don Quijote Spanish School Tenerife — Local services in Puerto de la Cruz

From NADA to C1

After spending more or less an entire year at Don Quijote (a total of 10 months learning and 2 months exploring beautiful Tenerife) I think it's fair to say, I have a pretty good all round insight of the place.

From the teachers, facilities, support and most importantly the quality of learning, I couldn't find fault. During my time at the school I had the pleasure of learning a plethora of knowledge from all of the teaching staff. Here are my key standouts:

Aleida: Knows her stuff and is the Queen of organisation. Any question I had or any support I needed, Aleida was there. She became a sister to me and I couldn't have done it without her.

Salomé: A woman on a mission with a heart of gold. As La Jefa of the school, Salomé naturally has a lot of responsibilities. This however, never stopped her from constantly making sure I got the most from my experience with continued learning suggestions and confidence boosting conversations.

Sandra: Possibly the funniest, most genuine human to walk this earth. Her humour and talent for languages always made for a incredibly productive and interactive class. With that being said, don't let her catch you on google translate, EVER (she knows what it takes to learn a language).

Celia: A home away from home. At times during my learning journey, I had days where I could take on the world in Spanish and others where I couldn't even remember the word for beer (crazy I know). Throughout every up and down, Celia's classes were filled with structure, understanding and kindness.

Laurice: A literal dictionary! Not only was it great learning the language but to be able to learn it alongside some great knowledge definitely helped the concentration. Laurice always made every student feel seen and heard.

I could write a book on how amazing this experience has been for me and I reckon I could even give it a good go in Spanish now too (which for a lazy Englishman, I reckon is pretty good going).

This school has opened doors for me that have literally changed the trajectory of my life and for that I am sincerely grateful. Its not just a faculty or cohort but una familia and to me that's an exact reflection of what the Canary Islands is all about.

If you're thinking about making the commitment, whether it be for a week or longer, don't hesitate! It can be nerve racking learning or expanding another language but it can bring so much more than that.

I'd do it all over again and I WILL BE BACK, even for a little recap.

Les amo...

Studying at this school is a truly an unforgettable experience for me, because it didn’t feel like a traditional school. Firstly, the building, located right in front of the ocean with an inner patio, is a gathering spot for all the students between classes, where people from all over the world could chat and become friends. Secondly, the classes are not only fun but also highly educational—not just in terms of Spanish grammar, but also about the culture and traditions of the people and the country. Last but certainly not least, the people who work there make the experience special. The teachers are passionate about what they do and have the patience to explain el subjuntivo a thousand times to someone (me) who had trouble understanding it. Their kindness, wisdom, and support are present throughout the entire learning journey. Salome, Lauris, Sandra, Aleida,...

I took a three-week super intensive course in this school and I have to say it was one of the best experiences of my life. The school is very nice, at the sea side, with a nice atrium where students and teachers meet, and classrooms branching off it. The best thing about this school, however, are its teachers. All are language professionals with degrees in languages and pedagogics, but most importantly, they are interesting people with a gift for teaching and an incredible sense of humour. I felt relaxed very quickly. This is not to say it was easy: I felt very tired every day, but learning in relaxation and with humour is a wonderful experience that I can recommend...