Jayne

For the last two weeks, per the suggestion of Carmen, I attended intensive language courses at IEMA (INSTITUTO ESPAÑOL "MURALLAS DE ÁVILA"). I did a lot of research about various intensive-study programs before I made a final selection on one, and IEMA looked to be the best value for the money. I must say that I was not dissappointed - it was an incredible experience.

I was there for only two weeks; most students go for three or four. My classes were never more than three other people (no class can be more than 8 people, from my understanding). The classes were the perfect mix of grammar, listening and communicating. Classes were quite intensive -- group classes went from 9 to 1 or 2 each afternoon, and I took optimal private lessons and cultural classes, wich put me in more class time 6 - 7:30 six of the 10 days I was at IEMA. But they are done in such a way as to be very lively, engaging, fun and never too overwhelming. It's definitely more classwork than vacation, but that's what I waas looking for. The teachers were enthusiastic, supportive and a little tough -- wich is the perfect combination for learning, I think.

The school is in Ávila, Spain, north of Madrid. It's considered an "accent-free" Spanish enviroment. And unlike Salamanca or Madrid, it is not easy to hear any language but Spanish outside of the classroom. Plus, the city is absolutely gorgeous, and is a less-than-two-hour train or bus ride away from Salamanca, Segovia, Madrid, or various other interesting places and cities.

If anyone at the U.N. is looking for an intensive-language course in Spain, I want to highly recommended IEMA to them. http://www.iema.com ; Brian Cugelman went as well, for the entire month of June, and I believe he enjoyed the school as well

Jayne Cravens

Online Volunteering Specialist

United Nations Volunteers [http://www.unvolunteers.org]

Bonn, Germany