A small spa town or balneario, Alhama is located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, tucked between green hills. The river Jalón, a tributary of the Ebro, runs through it.
Having spent many years as an English teacher abroad, I have often attended a week in Europe at an English language immersion retreat in a remote area. The groups that sponsor these sessions are not looking for teachers per se, but native English speakers that enjoy conversation. The attendees are adults from the host country that have a sufficient level of English proficiency to qualify. Their English at the end of the week always shows noticeable improvement, as does their confidence in speaking.
This year I returned to Spain. A van picked us up at the language school’s office in Madrid and drove for two and a half hours northeast through rolling countryside, while I chatted with a new Spanish acquaintance. Her English was quite good; she was preparing to go to a class in Boston and wanted to brush up. Her tight blond curls made me think I might want to wear my hair in its natural curls again.
The sessions were one-to-one, hour-long, and conversation based—a great opportunity to get to know new people and learn about their lives and culture. Most often, we would walk around the quiet picturesque town while we spoke. There were fun activities in the evening, always in English. And there was time for a dip in the naturally heated outdoor pool to relieve the hot summer sun, a cappuccino in the cooler lounge, a glass of red wine after dinner. Here are some of the places we walked.
An outdoor market the last day
A few new friends
Night in Alhama
Other English language retreats in Spain: Gredos, Valdevilla (Pamplona blog)
Please do not download or reproduce images from this site. ©
Your comments are welcome!
Popular posts/stats/categories
Email me at: Ruth@RuthRosenfeld.com
Follow me on: Facebook Instagram BlueSky Blog
Ruth Rosenfeld 
What an interesting event to participate in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s an enjoyable way to travel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome back to blogging. I’ve missed your wonderful musings and beautiful pictures. I remember my days in Madrid and how much the locals wanted to practice their English. But I wanted to practice my Spanish! We managed to do both in a lovely conversation. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! Please do sign your notes in the future so I know who you are. 🙂
LikeLike
What a wonderful way for you to see more parts of Spain while passing on your knowledge to others. Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Maggie. It’s a more intimate way to get to know locals, and usually is held somewhere I wouldn’t otherwise find.
LikeLike
A great way to visit Spain. You lead a fascinating life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes it seems that way!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this line — “Her tight blond curls made me think I might want to wear my hair in its natural curls again.” It captures so much in such a simple moment. And I’m loving all your adventures in Spain — the way you bring each place to life makes me feel like I’m there with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I so appreciate your comment, especially from someone I connect with as a writer. Thanks as always for following and enjoying my posts.
LikeLike
What a great way to explore an area that you otherwise might not have visited on your own. And it sounds like a great way to connect with other people and learn about their lives and culture in a unique way that’s very different compared to when you’re travelling. Great set of pictures. Sounds like a wonderful experience for everyone involved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoy travel that has some project or learning experience that puts me in connection with people. It’s been a fun way to travel. Glad you enjoyed this post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds like a great programme. Do you have to be able to speak the native language, i.e. Spanish in this case? The town looks very attractive, and very quiet apart from on market day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, in fact, you are not supposed to speak their language for the whole week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember you mentioning this program in a different post a while back. Such a great concept. I’m glad you were able to participate again. I might try it, too, one day…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You would enjoy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The smiling faces accent the lovely architecture of the region beautifully.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was an enjoyable event and place to spend time, even for the Spaniards, who hadn’t been to that time before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely retreat! I’ve not heard of Alhama, but I’ve heard of Aragon, and it’s a lovely part of Spain I’ve yet to see. Alhama is the perfect place for language immersion with others, the ideal backdrop for a beautiful time away from home!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alhama is not well known at all. Other people staying there were from Spain or elsewhere in Europe. It worked well for a retreat. Thanks, Rebecca, for your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a wonderful way to spend a retreat; I imagine it’s incredibly rewarding. The town looks absolutely beautiful too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was an enjoyable week, and yes rewarding. Thanks, Han.
LikeLike
I remember you writing about this programme before. I’m glad you managed to participate again and discover another quaint corner of Spain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Leighton. It’s fun to share this experience with you all.
LikeLiked by 1 person