Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, Spain on Main is a Spanish school with a fun, modern twist offering an ever-increasing variety of classes and cultural events. Both language school and blossoming cultural center, our aim is to provide inspired, entertaining and educated support for individuals, groups and businesses with an interest in or connections to the Spanish-speaking world. The sister to Charlottesville’s vibrant Italian center, Ecco Italy, Spain on Main is owned and directed by educational entrepreneur and traveling gourmet, Christina Ball, while classes are taught by a talented group of native or near-native speakers. Come discover us and become part of the cultural mix!

Novedades (what's new)

THINK PINK TUESDAY JULY 8!
» 1 day ago »

Ecco Italy/Spain on Main Language Center went South

PARTY JULY 8

THINK PINK PARTY

When: Tuesday, July 8, 5-9pm
Where: THE PINK BUILDING, 100 W. South Street
What: A social happening, featuring:

• *Pink cocktails, beer, wine and lemonade
• *Sampling of new Milano menu
• *Prizes for best Pink Outfit, Pink Dancer, etc.
• *Linguistic activities (5-7 kids; 7-9 adults)

• *Live Latin and Flamenco music by Alegria (7-9pm)

Spain on Main is now “Spain on South”! We moved last week to the Pink Building located at 100 W. South Street in Downtown Charlottesville, next to the South Street Brewery and across from the City Market. We look forward to our new location and to a full array of weeday and weekend classes and events. Milano/Verity blue are moving with us, so our Italian, Spanish and French students will still be able to enjoy coffee, gelato and even lunch fare. Parking is available across the street (meters) and at the Water Street Garage (hourly). We will offer 2 hour parking validation for students starting in August!!!

Please join us, if you can, for our grand-opening party celebrating our new location. Here’s the info:

Now Enrolling! Fall Spanish
» 2 days ago »

Speak Spanish with us this Fall!

Enrollment is now open for Fall conversational Spanish, morning and evening courses. Please note that class size is limited to 10 so please enroll early to avoid disappointment!

See our courses page for more info.

Practice your Spanish Thursdays!
» 3 days ago »

Thursdays with Lyn

Conversational Spanish for Advanced Beginners/Intermediate

with Lyn Cooke
Thursdays, 6:30-8pm July, 2008
$20 drop-in

Spain on Main instructor Lyn Cooke continues our popular drop-in conversation class series this month, starting July 10 – same time as Maria’s, but in our new location in the Pink Building (100 W. South Street next to the Brewery, downtown C-ville).

Wintergreen Summer Music Festival
» 32 days ago »

Spain Week at Wintergreen Fest: July 7-13

Old World, New World: Spain, France Italy and the Americas
A Journey of Discovery
July 7 – August 3, 2008

Under the expert direction of Larry Alan Smith, the month-long Wintergreen Summer festival, 2008, promises to fill the mountain with a wide array of performances and educational activities. There are more than 150 events involving classical music, jazz, theater, dance, film , literature, food and wine.

You can explore the calendar and order tickets at the festival website

Why Learn Spanish with us?
» 32 days ago »

Spain on Main is the best remedy for those who:

• Wish to broaden their cultural horizons
• Wish to communicate with Spanish speakers at home, and abroad
• Want – and need – to keep the brain flexible
• Prefer the intimacy and effectivenes of a small class
• Consider learning a lifelong endeavor – and joy!
• Love foreign languages
• Are afraid to speak a foreign language
• Think they are really bad at foreign languages
• Want to get an edge on the competition in the workplace
• Seek a school with top-notch teachers – and students!
• Suffer from a phobia of fluorescent lights and crave beauty
• Are new to town and seek new friendships
• Enjoy good food, wine, coffee – we got it at the Main St. Mkt!

• Want to explore the world without leaving Virginia

(same goes for Italian study at Ecco Italy!)

New Beginner's Courses
» 44 days ago »

Now Enrolling!

Conversational Spanish for Beginners*

Mañanas con Lyn
June 3-July 3, 2008
Tues and Thurs mornings, 10-11:30am
$225 (grad students $175; $375 couple)
You’re still in time to join this class – pro-rated!

Learn the basics of Spanish grammar and pronunciation, get lots of speaking practice for upcoming courses or travels and explore cultures galore at this dynamic, foundational Spanish Language course with Lyn Cooke.

Vamos a Mexico con Maria!
May 26 (Mem Day!) -June 25, 2008
Monday and Wednesday, 6:30-8pm
$225 (grad students $175; $375 couple)

Travel to Mexico this summer without leaving Charlottesville! Join Spain on Main instructor and Mexico City native Maria Schwedhelm for this special early summer Spanish course at geared towards the linguistic beginner (with or without past experience!). This course is an immersion experience in Spanish language which will include activities relating to every aspect of Mexican culture, from crafts to food, music and telenovelas!!

Ready to enroll?
Download the enrollment form

Photos of CRUSH ON YOU
» 145 days ago »

“Crush on You” Party:

Thanks to all for making Feb 14 such a fun, delicious, sexy event!

Photos of our Romance Extravaganza at Crush

Director back from Cuernavaca!
» 185 days ago »

Christina gives Chac – Mool 5 stars!

Spain on Main’s director, Christina Ball, just returned from 12 glorious days in Cuernavaca, Mexico. A complete Spanish language and Mexican culture immersion experience, she lived (and ate) with a Mexican family and spent 6 hours a day under a thatched umbrella (see photo above!) improving her Spanish with the help of exceptional teachers (Esmeralda and Viviana) at Chac Mool. Following the success of Ecco Italy’s collaboration with La Lingua, La Vita, a language school in Todi (Italy), Spain on Main is looking forward to spreading the word about its new “sister” Spanish school, Chac Mool. Similar to Spain on Main’s philosophy, Chac Mool emphasizes small, speaking-intensive classes in a low-anxiety atmosphere. Ask Christina for more details and look for the flyers in our classroom! We’ll be around most of the week gearing up for classes, which start next week!

Calling all speakers of PORTUGUESE !
» 309 days ago »

new Portuguese Conversation Group!

Interested in practicing your Portuguese in a casual setting? If so, we’re looking to start a Portuguese conversation group on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. If so, please email organizer Stefan Jirka at stefanjirka@gmail.com and indicate your level of language training and preferred time for meeting.