speed Wi-Fi Throughout
- Accessible Restrooms
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Air Conditioning
- Heating
- Computer Lab
Accredited by
Student reviews
Atmosphere
10
Activities
10
Accommodation
9.8
Quality lessons
9.8
School staff
9.8
Teachers
9.8
Facilities
9.6
Cora Heidenreich
10
Excellent teachers, supportive staff, and engaging lessons
"I took a language course at this language school for two weeks and completed an internship, and I have nothing but positive things to say! The lessons were well structured, varied and really enjoyable. The teachers were always helpful, friendly and took a lot of time to explain everything clearly. I also felt completely at ease during my internship, the entire team was incredibly nice, committed and gave me great support. During this time, I not only learned a lot linguistically, but also gained a lot of valuable experience. I can absolutely recommend this language school and would come back anytime!"
Read more about Españole
Book your language course at Españole International House
All prices are based on the official school price list, with the added benefits of the .
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Practical information
School price list|
Address
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Españole International House C/ dels Cavallers, 36 46001, Valencia, Spain |
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Course cancellation policy
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Super flexible cancellation
This is an Extralingo preferred policy
Flexible date changes and a full refund, up to 15 days before arrival. 10% cancellation fee between 13 and 1 days before arrival. No refund after the course starts. |
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Accommodation cancellation policy
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Super flexible free cancellation
This is an Extralingo preferred policy
100% refund on the accommodation price up to 15 days before arrival, 10% cancellation fee between 13 and 1 days before arrival. No refunds on the day of check-in. |
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Payment policy
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Flexible (recommended)
This is an Extralingo preferred policy
A down payment of 30% is due upon booking and the full payment is due 29 days before arrival. |
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Visa information
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For Residents of the EU/EEA and Switzerland
For Non-EU/EEA and Swiss Citizens
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Upcoming Regional and National Holidays
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National holidays in Valencia, Spain
Valencia has the following national holidays. Please note that schools might be closed on these days. The school will inform you about the exact dates once you request a booking.
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Frequently asked questions
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Other schools in Valencia
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Other schools in Valencia |
