What is CELA Spanish School Online?

Updated

CELA Spanish School Online is a dedicated online Spanish language school, founded in 1997 by Dr. Sabine Löffler and fully online since 2017. It offers structured self-study Spanish courses from A1 to C2 with optional tutor support, covering both Latin American and Peninsular (Spain) Spanish. It suits independent learners who want a fixed curriculum and feedback rather than a live class schedule.

What CELA offers

The school describes three main offerings:

  • Self-study courses with tutor support — structured courses for all levels (A1–C2) that you can start at any time and work through at your own pace. Tutor feedback is included via email and WhatsApp.
  • Live online lessons — video-conference sessions that can be added flexibly to a self-study course if you want more oral practice and direct contact with a teacher.
  • YouTube resources — videos introducing the school and its teaching method.

Course content and exercise types

According to the site, each course combines several kinds of practice:

Area What it includes
Grammar Explanatory videos in Spanish and English, exercises with answer keys, assignments corrected by your teacher via email
Reading and listening Texts on current topics and listening comprehension videos matched to your level
Pronunciation and expression Reading-aloud exercises with WhatsApp feedback, pronunciation drills, written tasks with personalized corrections, oral tasks with WhatsApp feedback
Vocabulary Expansion through selected reading texts, videos, and targeted assignments

A stated design goal is that both Latin American and Peninsular Spanish are covered equally, so you learn to understand speakers from different regions.

Who it is for

CELA is aimed at learners who want to study Spanish online independently, with or without a teacher. The self-study format fits people who:

  • prefer to set their own schedule and pace rather than attend fixed classes,
  • want a structured progression across CEFR levels A1–C2,
  • value written and spoken feedback from a tutor,
  • may later add live video lessons for more speaking practice.

If you need a fully live, cohort-based class from day one, the self-study core may be less suitable on its own — though live lessons can be added.

Pricing and certification

The site states that courses cost a one-time fee of US$ 260 per level, which includes teacher feedback via email and WhatsApp as well as a school certificate. Live online lessons are described as a flexible add-on, so check the site for their current terms.

About the teacher and school

  • Founded in 1997 by Dr. Sabine Löffler on Isla Margarita, Venezuela; fully online since 2017.
  • Dr. Löffler holds a PhD in Linguistics from UNED in Spain and a Master's degree in Distance Education, and has taught Spanish since 1992.

How to get started

  1. Go to the site's course page to review the level descriptions, course content, and study guides.
  2. Choose your level (A1–C2) and enroll — courses can be started at any time.
  3. Work through the modules at your own pace, submitting assignments for tutor correction.
  4. Optionally add live online lessons if you want more speaking practice.

For details on current content and enrollment, use the course and live-lesson links on the CELA website.