For
minors (safety and entertainment) For university students (if they wish to meet Spanish people, if they are looking for an authentic Spanish “nightlife”)FAQ
Is
Who is Ávila ideal for if you want to do a Spanish course?
.
For
minors (safety and entertainment)
For university students (if they wish to meet Spanish people, if they are looking for an authentic Spanish “nightlife”)
For business people and VIPs wishing to study in an effective manner in a relaxed atmosphere and without being disturbed
For pensioners and people who are looking for somewhere quiet and with a
rich culture
If you wish to learn Spanish = ("castellano"), and would like to
avoid unnecessary confusions between this and other languages and dialects spoken in Spain
If this is your first visit to Spain. Avila is the PERFECT CITY for a first contact with Spain and its people
If you wish to study to the exclusion of distractions
If you want a happy balance between concentrated study and having fun by immersing yourself in the authentic Spanish atmosphere
Even the vice-rector of Salamanca University says that “Avila is the ideal city if you want to attend a Spanish course, mainly due to its particular historical interest and its rich cultural programmes.” (Diario de Avila, 17 June 2005)
Do I have to know the basis of Spanish before arriving?
No.
If you choose a group course you can start any Monday. If you are a complete beginner you should start on the first Monday of each month. Check for exceptions.
What will happen the first day of my course?
Should you come to the course with little or no knowledge you may start your course without doing the level test.
If you have booked a "Course for two people" or private lessons, you may start immediately.
If I already have some Spanish knowledge how will I know my level and
in
which group to participate?
Do not worry. You will be placed in the right group, on the basis of a small, oral and written test given by a professor.
Moreover, you have the option to do a general level test "online". Once you are registered, please ask for the
access code to this test on our web site.
What will happen if there would not be available for me a suitable group ?
If you have chosen a mini-group course and we would think that you could not fit in any group we offer you lessons together with a second person or private lessons in order to be able to compensate the amount paid by you. You will have the great advantage to study much more intensively and make a better progress. Moreover, we will adapt the intensity of the lessons to your personal situation. Furthermore, we will organise the contents to your personal interest, all until you will fit in a group.
The information in the three diagrams is based on our extensive experience. In order to help you achieve 100% of our objectives, we give you an exam to identify your level, we assign you to the appropriate group (if you desire a group course) and we assess your progress, acquired knowledge and skills at the end of each week.
If at any point you do not achieve the objectives, we offer you additional exercises and practice and/or private classes. If you achieve the objectives early, for example, as a result of private classes, we will assign you a more advanced level and group.
At the end of each level you should have successfully achieved the objectives detailed in the following chart and which are to be considered as a global scale of common reference levels (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages):
|
A1 Level You can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. You can introduce yourself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. You can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. A2 Level You can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). You can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. You can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. You should already be able to manage the following points:
|
|
B1 On this level you can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. You will be able to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. You can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. B2 You can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. You can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. You are able to:
|
|
C1 At this point you can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. You are able to express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. You can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. C2 At C2 you can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. You are able to summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. You can express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations. You are able to manage now the whole register of Spanish communication, such as:
|
Assessing is probably the most important labour of a school. Language instruction is based on it. IEMA evaluation and assessment takes into consideration the most recent criteria of the “Common European Framework” which allow to analize in detail skills and knowledge of our students.
Please consult the
following list containing selection of 25 methods
which IEMA mainly applies when assessing your knowledge and skills:
| 01 | Achievement Assessment | Yes | Proficiency Assessment | Yes |
| 02 | Norm-Referencing (NR) | No | Criterion-Referencing (CR) | Yes |
| 03 | Mastery Learning CR | Yes | Continuum CR | Yes |
| 04 | Continuous Assessment | Yes | Fixed Assessment Points | Yes |
| 05 | Formative Assessment | Yes | Summative Assessment | No |
| 06 | Direct Assessment | Yes | Indirect Assessment | Yes |
| 07 | Performance Assessment | Yes | Knowledge Assessment | Yes |
| 08 | Subjective Assessment | Yes | Objective Assessment | Yes |
| 09 | Checklist Rating | Yes | Performance Rating | Yes |
| 10 | Upon impression | No | Guided Judgement | Yes |
| 11 | Holistic Assessment | Yes | Analytic Assessment | Yes |
| 12 | Series Assessment | Yes | Category Assessment | Yes |
| 13 | Assessment by others | Yes | Self-Assessment | Yes |
| 14 | Assessment of what you know | Yes | Assessment of what you don´t know | Yes |
Moreover, IEMA’s system of evaluation contains further criteria to evaluate in detail and in a very individualized manner your personal progress and your acquired knowledge and skills. In our assessment procedure are also envolved the following points:
1. Coordination between the teachers for the planning and development of the courses week by week
2. Weekly meetings to exchange impressions and thoughts about the students’ progress, the relationships between students and teachers and between the students themselves in order to obtain the optimal working environment in the classroom
3. Adaptation of the programmes and objectives to the needs and characteristics of the students given their personal interest, multicultural character and varying age groups
4. Organisation and use of the centre’s resources and the didactic materials
5. Analysis of the effectiveness of IEMA programmes, including its continuous evaluation by the student itself
IEMA welcomes students from all over the world and from all professions. More than half are former students and students who come to IEMA through recommendation. The diagram reflects the average ages.
When and how can I go to Ávila?
You
fly to
If you come by train, just take a taxi to your hotel or family ; it is very cheap, not more than 5 euros.
You should arrive on a Saturday or Sunday. If you prefer to arrive on another day, please consult us.
If you have
reserved accommodation in a Spanish home, please ensure that the plane does not
arrive after
Here you can find timetables of trains: www.renfe.es
Here you can find timetables of buses: http://www.estaciondeautobuses.com/frameset.html
May I register even though I do not have my flight detail?
Yes.
The worst thing you could do is to phone your parents. Try to contact our secretary, intensify your programme and take part in as many additional courses or activities as you can.
What to do if I run out of money?
Please ask our secretary (NOT YOUR HOST FAMILY) for monetary assistance, while your parents will transfer money by “Western Union” to Avila (it will take less than a day).
Tipping is not common in Spain. Our teachers will help you with further information.
What is the location of my family / hotel
We organise your accommodation in Avila and inform you before arrival. Where is it located? Enter the website: http://callejero.lanetro.com/apps/aytoavila and introduce the name of street and its number.
Here you will find information on public transport: http://www.avilabus.com/
The “host family” offers the practical part of your programme in Spain – the Cultural Immersion. A “host family” could e.g. be a young couple with or without children, as well as an elderly couple or a widow who are looking forward to host someone.
All families have to pass our high standard selection procedure (please call for further information). It is obvious that you must contribute to make your programme a successful one, because success is only guaranteed if you adapt and communicate! However, a big advantage for our students is, nearly all host families benefit from their experience over many years which is decisive for those who visit Avila or Spain for the first time. You will see that most of the following hints are written primarily for young people who do not have much experience in intercultural communication and who are perhaps making their first trip abroad.
It is necessary that you adapt yourself to the new cultural circumstances. As we specialise in the field of intercultural communication, please contact our administration office or your teacher immediately if there are any questions.
You will gain enriching experiences as well as intercultural understanding during your stay with your host family. The following information is a must to make your stay unforgettable.
How to get along with my host family?
Try to talk to you family right from the start. If you are shy and hide yourself, your host family – whose well defined duties are primarily providing bed and board - will think you like to be independent. Further action is optional and will result from the interaction from both sides.
Bring along pictures from your family, your home or your dog to Spain. You could buy a little present for your Spanish host family e.g. something your city is famous for (example: if you are from Cologne bring along “4711”) or some sweets to overcome your starter inhibitions.
You cannot expect that your host family will hold your hand for 24 hours a day. They all have their duties. However, if you should be invited to participate in family fiestas, this should be understood as an extraordinary honour and as a high success of your intercultural sensitivity and competence.
In the mornings all family members usually get up very late, crumble as many biscuits as possible into a big mug filled with coffee (coffee often is prepared the day before and then heated in the microwave) which they eat and drink with a big spoon. After having this typical breakfast they hurry to work.
At 03:00 pm they meet again in front of the TV having lunch. The TV is switched on the whole day as background noise or just because it provides several topics they could discuss. They usually have dinner at 09:00 pm or later; in general they go to bed at midnight.
No, you may not. Please never do that. Neither call if your family does offer, it is only a matter of politeness. Normally there are no problems in receiving a call; the best time would be during lunch or siesta. Please bring along your mobile phone. Just do like Spaniards do: use your mobile phone for private calls.
May I wash my clothes/underwear in my host family`s home?
No, you are not. It would be very impolite and extremely bad taste to do so. As some students feel embarrassed with the host family doing their underwear, which they try to keep secret by doing the laundry themselves. Sometimes they hide drying their underwear in the wardrobe destroying it this way. The damage has to be paid for by the student.
There is no reason to feel embarrassed if your host family does your laundry including your underwear. From the family’s point of view washing and ironing your clothes is a habitual service without causing any embarrassment. Please take note that it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask your family for a free shoe cleaning service. On the “Plaza Santa Teresa” you will find shoeshine people.
In Spain, they wash every day some piece of cloth. The host mum will surely ask you if she should was your clothes, because “I don´t mind” (she wants to serve you, and, of course, earn some extra money). Be aware, that, if you accept, you must pay the amount corresponding for your complete stay, not for one single service. In order to avoid problems, pay host mum IMMEDIATELY or, if you feel embarrassed, pay at our office not later than the following day. Please consider if you accept this service before accepting! This is one of the points that let araise most conflicts between host families and students, as families think, students do not honour their services if they discuss payment for laundry service.
It is a gesture of good will: they want to make sure you notice that they are serving you, or, they simply arrange everything according to their criteria.
Why does my host family make
my bed
although I have already done it before?
It is a gesture of good will or due to the fact that you have not made your bed properly according to their criteria. Not making your bed means in Spain: you are uncivilized. Please ask how to make a Spanish bed properly – more: the question will easily provide you a new conversation topic.
Why do I always receive more food than I am accustomed to?
It is an indication that you are welcome. You may state “Muchas gracias, está todo muy rico, pero mi estómago desgraciadamente es pequeño.”
Please be aware that your host mother quite often is not joining you sitting at the table, because she prefers serving you. Interesting: The host father will not serve you, he is sitting at the table, enjoying being served by females.
It is even fun you serving the host father, if you are a woman: try playing end enjoying the role of a traditional Spanish woman! We have had members of royal families and other celebrities extremely enjoying doing so without revealing their condition!
As the Spanish cuisine is said to be one of the healthiest, the Spaniards do use a lot of olive oil. There is a great variety of olive oils. Please have a try of every kind. May we give you a hint? Have a toast with garlic and olive oil in the morning. Your day couldn’t start better.
The fact that you are wishing to live together with a host family makes everybody understand that you are wishing to know more about Spanish life and customs. This includes as well trying Spanish eating habits. However, if you cannot miss your cereales or fruit please ask the host family if they feel uncomfortable if you buy some of your preferred products. You can tell them without any problems that “My doctor obliged me to do this diet.”
You will suffer problems of adaptation first of all at breakfast time. However, a change might be possible within a few generations: The Spanish government is concerned about the Spanish breakfast and sensibilizing the population to have a “normal” European breakfast. Never try to persuade your host family that they should change breakfast habits, this would be insulting their sensibility of honour. Or simply they would not understand at all your concern.
If you have to fulfil complicated diets or if you must take into consideration special eating habits (e.g. due to your religion), or if you are a vegetarian, please let us know long before the programme starts. Your host family simply cannot adapt to the more than 100 different nationalities who join IEMA programmes – it must be the other way round! But if you cannot live without your peanut butter, you must bring it along (you will not be able to buy it in Spain) and let host family taste it!
Why are the shutters always closed?
The same would even happen in a hotel. There is a simple reason for it: to keep the sun, heat and cold away. While you are in your room, don’t hesitate to open the shutters.
If the Spaniards would visit your country they would ask “why is it so deadly quiet in your country?” Noise from their point of view is no noise at all, and if so, it is positive: an expression of “life” and “happiness”.
Spain is the noisiest country in the world. The noise is sometimes really unbearable, and therefore you can choose at the chemist´s between lots of different products of ear plugs. Furthermore, there are a lot of stores where you will get ear plugs adapted to your personal needs.
Don´t complain about the noise. Nobody would understand what your problem is.Will I receive any packed lunch if I do an excursion?
If you plan an excursion, please let the host family know one day in advance (not later than noon) to prepare a “bocadillo” for you. Please do so also for your day of departure, especially if you have booked full board.
Am I allowed to take friends or other people to my host family´s home?
No, you are not. Please don’t do it, even if your family does offer which is only a matter of politeness. It would be a grave infringement of the host family´s hospitality. It is an absolute must to know that a Spanish apartment is considered as private in which only the occupants may enter (Don’t worry, as you are a guest in a Spanish family there won’t be any problems: all services you get are paid services). The visit of e.g. a friend or someone who does not belong to the family is said to be an exception and always considered a special honour. Please do not invite anyone. If you do so, you might be expelled from your host family’s apartment. Please be aware that there won’t be any compensation in this case.
What happens if I destroy or deteriorate something?
You have to replace it. In this case please contact our office as mediator.
What else do I have to pay attention to?
Please use water (there is few) and electricity (expensive) sparingly.
Show interest in your host family, as well as in the children and grandchildren and always try to make the first step in communicating with the family members.
Noisy conversations are not due to maliciousness, but due to temperament. Maybe the family members might speak at the top of their voices because the simple reason is that they probably think you didn’t get a word/sentence acoustically right. If they are shouting to you this should not bother you, not at all. These families are usually quite communicative.
Please don’t hide yourself in your room. In Spain it is used as dormitory but not as living room (therefore it is also very small).
Never open any cupboard or fridge, even if host family invites you to do so. These are a quite delicate areas. Never take away anything to eat. However, you might ask if you could place something to drink into the fridge and take it whenever you would like to. You will see on the other hand that host family opens your wardrobe, for example in order to place your clothes in the host mother´s way or simply to re-arrange everything in order to show you that they are serving you!
Don´t change the kind of board you have chosen. Never accept host family´s invitation to participate in a meal you did not book. If you do so, you must contact IEMA office in order to change your kind of board or compensate host family inviting them one of the following days for a dinner.
Never talk to your host family about money, this will for sure create problems. If you have to pay for any additional services, you could put the money into an envelope and leave it on your bedside table. However it is more recommendable arranging all questions of money with IEMA secretary.
If you are over 21: Feel free to ask host family if they accept that you bring sometimes a bottle of Spanish wine for lunch/dinner (and, of course: invite them to drink from the bottle…). Usually they drink water from the water pipe or fountain, alcohol in the bars.
We ask you to talk to our staff immediately if there are any problems (generally based on linguistic and/or intercultural misunderstandings). Especially if you are a minor always communicate with our office. As we are an international team in the administration we understand you much better. Please don’t call your parents because they are not present and so unable to understand the situation adequately, even to solve the problem from outside Spain.
It is very difficult to filter out the real meaning of the Spaniard’s words – Spaniards generally hide their messages in a huge context (“high-context communication”, see Edward T. Hall and Mildred Hall “The Hidden Dimension”) you only will understand properly if you read between the lines. It is practically impossible for you to communicate 100% perfectly, as in addition to the linguistic problems you must know about the new cultural ambience, and, more: you must be aware that, at least unconsciously you are applying your own criteria and values, you must learn the techniques of how to act in the new INTER-cultural situation which is created every time when you communicate with your host family. - Don´t worry! You come, because you want to learn, right?
The reasons why there are hardly any conflicts between the students and the host families are not only the families’ experiences, but also “pacienca” (patience) on both sides and the families’ diligent supervision on the part of IEMA administration. Indeed, IEMA´s largest amount of energy and time is dedicated to communication with the host families, as it is here where our students struggle with the biggest problems of adaptation. Trust in our preparation of your programme and contact us whenever any doubt arises, it can only be positive for your experience in Spain.
Please take everything with a grain of salt: very often a “yes” is a “no”. You usually are not aware of this because you automatically think: “If they say ´yes´ it must be ´yes´. Please don’t lose courage and your good will. For sure it will pay off later on! Please act on our advice seriously and you will not only benefit from your stay in Avila but also make friends for a lifetime!
What clothes are necessary? What will the weather be like?
Our
classes are relaxed, a tie or formal dress is not necessary. Bring comfortable clothes. The climate of
Avila is situated at 1100m (
A good motivation! We also recommend bringing a bilingual dictionary (with at least 100,000 entries) and a grammar book.
What
can I do in my free time?
Visit
Leisure and Free Time
In Avila, there are different "Cyber-cafés" where you can meet people from Avila. IEMA has agreements with several ones, we recommend "La Habana", where you can get a very special price for internet access or even free of charge if you bring your portable computer.
A lot of bars next to IEMA offer wireless internet access free of charge.
At school, too, you may use our wireless internet access for free. Therefore we recommend to bring your mobile computer - netbook, PDA or laptop.
No. However, you can use the square in front of our school gate or the terrace, but not the columned patio.
Where to find my consulate or embassy?
http://www.embajada-online.com/embajadas-de-otros-paises-en-Espana-P166.htm
http://www.embajada-online.com/consulados-de-otros-paises-en-Espana-P166.htm
If you come from
the European Union, bring a document from your insurance company concerning
health problems in Spain. If
you are from another country, purchase medical assistance insurance. The
private insurance can also include repatriation. IEMA may offer
you as well a general health insurance, please inform our secretary if you need
a health insurance.
Bring your medication and carry it in your
hand luggage. Inform
us before arriving if you have any health problems. We
will look after you in the best way possible and help take care of
hospitalization and repatriation.
Are there fiestas, festivals and holidays during my stay?
Fiestas and public holidays have a very strong tradition in Spain. If one falls during your stay, you will have the great luck of experiencing Spanish customs first-hand.
The Consulate, the Spanish Embassy in your country, the Cervantes Institute, the Spanish Tourism Office, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and of course Internet could all inform you about fiestas and public holidays. IEMA cannot give you a guarantee when fiestas are really going to take place, as they can be changed by local or regional authorities at any time.
06.01. Epifanía del Señor
19.03. San José
01.04. Jueves Santo
02.04. Viernes Santo
23.04. Fiesta de la Comunidad Autónoma
01.05. Fiesta del Trabajo
02.05. San Segundo
15./16.08. Asunción de la Virgen
12.10. Fiesta Nacional de España
15.10. Santa Teresa
01.11. Todos los Santos
06.12. Día de la Constitución
08.12. Inmaculada Concepción
As is explained in the chart, the Spanish classes take place in the mornings and then, in the afternoons, you can choose between various cultural activities, private classes and leisure activities.
|
Monday |
Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
|
| 08:00 |
Get
up and have breakfast |
Trip to Madrid | Trip to Toledo | ||||
| 08:45 | Go to school | ||||||
| 09:00 |
Grammar |
||||||
| 10:30 |
Break |
||||||
| 10:50 |
Communication – Pragmatics |
||||||
| 12:20 |
Break |
||||||
| 12:30 |
Conversation |
||||||
| 13:30 | Have a drink with the teachers (if you so desire) or go home. |
Spanish Cuisine |
|||||
| 14:30 | Have lunch, a chat, a siesta and do some homework | ||||||
| 17:00 | Spanish Traditions | Additional Private Class | Franco and the Civil War | Private lesson |
Conversation |
||
| 18:30 | Modern Society | Cinema |
Spanish Dance |
||||
| 20:00 | Exchange | Games and snack in the Soto | Fitness |
Internet cafe Disco
|
|||
| 21:00 | Dinner | ||||||
| 22:00 | Go out with the teachers | ||||||
Contents depend on each programme.
Put a good face on the matter! If you have any problems please communicate immediately with our secretary. We do accept and need fair comments in order to be able to solve your problems. We ask you to talk to us immediately if you are not satisfied with anything concerning your whole programme, we cannot help if you let us know at the end of your stay.
Remember. Compared to other countries or to your home country in Spain nothing is “worse” or “better”. It is only a matter of habit, or let’s call it “Spain is different” (Strabo already called Spain a “strange country”). Please do not expect that your paid services will be fulfilled in the way YOU expect to. It is difficult to accept this fact, but: As you are in Spain you will be confronted with Spanish criteria and circumstances.
We want to make you feel comfortable in Spain. You have invested a lot of money coming here and your expectations are high. So please don´t sit out if a problem bothers you. Again: If you would like to comment anything, if you have a problem, if you consider anything “bad” or simply uncomfortable – at school, host family, during an excursion, etc. -: You must inform our secretary as soon as possible. We cannot accept you informing us on the last day of your programme or even later because it is not helpful. As our promise and intention is to make you feel as comfortable as possible we want to help you once your problem arises.
“¡No pasa nada!” Easier said than done! Follow one of the Spanish virtues - “paciencia”. There is a reason for everything; we will help you to find solutions and explanations for the inexplicable.
This chapter could be never ending. So we suggest you to send us an e-mail containing your specific questions.
The following book is highly recommended. It gives you an excellent idea of Avila, its history, art, architecture, fiestas, well known writers on Avila, and Avila Today: Avila Viva (Lunwerg) 2005, ISBN: 84-9785-220-6.
ll publications of Jesús María Sanchidrián Gallego
are highly recommendable. Here are just two examples:
Jesús
María Sanchidrián Gallego.
Jesús
María Sanchidrián Gallego. ”Avila Rural”. Rutas Mágicas por los pueblos
del Adaja. Mingorria (Piedra Caballera) 2001