Malaga as if you were there with Audrey!

Audrey, an intern at Languages ​​and Travel this summer, flew to Malaga at the end of August for a language immersion program. Meeting new people, learning the language, discovering the region… Her conclusion? She'd do it again in a heartbeat! Our young language student shares more details about her experience!

“Some people think they’re taking a trip. In reality, it’s the trips that make us, that shape us.” A week spent on a language immersion program in Malaga, a week filled with encounters and discoveries! This is the opportunity that the language immersion agency Languages ​​& Travel offered me during August (2015). An unforgettable opportunity!

I've barely arrived, and I'm already surrounded by people!

We had barely arrived at the Malaca Institute when a welcome party was organized that evening for the new students. Everything was explained to us, from the course structure and the support available should we encounter any problems, to the numerous activities offered by the school. The support was truly excellent, even extending to offering us delicious homemade sangria as a welcome drink, as well as paella, a typical local dish!

I have to admit it: my biggest fear upon arriving there was being alone. If only I had known how unfounded those fears were! I had barely arrived when several students asked me my name and where I was from, and I quickly got to know a large group of students. Swiss, German, Dutch, Italian, French, Slovak… the fact that we all came from such different countries was incredibly enriching, especially since everyone was so easy to talk to! Very quickly, strong friendships were forged, a bond formed, and I already knew that saying goodbye was going to be hard.

A variety of Spanish courses are available in Malaga

On Monday morning, after taking a written and oral placement test to assign new students to a class at our level, a tour of the school is planned to show us the location of the library, the office, the classrooms, and other places that might be useful. A guided tour of the city is also planned to show us the different bus lines that will take us back to the institute, and to help us discover the center of this beautiful city, its palm-lined streets, its imposing cathedral, and its history, all while enjoying the magnificent Andalusian sunshine! I couldn't ask for anything better 🙂

Four hours of classes are held daily at the Malaca Institute. Not only does the school boast modern classrooms with stunning views of the surrounding area, but they're also designed to accommodate only a small number of students. I find this aspect fantastic, as it allows for a truly close relationship with both teachers and students; after just a few days, we all know each other and even see each other outside of class! The first few hours are generally dedicated to grammar and exercises, while the last hour allows us to talk amongst ourselves and practice what we've just learned. You really feel like you're making progress in the language! As for the teachers, they are genuinely motivated and full of energy, and each day made me feel like those four hours of class flew by!

Besides language school, there are flamenco/salsa classes, movie nights…

Each week, the school organizes several activities: flamenco/salsa classes, movie nights, boat trips, cultural conversation groups, trips to Morocco, and more. Having participated in a few of them, I can say they are really well organized and each one provides an opportunity to meet new people! During my stay, I didn't have a single dull moment: whether it was sunbathing by the pool or in the sea (a magnificent blue!), strolling through the city center (and perhaps indulging in a bit too much shopping), eating in a typical tapas bar (and having the drinks offered by the waiter), visiting the Alcazaba, the Cathedral, and Gibralfaro Castle (which, by the way, offers an impressive view of the entire city), dancing the night away in a club, or going for a nighttime jog along the beach, I was able to fully experience every second of this trip! Lucky me, I even had the chance to participate in the festival of colors over the weekend: enough to make me come back rather… colorful!

I thank Languages ​​& Travel, without whom I wouldn't have been able to have this experience which not only allowed me to spend a wonderful week, but also enabled me to improve my Spanish and practice it every day! I would do it again, without hesitation!