Teen Study Program in San Sebastian, Spain

Camp 7 - 15 years old / Semi Supervised Teen 14 - 17 years old
Absolute Beginner to Advanced Spanish

The Spanish and Basque study center is located in the center of San Sebastian, the cultural capital of the Basque region of Spain. The program has developed an excellent methodology for teaching teens a foreign language, and has a very strong teacher training program to ensure that all teachers are kept up to date with the latest methodologies. Additionally, teachers attend special seminars where ideas are exchanged and analyzed, and discussion is carried out regarding latest advances advances in: methodology, internal training, management, and teaching materials for different types of students.

Students who already have some knowledge of Spanish will have an oral and written test at the start of the course. This is used to determine their precise level. All other students will start as beginners. The language levels are defined as follows:

The program is structured into 5 levels, from beginner to advanced. Two teachers, both university graduates and who specialize in teaching Spanish, coordinate each group's classes together with the Director of Studies.

• Beginner: Students who have no (or very little) previous language experience.
• Elementary: Student can exchange basic information with simple structures.
• Intermediate: Students can hold a simple conversation on a one-to-one basis.
• High Intermediate: The student can communicate in normal situations, but has difficulty with precision.
• Advanced: The student can communicate easily, but has difficulties with more complicated structures.

Students will receive 25 Spanish language and culture lessons per week, in the mornings and early afternoons, Monday through Friday. Each group class has 6 to 12 students. This allows each student to receive the personal attention that they need to learn the language. The program is designed to promote the student's ability to communicate.

Activities Included in the Program
During the afternoons and evenings on weekdays students participate in a variety of organized activities and/or half day excursions. These activities allow students to meet their peers from around the world that are attending the program, and often leads to forming of life-long friendships. It is also a great chance for students attending the program to practice their Spanish since its the common language of all the attendees.

Possible activities and half day excursions:

• Organized Sports & Games
• Open Zone Zurriola (Festival)
• Dance Lessons
• Pamplon - San Fermines
• Spanish Films
• Guided Tours of San Sebastian
• Aquarium & Urgull Stronghold
• Science Museum
• Picnic on Sta. Clara Island
• Kayaking
• Trekking
• San Telmo Museum

  Possible full day excursions:

• Guggenheim & Bilbao
• Visit to Zumaia
• Tourist Towns on the French Coast Line
• Sanctuary of Loyola
• Visit to Vitoria
• Ferrerias & Mirandaola Park

Day-At-A-Glance

Accommodations - Homestay with a Spanish Family
Living with a family provides many wonderful opportunities for students studying Spanish to practice their language skills. In a homestay students receive the unique opportunity to be totally immersed in the Spanish culture. Students are even given the opportunity to participate in many of the families day to day events. All host families are specially selected, and have a teenage daughter or son. Most host families have been collaborating with the Institute for several years and have hosted students numerous times. Participants are closely supervised by the Institute and also by the host families. They must abide by the same rules imposed by each family on their own children.

Students will stay in single room at the homestay. Generally the housing coordinator will place the student with someone who is about the same age and of a different nationality in the same house. Students receive 3 meals per day, and laundry service is included (1 load per week).

Accommodation is from the Sunday before the course starts to the Saturday after the course ends. Extra days are available. Accommodation includes breakfast and dinner with the family plus a packed lunch. Families are located 5 to 30 minutes from the school on foot or by public transport.

Included in the Program

• 5 Levels available: Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, High Intermediate, Advanced.
• 25 lessons of Spanish classes with native qualified teachers, Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm (45 minutes each lesson)
• Small groups of 6-12 students
• Accommodation in homestay in a single room and full board (3 meals daily)
• Activity Program (see below for details)
• Half-day activities with a monitor on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Full day excursion on Saturdays. Expenses during the excursions are included in the price.)
• Textbooks and materials
• Free internet and e-mail access
• Certificate of attendance
• Arrival and departure transfers from/to San Sebastian airport or train station included.
  • Arrival and departure transfers from/to BIARRITZ extra $70 USD
  • Arrival and departure transfers from/to BILBAO extra $180 USD
• NRCSA emergency insurance for program dates in the foreign country:
  • Accident insurance up to $10,000
  • Emergency medical evacuation up to $25,000
  • Emergency reunion up to $5,000
  • Repatraition up to $7,500
  • Life insurance up to $5,000
  • 24 Hour emergency worldwide multi-lingual telephone assistance
  

2021 Start Dates - Semi Supervised Teen (14 - 17)

• Program starts: June 14, 21, 28; July 5, 12, 19, 26; August 2, 9
• Beginners must start on either July 5 or 19, 2020

2021 Start Dates - Camp (7- 15)

• Program starts: June 28; July 5, 12

2021 Program Fees

• 2 weeks: $ 1,995
• 3 weeks: $ 2,995
• 4 weeks: $ 3,985
• 5 weeks: $ 4,855

San Sebastian, Spain - City Info
A family resort town of long standing, San Sebastian rests on the bay of La Concha in northwestern Spain, is surrounded by rolling low hills and has three very nice beaches to choose from. The average temperature in summer is around 22Cº/72Fº, with winter coming in at 8Cº/47Fº.

San Sebastian is not short on festivals either, with something new happening all year round: a Jazz Festival, International Film Festival and Horror Film Festival, and of course Carnival.