For many professionals in Germany, Bildungsurlaub offers a unique chance to take time off work for professional and personal development. Some use it for seminars, others for workshops – but Sofia and Karl decided to use theirs for something different: learning Spanish in sunny Valencia with Euroace.
Between six hours of classes a day and evenings spent exploring the Mediterranean city, they found the perfect balance between study and leisure. In this interview, they share why they chose Valencia for Bildungsurlaub, and what the experience has been like choosing to do their Bildungsurlaub in Valencia at Euroace – both in and out of the classroom learning Spanish in Valencia.
Before we talk about your time at Euroace, could you introduce yourselves?
Sofia: My name is Sofia, I’m from Germany and live in Berlin. I’ve been working for six years since finishing my studies. I came to Valencia for the Bildungsurlaub as part of my vacation, but also to learn something new.
Karl: My name is Karl, also from Berlin. Like Sofia, I took the Bildungsurlaub for these two weeks. I studied Spanish before, at university, but I forgot a lot because I didn’t practice. Since I like the language, I wanted to refresh and improve it, so I chose a Spanish course.
For anyone who hasn’t heard of it, how would you explain Bildungsurlaub and why it’s such a great opportunity?
Sofia: It’s a program organized by the state. If your company has more than 50 employees, they have to give you five extra days per year to educate yourself. It’s not vacation; it’s educational time. You can even combine two years and take 10 days in a row.
Karl: Exactly. The employer has to give you the time off, but you pay for the course yourself. It’s important to be clear: it’s not a holiday; you have to take a course.
Sofia: It used to be called «education vacation,» but now it’s officially «educational time» so people don’t misunderstand.
How did you discover Euroace and why did you choose to come to Spain?
Karl: There’s a website listing Bildungsurlaub courses. Euroace was one of the first options for Valencia, so we chose it.
Sofia: And it offered the best price for the number of hours.
Why Spanish, and why now?
Karl: We’ve been thinking about where to go after Berlin, and a Spanish-speaking country could be an option. I already knew some Spanish and wanted to improve it. We also wanted to visit Valencia specifically.
How was your Spanish before you came here, and how has it improved?
Karl: I studied it six years ago and never reached A1 level. Now I remember more words and use them daily. At university, I didn’t have much real contact with the language, but here I do.
Sofia: I didn’t speak any Spanish before, but now I can introduce myself and have some basic knowledge.
Have you been to Spain before?
Karl: Yes, but only to Mallorca.
How does Valencia compare to Berlin and other places you know in Spain?
Karl: The summer is much better than in Berlin.
Sofia: I’d heard Valencia was like a better version of Barcelona: beach and city together. It feels lively, but not overly touristy. I feel like I’m really in Spain, surrounded by locals.
What have you enjoyed most about the city of Valencia during Bildungsurlaub?
Karl: The beach, definitely. Also the restaurants, fresh oysters at the Mercado, and the Túria park. Tapas in general are great. Also oysters, and paella; though we haven’t had much paella yet.
Sofia: Riding motorbikes to the beach was also a great experience.
How would you describe your overall learning experience at Euroace?
Karl: The teachers and staff are friendly and helpful, and you get along well with other students. One suggestion would be to group students more by level to make classes smoother, but overall, the teachers do an amazing job.
Finally, if you could sum up your time in Valencia and Euroace in one word, what would it be?
Karl: Student life (studentenleben). Six hours of classes a day, then free evenings to explore: it feels like a mini Erasmus.
Sofia: Perfect Combination. It was both a learning and relaxing experience.
