Marina and Viktor came to Valencia from Russia in February and started from very different points. Marina arrived with an A2 level of Spanish, while Viktor was beginning from zero.
They both joined Spanish classes at Euroace while continuing to work online.
Six months later, Marina was already studying at C1 and Viktor was speaking with people in everyday situations. He even likes starting conversations with strangers in the street just to practise. For both of them, living in Valencia has become an important part of learning the language!
Viktor’s move to Spain, shared on YouTube
or Viktor, learning Spanish was closely connected to his decision to move to Spain. On his YouTube channel, he shares the process from his own perspective, including the role that language studies played in the move and how Euroace became part of his new life in Valencia.
He arrived from Russia in February without speaking Spanish. Apart from studying English at school, he had never learned another language before. He was also continuing to work online, so finding classes that could fit around his working hours was particularly important. At Euroace, the option to study in the morning or afternoon allowed him to combine both.
Viktor is honest about how difficult the beginning was. During his first months, he understood very little and communicating in everyday situations was a challenge. Progress came gradually through classes with different teachers and by using Spanish outside the school. He now actively looks for opportunities to practise, even starting conversations with strangers in the street simply to improve his speaking.
His experience shows the less visible side of moving abroad. Arriving in Spain was only the first step. Building confidence, adapting to a different culture and learning to communicate took time and consistent effort. What began as part of the process of coming to Spain has now become part of Viktor’s everyday life in Valencia.
Viktor and Marina’ experience in Spain with Euroace!
Could you introduce yourselves and tell us how long you have been studying Spanish in Valencia?
Viktor: I’m from Russia and I’ve been living here for six months. I’ve studied Spanish the whole time. It was completely new for me because I had never studied another language, apart from English at school. I like having different teachers because each one brings something different to the class.
Marina: I’m also from Russia and I’ve been learning Spanish here for six months. I’m now at C1, so at this level the classes are also about enjoying the language. The teachers are great, and I have a lot of fun in class.
Why did you choose Spain — and why Valencia?
Viktor: Spain is a very interesting country for me. I think Valencia is the best city because it isn’t as crowded as Madrid or Barcelona. The weather is good and the people are nice.
Marina: Valencia has everything. It is a fairly big city with people from many different cultures, but it also has its own culture. There is the sea, the mountains and a lot to experience.
Marina, you arrived with an A2 level and are now studying at C1. How did that progress feel?
Marina: I never expected my level to improve so quickly. In Russia, my classes were shorter and we did not speak as much. It was always possible to switch back to Russian, so I did not have to think in Spanish all the time. Here, everything I had learned before finally started to come out.
Viktor, what was it like to begin from zero?
Viktor: The first months were very difficult and I understood almost nothing. Then, little by little, I began to understand more and more. Now I can speak much better. It has been easier than I thought it would be.
How do you practise outside the classroom?
Marina: Viktor loves talking to people in the street. He can sit next to someone he does not know and start a conversation — often with an older person — just to practise.
Viktor: Yes, it’s for practice!
Do you feel that you are becoming part of life in Valencia?
Marina: In many ways, yes, although our schedule is still very different from the Spanish one. By ten at night we are usually ready for bed, while many people here are only starting to think about dinner. That part is different, but we are getting used to things little by little.
What have you enjoyed most about living here?
Viktor: The climate. There is so much sun. In my city in Russia, the weather is very different, so this is a big change for me.
Marina: It is a very big change for us. We are more active here, and the culture feels more relaxed. In class, we also learn about local culture, television, advertising and references that we would not understand otherwise. It is nice to understand not only the language, but also the culture behind it.
You were here for Las Fallas. What did you think?
Viktor: I loved it.
Marina: We understand that it is a very important tradition in Valencia, and it was interesting to experience it. But for me it lasted too long. There were a lot of parties and a lot of noise. One or two weeks would have been enough — not a whole month!
Why did you choose Euroace?
Marina: Some schools just sent a very basic reply or the same document to everyone. At Euroace, there was always someone who could explain things, help us and look for a solution. It felt much more personal.
Viktor: At the beginning, I only spoke Russian, so being able to communicate and get clear answers was very important for me.
How has your experience with the teachers been?
Marina: Every teacher is different, and I think their styles work well for the levels they teach. At the lower levels, you need more structure and grammar. Later, the classes become freer and you can ask about topics that interest you. They all explain things very well.
Viktor: I have studied with almost all the teachers. They are all a little different, so you can discover what works best for you. My experience with all of them has been good.
Was flexibility important when choosing your classes?
Viktor: Yes, very important. We work online, so being able to choose between morning and afternoon classes helped us organise our studies around work.
What advice would you give to someone coming to Spain to learn Spanish?
Marina: Do not learn only in the classroom. Use Spanish in the street as well. Some people attend four hours of lessons but do not speak or write outside class, and then they wonder why their progress is slow. Spain is not only the language. It is the culture too. When things are explained well and everyone around you is a native speaker, learning feels quicker and more natural.
Viktor: Come to Spain and study. For me, it was easier than I expected.
Finally, how would you describe your Euroace experience in one word?
Viktor: Friendly.
Marina: The first things that came to mind were some of our classroom jokes — but they are probably better left unpublished!
