Culture Courses

Do you want to get to know Spain and its people?
Do you want understand and live the Spanish way of life?

During the afternoons you can participate, independently of your course and with students from other classes, in various culture courses. As a second option, you will have the opportunity to choose the classes that interest you most and gain a broad knowledge of all aspects of Spanish society and culture (course “Hispania”).

All classes are open to all levels (except for classes of Spanish Mysticism and Literature which are restricted to the advanced level students only).

It should be noted that the most popular option taken by our students is to choose between the blocks “Hispania” I and II. These are made up of our most popular range of topics from our culture courses. This will bring you closer to an understanding of Spanish society and culture.

You are able to choose one or both blocks. They take place parallel to your Spanish course. Every week there are 5 sessions in each block. A weekly block takes place provided there is a minimum number of 5 participants.

If due to a lack of participants the block of classes cannot take place or if you only wish to participate in some of these sessions, you can arrange to have topics which are of interest to you in the form of private classes.

If you choose to sign up for both blocks you will get a 5% discount on each.

“¡Spain is Different!”

Spain has been spoken about for thousands of years . In the Bible and in Greek literature there are references to Spain. “Spain” means “strange” (Strabon). All of them have said something similar: Spain is a remote, different and romantic country.

Many centuries have passed and we ask: How has the view that foreigners hold of our country changed?

We aim to show you without any prejudice what a foreigner can encounter in crossing this “piel de toro” called Spain. Undoubtedly this will bring a smile to your face and perhaps a moment of reflection.

Enjoy yourself while learning by laughing – and, through these classes, you will get to know and understand this amazing country better. There are 6 encounters.

Spanish Society, Politics and Economy

Spain – traditional and modern society. Its vices and virtues. Comparing our society with others.

- Who are we? What are we like?
- How do we function?
- What do we think of others?
- What makes us different and at the same time unites us?
- How do we enjoy ourselves and what makes us bored?
- Our political system
- Our economy
- Our country as a part of the European Union

In a fun and pleasurable way we will show you the inside of a Spain that is not only flamenco and bullfighting. A country that does not only export olive oil, fruit, sunshine and seaside.

Art, History, Legends and Monuments of Ávila

Through this course we aim to offer a combined historical and political vision as rich as it is austere. Its history, literature, mysticism and art enrich the historical and cultural tapestry of Spain. This is done while not forgetting the notable historical figures, who have turned Avila into a World Heritage City. Showing you our town is rather like telling you the story of our own lives.

Objectives:

Proud of living in Avila we incorporate its history, art and literature in all our teaching, bearing in mind the saying: “Its nature sparkles and is reflected in the mirror of its history”.

We are aware that our course is not original but considering that traditions are part of private life of a population, we do our best to share our knowledge of these traditions with those who wish to learn something more than the language.

The course is structured in 8 sessions:

1st lesson: Celtic “Obila” and Roman “Abula”. Its legends. 2nd lesson: The walls and its legends. 3rd lesson: San Vicente basílica and its legends.
4th lesson: The cathedral. Its legends. 5th lesson: Avila´s palaces and their legends. 6th lesson: History and legends of Santo Tomás monastery. 7th lesson: Santa Teresa. 8th lesson: Markets, inns and squares in Avila. Their legends. Each lesson lasts around 90 minutes All sessions take place outside of school premises, they include texts and documents. .
Calzada Romana

History of Spanish Art

From El Greco to Picasso without forgetting Velázquez and Goya, we will look for the why, the how and the when of these men who have achieved the highest levels in the painting world.

Spanish History

With these lessons, you will come to clearly understand events that have occurred throughout the history of Spain, emphasizing above all the events of the 20th century.

“Spain is a Party”: Spanish Cuisine and Customs

From north to south, from east to west, we show you the wealth of our customs and traditions among them, “The Living Dead” in the north of Galicia, the National Fiesta, the “toros” (bulls), and the impressive “Semana Santa” of the Easter period. We will also introduce you to our rich gastronomy.

Spanish Songs 

With a selection of songs of different styles and from different times we show how the songs mirror the development of Spanish society from the 1940s to the 21st century. With this course we aim to bring to life aspects of Spanish society and language through music.

Latin-America Yesterday and Today

In this course you are introduced to the Latin-American world through its personalities, events, music, and art. It compares Latin-American society in various countries and regions.

Masterpieces of Spanish Literature

How can we understand the social development, the history and the traditions of a country without knowing the men and women who have written about them?

We cover such greats as El Lazarillo of Tomas, D.Quijote and La Regenta, not forgetting the writers of contemporary and today’s literature. Noted as especially fundamental to the Latin – American literary world are García Márquez, Borges and Cortázar.

Spanish Mysticism

Christian spirituality has fundamental reference points in Santa Teresa of Avila and San Juan of the Cross – both associated with Avila. We examine their personal experiences and stories along their path to God.

With this course in mysticism we aim to bring the student closer to a way of life which the true mystics do not consider to be a secret incommunicable kind of wisdom only for the initiated.

We can speak of mysticism of a period of a momentary understanding of a religious devotion already past. This is not so, it is not a distant lake, whose adherents thirst for an intense relationship with God; it crosses all philosophical and religious boundaries which today have spiritual significance for many men and women around the world.

Thus we can say that the mysticism of today is closer to us than we think. The intention of the course being to show this. We can use two of the most recognize exponents of mystical doctrine Saint Teresa and John of Cross whose initial memories and contact with God took place in Ávila the birthplace of Saint Teresa. Where she developed her thinking and meditation before writing about her day to day experience.

The student will understand, value, judge and analyse this doctrine with a view of the places which form part of religious literature which departs from Latin to use a Castilian with the intention to popularize it. Apart from what is said above about closeness, modernity, and Castilian literature. Mysticism is not only part of the Spanish Golden Century; it is something which belongs to all of us. It is past and present.

We have to look at mysticism as something relevant today. Mysticism is conceived as a union of wills, but not the essence of human will, which can survive apart from the will of mysticism. Even in order to reject divine grace. Malón de Chaide: “Is man so free that he can not want what God wants”.

The lessons will take place in class with trips to see the Teresian Route; the course is structured in eight sessions of ninety minutes.

Objectives of the Course.

What are we proposing for the student taking part in the mystical course. To bring together Christian spiritual literature. The specific aims of the course are:
-  To get to know the most important exponents of mysticism which will help in the reading and studying of mystical texts.
-  Meditate on an aspect of this little known literature to the ordinary reader.
-  Discover how the mystical doctrine combines the values, literary and philosophical which we can find on the journey of the “Teresian Route”.
-  To know and value the person of Saint Teresa.
-  To know and value the person of John of the Cross.
-  To find again the spirituality on the “Teresian Route”.

The course is held in Spanish, you need at least level B2 in Spanish. If you can easily understand the following information given in Spanish, you may enrol.

Fechas: ver lista de precios.
Destinatarios: Toda persona interesada en el mundo de la Mística.
Número de participantes: Mínimo 5, máximo 20
Requisito mínimo de competencia lingüística: B2, C1.
Profesorado: José Luis García.

Objetivos del curso.

¿Qué proponemos al estudiante que tome parte en el curso de mística? Un acercamiento a la literatura espiritual cristiana. Los objetivos específicos del curso son:
- Encontrarse con las figuras máximas del misticismo que le faciliten la lectura y el estudio de textos místicos.
- Meditar sobre un aspecto de la literatura bastante desconocido para un lector tradicional.
- Descubrir cómo en la doctrina mística se conjugan los valores, literarios y filosóficos, que podremos encontrar en un recorrido por la “Ruta Teresiana”.
- Conocer y valorar la figura de Santa Teresa.
- Conocer y valorar la figura de San Juan de la Cruz.
- Reencontrase con la espiritualidad en la “Ruta Teresiana”.

Contenidos.

- El Centro de Interpretación del Misticismo.
- La prosa religiosa.
- Ascetismo y misticismo.
- La Mística española: rasgos generales y estilos.
- Las órdenes religiosas.
- La mística heterodoxa.
- Causas de la aparición de la mística y la ascética.
- Épocas
o Período de iniciación.
o Período de plenitud.
o Autores.
- Contexto histórico.
- Población y sociedad.
o Mentalidad.
o El estado y los acontecimientos políticos.
- Santa Teresa de Jesús.
o Esquema biográfico.
o La doctrina.
o Las obras.
o El estilo.
- La prosa de Teresa de Jesús.
o El Castillo interior.
- La prosa de Santa Teresa de Jesús.
o Las Moradas.
- San Juan de la Cruz.
o Esquema biográfico.
o La doctrina.
o Las obras.
o El estilo.
o La Noche oscura.

Metodología.

La metodología a seguir en este curso específico se ajusta a las líneas generales ya marcadas en el en este documento.

En este curso concreto buscamos una metodología específica, Ávila se ofrece al alumno como recursos educativo, nuestra metodología sale a la calle. Relacionado con ello, en cuanto a la explotación de recursos, se realizarán lecturas de las obras más emblemáticas de los autores en lugares relevantes de sus vidas.

Materiales - Selección.

- DE LA CRUZ, Juan, Obras completas, Madrid, Espiritualidad, 1988.
- DE JESÚS, Teresa, Obras completas, Madrid, Biblioteca de autores critianos, 1988.
- GARCÍA LÓPEZ, José, Historia de la Literatura española, Barcelona, Vicens Vives, 1982.
- LAPESA, Rafael, historia de la lengua española, Madrid, Gredos, 1980.
- MANCHO DUQUE, Mª Jesús, La espiritualidad religiosa en el siglo XVI, Salamanca, Universidad de Salamanca, 1990.
- TERESA Y JUAN DE LA CRUZ, Lírica mística, Madrid, Espiritualidad, 1988.
- Ávila como contexto de nuestros autores.


Programación (8 sesiones de 90 minutos)

1ª Sesión:
- Visita al Centro de Interpretación del Misticismo.
- Coloquio sobre la visita.

2ª Sesión:
- La prosa religiosa.
- Ascetismo y misticismo.La Mística española: rasgos generales y estilos.
- Las órdenes religiosas.
- La mística heterodoxa.
- Causas de la aparición de la mística y la ascética.

3ª Sesión:
- Épocas
o Período de iniciación.
o Período de plenitud.
- Autores.
- Contexto histórico.
- Población y sociedad.
o Mentalidad.
o El estado y los acontecimientos políticos.

4ª Sesión:
- Santa Teresa de Jesús.
o Esquema biográfico.
o La doctrina.
o Las obras.
o El estilo.

5ª Sesión:
- La prosa de Teresa de Jesús.
o El Castillo interior: lectura y análisis.

6ª Sesión:
- La prosa de Santa Teresa de Jesús.
o Las Moradas: lectura y análisis.

7ª Sesión:
- San Juan de la Cruz.
o Esquema biográfico.
o La doctrina.
o Las obras.
o El estilo.

8ª Sesión:
- San Juan de la Cruz.
o La Noche oscura: lectura y análisis.

We recommend however, before your inscription, to contact CITES, the most renown institution worldwide in the study of mysticism, primarily on Santa Teresa de Avila and San Juan de la Cruz. Our modest course cannot be compared to the high quality courses offered by our celebrated neighbours. CITES