Mi stay in Valencia

I came to Valencia three weeks and half ago. I like Valencia very much: people are very lovely and usually they’re not arrogant, so it’s possibile to speak Spanish with them. The old buildings, that talk about an ancient time, are awesome, although the crisis is evident: lots of them are for sale or for rent. Others are closed for renovation, but I’ve not seen anyone working for them; it’s evident that the owners of these buildings don’t have money. The beach is very big and very beautiful, but there aren’t reefs. I don’t sleep well in Valencia,  Valencianos and tourists  like to party all night long, and I’m not used to this permanent noise. I like Taronja school too. Teachers are very professional and generally they motivate foreigners to learn Spanish. I learned a lot, above all the three verbs tenses: indicative (present, the different past tenses (!!!), the future and the conditional), the imperative (affirmative and negative), and a little bit the present subjunctive. I took three weeks of vacation from my job, for this reason it’s wonderful that the school is so good; as to Marta’s administration, she helped me a lot and she was always lovely. One desire: I’d like the teachers to teach a little bit more with texts about the Spanish history, culture and geography ( like Victor Manuel did in the last days).

Spain is an exciting and fabolous country!!!!

 

 

I came here to expand my knowledge of the Spanish language. During the 4 weeks spent here I learned a lot, I had different teachers and all of them were good 🙂

During this time I visited:

– the «Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias»

– the Turía Park ( it’s also perfect to do sport!)

– Malvarrosa Beach (Of course!)

In the school there were always plans, for example the «Paella Party». The chiefs Fernando and Maxi cooked Paella (it was always delicious!)

 

SUSANNE

My name is Jitske and  I am from Netherlands. I always wanted to take a course abroad. I really recommend to do your course at Taronja, they help you a lot to find the best course for you. And help you with your course if you need it. I also recommend to stay in a guest-family. I learned a lot of the Spanish culture and talked a lot with my family. I chose Valencia because I have never been in this part of the country. I really enjoyed my stay and I learned a lot.

My third month in Valencia

I went to Valencia to learn the language and to know a little bit more the Spanish culture. During my lessons in the Taronja school, I discovered many new things and I had friendly school mates. I walked a lot in the historic centre and since I made a turistic tour with a school guide I know the words «murcielago», «gángolas» and others. The other day I climbed the Micalet Tower and Serrano Towers and I saw two great views. Since it was 12pm when I climbed the Micalet Tower, the bell started to ring. What a noise!

I walked a lot in the Park too and through the Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias, and there I drank the «horchata» for the first time in my life. I visited the Science Museum and I passed 4 hours there, but it was worth it. I tried many experiments with the light, the electricity and the body. Since I made the visit I know the words «hormigas» and «pollitos». I went to the «Paella Party», to the «Bodega fila» and to the «Ubik Café» with my school mates and I lived the typical Spanish life, I tried the food and the drinks and now I know the difference among the Valencian Paella and the others. I went to the beach many times because the weather in Valencia was very good, it didn’t rain and the sea is clean and warm. Since I live with a Spanish family I know how people live, I know the traditions and especially the food. I know how to say the most important words , like «herempena», «merluza», «horno» and also what to say when someone close to a person died. Today, Friday, I’m going to go to the «Salsa Night» and this Saturday to the «Bicycle Route» and I think they’ll be great too. My time in Spain has passed so fast, but it was amazing. Maybe I got lucky with my Spanish family, with the school and the mates, I don’t know, but I think that people in Valencia are very open, cheerful and sociable (Spanish people speak a lot and all at the same time, it doesn’t matter where: at the restaurant, at the bar, in the bus or in the metro). I think I have to come back to Valencia to know better and more the Spanish culture, that I loved.

I like Valencia very much because there’s a big variety of everything: old and very modern buildings, jazz music and classic music, tapas in the taverns and food at the market in the street, different museums and gardens. Furthermore the port is impressionable and the beach is wonderful. Finally I love the hot weather and the kind people. I don´t like the three past tenses in the Spanish language, but the teachers had a lot of patience when they had to explain them.

Very enjoyable week learning Spanish and Spanish cooking. Staff were friendly and helpful. As a beginner with no Spanish whatsoever, the teachers unsured you do not get left behind. I learned a huge amount of words and verbs and have more confidence in everyday exchanges in the real world and I can read and understand a lot more in the streets around me. The cooking was also very good. The cook gave the lessons in Spanish but also translated in English. We cooked many Spanish dishes but especially local Valencia food. We got a very good insight into local Spanish culture and food practices, the cooking was very hands on and we were allowed to «get our hands dirty» with plenty of practice. Plus we got to eat some wonderful dishes cooked by our professional chef (very tasty!!! Mucho gusto!!!). We also got to see Albufera where the rice grows locally and visited the mill to see the rice-processing.

Great week, highly recommend it.

When I came to Valencia it was very hot, in contrast to Switzerland. I liked that a lot! During the two weeks I learnt a lot of the Spanish language because before I couldn`t express myself in Spanish almost nothing, and now I can speak it a little bit better. I also learnt three past times that I didn`t know before. People in the classroom were very kind and I lived enjoyable and unforgettable moments with them. For example the «Tapas Tour», the «Paella Party», the Copa UEFA match in «Mestalla» and of course the summer ending huge party on the beach.

In these two weeks I visited lots of places, like «Ciudad Vieja», the beach and the sea and much more. I enjoyed a lot here in Valencia.

Thank you for eveything!

 

My name is Joy and I’m English. Before coming to Valencia, I’ve been studying Spanish for six months. I live in Cologne (Germany) and I like languages very much, hence I decided to learn Spanish. Unfortunately I studied only for one week in Valencia, and a week is not enough. Valencia is very beautiful and I was very happy during this week. The teachers in the school are fabulous and my Spanish lessons were always nice. After a week in Valencia, I’m going to go to Madrid to practice Spanish a lot. In the future I definitely will come back to Valencia.

Good luck in Valencia and enjoy the city.

Hi guys! We are Vito and Valentina, an italian couple. We chose this school because it was cheaper than de other Spanish schools. It was the best option! Valencia is a wonderful city, the food is tasty, people are very kind! There are many places if you want to hang out: you can drink something near Plaza Tossal (there’s a chupitería with more than 200 strange chupitos, can you believe that?), Barrio del Carmen, or making «botellón» in Turia’s Park or at the port, and there are many discos if you want to dance…But the best one is at the Ciudad de las Artes y de Las Ciencias. Yes, in Spain you always have party! And the school…it’s amazing! The director «Chef Nando» is great and he cooks paella every Tuesdays. On Wednesdays there are cooking classes where you can learn how to cook the typical Spanish food, and sometimes he cooks also on Fridays, when there are thematic parties on the beach. All the activities are very funny, since Monday with the «Tapas Tour» until the weekend with the excursions, you can’t get bored! The Spanish classes are always dynamic and the students speak a lot, while the teachers are good and nice. We have to thank Victor (Manuel), Ana, Ricardo and Noelia, spending time with you in the classroom and outside has been amazing! We’re going to miss you! And the last thought goes to all the friends we met here: Laura, Luis, Alessandra (x2), Benedetta,Francesca, Alessandro, Virginia, Daniela, Elisa, Gloria, Andrea, Stella, Giulia, Silvia, Pier, Pigi, Viviana, Zen, Vale y Dan. See you soon in Italy! Thanks to all our friends. These holidays wouldn’t have been the same without you! You’ll always be in our hearts!

¡Hasta luego Valencia! ¡Hasta luego Taronja!

I can’t believe that, since I came here only two weeks have passed, why now I can Speak Spanish more than before? I think that the lessons and the activities have been very useful. I could practice my grammar and the vocabulary I learnt during my classes, through the activities with the other students. So I feel like I speak Spanish from the morning until the night and I could make friends too. Without speaking English. I liked a lot my teachers, they were very sympathetic, thoughtful and funny! Also Marta and the staff of the association have been very helpful. I spoke with Marta about some worries and she has been great. Thank you for everything Marta! And of course thanks to my teachers. Particularly thanks for the party on the beach. What a great opportunity, I practiced Spanish until 5 in the morning with a lot of Tequila.

Besos Taronja!

   

Two weeks ago I came to Valencia to learn Spanish and to prepare the DELE B1 exam. Before coming to Valencia I made a level test and I spoke with Marta about my level. She corrected my test and she told me that B1 was more suitable to me, but she told me I couldn’t have these level classes. So I had two options. The first one was to get private classes for 2.5 hours a day. On the contrary, I could have had classes with the students with B2 level. I chose this last option and I had class with Carlos and his students. The first day I wasn’t very happy. It looked like that every student had a higher level compared to me and I didn’t understand any auditory exercise. But after some days I noticed that I improved in a few time. Since last Monday I love classes. I learnt a lot and I met lots of kind people, like Gabriella, who encouraged me to go to «Paella Party», or Libby, an English girl, and Clemente, Suwan and others. Taronja is a very accessible school and the teachers are very professional. Thanks to Carlos, I learnt the language very fast and Carlos created a safe and funny atmosphere for his students. He even has a lot of patience! After two weeks in Valencia I know that «taronja» means «orange» in Valencian dialect, I even know that «estar orgulloso» has a different meaning compared to «ser orgulloso» and I can’t say «parada» when I see a ride, and many things more. Now I’ll study for another week, but  I won’t have any class. Next Friday I have to do the exam. Carlos assured me that when I stay calm everything goes better! I hope to succeed with the exam! Thanks to everyone for these funny weeks.

Hi guys, My experience in Valencia has been very cool. The city is wonderful, artistic and it has lots of monuments you  can  visite such as, for example, Ciudad de las Artes y Las Ciencias or the many churches that there are in the city. In Valencia there’s the beach, so it’s a good possibility for a student who wants to have class in Summer. The beach is always clean because every day the city council throws away the trash. Additionally there are many services in the beach such as, for example, showers, bars or locker rooms. Taronja school is wonderful too and the secretaries are very gentle. The organization is very good, the teachers are very professional, sympathetic and they use lots of interesting and funny methods. It’s not only a language course because there are many activities very cool, like cooking class with «Chef Nando» (it was very funny), the culture classes, the «Tapas Tour» and the «Paella party». However, the school even organizes many more activities. In other schools there are not so many activities and teachers, secretaries and interns so cool.

If you want to do a Spanish course in Valencia, the best experience is in Taronja school.