About us

Our students speak for us!

At Una Paloma Blanca, we encourage development in your language of choice through communication and speaking practice. We understand how important it is that you become a strong and independent user of the language, afterall, we are language speakers. For us, it’s less about getting it right, and more about feeling good when you use your new language. We adopt a speak up approach, with teachers and students sitting around the table and exploring a language together.

We do things differently

Design, knowledge & technology – three of our biggest strengths. From the moment you step through the door, our lovely admins and our passionate teachers set the scene for our students to be as creative as they like with their language learning. This love for creativity spills over into the books we use in our courses. They’re more than just books. They’re scrapbooks, story books and your window into real, useful use of your chosen language.

With digiboards, the world is at our fingertips. Our teachers breathe life into the classrooms through videos, TedTalks and interactive games to get you up and speaking in the target language. Our use of technology doesn’t just stop in the classroom. We have developed our own e-learning platform, UPB Brain Training – so you can continue learning in our fun, fast & efficient way even after your lesson.

We know what we are doing

Whether it’s a group course, private course or learning as a pair, the courses are designed alongside the Common European Framework for Languages, so you can be sure you’re on the right path to language proficiency. Una Paloma Blanca is dedicated to helping people from all walks of life, reach their goals in language learning. We strive to create an environment where our students can learn while feeling confident and supported as they do.

Our language experts

Our story – the long read

“ Our dedicated team is constantly developing the student experience, and we are excited for what’s to come. If there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s that language is about being able to communicate, and communication is about being able to speak. (….)”

Our history

“A happy accident… an unstoppable train of professionalism and quality” are the words Una Paloma Blanca’s founder, Antonio, uses to describe UPB. From a young age, Antonio loved music and education, ultimately developing his passion for languages and culture, turning it into classrooms filled with students from all walks of life.

While working as a music teacher, Antonio had dreams of going abroad to further his study, and intended on taking these qualifications back to Spain to continue his teaching career there. It was only after completing 2 masters, and a short stint in Brussels that Antonio’s love for languages would see him spend more time than he’d planned to, back in the Netherlands.

But there was one thing he never accounted for, love.

It was after settling in Eindhoven with his partner, when an exciting idea came to Antonio. Why not create a place where his love for languages could flourish, and he could continue to educate and share his passion? A place where people could come together and communicate across cultures.

Together with his partner, Antonio built a small website, with some basic information and they came up with a name they thought was quite magical, after the famous dutch song that everyone has had in their heads… Una Paloma Blanca. Fun fact: The picture of Antonio on the website was taken on the very first day UPB was created!

In the beginning, UPB was just Antonio, giving Spanish lessons in a small 12sqm room in the centre of Eindhoven, but that all soon changed. Within 3 months, his schedule was packed, so much so that he needed more teachers, and fast!

Before they knew it they had outgrown their 12sqm space, and with a whole floor becoming available downstairs, they jumped at the chance, and Una Paloma Blanca Eindhoven was born! Over the years, UPB has become a school that nurtures curiosity, and a love for communication through languages. There is no denying that UPB is a special place, it just has that zing as you walk through the front door.

Our approach is what makes it special. Communication is key, being transparent. This is UPB, it’s just how we do it! We strive to ensure that people who come to UPB get more than just a language, but rather, the complete UPB method.

We’ve built our ethos on two main pillars: cultural, and social awareness, and our aim is to teach languages that are supported by these two pillars. Language and culture go hand-in-hand, because without culture, language is nothing. People want to understand not only what to say, but why it is said in this way. What is the story behind it? Who are the people behind the language?

When it comes to social awareness, we know that perhaps someone might find themselves in surroundings that don’t naturally belong to them, in a new culture, with new food, new jokes, new social values. Integrating is the key to feeling at home in a place where everything is new, and our goal is to turn these new, sometimes scary aspects into areas of curiosity. Our teachers love exploring with curious minds, and we pride ourselves on being a place where people gather, SPEAK-UP and share experiences and communicate in the language they are learning.

Each day our teachers and students walk through our doors, they take out their notebooks, the teachers open their books, we brew our tea and we explore these new worlds together, that is Una Paloma Blanca.

Now in 2022, UPB has schools in 2 cities; Eindhoven and Rotterdam. We have a team of over 40 teaching experts, 9 possible languages, and over 1000 students in our schools every week!

As Antonio describes “UPB is an unstoppable train,” we’ve made it through one of the strangest periods we’ve known, and this has proven the power of communication, the power of learning a language. We’ve felt the passion and commitment in our students, and this shows us the importance of the quality of language learning we give. Because after all, we have to be open to the world, and whatever might come our way.

Our dedicated team is constantly developing the student experience, and we are excited for what’s to come. If there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s that language is about being able to communicate, and communication is about being able to speak.

So welcome on board our unstoppable train, welcome to your Una Paloma Blanca.

6 steps to getting started with UPB

1. Find your fit

Check our website for all the different courses we offer and find one that suits your level, goals and needs.

2. Take the leap

Register for a course using either our webshop, or send us a quick message and we’ll provide you with all the info you need about the course.

3. Sign up

After you have agreed to our proposal we will sign you up for your chosen language course. Now you’re officially enrolled!

4. Join

In fun, interactive and creative language lessons our experienced teachers will bring your language skills to the next level!

5. Complete

Yay! You finished your course. Congratulations! After completing your course at Una Paloma Blanca we are happy to award you with a certificate of Participation

6. Continue

Are you not ready to stop learning? Do you want to raise your skills to the next level? That is great. Una Paloma Blanca is more than happy to help you continue your studies.

Word on the street

Varvara

Rotterdam

I’m writing to thank you very much for the course you’ve organised for Egor. I was really surprised when, firstly, he agreed to do something like that on holiday, secondly, when after the first day with you he wasn’t incredibly tired as i would have expected, on the contrary, very excited.

When you asked us to speak only English during the week, I thought, ok, we’ll see! ? But, in fact, every time when I being forgetful say something in Russian, Egor says: “I’m sorry, Mum, I don’t understand you!” Moreover, in the evening on Monday he asked me to help him with his homework! What have you done?! ? How could you manage?! ? He never does his homework at school, maybe, during the break time before the lesson starts if the teacher is strict enough! ? I’m really impressed by the teaching skills of you! Thank you very much! It’s very important for me. I’ve wanted to introduce Egor to this kind of studying for a long time. He’s been never interested until now. As I told you, I’ve done a lot of language courses in England. I love it, I miss it very much. I’m happy that Egor seems to like it too. I think that in spite of the fact he’s doing a short course he’s going to have a great breakthrough in his English studies.

Arianna

Philips

I had already a very good English level before i got lessons from the teachers of Una Paloma Blanca, but after following the Business English Program at the language school, I noticed my confiudence with the language increased quite a lot, specially when it came to speeches and team presenntations.

Thank you very much for all your help!

Raluca

Study Portals

Speaking is always the most challenging part of any new language, and with Dutch it feels even more difficult for me personally… I just can’t gather the courage to try and verbalise sentences, but I am aware it’s maybe the most important part of becoming fluent.

That’s what I most appreciate in our teacher at Una Paloma Blanca – however broken we may speak, she’s always encouraging, fun and has a friendly, empathetic way of correcting us. That’s highly important to keep the motivation going and practice even outside the group, in real life.

Chetna

Eindhoven

Being a marketer in a foreign country comes with its own set of challenges. Knowing the local language is not just a plus but a prerequisite. Hence, soon after I arrived in the Netherlands, I started my hunt for a language class. After scouting for days, I stumbled upon Una Paloma Blanca’s creative website.

A couple of email conversations later, I found myself at their Eindhoven facility. I loved the vibe and decided to give it a shot. Soon after, it became a home away from home for me as I formed instant friendships within my group. Their one-of-a-kind learning material (an illustrative book that you would not want to put down) and immersive lessons helped me learn the language quicker than I had anticipated. Furthermore, it aided my understanding of the cultural nuances in the Dutch society that gave me an edge in interviews and formal conversations. I cannot thank my teacher enough (who went above and beyond every time) for her constant motivation and support. To all the fellow expats looking for a fun way to learn Dutch, I say go for it!

Erick

DAF

Learning a new language is challenging and Dutch is no different. Learning how to speak confidently and have day to day conversations in Dutch as an expat is challenging. During the summer course what I liked the most was that we focused on the message we were trying to convey and how to properly sa

y it instead of only correcting us. The balance between study material and outside activities makes the course not feel as intensive and actually makes it fun. The teachers also did a good job encouraging us and motivating us into starting conversations. For anyone looking to improve their vocabulary and gain confidence in conversing in Dutch I really recommend Una Paloma Blanca’s summer courses.

Oana

Eindhoven

Learning Dutch is hard enough, but without the right, dedicated teacher, it would be impossible for someone to learn. I have been studying at Una Paloma Blanca for almost 3 years. I find spoken Dutch the most difficult part, because the Dutch people have a certain accent which is not easy to learn.

However, the teachers are so nice at this school and they encourage you to practice every time even if you don’t speak perfectly… and basically, this is the whole point of following a Dutch course…. TO LEARN! This is what I always appreciate about my teacher: her teaching style, the way of explaining grammar to me, the empathy that she always shows me (not only to my broken speech). My teacher makes me feel part of this family. It is highly important to have the right teacher for your needs, who knows how to keep you motivated in this process of learning a new language all while integrating into Dutch society.

Jorge González

Eindhoven

I love the flexibility of UPB, how supportive the teachers and workers are and how easy they made it to learn a new language. They are helping me a lot with my difficulties learning Dutch and allowing me to communicate with people in fluent Dutch.

Bruno

Rotterdam

As polyglot, learning languages is my main hobby and for that reason I am always looking for the best teachers to boost my language skills!
When I moved to my new life in Rotterdam I was so happy to see that there was a language academy just 3 minutes away from my house with all my languages, even

I made a good decision in trusting Una Paloma Blanca to take my Dutch and Russian to the next level and the results are amazing: Currently I am able to work in Dutch and I can handle conversations in Russian.

Casper

Rabobank

Because I work in a department where English skills are very important to communicate with clients, I decided to follow a private intensive English course where I could quickly brush up my English knowledge and bring my writing and speaking skills to a C1 level. I liked most that the team of teacher

s immediately understood my needs and they focused on my preferences helping me achieving my goals in no time.

Write a review!

Find out what our students say about us! And if you’ve ever been a student of ours we would love it if you would share your experience with us and we will post it here. Share your thoughts!