Escuela Montalbán Review: Learning Spanish in Granada’s Most Welcoming School

Thinking about Spanish schools in Granada? Here’s why Escuela Montalbán deserves your attention.

Escuela Montalbán is one of those Spanish schools that doesn’t shout the loudest online, but quietly does exactly what many students are looking for: solid teaching, a friendly atmosphere, and a genuinely Andalusian experience in Granada.

An Escuela Montalbán review has to start with this simple fact: if you want big, flashy, and anonymous, this probably isn’t your place. If you want personal, calm, and serious Spanish teaching, then keep reading.

Founded in 1986 and accredited by the Instituto Cervantes since 2002, this is a school with nearly four decades of experience that truly understands learning Spanish goes far beyond the classroom.

A Proper School, Not A Factory

Escuela Montalbán feels like a school created for teaching Spanish properly, rather than for processing as many students as possible.

The building has the atmosphere of a lived-in place rather than a corporate office: bright classrooms, a small patio where students chat in the breaks, and a scale that makes it easy to recognise faces after a day or two.

With around 1,000 students per year, it occupies that perfect middle ground. Not tiny and not anonymous.

This matters more than people think. In a lot of schools, you can go an entire week without the receptionist remembering your name. Here, it feels human.

You notice quickly that staff and teachers talk to students, not just about timetables and payments, but about how their Spanish is going and how they’re settling into the beautiful city of Granada (one of my favourite cities).

In other words, this isn’t a school trying to impress you with gadgets and marketing slogans. It’s trying to teach you Spanish properly.

Teaching That Pushes You (In A Good Way)

For this to be a genuine and useful Escuela Montalbán review, I need to talk about the teaching. I believe this is where the school stands out most.

Classes are structured, and while there’s a clear focus on communication, it doesn’t slip into the “just chat and hope you learn something” trap.

You speak a lot, from the first day, but there’s always a focus on Spanish grammar in a way that’s not tedious.

You’re not just talking; you’re learning how to talk more accurately.

Teachers guide conversations, correct mistakes without killing your confidence, and find that sweet spot where you feel stretched but not overwhelmed.

Furthermore, you leave lessons with the feeling that your brain has worked, but you’re not exhausted or demoralised.

It’s very much that old-school, professional approach: experienced teachers, clear objectives, and a steady rhythm of progress.

Small Groups, Real Attention

If you’ve ever sat in a class of 12-15 people, you already know what happens: the same three confident students speak all the time, and everyone else hopes not to be asked anything too difficult.

Escuela Montalbán keeps groups small. That means a maximum of 10 students and an average of just 6 per class.

You’re involved. You answer questions. You’re asked to explain, compare, improvise. The teacher hears your errors because there’s nowhere to hide, and that’s exactly what you want if you’re serious about improving.

This has a very practical effect. You don’t lose weeks of your stay just “being in the room”. It means you’re participating, being corrected, and moving forward. And any honest Escuela Montalbán review should underline that this is one of the school’s biggest strengths.

Combined Courses: Spanish Plus Real-Life Experiences

One of the most distinctive features of Escuela Montalbán is its wide range of combined Spanish courses. These programmes are perfect for students who want to improve their Spanish while fully enjoying their stay in Spain.

Spanish is combined with activities that connect language learning to Andalusian culture and everyday life:

• Spanish and Andalusian cooking, learning the language while discovering local flavours and traditional recipes

• Spanish and hiking or climbing, exploring the stunning landscapes around Granada and the Sierra Nevada

• Spanish and horse riding in beautiful natural surroundings

• Spanish and dance, including Flamenco, Salsa and Tango

• Photographic walks, ideal for students who want to practice Spanish while capturing the essence of Granada
  

These courses are especially appealing to students from the UK and the USA who are looking for more than a traditional language course. They want a meaningful cultural experience.

Granada As Your Classroom

Part of what makes the whole experience work is Granada itself.

This birthplace of poet Federico García Lorca is without a doubt one of the most fascinating cities in southern Spain.

Granada a lively university town with almost 300,000 inhabitants and more than 60,000 students. It’s a city that feels made for language learners.

Big enough to be interesting, small enough to be manageable, and full of local life rather than just tourists.

You finish class and within ten minutes you can be:

• Squeezing into a noisy tapas bar, trying out your Spanish at the counter

• Wandering through the Albaicín, overhearing Andalusian Spanish on every corner

• Sitting in a café, doing your homework with views of the Sierra Nevada in the background

With its world-famous Alhambra, rich culture and lively nightlife, Granada is the ideal place to base yourself when you study Spanish.

Enjoy a weekend on the Mediterranean coast; participate in winter sports, horse-riding or trekking in the Sierra Nevada; organise a trip to the marvellous villages of the Alpujarra mountains; watch gypsy flamenco in Sacromonte or dance salsa and tango in one of Granada’s many exciting bars; visit the Arab bath; stroll through the narrow streets of the old Moorish quarter, Albaicín.

I love that the school leans into this. Activities and suggestions are geared around actually using your Spanish in the city, not just ticking off sightseeing boxes.

It feels less like “organised fun” and more like being nudged towards real-life practice in a place that rewards curiosity.

What’s more, the cost of living is lower than in many other Spanish cities, and the city offers endless opportunities to practise Spanish in real-life situations.

Long-Term Programmes and Student Visas

Escuela Montalbán has extensive experience working with long-term students, particularly from the United States, who come to Spain on a student visa.

The school offers courses lasting from 12 to 53 weeks, fully adapted to visa requirements, and provides guidance throughout the entire process.

Many students choose these programmes as a first step towards continuing their studies at Spanish universities.

This makes Escuela Montalbán an excellent choice for students who are looking for:

• A solid and structured Spanish learning programme
  
• An academically recognised school (Instituto Cervantes accredited and DELE examination centre)
  
• A real pathway towards higher education in Spain
• Flexible long-term options with 20 group classes per week

Who Escuela Montalbán Is (And Isn’t) For

To keep this Escuela Montalbán review honest, it’s worth being clear about who is likely to be happy here.

You’ll probably like this school if you:

• Want a calm, friendly environment rather than a high-energy party school
  
• Care more about good teachers and real progress than about trendy branding
  
• Prefer small groups where you can’t disappear into the background
  
• Like the idea of studying in a neighbourhood school with nearly 40 years of experience
  
• Are interested in combining Spanish with cultural activities like cooking, flamenco, or outdoor adventures
  
• Need a long-term programme with student visa support

Escuela Montalbán is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that’s a good thing.

It knows what it does well and sticks to it.

My Final Thoughts

If you’ve read more than one Escuela Montalbán review, you’ll notice a pattern.

People talk about the teachers, the atmosphere, and Granada itself more than about glossy extras. That says a lot.

This is a school for students who actually want to learn Spanish, not just collect photos and certificates.

With almost four decades of experience, it offers experienced teachers, small groups (averaging 6 students), officially recognised qualifications, unique combined courses, and a genuinely warm environment in one of the most distinctive cities in Spain.

If that’s what you’re looking for, Escuela Montalbán should be very high on your shortlist.