Regional language courses and practice

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. You can find a suitable course, a free practice route and a realistic study plan for your region.

Start with "A realistic study plan for the regional language alongside Spanish". It helps you set a goal and fit the language around your Spanish learning. Then go to the course page for your region: "Learning Catalan or Valencian free or cheaply after you move" or "Learning Basque or Galician free or cheaply after you move". After that, use "Free conversation partners through official language volunteer schemes" and "Self-study with regional television, radio, apps and dictionaries" to practise.

Looking for Spanish classes, language certificates or the language used in schools? Those are covered elsewhere.

Key rules

• Conversation scheme: Volunteer conversation schemes are mostly free and usually ask for about one hour a week for around ten weeks.
• Spanish first: Reach about A2 in Spanish first, then add the regional language, or start it in parallel where daily life or work requires it.
• Residency: Public courses generally do not require legal residency, though some subsidised ones favour people on the padrón.
• Cheapest route: Regional administration and town hall courses are the cheapest official option; EOI courses cost more.
• Basque: Look for a HABE-recognised euskaltegi, where subsidies lower what you pay.
• Galician: Your town hall or the Xunta's language services are the first place to ask about free or cheap courses.

Regional language courses and practice: the whole process, step by step

• Decide which language you need and how hard it will be, using the study plan article: before you start

• Reach about A2 in Spanish first, then add the regional language, or start both together if daily life or work requires it (see the study plan article): before you enrol in a regional language course

• Find your course provider: Catalan or Valencian in Catalonia, the Balearics or Valencia (see the Catalan or Valencian courses article): a few months before the term you want

• Pre-enrol for Valencian or Balearic Catalan courses at the official language schools (EOIs): in spring, for courses starting in autumn

• Enrol in autumn Catalan, Valencian or Balearic Catalan courses: from June to September

• Enrol in winter or spring Catalan courses in Catalonia: December to January for winter courses; spring windows for spring courses

• Check the dates with each local provider, since universities, town halls and intensive summer courses open their own windows: before each term

• Look at Basque or Galician courses if you live in those regions (see the Basque or Galician courses article): when you plan your term, as dates vary by provider

• Join a free volunteer conversation scheme to practise, which usually asks for one hour a week for ten weeks (see the conversation partners article): alongside your course or while you wait for the next term

• Add self-study with regional television, radio, apps and dictionaries (see the self-study article): throughout, between courses

Enrolment dates change by provider and year, so check each date with the local language centre, school or university before planning around it.

Documents you may need

• Your passport or ID number — Learning Catalan or Valencian free or cheaply after you move

• Proof that you are registered on the padrón — Learning Catalan or Valencian free or cheaply after you move

• An official certificate from the Junta Qualificadora de Coneixements de Valencià — Learning Catalan or Valencian free or cheaply after you move