Why Madrid is a Magnet for International Students Seeking Long-Term Spanish Immersion

Madrid is a hot destination right now - and not just because of the August sun. Spain’s buzzing capital was recently crowned the “Ciudad más deseada de Europa” (The most desired European city) by British travel magazine Wanderlust, ahead of classic destinations like Paris and Rome, because of its outstanding architecture, enviable food scene, cultural richness, and responsible tourism model.

But it’s not only tourists falling in love with Madrid. International students are flocking here too, drawn by the chance to combine city life with immersive learning at places like Expanish. We’re not surprised, but we wanted to find out a bit more about what attracts these international learners to our beautiful home… So we asked some students taking long-term immersion programs to share a bit about their experiences here so far.

Daoming from China, who has been studying with us in Madrid for seven months, shares how daily life fuels progress. “In the beginning, I spoke Spanish really slowly, but now I can talk more quickly.” He adds, “Living in Madrid I need to use Spanish every day—to buy things or travel. And it’s really easy to make friends here as everyone is so nice and interesting.” 

Similarly, Júlia from Brazil, who is three months into a seven-month course, is also seeing the value of deep immersion and structure: “Taking a lot of classes—4 per day, 5 days a week—is great for me because I like how to study. And Madrid is a huge city, so I have many many opportunities to practice.” Júlia says she has become much more confident when speaking. “When I first arrived I was afraid to talk but now, even when making some mistakes, I’m not too worried but I know that I’m learning.

Calista, a 20-year-old from France, shares this feeling: “When I first came here I understood what people were saying, but I was afraid of talking and making mistakes. I’ve learned a lot since and I feel a lot more comfortable now.” Calista says the welcoming atmosphere at Expanish helps. She’s a fan of our Friday “graduation lunches”, where the students and staff come together for a little party. 

All three of our interviewees are keen to put what they’ve learned here to good use. Daoming is interested in studying and working in Spain, while Júlia intends to use Spanish to boost her own career in teaching languages. Calista is already planning to spend more time in Spain with an Erasmus+ program, and says she’s even thinking about moving here to live for a while in the future. 

So, what advice do our long-term students have for others who are thinking about coming to study in Madrid? 

"Don't hesitate to come”, says Calista. “It´s a unique experience and really useful for you. And Madrid is a beautiful city!”

Júlia has a similar message: “Come! You don’t need to be afraid—the school and the teachers are really well prepared to welcome you. So be brave and just do it!”