Method
First we listen, then we teach
Every programme starts by finding out what you need Spanish for. Then we plan lessons around real situations and measure progress against the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
The process
Three steps before your first lesson
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Level test
A conversation with a teacher. We look at comprehension, fluency, pronunciation and the points you find hardest.
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Your situations
We note where you will use Spanish: contracts, meetings, official notes, school, the bank or the doctor.
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Plan and role-plays
We suggest a lesson pack and a schedule. Lessons rehearse real situations with real documents.
Levels · CEFR
Six levels, three ways of using Spanish
We use the official A1–C2 scale. We also read it in practical terms: what you can do in Madrid at each level.
Everyday independence
Paperwork, shopping, introducing yourself, getting around Madrid.
Professional communication
Meetings, presentations, emails, business lunches.
Institutional representation
Negotiation, speeches, formal texts and protocol.
- A1 → A2≈ 60 h
- A2 → B1≈ 80 h
- B1 → B2≈ 100 h
Approximate hours of one-to-one lessons observed at the Institute. They depend on your commitment and your starting point.
Progress
Progress you can see
- Attendance recordsEvery month, for companies and embassies: lessons given, rescheduled and missed.
- Progress reportAt the end of each pack: grammar, pronunciation, comprehension and expression, referenced to the CEFR.
- A steady pacePacks have an expiry date, so there are no long breaks. You can change or cancel a lesson free of charge with 24 hours’ notice. With less notice, the lesson is deducted from your pack.
Spanish for Arabic speakers
Spanish explained through Arabic
Our teachers are bilingual. They anticipate the typical difficulties of Arabic speakers —the p, the vowels, ser and estar— and work on them from the first lesson.
See Spanish for Arabic speakersBefore you start
Questions about the method
How many hours do I need to move up a level?
As a guide: about 60 hours from A1 to A2, 80 from A2 to B1 and 100 from B1 to B2. It depends on your commitment and how much you practise outside class.
What is the level test like?
A 30-minute conversation with a teacher, at Gran Vía 40 or by video call. It is free and tells you which level and programme suit you.
Will I receive progress reports?
Companies and embassies receive monthly attendance records. At the end of each pack, the teacher provides a progress report referenced to the CEFR.
Free level test · 30 minutes
Shall we talk?
Tell us what you need Spanish for. We will call you to arrange a free level test and suggest a plan.