Barcelona - Teen Residence/Homestay Program

2013 Teen Summer in Barcelona, Spain

  

Is this program for you?

The Teen Residence/Homestay Program in Barcelona, Spain is suited to the student who is looking for a well-balanced language + culture immersion program in a Spanish-speaking environment. Students must be comfortable travelling independently by public transit. You must also be comfortable under the guidance of outgoing and knowledgeable monitors and like to interact with international students. Please visit the supervision page for more information

Location

Worldly Barcelona: city of artists, museums and home of Picasso. The entire city an architectural exhibition featuring brilliant mosaics, riotous ornamentation, stained glass and marble. It would take years to experience all of Barcelona’s attractions. Visit, for example, La Pedrera, an apartment building designed by Gaudi in 1910.  Imagine a building that creeps monstrously around a corner; an amusement park haunted house of bulging eyes, laughing mouths and peephole windows. Or watch the passing parade of people on famous Las Ramblas. Sit at sidewalk cafés and listen to ordinary citizens debate politics and art. Or stroll the Gothic Quarter—the ancient heart of the city - a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets that wind around Roman walls with imposing stone towers.  And don't forget Barcelona's beaches!  Over 3 miles of golden sand is waiting for you, only 10 minutes from the city centre.

School Fascilities

The Teen Residence/Homestay Program in Barcelona takes place on a university campus located in one of the safest and greener areas of Barcelona, 30 minutes from downtown by public transport. The school and residence are located in a modern building with 24-hour reception services, sports facilities, and a dining hall serving breakfast and delicious dinners. The school has multiple fully-equipped and bright classrooms, student lounges, an internet room with computers and outdoor terraces.

Program

The program offers an ideal mix of Spanish lessons and Spanish culture, including exposure to cuisine, history and art as well as music and cinema.  See the sample schedule page for more information. It also offers the unique opportunity to meet and make friends with students from all over Europe, North America and Asia, making this a very popular program for students who are looking for a truly international experience. You can choose the Standard Course, which consists of 20 x 45 minute lessons per week, or the Intensive Course, which consists of 30 x 45 minute lessons per week. On the weekends, students will enjoy a full-day excursion to places of interest such as Montserrat, Fugueres and Sitges.

Level Placement

Prior to your arrival in Barcelona, you will be asked to take an online test. This way you'll be able to go directly to the appropriate class on your first Monday. There are a minimum of 4 levels offered including beginner, elementary, intermediate and advanced.  If you have no previous experience with the Spanish language, you typically do not have to take this test and will automatically be placed in the beginner class.

Teachers

The teachers are all native Spanish speakers with university degrees and are all experienced teaching Spanish as a foreign language. They bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the classroom and design lessons with an emphasis on fluency, using discussions, debates, games, role plays and other materials suitable to young learners. Teachers will also review and build on previously studied grammar as well as work on developing students' vocabulary.

Supervisors/Monitors

The program supervisors and monitors are all over 21 and have an amazing amount of energy! They are chosen not only based on their experience and qualifications, but also on their personality, creativity and sense of responsibility and initiative. Their goal is to make sure that you get the most out of your program and they do this by being available 24 hours a day to answer your questions, provide guidance and look out for your overall safety and well-being. 

Activities and Excursions

Included in the program are 2 half-day and 1 full-day excursion every two weeks. In addition to this, there are a variety of cultural, sports and leisure activities offered every afternoon and evening.  These are all included in the program fees. For a sample weekly schedule and list of possible activities and excursions please visit the sample schedule page.

Accommodation - Residence

Students staying in residence will be accommodated at the school campus, which is situated in a quiet residential area, approximately 30 minutes by public transit from the city centre and the beach. The air-conditioned rooms are furnished with 2 to 4 beds, desks, wardrobes and safety deposit boxes. Each room has a private bathroom with shower.

If you are in residence, during the week you will have all breakfasts and dinners at the school cafeteria. You will be given a packed lunch daily. There are numerous restaurants, cafes and supermarkets close to the school.

For general information on residence accommodation please visit our Residence Q & A page.

Accommodation - Homestay

If you prefer to stay with a host family you can choose the homestay option. You will be accommodated by welcoming local families in a shared room with another student from the program.  Host families live in apartments in various residential neighborhoods in Barcelona, no more than 40 minutes from the school by public transit. 

Your host family will provide breakfast and dinner daily. You will be given a packed lunch daily. Most host families are within a 15 minute walk of cafes, restaurants and a supermarket for snacks.

For general information on homestay accommodation please visit our Homestay Q & A page.

The following program features are included in the price:

• Standard Course: 20 lessons per week (4 x 45 minute lessons per day) or Intensive Course: 30 lessons per week (6 x 45 minute lessons per day)
• Study materials
• Language level test prior to arrival in Spain
• Certificate of attendance
• 1 full-day excursion every 2 weeks
• 2 half-day excursions every 2 weeks
• Residence accommodation in shared room
• Homestay accommodation in a shared room
• Three meals per day
• Return airport transfer for Barcelona (see the Getting There page for more info)
• Medical Insurance