There's nothing quite as effective as heading to Spain for an intensive course. Residential schools offer total immersion, not only do you learn Spanish in lessons during the day, you'll be forced to practise your newly acquired skills outside the classroom, which is essential if you want to become fluent. Courses vary between a week or two to several months, and can include accommodation options where you stay in a shared flat with other students, or stay with a host family which is the ideal way to learn the language quickly. Classes tend to be small around eight students is typical and progress is rapid. Care is taken to match students of similar abilities in each class, which may change as people are moved up or down a level, or there are inevitable dropouts. Work hard and you'll soon find that you can converse in the language.
COSTS BUT RECKON ON ABOUT £500 FOR A TWO-WEEK COURSE IN SPAIN WITH ACCOMMODATION. CACTUS LANGUAGE (WWW.CACTUSLANGUAGE.COM; 01273 725200).