Student Reports: Marbella

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Jo Samways (18) spent 4 weeks on a Standard Course in Marbella from April to May with CESA, hear what Jo has to say about her Spanish course:

“I wasn’t sure what to expect, I hoped there would be a few people who spoke my language as I was almost a complete beginner, and I did ask to be roomed with someone who could speak a little English if possible. I took the course because I wanted to get away for a month and learn a new language, but meet a lot of new people and have a good holiday too.

My roommate was brilliant, she’d been to Marbella before and really tried to involve me in everything, I’d imagine I would have felt a little lost the first couple of days without her. I think the best way to have a good time is to make friends with people and try and be as sociable as possible. Being able to communicate wasn’t a problem at all.

I had two weeks with one class, then the last two weeks with another when most of the first class had finished their course. The teachers were helpful and friendly and willing to let students work together to understand, they helped the weakest students but it didn’t hold up the lessons.

The school is very well situated, right in the centre of Marbella, and it is easy to catch buses from the stop outside the school. Paco, the headmaster (I think) was really friendly and helpful and for beginners the teachers spoke very good English if it was needed.

I think Marbella is a great place to go for this kind of course, if you go to the right places the food is good and cheap; there are bars and clubs for everyone’s taste and lots of shops and sports facilities. What surprised me was how willing local people were to humour my struggling Spanish, unlike automatically speaking back to you in English.

Places of interest: La Amsteleria (Sports bar), Desvan and La Comdeia (Clubs in Puerta Banus).

I was satisfied with the accommodation because I expected student accommodation and that was what I got. It was a spacious apartment, secure and right next to the college, so it was exactly what I’d hoped for.

The CESA staff were very helpful. I would definitely take a Spanish course with CESA Languages Abroad again, I may look in a different area of Spain, only for variation. I`d look for a similar set up to that in Marbella.”