Expanish’s 'Spanish at the City' Program takes students beyond the classroom and into the living, breathing culture of their host cities. It’s the perfect opportunity to use Spanish in meaningful, real-world contexts while connecting with the local community.
Imagine practicing your Spanish while discussing Gaudí’s architectural legacy in Barcelona, peeling back the layers of history in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor, or exploring tango’s cultural roots in the streets of Buenos Aires. This is Spanish in the City — a transformative new learning experience from Expanish that turns the city into your classroom.
Spanish in the City is the latest addition to Expanish’s Spanish immersion programs, an innovative module that combines practical language learning with urban exploration and cultural discovery. It is rooted in the concept of experiential learning — that is, learning by seeing, feeling, thinking, doing - which encourages greater student interaction and engagement in dynamic class activities.
Each session takes place at a carefully selected landmark, neighborhood, or cultural site in one of Expanish’s destination cities. This could range from historic palaces and sports stadiums to literary museums and architectural street tours. Once at the chosen site, students complete a series of individual and/or group tasks led by their teacher. These are designed to reinforce language acquisition while also building cultural awareness and critical thinking.
Spanish in the City with Expanish
Available at all Expanish study centres - Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Buenos Aires
Included as part of group courses: ‘Intensive Explore’ (24 lessons p/week) and ‘Intensive Plus’ (30 lessons p/week)
4 Spanish in the City lesson p/week (50 minutes each) - distributed as 2 outings of 1hr 40 mins each.
8 Subject modules: Art, History, Gastronomy, Sport, Literature, Architecture, Illustrious Women and Politics & Society.
Available for all Spanish levels (student tasks are adapted to suit different levels)
Importantly, Spanish in the City is not just a cultural outing. Each session follows a structured lesson plan that includes pre-visit preparation, on-site interaction, and post-visit reflection. Students are given dynamic challenges and discussion prompts relevant to the site and subject area. This encourages the use of Spanish in a variety of forms — from asking questions and conducting short interviews, to writing reflections or presenting their findings. It’s not just about learning the language, but to think in it, to feel it, and to engage with the cultures that shape it. That’s the kind of deep immersion and connection that we think leads to life-changing experiences for our students.
Choose your destination
Spanish in the City Case Study: Churros in Barcelona
We took our students out to visit a famous Barcelona street known for its traditional churrerías. Rather than just sharing some churros con chocolate, students were tasked with visiting three different spots and ordering something from the menu in Spanish. Then, in groups, students were asked to design their own churrería, coming up with a name, design ideas and a menu, including a specialty “house” churro. Finally, each group presented their churrería concept using the vocabulary and expressions they’d learned during the lesson - we ended with a vote on which group has come up with the best original churro recipe.
So what are you waiting for? Join Expanish’s programs with ‘Spanish at the City’ modules for an unforgettable learning experience. It’s the ideal way to truly connect with the city, its culture, people and language—all in one exciting journey.