Inexpensive Way to Learn Spanish and Make Friends
An alternative to the "intercambio" or "Espanol Callejero" approach to learning Spanish, CEE Idiomas offers inexpensive Spanish language instruction. CEE Idiomas is centrally located just off Puerta del Sol in a somewhat rundown but charming old building with steep, narrow staircases and a rickety old elevator which I have been afraid to use -- resulting in a beneficial daily cardio workout. An Intensive course (2 hours per day, Monday through Friday) is a real bargain at only 135 euros per month. Even if the teacher shows up late and takes a long fag break midway through you still get a solid 80 minutes of class time. One hour and intensive courses are also available days and evenings. You will learn grammar, vocabulary and proper pronunciation, keeping you on track to speak proper Spanish. Some of the profesores are better than others. If possible try to get into a class with Nuria, Mario, or Fran. Also, if your level test indicates "3" insist on being put in level 5 1/2 or you'll be bored silly. Students come from all over the world and it is easy to find some with whom you share common interests and become fast friends. The admin staff is pleasant and helpful and there is a library that lends DVD's in Spanish (painful at first but necessary to develop your ear for the language as it is actually spoken). Oh yeah, the bulletin board also offers a "monton" of housing, job and Romanian and Chinese intercambio opportunities.
Philip Henry discovered this service :-)