Easy Languages

Program

Destination

Barcelona is an extremely cosmopolitan city, with a population of about 4 million people, and is located on the world famous Mediterranean coast. It is located in the heart of the autonomous region of Cataluña, which is one of the richest and most modern in Spain. Always a city of cutting edge fashion and architecture, Barcelona will continually amaze you are you discover new streets and cafés.

Barcelona successfully combines antiquity with modern style. The city is full of famous places of interest such as the "El Barrio Gótico", "Las Ramblas", "La Plaza de Catalunya", "The Olympic port", "Picasso Museum" and the "Miró Foundation". Through living in Barcelona, you will discover and admire the work of the world-famous architect, Antonio Gaudi, who created stunning buildings, such as Park Güell’s "La Pedrera" or "La Sagrada Família". Visitors also enjoy the white beaches, great scenery, culture and nightlife, making Barcelona one of the most popular cities in Spain.

School

The school Babylon is situated in the centre of Barcelona, on a peaceful street with spacious classrooms, a large common room, and a beautiful terrace. The school is situated on the 1st floor of a typically "Eixample" building in the heart of the city.

Each class holds no more than 10 students. We strongly believe that quality language teaching is only possible in small groups, so that each student has enough time to express themselves and receive adequate attention from the teacher.

The school is in possession of modern facilities: televisions, DVD players, computers, and a free WiFi connection for the students.

Our partner school won the Star Award issued by Language Travel Magazine, as the best Spanish Language school in 2008, and was also nominated in 2009 and 2010.

All teachers are native Spanish speakers who studied Spanish linguistics. We select our teachers very carefully, not only for their academic skills, but also for their enthusiasm, their patience, and their energy.

Courses

Course duration is flexible, running from 1 to 52 weeks, and classes are open to any level. Each lesson lasts around 50 minutes. You'll meet a variety of teachers, to get you used to different accents.

• Intensive courses - 20 or 20 + 5 lessons per week
  
  Our intensive Spanish classes are composed of 20 lessons per week (4 per day). If you already speak a little Spanish, you can start any Monday. If you are a complete beginner, you can start each second Monday of the month (see Dates section). The content of course will be adapted to the student's level.
  
  You can choose to add 5 Culture lessons per week. Culture lessons take place every day, Monday to Friday. They can take the form of a seminar (art, history, literature, etc) or an activity like cooking or dance. They are an excellent way to practice your Spanish all while learning more about its cultural context, and meeting new people.
  
  
• Super-intensive courses - 30 lessons per week
  
  The super-intensive programme adds 2 extra lessons per day onto the Intensive programme. We strongly recommend this Spanish course for students who wish to immerse themselves totally or who wish to progress at a faster rate.
  
  The two additional hours are dedicated primarily to applying newly acquired grammatical structures in daily conversation. These classes rapidly improve your spoken confidence and the fun you'll have speaking Spanish.
  
  
• DELE Exam Preparation
  
  The DELE (Diploma for Spanish as a Foreign Language) is the only official certificate for foreign students recognized by the Instituto Cervantes. This certificate is an invaluable asset for students who wish to study at a Spanish university or would like to work in a Spanish-speaking country.
  
  This course is designed to prepare you to pass the DELE exam at any of its 3 levels.
  
  The school offers the chance to prepare for this exam by focusing on improving your grammar knowledge to ensure that when you take the exam you are confident.
  
  
• Spanish + Salsa: 20h of classes + 5h of salsa per week
  
  Did you know that Barcelona was the salsa capital of Spain? Immigrants from Central America really contributed to the metropolitan atmosphere of the city and there you'll find one of the best collections of "salsatecas".
  
  We've put in place a programme allowing you to combine intensive Spanish classes (20 lessons per week) with 5 hours of salsa classes with practice in the evening.
  The programme lasts one week, from Monday to Friday. It's open to any level of Spanish or dancing ability.
  
  

Activities

Our school takes pleasure in offering numerous social and cultural activities. Every Wednesday, a social evening activity is planned, of a different theme each week, either in a bar or in a restaurant in the centre of town. It may be a "salsa class", a "paella evening", some "international food-tasting", or "copas y tapas".

The school also offers a large range of weekend excursions. These include, a visit to a wine-producing region, sailing practice, local excursions, a walking tour of the city, etc. These activities require a supplement and are organised by specialists on site.

Accommodation

We offer a wide range of accommodation options and carefully select our families and apartments. All housing options are in safe areas of the city in or close to the centre.

Accommodation is available from the Sunday afternoon before the start of the course until the Saturday morning after your last day in school.

• Host Family:
  
  Probably one of the most effective ways to practice your language skills outside of class is to stay with a host family. Host families also offer an opportunity to experience Spanish culture firsthand and really get to know the country. Our host families provide bed linen, blankets and half board (2 meals a day) and a single room. Families are no more than 30 minutes from the school by public transport.
  
  

• Shared Apartment:
  
  Staying in a shared apartment is a great way to make new friends.
  
  You'll have your own room and share with 4 other occupants, sharing a kitchen. Bed linen is provided but you'll have to bring your own towels.
  
  Apartments are located in close proximity to shops and restaurants, no more than 30 minutes from the school by public transport.
  
  
• Shared Apartment Plus:
  
  A "shared apartment Plus" offers a higher level of comfort. The apartments are more spacious and offer additional facilities.
  
  You'll have your own room as well as a private bathroom in an apartment shared with other occupants. Bed linen and towels are provided. Communal areas are cleaned once a week.
  
  Apartments are situated no more than 20 minutes from the school on public transport.

Prices & Dates

Dates 2012

General courses begin every Monday, except for complete beginners who begin on the following dates: 09 & 23/01, 06 & 20/02, 05 & 19/03, 02-16 & 30/04, 14 & 28/05, 11 & 25/06, every week in summer, 03 & 17/09, 01-15 & 29/10, 12 & 26/11, 03 & 17/12

• DELE preparation : 07/05, 06/08, 22/10
• Spanish + salsa : 23/01, 20/02, 19/03, 16/04, 14/05, 11/06, 16/07, 20/08, 17/09, 15/10, 12/11

National holidays (no classes and no compensation): 01/01, 06/01, 7/03, 06/04, 25/04, 1/05, 13/06, 24/06, 15/08, 24/09, 12/10, 1/11, 6/12, 8/12, 25/12, 26/12

Prices include:

• The chosen Spanish programme
• The selected accommodation option
• Free access WiFi internet
• A 24-hour emergency telephone contact
• A placement test upon arrival
• The end-of-course exam and certificate
• Access to the library and other materials
• Weekly cultural and social activities

They do not include:

• Transport to and within Barcelona
  
• Transfer from the airport/station
  
  

Practical Info

Transport

• Arrival airport: Barcelona or Girona
  

An (optional) transfer is available between airport and accommodation - see price table.

If you prefer, we can book your flights for you. This must be made clear at the moment of enrolment.

If you intend to book your own flight, try to arrive the Sunday before the start of your course and leave the Saturday following its end.

Visa Information

EU residents do not normally need a Visa to enter Spain.

Citizens of other countries, such as the USA, Brazil, Japan, Korea, etc, can stay in Spain without a Visa for up to 3 months.

If you intend to stay for longer than 3 months, you will need to apply for a Student Visa (type D) before arriving.

Students coming from such countries must acquaint themselves with the visa application procedures involved at their local Spanish Embassy or Consulate.