Learn Spanish in Barcelona Spain

National Registration Center for Study Abroad

To speak with a NRCSA staff member, please call (888) 678-6211
Or, email us at study@nrcsa.com

Learn Spanish in Barcelona, Spain

About the NRCSA Center

The school was founded in 1972 and has since grown into a major centre for language teaching, teacher training and related activities. There are three main areas of activity in the school:

1) Teaching Spanish to students from all over the world;
2) Teaching other languages (English, German, and French) to the local population;
3) Training teachers of Spanish and English. The school currently provides language instruction to around 1,200 local people studying English, German or French, so there is plenty of opportunity for students of Spanish to meet native Spanish speakers, make friends and improve their fluency outside the classroom, in the bar, at social events, etc.

The quality of all teaching is guaranteed by the fact that the school uses only fully trained native speakers who have been carefully selected to match the high standards the school sets themselves. Regular courses and seminars held in the school, combined with frequent visits to and from other schools, help to ensure that these standards are constantly upheld.

The school is situated in the centre of the city - less than 5 minutes walk from the Plaza Catalunya, which is the central square and communications hub of the city - on 5 floors of a large corner building. The building is a typical Barcelona town house; it has a very decorative street entrance, lots of natural light, high ceilings, a marble staircase and a lift. The school facilities include:

� 35 air-conditioned classrooms, all with natural light

� An electronic classroom with Internet access

� A library and study centre

� A bar which is open all day providing hot and cold food and drinks

� A terrace where students can relax in the sunshine

When the Internet room is not being used for teaching, it is available for use by students. Access is free, but limited to periods of 30 minutes. If all the computers are in use, students can reserve a 30-minute period at some other time.

The school teaches Spanish, not Catalan, and their host families will also speak Spanish, not Catalan, to their foreign students. Students may overhear some conversations in Catalan, but they are equally likely to overhear conversations in English, French or Italian, giving proof to the fact that Barcelona is a very cosmopolitan city.

About Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the world. It has a huge number of attractions including a city centre which retains its medieval street plan; some stunning modernist architecture including several buildings by Gaudi - Spain's most famous architect; dozens of museums including one dedicated to Picasso, another to Miro and yet another to Barcelona's world famous football club. There are two major arts festivals during the year, one in the summer and one in the autumn, and there are concerts and shows of different kinds happening all the time. Barcelona is almost as lively at night as it is during the day and it has a unique, exciting atmosphere, which provides the visitor with a truly unforgettable experience.

The city enjoys an almost perfect climate making it an ideal place to be at any time of the year. It even has its own sandy beaches, which are less than 15 minutes away from the school. The city's geographical position also makes it the easiest Spanish city to reach from the rest of Europe and there are direct flights from most cities in the world to its prize-winning international airport.

Pros

� Excellent families � on average, they are some of the best ranked by our past students in Spain - which is unique for a large, cosmopolitan city.

� Fun, upbeat atmosphere at the school � lots of cultural and social activities, easy to meet people.

� School offers excellent, modern facilities � in a great location not far from the port and just one block off "Las Ramblas"

� Can combine study in Barcelona with study at the sister location in Palma de Mallorca.

Cons

� School tends to appeal more to students age 30 and under, although students of all ages attend year round.

� Host family residences are not air-conditioned, which may bother some people in Summer.

� Approx. 50% of the city residents speak Catalan as primary language, although almost all also speak Spanish

Programs For

Executives/Professionals.
Families.
Health Professionals.
Mature Adults.
Teachers.
Teens.
University Students.

National Registration Center for Study Abroad
P.O. Box 1393 Milwaukee, WI 53201 USA
Tel: (414) 278-0631 Fax: (414) 271-8884 E-Mail: study@nrcsa.com
Articles - News