El Rincón del Tándem - Spanish school — Local services in Valencia

I have mixed feelings about this school because I took an intensive course with only one teacher. So this review is really for one teacher and not for the entire school. I chose this school because of the positive reviews, and the price was better than the other schools in Valencia. The staff at the front desk are lovely. They were very kind and welcoming. However, the teacher assigned to the A1 intensive course was impatient, disrespectful, and did not cater the classes to the students. Instead, he used the excuse that he taught the class with his style and method. I am all for having your flare, but his class was not a beginners class. I think he forgot how to teach a beginner's class. When the students made mistakes, he clearly showed his annoyance, and by the end of the course, I felt he could not wait to get rid of me. I am not an overly sensitive person, but after four weeks of being treated so poorly, I finally broke down in tears and left the class. I wrote to the school and told them about my experience. They sent a kind and appropriate reply. They offered me a discount if I wished to return, but I chose not to return. I have no interest in seeing the teacher who gave my class. It was an unfortunate experience. I believe that if people treat you poorly, then it is best to keep those people out of your life. I will continue learning Spanish, but with teachers who encourage their students. I hope the teacher who taught my course will learn from this experience and treat his paying customers with respect, kindness, and encouragement...

I had a fantastic experience at El Rincón del Tándem - I can't recommend the school enough!

Everybody is incredibly kind and friendly, from the teachers to the reception staff, and welcome you warmly into their community. The teachers are knowledgable and professional and my classes were very enjoyable. Teachers use a mix of interactive resources (text-books, worksheets, videos, music, games) to maximise learning. Throughout the course, your level is assessed and your progress is tracked. Class sizes are relatively small so there is always an opportunity to address individual needs and questions. Staff are quick to respond to your emails/questions and happy to give you extra resources if needed. I took the intensive course which consisted of 4 hours per day - I arrived not speaking a single word of Spanish, and I have left with my B1 certificate! The school is located in a safe and lively neighbourhood, easy to reach via public transport or on foot. The school facilities are always clean and comfortable, with well equipped classrooms. The school hold weekly events to practice your Spanish - it is a great way to learn about the city, Spanish culture in general and to make friends.

I would strongly recommend the school to anybody looking to improve their Spanish in a fun and friendly environment.

Thank you again for...

Wonderful experience! To improve my fluency in Spanish, I decided to come to Spain for an immersion experience. I signed up for a month of courses with El Rincon del Tandem and lived with a family that was assigned to me by the school. The experience I had was very positive. After a month, my speaking skills have improved a lot and I met some great people and had a lot fun time in the meantime. Elena and Francesca in the office were very helpful to me especially in the beginning when I was trying to find a best class I could fit into. Finally I ended up with Andrea’s class. The school was also flexible about letting me skip one class and make the time up by attending another so I could continue to follow my ongoing Cervantes Institute video classes. The teachers were all very dynamic, competent and a lot of fun. I loved Andrea’s energy and enthusiasm and Arancha’s suggestions for cultural activities. They loved to share lot of information about Spanish language and culture. The family I lived with lived about 1/2 hour walking distance from school and they were very nice, clean, friendly and quiet. I enjoyed living with them. All people in the school were like a family. Valencia is a magnificent city and I hope to come back to continue on my Spanish learning...