Regional Languages in Spanish Schools: Catalan, Basque, and Valencian for Expat Families

If you are moving to Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, or San Sebastian, your child's school day will not be taught entirely in Spanish. Several regions in Spain have co-official languages that play a central role in the classroom, and understanding how this works is one of the most important school decisions expat families face.

This guide covers which regions teach in a regional language, how much instruction happens in that language, and what the real impact is on children who arrive without speaking it.

Spain's co-official languages: a quick map

Spain has four co-official languages alongside Castilian Spanish. Each one is protected by the region's statute of autonomy and, in most cases, is a required language of instruction in public schools.

These percentages are approximate and can shift depending on the specific school, the grade level, and recent legislative changes in each region. The key takeaway: in most bilingual regions, your child will receive a significant portion of their education in the regional language, not just Spanish.

How language immersion works in each region

Catalonia: the full immersion model

Catalonia uses a linguistic immersion model (immersio linguistica) where Catalan is the primary vehicular language of instruction. In practice, this means roughly 70-80% of subjects are taught in Catalan across public and concertado schools.

Spanish is taught as a subject (typically 2-3 hours per week in primary school), and one foreign language (usually English) is introduced from an early age. Since a 2022 court ruling, schools are required to deliver at least 25% of instruction in Spanish, though implementation varies by school.

Private and international schools operate outside this model and may teach primarily in English, Spanish, or other languages.

Basque Country: choose your model

The Basque Country offers families a clearer choice through three linguistic models:

• Model A: Instruction primarily in Spanish, with Basque taught as a subject.
• Model B: Roughly equal instruction in Spanish and Basque.
• Model D: Instruction primarily in Basque, with Spanish taught as a subject.

In the 2024-2025 school year, over 70% of Basque Country students were enrolled in Model D. Model A enrollment has been declining steadily for decades. While families technically have a choice, Model D is the default in most public schools, and Model A availability is limited in some areas.

Valencia: linguistic programs with more flexibility

Valencia's system has undergone several reforms. Under the current framework, public schools operate one of several linguistic programs that determine the share of instruction in Valencian versus Spanish:

• Programa plurilingue options range from a minimum of 25% instruction in Valencian up to full Valencian immersion.
• Families can express a preference during enrollment, but availability depends on the specific school and district.

In Valencia city, you will find a wider mix of programs. In smaller towns, particularly in the Valencian-speaking interior, Valencian-dominant instruction is more common.

Galicia: roughly equal split

Galicia divides instruction approximately equally between Galician and Spanish. Certain subjects (like social sciences and natural sciences) are commonly taught in Galician, while others (like math) may be taught in Spanish. The practical impact on expat children tends to be gentler because Galician and Spanish share significant vocabulary and grammar.

Balearic Islands and Navarre

The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza) use Catalan as a co-official language with a minimum of around 50% of instruction in Catalan in public schools. The system is similar to Catalonia's, though slightly less rigid.

Navarre is divided into three linguistic zones. In the Basque-speaking zone (roughly the north), the Basque Country's model system applies. In the mixed zone, Basque-medium education is available but not the default. In the non-Basque-speaking zone (including Pamplona), instruction is in Spanish.

What happens when your child does not speak the regional language

This is the question that worries most expat families, and the honest answer is: the first few months are hard, but children adapt faster than adults expect.

The adjustment timeline

Most education professionals and expat families report a pattern like this:

• Months 1-3: Comprehension is very limited. Children rely on context, visual cues, and peer interaction. Frustration and some anxiety are normal.
• Months 3-6: Passive understanding increases noticeably. Children begin to follow classroom instructions and participate in simple exchanges.
• Months 6-12: Functional fluency for school purposes. Most children can follow lessons, do homework, and socialize with classmates.
• Year 2: Most children are comfortable in the regional language, though written expression may still lag behind native-speaking peers.

Support programs: the aula d'acollida and equivalents

Most bilingual regions have formal welcome or reception programs for newly arrived students:

• Catalonia: The aula d'acollida (welcome classroom) provides intensive Catalan and integration support. Children spend part of their day in a smaller group learning the language with a specialist teacher before fully joining regular classes. Duration varies but typically lasts one to two school terms.
• Basque Country: The HIPI program (Harrera eta Ikasleen Programa Indibidualizatua) provides individualized language reinforcement for newly arrived students.
• Valencia: Schools with significant newcomer populations may offer aules d'acollida or additional Valencian language support hours, though availability is less standardized than in Catalonia.
• Galicia: Support programs exist but tend to be smaller-scale, partly because the linguistic gap between Galician and Spanish is narrower.

Pros and cons of regional language schooling for expat children

Should you choose a school based on language of instruction?

This is one of the most debated topics among expat parents in Spain. Here is a practical framework for thinking through it.

When regional language schooling makes sense

• You plan to stay in the region for 3 or more years. This gives your child enough time to fully benefit from the language investment.
• Your child is under 10. Younger children adapt faster and experience less academic disruption.
• You want your child integrated into the local community, not in an expat bubble.
• Budget is a factor. Public and concertado schools (free or low-cost) teach in the regional language; avoiding them means paying EUR 5,000-15,000+ per year for private or international schools.

When you might consider alternatives

• You are staying for less than 2 years and your child is in secondary school. The adjustment cost may outweigh the benefit.
• Your child has specific learning needs that would be compounded by a language barrier (though by law, schools must still provide support).
• You are arriving mid-year and your child is in a critical exam year (4 ESO or Bachillerato). Changing language of instruction at this stage is particularly disruptive.

International and private school alternatives

International schools in Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao typically teach in English or a mix of English and Spanish, with the regional language offered only as an elective subject. This avoids the immersion challenge but comes with significant trade-offs:

• Cost: EUR 6,000-20,000+ per year in tuition.
• Social integration: Your child's peer group will be predominantly other expats.
• Long-term flexibility: If your child later transfers to a public or concertado school, they will face the regional language adjustment at that point instead.

Practical tips for supporting your child

1. Start exposure before you move. Even basic YouTube videos, cartoons, or apps in Catalan, Basque, or Valencian help reduce the shock of day one.
2. Talk to the school before enrollment. Ask specifically about their welcome program, how many newcomer students they currently have, and what support looks like week by week.
3. Connect with other expat families at the school. They can share what worked and warn you about realistic timelines.
4. Do not panic at the three-month mark. Children often seem to plateau before a breakthrough. Teachers experienced with newcomers will confirm this is normal.
5. Learn some yourself. Even basic greetings and school vocabulary in the regional language signal respect to teachers and other parents. It also helps you understand homework assignments.
6. Keep Spanish strong. Your child will still need fluent Spanish for life outside the classroom, for communicating across Spain, and for official exams. Regional language instruction does not replace Spanish -- it adds to it.

Schools in Barcelona

Compare public, concertado, and international schools in Barcelona

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Schools in Valencia

Browse schools in Valencia by type and language of instruction

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What to do this week

1. Identify your target region and confirm whether it has a co-official language that affects schools.
2. Research the specific linguistic model or program used by schools in your target neighborhood -- not just the region-level policy.
3. Contact 2-3 schools directly and ask about their welcome program for newcomer children.
4. Assess your timeline. If you are staying long-term and your child is young, lean into the immersion. If your stay is short and your child is older, explore concertado or international alternatives.
5. Start basic language exposure now -- even 15 minutes a day of regional language content helps.

Related guides

• Public vs Concertado vs Private Schools in Spain

  Understand the three school types, costs, and trade-offs before choosing.

• School Enrollment Windows in Spain by Region

  Key dates and deadlines so you do not miss your target school's admissions cycle.

• School Catchment Zones and the Padron

  How your registered address affects which schools you can apply to.

• Validating Foreign School Records in Spain

  How to get your child's previous school transcripts recognized for enrollment.