Learn Spanish in Nerja

Nerja is a town of around 20,000 inhabitants, situated just fifty minutes from Malaga on Spain's Costa del Sol, which has successfully preserved its Andalusian character. Surrounded by mountains and stunning beaches, the town has an ideal climate, with an average annual temperature of 20ºC. Although its history goes back as far as the Palaeolithic, the town owes its name and origin to the Moors, i.e., "Narixa" in Arabic means “abundant spring”. The warm, extrovert nature of the locals, local calibrations such as the Carnival and the Holy Week, as well as the town's proximity to major cities of the South (Malaga, Granada, Seville), make Nerja an ideal place to learn Spanish and to discover the country’s culture.

Nerja Highlights

The Prehistoric Caves of Nerja
The Prehistoric Caves of Nerja and the small white-washed villages in the surrounding countryside are well worth visiting. These caves consist of a series of caverns and concerts are regularly held in one of the chambers, which forms a natural amphitheatre.

Water Sports
The cleanliness of its waters and the warm climate make the Mediterranean coast of Andalucía a popular place to enjoy water sports. The most popular include sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, surfing and diving. There are clubs for most water sports in all major coast resorts and instruction is generally available. Rowing and canoeing are possible on many lakes and rivers, where canoes and kayaks can usually be rented.

Nightlife

Nerja has many restaurants, bars and clubs open till early morning, live music venues with music to suit a variety of ages and tastes and –inevitably - the odd karaoke bar. The centre of activity, particularly during the summer months, remains in and around Plaza Tutti Frutti.

A good place to start the evening is at the Balcon de Europa which is surrounded by café bars with bear gardens. From here you can head east towards c/Gloria where the Round Bar is an excellent spot for drinks and tapas.

Our Spanish Language School in Nerja

Our Spanish language school in Nerja stands in the very centre of town, housed in a typical Andalusian building with a private tropical garden, only a few minutes' walk from the local scenic beaches. You will find all types of shops, boutiques, restaurants in the area, which should help to make your stay lively and enjoyable. The school of was founded in 1980, and has been managed ever since, by Renate Urban and Luis Carrión.

School’s Facilities

The School has 14 fully-equipped classrooms. Special mention should be made of the garden, which is perfect for holding outdoor classes or relaxing between the lessons.

A short stroll from our Spanish language school will bring you to the student residence – Club Costa Nerja. Here, apart from having one of the possible choices of accommodation (please, see accommodation tab for details), you will be able to make use of the common room, computers with internet access, a WIFI zone, a bookshop, a library, a cafeteria and a spacious patio, where you can study or chat with your classmates in a friendly and relaxing setting.

The Teachers

All the teachers in the school are Philology and Arts graduates, specializing in the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language. They form a well co-ordinated, enthusiastic team committed to making your language course as effective as possible.

Teaching Methods

Study programmes for the Intensive Course (20 lessons per week in groups having a maximum of 10 students) and Super Intensive Course (30 lessons per week in groups having a maximum of 6 students) are structured into the six learning levels proposed by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, namely, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. In those cases where the student’s level is A1, the specific course starting dates must be consulted.

Insofar as methodology is concerned, the School and the manuals that it uses follow a task-based approach. All classes are taught exclusively in Spanish. Assessment is continuous and, on completing a level or every two weeks, students are required to take a progress test. Additionally, their progress is monitored by means of a personalised follow-up conducted by teachers and the Director of Studies. Upon finishing the course each student receives a certificate awarded by the school.

Cultural Activities

• Outing to the prehistoric caves of Nerja and the towns of Frigiliana and Almuñécar
• Day-trips to Granada, Seville, Malaga and Cordoba
• Three-day trip to Morocco
• Sports activities: beach volleyball and horseback riding
• Social life: school parties, "tapas tour", Spanish films and other interesting events
• Seminars on Spanish culture and civilisation
• Salsa and flamenco courses
• Cooking classes and wine tasting

Every Monday there is a student meeting to present the incoming week’s activities and where new students meet one another and enjoy some typical Spanish hospitality.

Student Residence - Club Costa Nerja

The Moorish-Andalusian style Club Costa Nerja, with 30 rooms, is located in the Old Quarter, just a few minutes' walk from the School and the beaches.

Apart from its sun terrace and private swimming pool, with views of the sea and the mountains, the residence is equipped with all modern conveniences, including an elevator, air conditioning and heating. Power is provided by solar energy panels.

• Standard rooms are available double or single
• Premium rooms come equipped with a TV, a refrigerator and an electric kettle
• All rooms come with ensuite bathrooms
• Breakfasts are included in the price
• Half board option: Lunch or dinner in a nearby Spanish restaurant

A cleaning service is available from Monday to Friday. Rates include change of towels twice a week and change of bedding once a week.

The residence kitchen is a shared facility available to all students staying there.

Facilities available to all students (also those living outside the residence):

• Common room: a meeting place for e-mailing, doing homework, requesting and consulting teachers
• Cafeteria
• TV room
• Computers with internet access
• Free WIFI zone
• Library
• Self-study room
• Cinema with a wide selection of films in Spanish

Spanish Host Families

Ideal for students who wish to live with a Spanish family, learn about Spanish customs and get even more language practice. All the families in Nerja will treat you as another member of the family. All houses are a short distance away from the School and Club Costa Nerja (a maximum of 20 minutes on foot).

• Single or double room with half-board (media pensión): breakfast and lunch (the main meal of the day in Spain is lunch - "al mediodía" – and takes place between 13.30 and 15.00)
• Flat Shares are also available in Host Family configuration (very comfortable flats, near the school and beaches

Each student has his/her own room and access to shared common areas (fully-equipped kitchen, living room with TV and bathroom). Bedding and towels are provided and an end-of-stay cleaning service is included.

Club Costa Nerja Apartments

• Beautiful and spacious flats located in the school’s premises
• A bedroom, a sitting room, a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom and a private terrace with garden view for one or two persons
• Facilities: free WIFI, TV, washing machine, AC/heating (solar energy powered)
• Bedding and towels are provided. An end-of-stay cleaning is included
• Use of Club Costa Nerja swimming pool in Calle San Juan is included

One or Two Bedroom Apartments

• At ten-minute stroll from the School and beaches, these flats are spacious and come with access to the communal swimming pool
• A bedroom, a living room with TV, fully-equipped kitchen with washing machine, and a bathroom
• Bedding towels and end-of-stay cleaning service included
• 1 to 4 persons
• Florida Apartment
• Nueva Nerja

From Malaga's Pablo Ruiz Picasso International Airport

By Bus / Train
You’ll need to take shuttle bus to Malaga Central Bus Station. This option is available from 06.30 to 23.30. Buses leave every 30 minutes and the journey takes approximately one hour. Trains from Malaga airport to Malaga train station are also available. Trains are available from 07.00 to 00.39.

From Malaga Central Bus Station you’ll need to take a different bus to Nerja. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. More info on www.alsa.es

Distance from Nerja bus station to your accommodation is approximately 15-20 minutes on foot.

By Taxi
Taxis leave from right outside the arrivals area and the journey takes approximately 40 minutes. If you are planning to travel from Malaga Airport to Nerja, it is highly advisable to pre-book your taxi. If you jump into a taxi at Malaga airport without pre-booking, the official rate for this journey is currently €95,78 on Saturdays, Sundays and Festival Days and after 10:00pm and €80,98 at all other times (although it’s not uncommon to be charged more!). Nerja Taxis charge €69 and you can pre-book with their English speaking staff here or by calling (+34) 693 900 900.

Tranfers

The school pickup
A representative of the school will collect you at Malaga airport and accompany you to your chosen accommodation in Nerja. Please provide flight company, flight number, arrival time to Malaga airport and city of departure. The journey lasts approximately 60 minutes.