Easy Languages

School

Location

The capital city of Spain, Madrid has an approximate population of 4 million inhabitants. It is located in the centre of the country and because of its convenient location, getting to any other part of the country is about 5 hours by car.

Madrid is a city that contrasts ancient character with modern architecture. It is a significant financial and political city where important events take place every day. In Madrid, one can find some of the most beautiful museums in the world (El Prado, the Queen’s Museum, Sofia, etc.) and the city also offers a variety of events year-round such as exhibitions, football matches, concerts, opera, "zarzuela", theatre, cinema, etc. and a lively nightlife.

School

The Centre of International Studies is located downtown, (in a large building just next to the most important Business and Law University of Spain - ICADE ICAI University of Comillas). It is easily accessible through a network of 9 bus lines and the subway, which is only a 5 minute walk away. Our newly-renovated building guarantees comfort and good service, satisfying our students’ needs. Facilities include a large common room with a refreshments and coffee machine, a study hall equipped with Internet access, 20 computers and 5 VCRs, as well as a reading room and a well-equipped literature library and video library. Our 40 classrooms are all equipped with airconditioning, audio/visual equipment, and they are all well-lit with natural light entering from our 4000 square meter garden (about 4800 yards).

Excursions and Activities

The school organises many excursions and activities throughout the week and on the weekend. They may be either free or subject to an additional fee. Some examples:

• Afternoons
  Visits to museums (El Prado, Reina Sofia, archaeological museums, etc.), visits to different neighbourhoods in the city (Bourbon Madrid, Hapsburg Madrid, modern Madrid etc.), and the Royal Palace.
• Weekends
  Excursions to Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial, Ávila, Siville, Grenada and the Costa del Sol.

Courses

Class sizes are small, generally with an average of 8 students. We accept students of every ability level, from absolute beginners to advanced speakers. Courses begin every Monday. Our programmes combine different teaching techniques, centreed on a communicative approach in order to reach every kind of learner.

We offer three basic programmes in our catalog:

• Semi-intensive, Intensive or Extra-intensive Spanish courses
  Semi-intensive courses consist of 20 Spanish lessons (of 55 minutes each).
  Intensive courses are composed of one Semi-intensive course plus 5 Spanish culture and civilization workshops (see below).
  Extra-intensive courses consist of 25 Spanish lessons plus 5 Spanish culture and civilization workshops (see below).
  
• 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. The schools offer four or five week sessions of exam preparation in the levels elementary, intermediate or advanced.
  
  This course is designed to prepare you to pass the DELE exam at any of its 3 levels.
  
• One-to-one Spanish
  This option, which we offer only in conjunction with our other courses, is designed to allow students to work privately with a teacher on their own specific weakness and strengths. This is without a doubt the fastest way to learn Spanish. 5 or 10 lessons per week.
  

Each lesson is 55 minutes in length.

Cultural Workshops

We believe that learning Spanish involves more than grammar or conversation lessons and that a strong understanding of Spanish culture is essential to communication in the language. Our afternoon cultural workshops are not only intended to serve as opportunities for students to practice their Spanish, but also as ways to learn the basics of Spanish history, art, and mass communication. The four workshops we offer are:

• Spanish Radio: In this workshop, students produce their own radio programme based on national and international newscasts. The class requires students to listen to, collect and summarize information from Spanish broadcast media.
• Press Workshop: In this workshop, students produce their own newspaper/magazine based on news, cultural events, popular traditions. The class requires students to conduct research in Spanish print media, as well as interview locals.
• Drama Workshop: Here, students learn and perform extracts from well-known Spanish plays. In addition to the obvious cultural education that this workshop provides, it also aids students in learning to express themselves quickly in idiomatic terms
• History, Literature, and Art: In this workshop, students learn to analyze some of Spain’s most famous writers and artists reflecting Spanish history. Students will also discover Spanish customs, gastronomy and popular events.

Accommodation

We offer accommodation in:

• 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 linens, blankets and either half or full-board (2 or 3 meals a day) depending on student’s request. Students share a room with one other person.

• Student Residence: Student residences offer dormitory-style living for students who wish to have a more independent lifestyle. Private rooms or rooms shared with up to 2 people are available and half or full-board (2 or 3 meals a day) is provided depending on the student’s request.

• Shared Apartment: Apartments are made up of 3 to 6 rooms and include all comforts to ensure a pleasant stay: well-equipped kitchen, TV, washing machine, bathroom etc. Linens are provided and amenities (water, heat, electricity) are included. It is possible to request a private bathroom at an elevated price. A deposit of 100€ will be required (cash or credit card) to obtain the keys. Apartments are located in close proximity to shops and restaurants.

Accommodation is available the Sunday before the start of classes until after the end of class the following Saturday.

Prices 2012

Course prices can be found in the table above. Our prices include accommodation and are detailed for each type of accommodation (host family, residence, apartment).
Prices include:

• The chosen course programme
  
• The chosen accommodation with or without meals as chosen
  
• All administrative and enrolment fees

Prices do not include:

• Transportation to the destination
• Academic materials (to be paid at the destination)
• Exam fees (120-200€)
• Public transport

Dates 2012

Courses begin on Mondays and end Sundays, year-round.

The DELE exam preparation courses begin:

• 4 weeks from 30/04, 30/07, 15/10.
• DELE exams: 25/05, 24/08, 9/11.

Holidays: 01/01, 06/01, 06/04, 21/04, 1/05, 2/05, 23/06, 25/07, 15/08, 9/09, 12/10, 1/11, 9/11, 6/12, 8/12, 25/12.

These dates can be subject to modification. Please contact us for more information.

Practical Info

Transport

• Arrival airport: Madrid
  

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.