sorriso

Indulge me. I'm toying with spending eight weeks this summer learning Spanish in Spain and I've narrowed my choice of schools between one in Pamploma and one in San Sebastian. The forums here are always my first stop in planning trips, the information from other travelers is invaluable. Tell me what you know about these cities please!

bobthenavigator

San Sebastian is a special place---easily my choice.

Bedar

Would be nice to be at the beach in SS, but Pamplona would probably be cheaper place in which to live before and after San Fermin.

danon

SS is very popular in the summer- For a good reason.
Leaning Spanish in Basque country is not impossible although a bit strange.

Bedar

Were i you, I'd investgate attending the International University of Menendez Pelayo in Santander. The beach plus excellent Spanish classes.

Robert2533

I lean more towards Pamplona then Donostia. The city has a very educated population and its cuisine is on a par with the Basque country. Like Donostia, Pamplonicas are very social and you'll find the streets of the old quarter busy every night as friends and families go out to enjoy one of the best cities in Spain.

Regardless of where you pick, you'll end up learning a little Euskara along the way. Besides, if you wanted to go to the beach one day, Donostia is only a 50-minute bus ride away. Biarritz is a little further, but there is a beach bus during the summer months.

danon

Santander is a great suggestion.: a nice town , great beaches, a ton of young people ...

kimhe

No question about it, hands down San Sebastian! For the food, the Old town/Parte vieja, the belle epoque architecture, the landscapes, the beaches and the rough sea. And I love Pamplona. http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

Perfect place to learn Spanish for the clear pronounciation up here, and a wide range of courses to choose among.

See if you can do one of the courses offered by the Univerity of the Basque Country (UPV/PNV) as part of the annual summer school (attracts academics, intellectuals and all kinds of experts to San Sebastian for a very wide range of courses, seminars and conferences from May to September). One Language course from the end of May to the end of June, and one course through July: http://udaikastaroak-dev.i2basque.es...osPdf/P1P2.pdf

Some other options:
https://cesalanguages.com/learn-span.../san-sebastian
http://www.lacunza.com/spanish/spanish-school
http://www.tandemsansebastian.com/
http://www.cactuslanguage.com/en/lan..._sebastian.php

kimhe

... and the summer courses in San Sebastian are mainly held in the fabulous Miramar Palace overlooking the beautiful La Concha bay: http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...ns-and-castles

Contact info for the language courses, all levels. Four hours pr. day including classes in history, culture and art as well as excursions: [email protected]

Full program: http://udaikastaroak-dev.i2basque.es...ex.php/en.html

sorriso

Thank you ALL so much, I consider and explore the information in every one. Kimhe it sounds like you have a lot of experience with the language schools. I had been focusing on Lacunza in San Sebastian and Pamploma Learning Spanish Institute--there are just so many options! I clicked on your full program link and it's a challenging task to find information--not entirely friendly and makes me want to abandon it despite your praise.

I hadn't considered the Basque influence so thanks for giving me that to think about danon.

Yes, cost is a factor for such a whacky idea. We are going to be between jobs and should try to be more responsible with finances and not even be thinking these crazy thoughts...buuuuut making ourselves more attractive to employers being bilingualish is working on our resumes; right?!

Robert2533

You'll find it will cost less to attend school in Pamplona, living expenses are lower, but don't worry about the Basque influence in learning Spanish. Euskara, the language of the Basque speakers, and Castilian Spanish have nothing in common.

kimhe

It's quite simple, get in contact at [email protected]

No "Basque influence" here, people speak castillian Spanish as church bells in Donostia-San Sebastian. I've lived here and visited almost every year since the late 80's, but never attended any language shools. I've neverteless been at the summer school for some four-five times during my doctorate project and can assure you the general quality.