Question 1

Is Valencia a safe city?

Accepted Answer

Valencia is a very safe and quiet city. You can walk the streets at any time of the day or night. There are never any violent robberies, however, being a fairly large city with many tourists, you have to be on the lookout for thieves and pickpockets.

Question 2

What are the emergency numbers?

Accepted Answer

The most important numbers you can memorize on your mobile phone are: police (092), ambulance (112) and fire brigade (080).

Question 3

Should I buy a SIM card for my mobile phone?

Accepted Answer

Especially if you come from a country that is not part of the European Union, we recommend that you take out a Spanish SIM card in one of the many phone shops that are near Taronja. Doing so is easy, cheap and ensures you always have access to the internet and many minutes of calls.

Question 4

What are the hours of shops, banks, supermarkets and post office?

Accepted Answer

The largest shops and supermarkets are open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and some are also open on Sundays. The smaller shops are open from Monday to Friday and usually have a siesta break from 14:00h to 17:00h (some are also open on Saturday and Sunday). Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm but there are many cash machines 24/7. The post office is open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 1 pm.

Question 5

Can you drink alcohol on the street (botellón, it's called in Spain)?

Accepted Answer

Although it is an illegal practice, many young Spaniards gather in areas where the neighbours are not too disturbed near the discos. It is important not to shout too much and to pick up all the rubbish before leaving.

Question 6

Can I have a party at home?

Accepted Answer

It's not normal to have a party at home. You can have dinner with friends until 11pm and then go out to pubs and discos. If you have a party with a lot of noise until late it is likely that your neighbours will call the police. We Spaniards like to go out in the street and go from one place to another to meet a lot of people and discover new places. Can I have a party at home?

Question 7

How does the nightlife work?

Accepted Answer

In Valencia the nightlife is very fun and offers many options. A classic night out starts with a few drinks on one of the many street terraces. At 00:30h people usually go to pubs (which in Spain are like small discotheques) and from 02:00h they usually go to the bigger discotheques. In Valencia there are parties for all tastes.

Question 8

How much does it cost to eat in Valencia?

Accepted Answer

We have good news for you! Valencia has an exquisite gastronomy with an excellent quality-price ratio. A nice tapas dinner is about 20 euros while the famous Valencian paella is about 12-16 euros per person. You can usually eat very well and at lower prices compared to the larger cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

Question 9

What language is spoken in Valencia?

Accepted Answer

he city of Valencia is Spanish speaking, which means that everybody speaks Spanish. There is also the Valencian language which is spoken in some villages of the region. Fortunately for you, the accent of the Spanish spoken in Valencia is very clear and neutral.

Question 10

What time do you eat in Valencia/Spain?

Accepted Answer

The Spanish are well known for eating quite late. We recommend that, if you want everything to flow smoothly in Spanish life and culture, try to follow the local eating times. Lunch is usually served between 14:00 and 15:00 while dinner is served between 21:00 and 22:30. In addition, Valencia is well known for its rich lunches between 10:30 and 11:00, something you can't miss.

Question 11

How does the city change between summer and winter?

Accepted Answer

Valencia is like two cities in one. In winter everyone goes out in the city centre to walk, to shop, in the evening to the bars, restaurants and discos. Then the heat comes in May and the action moves to the beach area to enjoy the sea and where other discos, restaurants, bars, etc. open. In any case, Valencia is a very active city with a lot of atmosphere in the streets and squares all year round.

Question 12

What is the weather like in Valencia?

Accepted Answer

Valencia has a Mediterranean climate which is pleasant all year round. Winters are mild and summers are hot. The sun is a guarantee and indeed it is considered that on average there are 300 days of sunshine a year. In general, the weather in Valencia is difficult to improve.

Question 13

What are the APPS for public transport in Valencia?

Accepted Answer

Metro:Official Metrovalencia (we recommend you also use Google Maps) Bus: EMT Valencia (we recommend you to use also Google Maps) Taxi: Cabify y FREE NOW (my taxi) Bicycle: BICI VALENCIA Motorcycle/scooter: the main ones are: YEGO and eCooltra

Question 14

Where is Taronja located?

Accepted Answer

Taronja is located in the centre of Valencia. Tourist attractions, restaurants, shops, banks, pharmacies and many more things are right around the school. The beach is about 5 km from the centre, but you can get there very quickly thanks to the various types of public transport (by bike for example it takes 20 minutes).

Question 15

Is Valencia a big city? How can I move around in Valencia?

Accepted Answer

With its 800 thousand inhabitants, Valencia is a city of perfect size, offering all types of services and entertainment that can be reached in a very short time. You can walk everywhere in the centre without any problem. The city has a very varied and interesting public transport service: metro, bus, taxi and the shared bicycle and scooter services allow you to reach every corner of the city quickly and at a very good price. Moving around by bike is very comfortable and fast. If you prefer to move by bus or subway we recommend you to get some kind of voucher to make it cheaper.

Question 16

How do I get from the airport to the centre of Valencia?

Accepted Answer

A very comfortable way is to take the metro. From the airport to the centre takes only about 20 minutes, it is cheap and leaves you in the very centre of Valencia, a 2 minute walk from our fantastic Taronja school. You can also take a taxi, which will drop you off at your door in about 20 minutes (Taronja also has its own pick-up service).

Question 17

How do I get to Valencia?

Accepted Answer

From abroad there are several low-cost airlines to Valencia. You can also fly to Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante and from these cities there are direct trains or buses to Valencia.

Question 18

Is the school on social networks?

Accepted Answer

Of course it is! Follow us on Instagram taronjaschool and on Facebook Escuela de español Taronja and share your experiences with us. Is the school on social networks?

Question 19

Is there WIFI in the school?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have free wifi throughout the school so you can use the internet and share your favorite moments at Taronja with family and friends.

Question 20

Is there a student card?

Accepted Answer

On your first day you'll receive a student card. We recommend that you carry this card with you in Valencia as identification and that you leave your passport at home so that you do not lose it. Also, with this card you can get some discounts in shops, museums, restaurants...

Question 21

Can I make suggestions about possible activities?

Accepted Answer

We are always open to new ideas and suggestions. Taronja's next activity could have been your idea!

Question 22

How much do the activities and excursions cost?

Accepted Answer

Some of these are free and others have a very low cost. We always try to set the lowest price possible so that all students can enjoy all the activities and excursions.

Question 23

What kind of activities does Taronja organize?

Accepted Answer

The school proposes 3 types of activities: The FIXED didactic activities in which we discover the Spanish culture and continue learning Spanish in a relaxed and fun atmosphere, such as: the famous cooking classes of Chef Nando, the welcome paella, culture classes, walk and learn... VARIABLE activities ensure that your experience in Valencia is an unforgettable one. Beach parties, salsa classes, music concerts, visits to exhibitions and many more things you will remember for the rest of your life. These activities change every week. Weekend excursions allow you to discover the wonders of the Valencia countryside. Some examples are visits to nearby towns and cities, hiking in the mountains, visits to beautiful beaches, visits to typical village festivals...

Question 24

Does Taronja organize activities and/or excursions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Taronja is famous for being one of the happiest and most fun schools in the world (attention, we said the world, not just Spain!). We believe that it is important for students to get to know each other also outside of the Spanish courses, and that is why we organize many activities and excursions of all kinds. Fun is guaranteed!

Question 25

Are there any rules of behavior in the classes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are some basic rules of behaviour in the classes, such as not eating in class, not being late, not chewing gum... We will send you more detailed information about this by email before your arrival. Anyway, as we do not have teenagers, the study environment is always great as all students are highly motivated.

Question 26

What is the minimum age of students at Taronja?

Accepted Answer

The minimum age to take an individual course in Taronja is 18 years old. Unlike most Spanish schools, which accept minors, at Taronja we do not like to put adults and teenagers together. This is a policy we have been using for over 12 years and it works perfectly!

Question 27

Do you have any online courses to continue studying from my country?

Accepted Answer

Of course we do! Don't you know TARONJA ONLINE? We have a lot of courses and activities with different schedules and durations so you can continue studying Spanish from anywhere in the world. We have been teaching online for a long time and they are very successful!

Question 28

Do you have any extra materials so you can continue studying after class?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Taronja School has a virtual classroom called Schoology where you can find information about timetables, cultural activities and, of course, exercises, materials and extra teaching resources to study and practice Spanish after class. You can easily access Schoology from your computer, mobile, iPad, tablet... On the first day of class your teacher will help you create your account and give you access codes.

Question 29

Do you use English as a bridge language to teach Spanish?

Accepted Answer

Nooo! Are you crazy? English is forbidden! Our expert teachers and our great teaching system do not need any other language to teach you to speak Spanish. Even for the most elementary levels we have adapted teaching techniques so that you can learn Spanish in an easy and fun way without the help of anything else.

Question 30

Do you monitor my Spanish course and my progress?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our teachers are perfectly coordinated with each other, but, in addition, they follow several weekly guidelines to correctly follow the course and the level of each student.

Question 31

Do I need to buy a book for my Sapnish course?

Accepted Answer

Normally we do not use a book in the classes except for levels B2 and C1. In these higher levels you can buy the book if you want, otherwise we will make the photocopies you need for each lesson.

Question 32

Are the materials included?

Accepted Answer

At Taronja all materials used in class are included in the price, so you don't need to bring anything other than your notebook and pencil, computer or tablet.

Question 33

Will I always have the same teacher?

Accepted Answer

No! In this respect Taronja is different too. Every week you have 2 different teachers (sometimes even 3). We do this on purpose because each teacher has a different style, a different accent and this method is very good and enriching for your learning. Obviously, all the teachers follow the same weekly program for each group, adapt the materials and are coordinated among themselves.

Question 34

What are the course schedules? Are they in the morning, in the afternoon?

Accepted Answer

Taronja School has an exclusive ZIG-ZAG timetable system, which means that some groups have classes on Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings and Tuesday/Thursday afternoons, while the rest of the groups have the opposite.   Please note that for us this Zigzag system is very complicated to organize and that it would be much easier to do two shifts: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. But, after many years of testing, we have realized that this system is the best since all students can enjoy 2 free mornings and 3 free afternoons every week, and vice versa. This way, everyone is happy and the course is more comfortable. Very few schools do this!

Question 35

If I don't like the level I'm in, can I change groups?

Accepted Answer

Of course you can! The most important thing in Taronja is that you are happy. If you are not happy in the group we have put you in, you can talk to the Head Teachers. They will advise you correctly and change your level if that's what you need.

Question 36

How does Taronja know what my level of Spanish is?

Accepted Answer

In order to know your level of Spanish and to be able to put you in the right group you will have to do a small level test before starting your course. At most Spanish language schools this test is done on your first day of your course. However, at Taronja we don't want you to miss a minute of your lessons, so we will give you instructions on how to do the level test from your home, before you arrive to Valencia.

Question 37

What will my first day of school be like?

Accepted Answer

When you arrive, come to the reception to say hello and we will take you to the welcome meeting for new students. You don't need to take a level test, because you will have done this before. After your first day of class, if you have any problems with your accommodation, your classes, etc., don't hesitate to come to the reception to ask. Any member of Taronja will attend you and we will solve your problems in the fastest and most efficient way, don't worry. You are here to learn Spanish and have a VERY GOOD time, we will do everything necessary for this.

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