Language camps in Spain: learning Spanish — or English — on holiday
Spanish immersion, English camps and international schools: how language camps in Spain work and how to choose one for your child.
A camp is one of the most natural ways for a child to pick up a language: they play, eat and do sport with other children and learn because they need to. Spain offers two kinds of language camps, and families from abroad can use both.
Spanish for children from abroad
Language schools in cities such as Málaga, Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca and Alicante run Spanish courses for young learners, usually lessons in the morning and activities or excursions in the afternoon. Some are day programmes for families on holiday; others are residential, with children staying in a residence or with a host family. Look for groups by age and level and a placement test on the first day.
Joining a Spanish camp — the immersion option
The most authentic immersion is an ordinary camp full of Spanish children. It works best for children who already know some Spanish, or for younger children, who adapt quickly through play. Ask the organiser whether monitors can speak a little English or your language in case of need, and use the filter “OK for children without Spanish” on our site.
English camps
English camps are extremely popular with Spanish families, so there are many of them, from city day camps to residential camps in the countryside. They are a good choice for English-speaking children, who will be understood easily and make Spanish friends at the same time, and for children from other countries who want to practise English.
Other languages
In Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands many local camps run in Catalan, in the Basque Country often in Basque, and in Galicia sometimes in Galician. These camps almost always use Spanish as well, but check the language of instruction shown on each camp page. In the bigger cities and on the coasts you will also find camps in French, German and Italian, usually run by international schools or associations.
What to check before booking
- Language of instruction, and whether it is taught as a subject or used during all activities
- Hours of lessons per week and group size
- Age groups — teenagers and young children should not share a class
- Qualifications of teachers and monitors
- For residential camps: supervision at night, contact with parents and the phone policy
Language camps on the map · Camps on the Costa del Sol · Camps in Madrid