Description
Spanish Lessons – the balance of the full course 11-50 core lessons video, course notes and test, plus Spoken Spanish practice lessons P1-P50 with all videos, interactive quizzes and notes. (with a core 1-10 credit) and with WordAmigo free. This course is ONLY available to students who have already purchased core lessons 1-10
There are two parts to this full course.
The balance of the 50-lesson core course that focuses on the structure of the Spanish language, preparing you for our intense spoken Spanish course. Each of the 50 lessons comes with a streaming video (average video length is 45 minutes) and lesson notes in PDF and Word format for reading on-screen or downloading for printing. Each lesson can be watched as often as the student wishes on a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Throughout the course, there are a variety of self-assessment tests and additional support materials. There is easy access to tutorial support.
Advanced and Intermediate students should note that this Core online course comes with a Cast-iron guarantee that if students list lessons in this block in which they learnt nothing, no questions will be asked, and credits in Spoken Spanish practice lessons will be issued.
When the core course is complete, then students are ready for the Spoken Spanish practice lessons.
The second part of the course is Spoken Spanish practice lessons P1-P50 with all videos, interactive quizzes and notes.
This block of lessons has a very varied format. Each lesson has two or three videos (the average lesson is 75 minutes.) They are intense, so many students do one video daily to avoid brain melt.
The real focus of these lessons is ‘tuning’ your ears so that you can understand the ever-faster spoken Spanish you are confronted with daily.
Across these practice lessons, 90% of time its James, extending your ability to understand and speak, but there are 11 different Spanish speakers, ages from seven to 70, with a wide variety of regional accents.
There is a wide variety of lesson types, from Gameshow formats to quizzes, and some lessons require pre-watching preparation.
Additionally, there are a host of bonus lessons, Spanish expressions, keywords quizzes and a very addictive Spanish numbers game, the real solution to numbers on the fly. This course focuses on spoken Spanish, so it does not align with any standard academic course. However, the completion certificate issued holds weight in Extranjero Residencia renewal applications because its proof of integration efforts.
The WordAmigo system is a major advance over any other method for everyone wanting to learn European Spanish. (Castellano)
It is a carefully structured, stand alone learning product. But when it comes with JSS course, it contains all the JSS verb & keyword lists. Additionally you can effortlessly create your own word list from the 11,000 English—European Spanish (Castellano) word pairings across 150 subjects chosen by experienced expats who actively interact with the wider Spanish community..
You can build your vocabulary from the subjects with words you want or need to learn and WordAmigo helps you learn them and pronounce them correctly.
Payment Terms: Pay the full amount today or pay for this course over six monthly instalments (the first sixth today) using your credit or debit card. (the options present themselves at the checkout.)
Gill Brown (verified owner) –
I tried evening classes many years ago but have found the JSS system much better for me. I’m currently doing the course with my husband who has no experience of learning a language. JSS is great because we can repeat lessons whenever we want and go back over grammar to double-check things. The verb test is really useful; we still do it every other day to really imprint the verbs in our minds. We’ve only done the first few lessons but are really enjoying this part of the course – although it’s also quite hard. The tips about not trying to translate have really helped, and we are using this in bars and restaurants. We feel that we are starting to pick up more meaning and are able to understand more on the TV. Hopefully by the end of this stage we will be understanding more. We will be repeating these lessons as well, which is a huge benefit of this course. I’ve found the cultural tips fascinating.
Sarah Shipton (verified owner) –
James Spanish School is a fantastic learning resource and kick-started my Spanish learning journey. The lessons are perfect to learn on the move whilst walking or driving as they are an hour long each. I have done the course almost 3 times and each time was as good as the first. James explains the language brilliantly as, although he’s British he’s lived in Spain almost his whole life. His sense of humour is wicked, and he makes the learning funny, fun and engaging. There is also a good dose of Spanish cultural insight which is fascinating and educational. I would recommend this course to anyone. The spoken Spanish course was a great move forward from the first. I’ve done this section three times and as there is so much great content I learned more and more each time. There were loads of sentences and all useful content that you’d use in real life situations. It really built my confidence and listening skills. Someone from James’ team, and very often James himself, is always quick to answer any questions you might have. The community group is fantastic. Lots of people happy to help and share their journey. The cultural clips are brilliant and a great addition giving real context and explanation to Spain’s cultural idiosyncrasies. Being part of the community really helps to keep the momentum going.
Patrick Hughes (verified owner) –
Just finished both the core course and the spoken and really enjoyed both. James’ way of teaching and his jokes make it funny and great for learning. I have a holiday home in Spain and find after doing the spoken course I am able to chat with my neighbours and tradesmen without being nervous. I also love that you have it forever as I have done other courses that only give access for 1 year. Highly recommend. Patrick After doing the spoken Spanish my level increased and my confidence was much better. I now speak to neighbours and tradesmen without feeling too nervous. Fantastic course and great value. Really enjoying the weekly cultural tips. James’ unique way of teaching makes learning fun.
Chris Anne Campbell (verified owner) –
I started learning with Duolingo and found I knew a lot of words but not what to do with or how to use them. Went on to a local class in my area but due to too few students the teacher unfortunately had to close the class, which was a shame because he taught everyday speaking Spanish without the big word jargon that I don’t even understand in English. I came across JSS through a group and thought why not….. so glad I did. He teaches what’s needed in a fun way but explains everything, how, why etc without the scary jargon that all just makes sense. I can learn at my own pace, yes did go for a while not watching but as I’d bought the course, I could return, go over lessons and now continuing. I found I can understand locals more, converse more confidently albeit nowhere near fluent yet, but surprised myself last month when in Spain I could give a taxi driver directions to a place I was going to but hard to find – so chuffed and so was the driver. Thank you James and crew! Although I have not reached the spoken lessons yet, I know that they will fully enhance my understanding and confidence when I start. The JSS community is a Godsend. The questions and answers are there when you doubt or question something. Someone will have had the same thoughts and the answers are there. When I had stopped for a wee while, the FB group gave me the boost to start again when I saw others progress. Also the wee culture clips are a right insight to life in Spain and things we can be doing wrong. Makes me chuckle when James says bet someone has done that, and I think yep, me! All a learning curve – not just about learning a language, it’s also the culture. A thread James takes through all the lessons, clips, community etc and all done seriously but often with a very tongue in cheek humour; even though it’s a prerecorded video, you sometimes think he’s talking directly to you.
Nicky Holmes (verified owner) –
After trying Duolingo and a very basic night class (huddled in the corner of a country pub) I was beginning to feel it was hopeless. Once I moved to Spain I joined James Spanish School online and in classroom which was a breath of fresh air. James’ style of teaching is wonderful – he makes learning a language so comprehensive and fun along the way. We ended up having to stay back in the UK for quite long periods helping look after a sick relative so we were able to continue the course online and not miss out which was perfect. The way James explains the language is brilliant, and his jokes added in really help you to remember the rules of the language. It’s such a fun way to learn. I was absolutely dreading the verb test at the end of the 1st year, but I tried to learn the verbs and was thrilled when I achieved 100% (I’ve never had 100% in my life) – I do believe it is all down to the enjoyment of learning James encourages and of course his lessons and style. Having the lessons online for life means I can go over them at any time to refresh or revisit points I struggle with – the ABA and Ian rule makes it so much easier to understand. James also adapts his lessons to give us cultural information and tells us about Spanish Christmas, the Belen and looking for the Carbon is one of my favourites. Thanks, James, for all your continued support and kindness throughout and in the future. Wonderful experience. Once we started the spoken lessons the fun really began. Everyone in my group was extremely nervous and apprehensive about this. But off James led us down the path with such confidence and belief in us all that it became a fun part of my week and learning seemed much easier. You actually realised without really knowing just how much language you had absorbed – it was a nice surprise to feel it all coming together. James always helped if we were struggling but prompted us to find the right words or translate ourselves where possible. His encouraging methods helped us all feel confident and relaxed enough to have a go at any translation or sentence without feeling self-conscious. I listen to Spanish radio or conversations and realise I can understand what they are saying and don’t actually need to translate it in my head any more, which is amazing. There is still work to be done, and I need to continue practising and revisiting the lessons to lock it into my head, but it’s a great enjoyable way to pass an hour. I never thought I would ever get to the level of speaking and understanding I have achieved, and it’s all thanks to James. Being part of the James Spanish School family has helped immensely. To know you’re not alone with your learning and can ask any questions, no matter how silly it feels, without feeling stupid, and read the Q&A and see others are of the same mindset helps. Living in Spain, James explains social codes and things the Spanish do so that we can understand how to live here. Also about weddings, christenings etc and what’s expected of you as a guest, which really helps as we all have Spanish friends here now and know how to respect their codes. Living in Spain, the difference is a great series which covers lots of aspects of life in Spain. Keep up the good work James, your lessons are invaluable.
Lisa Rowlinson (verified owner) –
I purchased the full course from James Spanish School in September last year and have now worked my way through the first 50 lessons. I have learnt some Spanish in the past (1hr per week face to face lessons), so the first lessons were really revision for me. However, even with having some knowledge of Spanish I have enjoyed James’ style of teaching Spanish from the very beginning. This is about learning to speak and understand Spanish, not vocabulary, so you probably need to learn vocabulary alongside this course. The lessons are engaging and sometimes amusing. They are for all levels, so can sometimes feel a bit repetitive if you already know the point or understand it quickly. Having said that it’s better than rushing through and missing bits. I liked being able to work at my own pace, sometimes doing three or four lessons a week and other times when busy not doing a lesson for two or three weeks. You do have to be disciplined though and working alongside a friend (as I do) helps. The whole package is good value for money, compared to what you would pay for 1:1 or classroom lessons. I would recommend these lessons to anyone starting to learn Spanish or wanting to refresh their learning. I am about to start this section, so can’t offer a review at this time. The support side of the course is good and the comment section for every lesson can be very helpful. I haven’t posted any questions or comments myself but have used them and can see all questions get answered quickly, which is very good. I have enjoyed the cultural tips from James; he certainly understands what people need to know about Spain and its culture and customs. His comments seem to be aimed at the ‘retired Brit’ audience, but are also useful to people like myself (I own a house in Spain and want to be able to speak the language and fully understand the way of living in Spain).
Amanda Burton (verified owner) –
Only just started the course but finding it very good. Previously using Duolingo and then discovered it was based on Latin American Spanish as opposed to local Spanish. James makes the lessons fun by telling jokes and stories which is a really refreshing style of teaching and really makes the words etc memorable as you have something to relate it to. Dad jokes are hilarious. I haven’t yet moved into the spoken lessons but am excited to do so after experiencing the first few lessons. What I like the best is rather than just learning words by repetition, parrot fashion – JSS provides understanding of the words and verbs etc and therefore helps you to use them in sentences and in context. It has definitely improved my confidence in trying to use Spanish in shops and restaurants after only a few lessons. Totally surprised myself that I ordered a table for 4, drinks and food and the bill in a restaurant all in Spanish! Even if it’s not totally correct, the fact you try is respected. Thank you JSS for such a great course and course delivery presentation. I am looking forward to continuing the journey with you and improving with each and every lesson. Not yet progressed to the spoken Spanish sessions but excited to do so after experiencing the initial lessons. The community surrounding the lessons is precious. The hilarious cultural clips are great, the option to ask questions at each session helps, and interacting with others going through the same learning experience at different levels and pace keeps you motivated.
Dawn Humphrey (verified owner) –
I am so happy to have found this course and fully recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to speak Spanish. I have done apps, courses run by the local council, online tutors and also face-to-face lessons with Spanish tutors, but I can honestly say that I learn so much better with James Spanish School online, as he explains things in a way that ‘just makes sense’ and there are no headaches with grammar either. Brilliant! I have only done the spoken lessons up to lesson 28 so far. I then went back to the start of the spoken lessons to see if they were any easier the second time round – the honest truth is: yes they definitely were. Furthermore, I found the tip that James gives not to focus onto only the words you know and instead to just ‘go with it’ and try (in my own words) to just get ‘the gist’ of what was being said. This really does help. However, from doing this review, I realise I have missed out ‘practising every sentence in private’ – I simply hadn’t even thought to do this. When I ask myself ‘When did I first realise I could follow a full conversation in Spanish without translating it?’ – I would say, that happened when I went back and just listened to the smarty-pants versions of the early spoken lessons. Looking back, I wished I had been advised to do 3 lessons a week to make real progress. Even 2 would have been beneficial. There are many weeks I didn’t push myself enough. I kind of hit a brick wall and found that even though I could definitely understand a lot more, I still didn’t have the confidence to try speaking it more when out and about. I do 2 intercambios a week and this does help, but practising spoken Spanish is still difficult. I have found the Q&A chat really useful and have often been amazed just how quickly a reply has been posted. Being part of the group for other learners has helped tremendously, however far they are down their path. It is good to measure yourself against others, be encouraging to each other and not be scared to ask the odd ‘daft’ question. I have found the cultural clips are absolutely fantastic and very useful. The ones that instantly come to mind are the ones about Once and the Christmas lottery – before your clips, I really didn’t know ‘how they worked’ and was too shy to ask. Every single clip has been a tremendous help. Thank you, James and the team.
Brian Philbin (verified owner) –
I’m 77 years old, I signed up for James’s course after struggling with other courses. I was beginning to think I was too old. I wasn’t! James’s course was a revelation for me. Finally, I’d found a course that I understood and one that was such good fun! Unfortunately, surgery stopped me in my tracks but I’m ready to crack on again now. Undoubtedly, James’s course gave me the confidence to not only try to speak Spanish but to embrace it along with the culture. Okay, I’m not fluent but I can converse and get round a conversation. I fully recommend James’s course, especially as a beginner just like me. If I can do it, anyone can.
Allison Galston (verified owner) –
I studied Spanish at school so already knew a few words but wasn’t able to string a sentence together. I found the grammar jargon confusing in English so trying to apply this to a second language really held me back. When we decided to move to Spain I thought that I would give it another go. After making enquiries on Facebook groups, James Spanish School was regularly recommended as a fun course which didn’t follow a traditional school type syllabus but taught subjects that you actually need in day to day life in Spain. I expected that the first few lessons would be fairly basic and that I’d probably have learned this content at school but straight from the off in the first lesson James showed me a simple trick to add -ing to a word ending that I wasn’t aware of. The way that James explained the structure of the language and why it was that way really helped the information to stick in a way that it hadn’t previously. As the weeks passed I was starting to recognise more words when we were out and even started to practise speaking with short sentences in Spanish – I felt so much more confident than I ever had before. Now, I couldn’t leave a review without mentioning James’s sense of humour! He has his own unique style which is basically “”Dad”” humour (rolls eyes) – this, along with the various explanations around Spanish culture, does make the lessons interesting and fun. I’m still progressing with the spoken lessons but so far I think it’s helping to reinforce the vocabulary and language rules learned during the core course and is definitely helping to train my ear to recognise and understand the spoken word at a regular pace. The lessons come with the sentences in written format which I like to read and try to translate ahead of the spoken lesson. As time goes on I’m going to try just going straight into the spoken, but I don’t think I’m quite ready for this yet. Each lesson is broken into roughly half-hour sessions which is enough – it’s definitely more intense than the core lessons, especially the ones with words and numbers. I like that there are quizzes included too which keeps things interesting. I know that I’m making progress with the spoken language because I’m able to pick up more conversations when I’m out where previously I could only pick out odd words. I’ve still a way to go but being able to understand the locals’ conversations gives me the confidence and determination to continue in my learning. The tutorial support alongside the lessons has been really useful – just being able to ask a question to aid understanding is a real lifeline with the online lessons. I always read through previous questions too just in case something has been raised that I hadn’t thought about. I love the culture clips too and often share the information with friends. I remember when we first arrived and had to keep going into the bank almost daily – the Spanish people didn’t seem to queue which as an English person I found very odd. Then James explained how this works here in Spain as one of the culture clips. The next time I went to the bank I actually understood that when the Spanish person came in and said ‘último’ to various people they were actually getting in the queue. The culture clips are now on YouTube and I’ve already shared them with a few friends who are thinking of moving to Spain.
Linda Binney (verified owner) –
I have lived in Spain for 10 years. BJ (before James) pre covid I spent 3 years studying Spanish at the local Escuela de Idiomas, levels A1, A2, B1. I learned lots of vocabulary and grammar, but I was still tentative in conversation with Spanish neighbours, in shops and restaurants. I was reluctant to have to do year one of the course, but James was right, to learn with him in his way was necessary and what a result! After a few months my confidence and ability increased hugely, and I was able to converse so much better that friends and neighbours commented on my much improved Spanish, thank you, James! Using the hints and tips, the 3 been, easier use of Haber and the use of 2 or 3 verbs together all contributed to enabling me to better use all the verbs and grammar I knew and talk to people in without having to think it all through first. And the test, the 45 most important things to know… It is a great reminder of what is important, and I still go back and review it as a refresher when I feel the need, I really appreciate being able to go back to this and other lessons if and when I feel the need. Year 2 then really helped me to better tune my ear to listening to different spoken Spanish. It is great to be able to talk to people but if you do not understand their reply you are not a lot better off! I enjoyed listening to different people speaking, and although I have finished the course I still use it every day when I am walking on my treadmill (to prevent boredom and improve my listening skills at the same time, yay!) The Pasapalabra lessons were my absolute favourite! What a great idea! And also the ones asking personal questions, very useful and entertaining! I am now able to understand more (but sadly not yet all) of what is said to me. Because of my great improvements thanks to the course, I am now the official translator when my husband and I go out with our Spanish friends as they do not speak English and his Spanish is limited… and I am teaching my Spanish friend to speak English (I have a TEFL certificate) and I am mostly able to explain things to her in Spanish (alcohol helps!). I never thought I would be able to do that, thanks James! I have found all the extras in this course that you do not find elsewhere (like most people I have tried many other courses before this one!) Can really help with your Spanish language learning and also with understanding the cultural and social codes in Spain which better help you integrate in your village or town. Finally, to anyone considering this course I would just say, Go for it! In my opinion it is the best course around online for learning Spanish, at least it has been for me and for many of the friends that I have recommended it to.
Allison Galston (verified owner) –
I studied Spanish at school so already knew a few words but wasn’t able to string a sentence together. I found the grammar jargon confusing in English so trying to apply this to a second language really held me back. When we decided to move to Spain I thought that I would give it another go. After making enquiries on Facebook groups, James Spanish School was regularly recommended as a fun course which didn’t follow a traditional school type syllabus but taught subjects that you actually need in day to day life in Spain. I expected that the first few lessons would be fairly basic and that I’d probably have learned this content at school but straight from the off in the first lesson James showed me a simple trick to add -ing to a word ending that I wasn’t aware of. The way that James explained the structure of the language and why it was that way really helped the information to stick in a way that it hadn’t previously. As the weeks passed I was starting to recognise more words when we were out and even started to practise speaking with short sentences in Spanish – I felt so much more confident than I ever had before. Now, I couldn’t leave a review without mentioning James’s sense of humour! He has his own unique style which is basically “”Dad”” humour (rolls eyes) – this, along with the various explanations around Spanish culture, does make the lessons interesting and fun. I’m still progressing with the spoken lessons but so far I think it’s helping to reinforce the vocabulary and language rules learned during the core course and is definitely helping to train my ear to recognise and understand the spoken word at a regular pace. The lessons come with the sentences in written format which I like to read and try to translate ahead of the spoken lesson. As time goes on I’m going to try just going straight into the spoken, but I don’t think I’m quite ready for this yet. Each lesson is broken into roughly half-hour sessions which is enough – it’s definitely more intense than the core lessons, especially the ones with words and numbers. I like that there are quizzes included too which keeps things interesting. I know that I’m making progress with the spoken language because I’m able to pick up more conversations when I’m out where previously I could only pick out odd words. I’ve still a way to go but being able to understand the locals’ conversations gives me the confidence and determination to continue in my learning. The tutorial support alongside the lessons has been really useful – just being able to ask a question to aid understanding is a real lifeline with the online lessons. I always read through previous questions too just in case something has been raised that I hadn’t thought about. I love the culture clips too and often share the information with friends. I remember when we first arrived and had to keep going into the bank almost daily – the Spanish people didn’t seem to queue which as an English person I found very odd. Then James explained how this works here in Spain as one of the culture clips. The next time I went to the bank I actually understood that when the Spanish person came in and said ‘último’ to various people they were actually getting in the queue. The culture clips are now on YouTube and I’ve already shared them with a few friends who are thinking of moving to Spain.
Linda Binney (verified owner) –
I have lived in Spain for 10 years. BJ (before James) pre covid I spent 3 years studying Spanish at the local Escuela de Idiomas, levels A1, A2, B1. I learned lots of vocabulary and grammar, but I was still tentative in conversation with Spanish neighbours, in shops and restaurants. I was reluctant to have to do year one of the course, but James was right, to learn with him in his way was necessary and what a result! After a few months my confidence and ability increased hugely, and I was able to converse so much better that friends and neighbours commented on my much improved Spanish, thank you, James! Using the hints and tips, the 3 been, easier use of Haber and the use of 2 or 3 verbs together all contributed to enabling me to better use all the verbs and grammar I knew and talk to people in without having to think it all through first. And the test, the 45 most important things to know… It is a great reminder of what is important, and I still go back and review it as a refresher when I feel the need, I really appreciate being able to go back to this and other lessons if and when I feel the need. Year 2 then really helped me to better tune my ear to listening to different spoken Spanish. It is great to be able to talk to people but if you do not understand their reply you are not a lot better off! I enjoyed listening to different people speaking, and although I have finished the course I still use it every day when I am walking on my treadmill (to prevent boredom and improve my listening skills at the same time, yay!) The Pasapalabra lessons were my absolute favourite! What a great idea! And also the ones asking personal questions, very useful and entertaining! I am now able to understand more (but sadly not yet all) of what is said to me. Because of my great improvements thanks to the course, I am now the official translator when my husband and I go out with our Spanish friends as they do not speak English and his Spanish is limited… and I am teaching my Spanish friend to speak English (I have a TEFL certificate) and I am mostly able to explain things to her in Spanish (alcohol helps!). I never thought I would be able to do that, thanks James! I have found all the extras in this course that you do not find elsewhere (like most people I have tried many other courses before this one!) Can really help with your Spanish language learning and also with understanding the cultural and social codes in Spain which better help you integrate in your village or town. Finally, to anyone considering this course I would just say, Go for it! In my opinion it is the best course around online for learning Spanish, at least it has been for me and for many of the friends that I have recommended it to.
Martin Switzer (verified owner) –
I learned a little bit of Spanish over the years while holidaying in Spain and more recently on Duolingo. I built up a small vocabulary but couldn’t put meaningful sentences together. Lo and behold, I came across the JSS and since then, my level of Spanish has improved significantly. James teaches Spanish in a ‘ladybird’ way that makes it much easier for the student to understand and to continue to the next lesson. I have found the online lessons extremely useful and easily accessible at times that suit me. I’m now midway through the spoken lessons and while my progress is slow and steady, I’m really enjoying this journey.
Gary Friend (verified owner) –
I can’t recommend the JSS Spanish Course highly enough. James has a brilliant way of explaining everything in clear, simple terms right from the start. He begins with the basics and uses practical, easy-to-follow tools that make building sentences feel natural and intuitive. You quickly gain a solid understanding of grammar, including how to confidently use masculine and feminine forms. Like many people, I started out with Duolingo and learnt some basic Spanish. One thing that really stood out to me is how much this course improves the quality of your Spanish. I often hear fellow expats, some who’ve lived in Spain for 10-20 years, making grammatical mistakes, and realised I used to do the same. The course helped me understand why direct translations from English don’t always work, and how to speak more naturally and correctly. I’ve genuinely learned so much, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. The cultural insights are a fantastic bonus – interesting, entertaining, and genuinely useful for everyday life in Spain. And the icing on the cake is James’s sense of humour. I’ve laughed out loud many times, which makes learning even more enjoyable and keeps you engaged throughout. Overall, the course offers excellent value for money – especially with the generous discounts available for family and friends. If you’re thinking about learning Spanish, don’t look anywhere else as you’ll get everything you need from this course. I’m only on lesson 37 at the moment but really looking forward to the spoken Spanish practice lessons. The interaction on the course in regard to any questions students have is fantastic, questions and comments are responded to quickly. Much like the Facebook group which has become an additional source of useful information. It’s not like buying a course and then ‘thanks for your money – off you go’, it’s a feeling of continual support from James. Reading what other students experience with life in Spain is also interesting and helpful and does motivate me, as do the cultural clips which James posts on a regular basis. In fact, I have had a number of months off learning due to moving house, and it was the Facebook group and culture tips that have kicked me up the backside and filled me with motivation to crack on and get back on track.
Julie Gill (verified owner) –
I am now onto lesson 11 on the spoken Spanish. I found it difficult in the beginning, but with constant repeating the lessons, I am now understanding it a lot more. I feel a lot more confident now speaking Spanish. In fact at my local Spanish run café, they are quite impressed with how much my Spanish has improved. A part of James’ course has a section of questions and answers, so you can ask any question without feeling stupid. I find reading other people’s questions and answers very useful. James’ response is always very prompt. I love the culture clips that he puts on Facebook, they are very interesting and informative. I found the one about the mould extremely helpful.
Anita Amesbury-Page (verified owner) –
I have purchased JSS Core Course and Word Amigo. Like many, I used Duolingo for many years but found the longer I was on it, the less relevant it became. James is a very funny chap, and this makes for me learning in my 50s much more tolerable. I am a visual learner so having humour within the lessons I actually think is making the learning easier. I am by no means competent, and have yet to get to grips with Word Amigo, but that’s not down to James’s courses – that’s because I am still working. Attending classes is a challenge for me as I am restricted to my time in Spain now, so this is the next best option. James, not sure if available, but one other thing I would like would be 1-1 lessons over the internet, to give accountability which is probably where my learning journey struggles a little. Other than this, if you’re looking to buy his courses, you will definitely get a laugh about Spanish Culture, his wife and fun whilst learning.
Ricky Harris (verified owner) –
After trying a few various Spanish classes and Duolingo I was recommended to try James Spanish School. I attended the physical classes at Polar, and it was the most fun I’ve ever had in school. James simplified what at first was a daunting subject for someone in the mid-fifties. The structure was easy to follow, and the two verb rule was a lifesaver that I have used hundreds of times. I particularly liked the test at the end of each year as it was a great guide to how far we had come. Thanks to James I can communicate to a decent level in my job which includes having to speak Spanish on a daily basis. The spoken Spanish lessons were probably my favourite lessons because it gave me the chance to put into practice all we had learned in the lessons. The hardest part for me was trying to sound Spanish and not some Truck Driver from South London – over a relatively small amount of time I managed to pick up the pronunciation to a decent level, although I will never be able to roll my R’s. One of the most helpful pieces of advice was not to try to pick out words but to let the sentence flow because getting stuck on one word means you won’t get to hear the whole sentence – this is something I still have to do in everyday situations, and it really works for me. I found being able to ask questions at the moment very helpful and a bit of a godsend. Some of my favourite lessons have been the cultural ones where we got to learn many different things about life in Spain. I love living and working in Spain and thanks to James it is a lot easier when you can communicate with the locals.
Gary Friend (verified owner) –
I can’t recommend the JSS Spanish Course highly enough. James has a brilliant way of explaining everything in clear, simple terms right from the start. He begins with the basics and uses practical, easy-to-follow tools that make building sentences feel natural and intuitive. You quickly gain a solid understanding of grammar, including how to confidently use masculine and feminine forms. Like many people, I started out with Duolingo and learnt some basic Spanish. One thing that really stood out to me is how much this course improves the quality of your Spanish. I often hear fellow expats, some who’ve lived in Spain for 10-20 years, making grammatical mistakes, and realised I used to do the same. The course helped me understand why direct translations from English don’t always work, and how to speak more naturally and correctly. I’ve genuinely learned so much, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. The cultural insights are a fantastic bonus – interesting, entertaining, and genuinely useful for everyday life in Spain. And the icing on the cake is James’s sense of humour. I’ve laughed out loud many times, which makes learning even more enjoyable and keeps you engaged throughout. Overall, the course offers excellent value for money – especially with the generous discounts available for family and friends. If you’re thinking about learning Spanish, don’t look anywhere else as you’ll get everything you need from this course. I’m only on lesson 37 at the moment but really looking forward to the spoken Spanish practice lessons. The interaction on the course in regard to any questions students have is fantastic, questions and comments are responded to quickly. Much like the Facebook group which has become an additional source of useful information. It’s not like buying a course and then ‘thanks for your money – off you go’, it’s a feeling of continual support from James. Reading what other students experience with life in Spain is also interesting and helpful and does motivate me, as do the cultural clips which James posts on a regular basis. In fact, I have had a number of months off learning due to moving house, and it was the Facebook group and culture tips that have kicked me up the backside and filled me with motivation to crack on and get back on track.