Frequently asked questions
Answers to the most popular questions about the Taronja Spanish language school, its courses, life in Valencia and much more.
Pre-arrival guide: course, housing and your first day
Answers to common questions before your trip to Valencia: your course, accommodation, first day and preparation. The checklists help you plan each step.
Planning your course and housing
When can I start?
If you already know some Spanish, you can start your course on any Monday, except public holidays. Complete beginners start on set beginner dates; check the course page for the next planned start.
No classes are held on Valencia’s public holidays; an optional cultural programme is usually offered instead. We will confirm the relevant holiday dates before booking.
Do I need a level test before arrival?
Yes. To be placed in the right group from day one, the school asks you to complete the online level test at least 3–4 weeks before your course starts. The test has a written and an oral part; even beginners are asked to fill it in — difficult questions can simply be left blank. Results are for internal school use only and are not sent to students.
Without the test the school cannot guarantee placement at a suitable level; with it, you start classes as soon as you arrive instead of losing time on placement tests on site.
What are the groups and the timetable like?
Classes have a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 students, and each lesson lasts 50 minutes. If a group has fewer than four students, the school reduces the number of lessons (on the intensive course, to half). Study materials are included in the course price for levels A1, A2 and B1.
The zigzag timetable alternates by weekday: some groups study on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons; other groups do the reverse. The school emails a link with your exact timetable on the Friday before the course starts.
How do I book and pay for the course?
Send an enquiry for your course and accommodation through the form on this site. After the programme, dates and final price are agreed, you will receive booking and payment instructions. Under the 2026 terms, the full amount is due no later than 15 days before the first lesson; payment options include bank transfer, Flywire and credit card.
Courses are intended for students aged 18 and over; younger students are accepted only in special cases and with a legal guardian’s consent.
Which accommodation should I choose: apartment, host family or studio?
Shared apartments come in three categories. Basic: shared bathroom, no scheduled cleaning of common areas. Standard: shared bathroom, weekly cleaning of common areas, heating. Superior: private bathroom, weekly cleaning of common areas, heating and a fan. Residents clean their own rooms. Every apartment has Wi-Fi, a kitchen and a washing machine (one white wash and one colour wash per week); in basic apartments your flatmates may include students from other schools or local residents. In June–September a €30 per week supplement applies for air conditioning in the common areas.
Staying with a Spanish host family means half board or full board; towels and bed linen are included and laundry is done once a week. Rooms are individual, and a shared room is only possible for two people travelling together. Tell the school about any special diet or allergies in advance. A private studio is also available.
What to check before you leave
What to prepare before your trip
Booking starts with an enquiry through the form on our website. After the booking confirmation, prepare your travel details: arrival details (day, time and flight number) are passed on following the instructions in your confirmation at least one week before arrival; the airport transfer is booked before the Wednesday before your course starts, and departure transfer details one week before you leave.
accommodation check-in conditions ·
☑︎ Pre-departure checklist
Deposits, keys and cancellations: the money facts
Apartment stays require a refundable deposit paid by credit card. We will confirm the exact refundable deposit before booking. After you leave and the check is complete, the deposit is refunded to the same card — the check can take up to 21 days. If you cancel the accommodation less than 15 days before arrival, the deposit is not refunded.
Lost keys are charged separately — €100 per the apartment rules. A course cancelled no later than 15 days before the start is refunded in full; later, 60% is refunded and 40% is kept by the school as credit towards a future course. No refunds are given once a course has started, except certified illness cases. Accommodation cancelled within 15 days of the start is non-refundable.
What insurance do you need
Before travelling, check what medical and travel cover applies to you in Spain. Students from the EU and Switzerland can check the terms of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/TSE); students from other countries should check their international policy. Your insurer and your home country’s official guidance can help establish the cover you need. Additional medical and travel insurance can be requested separately.
What to pack for an apartment stay
Apartments come with a set of bed linen, but towels are not included — bring your own. In the cold months a basic blanket or quilt is provided. Cleaning products are not part of the apartment: students keep their own room and the common areas clean. On the last day you need to clear your food out of the refrigerator and kitchen.
Arrival and your first day
How to check in
Apartment check-in is on Sundays from 14:00. The keys are kept in a key box next to the school: on the Friday before check-in the school emails you the code and instructions. Host-family check-in is on Sundays from 11:00. Check-out is on Saturdays before 11:00, and the keys are left in your room.
The school is closed at weekends, so check-in is self-service — follow the written instructions in your booking confirmation.
check-in and check-out details ·
☑︎ Check-in checklist
How your first Monday works
On the first Monday students come to reception: at 08:30 for the morning shift or at 14:00 for the afternoon one. Reception gives you a welcome pack and your class assignment; lessons begin at 09:00 or 14:30 accordingly. The school address is Carrer de Garcilaso, 15-B, 46003 Valencia — a pedestrian street in the historic centre by the Serranos towers. Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00–18:30, Friday 9:00–17:00.
Getting from the airport
From Valencia airport the easiest way to the school is the metro (lines 3 or 5, about 20 minutes) to Alameda station and then a walk of about 20 minutes. There are also direct connections with Madrid and Barcelona; another option is flying into Alicante and continuing by bus or train.
School-life questions
What is there to do after class
The intensive course is 20 Spanish lessons plus 5 social lessons per week. At least five didactic activities run every week, most of them free or at a reduced price: the Tuesday evening paella welcome party, language exchange, cooking lessons, culture classes, Walk & Learn city routes and the film club. At weekends the school organises trips — for example to Xàtiva, Sagunto, Peñíscola or the Albufera. The weekly programme is published every Monday.
Which certificates are issued
After the course the school issues a certificate of attendance aligned with the CEFR: it is emailed about two weeks after the course ends, and you need to attend at least 80% of lessons to receive it.
Official DELE diplomas are issued by the Instituto Cervantes and SIELE certificates by the SIELE service — these are separate documents and do not replace the school certificate. Completing a course does not by itself grant an official DELE diploma or SIELE certificate — registration and sitting the exam are required. Taronja is an accredited Instituto Cervantes centre and hosts DELE, SIELE and CCSE exams at the school.
The main school and apartment rules
In class: you cannot enter more than 15 minutes after the start, phones stay switched off, and eating or chewing gum in the classrooms is not allowed. In the apartments: no noise after 23:00 — neighbours may call the police and any fine is paid by all residents; parties in the apartment are grounds for expulsion without an accommodation refund; you cannot move other people into your room; take the rubbish out daily.
Smoking is not allowed in public places in Spain.
Can I take DELE or SIELE at the school
Yes. Taronja is an official DELE and SIELE examination centre. DELE requires prior registration: the school helps you register, and the current dates are confirmed when you register. SIELE can be taken at the school throughout the year by prior arrangement; we will confirm the available date and registration deadline in response to your enquiry. The CCSE exam can also be taken at the school. For preparation, the school recommends an intensive course plus private lessons focused on the exam.
Haven’t found the answer to your question?
Contact us — we will be happy to help with any questions about the courses and services.