About our teaching methodology
Speakeasy BCN implements a modern teaching methodology designed to help you speak Spanish with confidence. Our methodology is built upon two core principles:
Immersion philosophy
A curriculum for rapid advancement in communication
Below, we’ll explain how each of these help you on your journey to learning Spanish.
Immersion Philosophy
Speakeasy BCN is an accredited language school with the Instituto Cervantes, which means we’re required to offer extracurricular activities. The purpose is to immerse our Spanish students in Spanish culture.
But our school goes one step further: we apply an immersion philosophy to all aspects of our teaching methodology.
What is Immersion Philosophy?
In 1982, the linguist and educational researcher Stephen D. Krashen published a research paper that turned traditional language learning on its head.
He recognized something which may seem obvious: He noted that non-native English speakers in regular Elementary school classes learned the language much faster than students who took standard English as a second language (ESL) classes.
This led him to create the “input hypothesis” which claimed that:
Language acquisition is subconscious: Students pick up a language faster when they’re not consciously “learning” it.
Learning is best without negative emotions: It’s hard to learn a language effectively if you’re embarrassed or afraid of making mistakes.
Speaking is not vocabulary: Memorizing vocabulary does not lead to “spontaneous” and natural speech on its own.
Exposure to challenges: Language learners progress faster when placed in an environment more advanced than their ability.
Language learning has levels: Every person picks up a language according to a natural progression, which can’t be fully recreated in a classroom.
Learning Spanish by living it
Our Spanish courses at Speakeasy BCN are rooted in immersion philosophies, such as those promoted by Stephen D. Krashen.
On your first day, your teacher will encourage you and your classmates to communicate in Spanish — both inside and outside the classroom. We also offer at least two extra-curricular activities a week to help you practice Spanish in a natural, social and non-academic context.
We also aim to teach Spanish through Spanish-language textbooks, resources and cultural materials.
According to our Academic Director, Verónica Hombrados:
“At our school, we firmly believe that the best way to learn a language is to live it. That’s why we take a full immersion approach, allowing students to experience Spanish not just as something to study, but as a living tool for communication, culture, and thought.”
The Speakeasy BCN curriculum
Speakeasy BCN’s curriculum is called the “CASA Program” based on the curriculum promoted by the Instituto Cervantes.
This curriculum distinguishes language ability into 6 different levels going from A1 to C2. These language levels are internationally recognized. As we are an official examination center for the DELE exam — which provides a qualification according to your level — this means you can get influential qualifications for your resumé by studying Speakeasy BCN’s curriculum.
The CASA Program itself stands for “Coherent and Active Spanish Assimilation”. CASA also means “house” in Spanish, and we like to think of the Spanish language as the construction of a building with the six floors corresponding to the 6 language levels recognized by the Instituto Cervantes.
Rapid advancement
One of the key principles of immersion philosophy is creating a learning environment without fear or embarrassment.
To create this kind of space for our students, we provide a level assessment test to ensure you’re placed among others of the same level. Classes are also small (no more than 8-13 students) to make sure everybody gets a chance to speak and ask questions — without feeling embarrassed or ashamed of having a different ability from their classmates.
We also divide each of the 6 levels of our CASA Program into “mini levels”. This achieves two key outcomes:
We group students of a very similar ability together
You progress through language levels much faster
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A1
Floor 1: Beginner
On your first floor of Spanish, you lay the foundation. You learn to understand simple phrases, ask and answer basic questions, and manage everyday tasks such as ordering in a restaurant, shopping, or booking accommodation. This stage opens the door to basic communication and real interaction in Spanish.
Example: “Una mesa para dos, por favor.”
(A table for two, please.) -
A2
Floor 2: Elementary
Climbing to the second floor gives you new tools to talk about your past and your plans for the future. You expand your vocabulary to express opinions and feelings, manage simple conversations in social contexts, and handle everyday situations with more confidence.
Example: “El año pasado viajé a Sevilla y me encantó la ciudad.”
(Last year I traveled to Seville and I loved the city.) -
B1
Floor 3: Intermediate
On the third floor, you begin to move beyond survival Spanish and develop functional fluency. You can share stories, describe experiences, talk about your travels or work, and explain your opinions in more detail. Grammar deepens as you master multiple tenses and begin to use the subjunctive, allowing for richer expression.
Example: “Si tengo más tiempo, estudiaré otro idioma también.”
(If I have more time, I will study another language too.) -
B2
Floor 4: Upper Intermediate
The fourth floor brings fluency in action. You can discuss a wide range of subjects, follow films, articles, and conversations with ease, and interact with native speakers naturally. Your vocabulary grows to include idiomatic expressions and figurative speech, while your accuracy and spontaneity continue to improve.
Example: “Aunque no comparto tu opinión, reconozco que tus argumentos son muy sólidos.”
(Although I don’t share your opinion, I recognize that your arguments are very strong.) -
C1
Floor 5: Advanced
Reaching the fifth floor means you have achieved a high level of command of Spanish. You can understand complex ideas, follow fast-paced conversations, and express yourself fluently and precisely in social, academic, and professional settings. At this stage, you are confident handling any topic or situation in Spanish.
Example: “No es oro todo lo que reluce, pero esta experiencia me ha abierto muchas puertas.”
(All that glitters is not gold, but this experience has opened many doors for me.) -
C2
Floor 6: Proficient
At the top floor, you have reached native-like mastery. You can read, listen, and understand virtually everything with ease, and express yourself effortlessly with nuance and precision. Whether in professional contexts, creative expression, or everyday conversation, you operate at the level of an expert communicator.
Example: “El matiz de sus palabras revela una visión profundamente arraigada en la cultura española.”
(The nuance of his words reveals a vision deeply rooted in Spanish culture.)
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Student books
We use textbooks made for teaching Spanish to foreigners, especially chosen for their modern and complete methodology. They are the “Aula” series from Difusion editorial. The book also includes access to digital resources for extra practice. We also use our own complementary exercises and hand-outs.
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Interactive digital boards
All of our classrooms are equipped with interactive digital boards. The use of technology is a key tool for the academic department of Speakeasy and allows students to learn in a dynamic and complete way.
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Speakeasy certificate
After finishing your studies in Speakeasy, you will get a certificate from the school indicating the dates you completed your studies, the total hours and the level you reached. The official certificate of Spanish as a foreign language is the DELE exam organized by the Instituto Cervantes. Speakeasy is an official examination center of the DELE exam. Speakeasy also offers a preparation course for the DELE.
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Native Spanish teachers
For Speakeasy Language School, the quality of teaching is of utmost importance. Our staff consists solely of highly qualified native Spanish speaking teachers with many years of experience teaching Spanish to foreigners. All of them with higher-education studies in Spanish language or translation and with specific trainings in ELE (teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language).
Speakeasy has helped thousands of students to improve their Spanish - will you be next?
I studied Spanish for 3 months at Speakeasy. I loved it. The professionalism of the teachers and atmosphere of the classes and the school. There are also projectors in the classes that make the way of teaching very interesting and more comfortable. In addition, the receptionists are friendly and always help you. And of course many thanks to my favorite teacher Verónica. For me she was the best. All the classes were always very interesting and fun, we talked, we played. She explains the grammar perfectly. I will definitely return to improve my level of Spanish. I recommend everyone to this school in Barcelona!
Studying Spanish at Speakeasy
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Let us know if you have any questions about our courses, our school and life at Speakeasy.