Summer Study in Spain: Granada/Nerja Combo

  Spain

• Granada: 
Granada

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: 2009 Session: July 9 - Aug 3

Description: Participate in an enriching two-week study experience in the cities of Granada and Nerja. You will spend one week in each city and then another week of travel around some of Spain's most exciting places: Madrid, Sevilla, Cordoba, Toledo and many more.

With the snow-topped Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in the background, Granada enjoys an ideal climate and is a great place to spend time in the summer learning Spanish with other high school students. The old part of the city, where the school is located, is alive with young people, interesting shops, and many cafés. Granada's most impressive site is, of course, the world-renowned Alhambra palace and fortress.

Nerja, a beautiful, small, seaside town on the Costa del Sol, still retains its traditional Andalusian character. Surrounded by mountains on one side and beautiful beaches on the other, it has an ideal climate, with an average summer temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Its lively atmosphere, old-world charm, and close proximity to some of Spain's most historic cities, Seville and Granada, make Nerja an ideal place to study the Spanish language and culture with other high school students.

Whenever possible, we incorporate Language Partners into our programs. These young people are usually university students who work to enrich the total experience by providing our participants with lots of opportunities for integration into the community and practice in conversational Spanish. Together with small groups of our students, they explore the town, participate in a variety of activities, and discuss diverse topics in Spanish, such as entertainment, school, politics, travel, vacations, sports, and many more.

Academia Mester Granada
Academia Mester, established in 1991, is today a well-respected organization that specializes in teaching Spanish to foreigners. All language teachers are native speakers, have degrees in modern languages and have had wide-ranging and solid professional experience teaching Spanish as a foreign language.

The centrally located schools are comprised of buildings designed and equipped for teaching, with spacious modern classrooms, reference libraries, computer rooms with Internet access, assembly halls and common rooms for study and meetings, all of which are air conditioned.
Students are grouped into levels based on a placement test completed before leaving the US. There are four fifty-minute classes each morning, Monday through Friday, and the maximum number of students per class is ten. In the first two classes (grammar), students study different grammatical structures and their practical applications. In the second two classes (conversation), vocabulary and colloquial expressions are analyzed.

Escuela de Idiomas Nerja:
Escuela de Idiomas Nerja was established in 1980. Today it is a highly reputable language school that specializes in teaching Spanish to foreigners. All language teachers are native speakers and have had solid professional experience teaching Spanish as a foreign language. The school has a range of educational resources, including a bookstore, library, multimedia room and Internet terminals (small fee). There is also an on-site café with a lounge and beautiful Andalusian patio. This, together with the library, is located at the school's cultural activity and communications center just a two-minute walk from the main part of the school.

Students are grouped into levels based on a written and oral placement test taken before leaving the US. Classes take place Monday Friday for three weeks, with a maximum of ten students per class. The course is comprised of four fifty-minute lessons per day. The school's teaching method is the result of experience gained over many years of teaching intensive Spanish. Special emphasis is placed upon communication skills and the use of language in real-life situations. Participants will have conversation classes, oral and written exercises, structured grammar, audio and video practice drills, and, depending on their levels, conversation on topics such as Spanish and Latin American culture and civilization. In addition, there will be practical exercises in reading, composition, and vocabulary.

Highlights: Madrid
You will visit a selection of the main gems of this great capital city, such as the Gran Via, Plaza Espana, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol (a square marking the geographical center of Spain), the Royal Palace, the world renowned Prado and the Reina Sophia art museum.

Toledo
This ancient Spanish capital is one of the oldest towns in all of Spain. The city is home to much history, a great deal of it immortalized on canvas by El Greco. A huge cathedral dominates Toledo's skyline, and is where we get our expression "Holy Toledo"!

Segovia
The medieval town of Segovia is where Isabella was declared Queen of Castile in 1474. A highlight here is the Alcazar palace, her former home, which many describe as looking almost like a fairy tale castle. Christopher Columbus made out his will in the fortress, which is complete with a throne and many ornate rooms for the nobles that once inhabited it. Also fascinating are the 16th century cathedral build by Carlos V and Segovia's still-functioning Roman Aqueduct, dating from the first century.

Cordoba
Although primarily known for its mosque, the Mezquita, it is also enchanting to wander the narrow streets of the old Arab and Jewish quarters, taking in the ambience of the whitewashed houses and balconies overflowing with flowers.

Seville
Seville, the beautiful capital of Andalusia, is one of Spain's most charming and romantic cities. With its flower-filled patios, blue skies and winding medieval streets, Seville's unique culture contains a fascinating blend of folklore and tradition.

Cost in US$: $5420 without airfare.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Spain Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 30

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Edu-Culture International (ECI)'s Mission Statement: To broaden the academic horizons of students and to create well-rounded, culturally aware student leaders. Goals: ECI provides young people with opportunities to embrace new cultures, to improve foreign language ability, and to develop interpersonal skills. We strive to make each program a high-quality, unique, and enjoyable experience. It is also hoped that the programs will engender in students an interest in the pursuit of education, especially in the humanities and acquisition of foreign languages; motivate learning and independent thinking; promote world friendships and cultural understanding; educate students about the culture, language, people, and ideas of other nations and ethnic backgrounds; help students to realize their potentials and become aware of their roles in our global community.

Year Founded: 1998