Last Friday, March 12th, at his home in Valladolid, author Miguel Delibers lost his battle with colon cancer, he was ...   more »

We are very proud to announce that “La Gaceta de Salamanca,” a local newspaper in Salamanca, recently published in November 2009 a letter written (in Spanish!) by a don Quijote student.

Here’s the letter as it appeared (in Spanish) in the newspaper.
(No corrections has been made to the Spanish; an English translation is provided at the bottom)

Hope you find it as amusing as we did!

A mi ladrón de bicicleta… ¡Muchas gracias!

Estimado director,

Llevo un mes estudiando español en Salamanca (en la esuela Don Quijote) y me he llevado un pequeño disgusto que me gustaría contarle. Vengo de Suiza para mejorar mi español en la ciudad más famosa del mundo por su idioma. ¡Y aquí estoy, en Salamanca!

Hace algunos días alquilé una bicicleta a “los amigos de la bici”, la dejé en la entrada de mi edificio… Pero el otro día desapareció.
Es extraordinario como un acontecimiento desagradable con los que en una situación normal nunca hubiera hablado. Pregunté a Miguel, lleva una librería no lejos de mi casa, si había visto una persona en bici, es tan raro en Salamanca… Hablé con la escuela donde estoy estudiando, y finalmente lo denuncié a la policía. De repente, me di cuenta de que nunca había hablado con tantos Salmantinos! No olvidarlo, estoy aquí para eso, practicar la lengua de Cervantes, de Contador (vencedor del último “tour de France”), del rey Juan-Carlos (esto tipo me gusta mucho, tiene clase) y también de Franco (éste está bien donde está).

Querido ladrón, le agradezco de todo corazón su estimada ayuda en mi aprendizaje. Espero que usted haga un buen uso de esta bicicleta. Hay un paseo que puedo aconsejarle: Empieza en el barrio de Pradillo, enfrente de la comisaría, bordea el río Tormes, cruza el puente romano, y se dirige hacia el parque de la Huerta de Otea ¿Quizás nos encontremos? Hago regularmente esté paseo… corriendo.

Cordialmente,
Marc SCHWITTER

_______________________________________________

To my bicycle thief... many thanks!

Dear editor:

I’ve been studying Spanish in Salamanca for a month (at the Don Quijote school), and suffered a small displeasure which I would like to tell you about. I come from Switzerland to improve my Spanish in a city famed around the world for its language. And here I am, in Salamanca!

I had rented a bicycle from “los amigos de la bici” a few days ago, left it at the entrance of my building… but discovered it missing the other day.
It is remarkable how this unpleasant event - which in a regular situation I would not have spoken to anyone - led me to ask Miguel, who runs a library not far from my house, if he had seen anyone riding a bicycle, an unusual sight in Salamanca… I also spoke with the school where I am studying at, finally reporting the robbery to the police. Suddenly, I realized that I had never spoken to that many Salmantinos before! Don’t forget, I am here for that, to practice the language of Cervantes, of Contador (winner of the latest “tour de France”), of King Juan-Carlos (I like this guy, he’s got class!) and also of Franco (this guy is better where he’s at).

Dear thief, I appreciate with all of my heart your esteemed help towards my learning. I hope you make good use of that bicycle. There’s a route I would like to recommend to you: Start off in the Pradillo neighborhood just in front of the Police Station, follow along the border of the River Tormes, cross the Roman bridge and head towards the park of Huerta de Otea. Perhaps we shall meet as I regularly make this route… running.

Sincerely,
Marc SCHWITTER

 Cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, Tenerife, Valencia, Alicante, Granada, Marbella, Sevilla and Guanajuato (Mexico)
 Duration: 2 weeks
 Discount: 50% off on accommodation price in double room, shared flat
 Enroll before: 17 December 2009

Conditions:

• - Accommodation in shared flat. Double room only.
• - Offer valid on reservations for 2 people only.
• - Offer not cumulative with any other offer.
• - Offer must be requested at time of booking.
• - Offer subject to availability. Expires 17 December 2009.

Request information (free brochure!)

Sign up now!

don Quijote is offering an exclusive discount for our members:
When you book a Spanish course with us, we´ll waive your enrollment fee saving you 65€/USD$100!!!
It’s our way of saying thank you for being a member!

This offer is valid for Spanish courses in the following don Quijote schools in Spain and Mexico: Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, Granada, Valencia, Tenerife or Guanajuato.

To benefit from this special discount you must log into your member account and book your course online.

Contact your Course Counsellor now for information about our courses.
(Remember to request the member’s offer)

Book this offer online now! (Must sign in first!)

Conditions:
- Offer not cumulative. Cannot be combined with any other offer
- Offer available upon request
- Offer expires 27 November 2009

Would you like to study Spanish this spring on the shores of the Pacific Ocean or on the warm waters of the Caribbean?

Now’s your chance! Learn Spanish and get to know Mexico at an exceptional price!

Plan your 2009 Spanish course to stay between now and December 28 of 2009 in: Guanajuato -- and get a 15% discount when you sign up before November 27!

Mexico's awaiting! Don’t wait to sign up!

Request a FREE brochure and shout “¡Viva Mexico!”

Conditions:
- Offer cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Offer must be requested at time of booking.
- Offer subject to availability. Expires November 27, 2009.

Looking to learn Spanish in a big city while also having the beach nearby?
don Quijote Barcelona is an excellent destination... and you're just in luck!

Book your accommodation in our don Quijote Barcelona Residence before 27 November 2009 , and receive a 20% discount!

So begin exploring Barcelona by booking now... space is limited!

Contact a Course Counsellor.
Get a free brochure of our programs and prices.

Conditions:
-Offer applies to accommodation in don Quijote Barcelona only.
-Offer is cumulative only with "Living Spanish in Barcelona" offer.
-Offer must be requested at time of booking.
-Offer subject to availability. Expires November 27, 2009.

One great way to get to know a place the way only locals know it is by experiencing it thoroughly when learning Spanish. If you want to discover Spanish, then this is your chance: sign up to take a Spanish course in 2010 -and pay 2009 prices! Don't let this opportunity pass you by!Conditions:
- Registration must be made before 30 October 2009.

Contact your Course Counsellor now to request more information.

Request a free brochure!

Get a USD$100 discount on your Spanish + Volunteer course in Buenos Aires, the vibrant capital and hip culture heart of Argentina.

Conditions:
- Offer applicable only to our Buenos Aires school.
- Bookings and full payment must be received by 29 October 2009.
- Offer cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Offer must be requested at time of booking.

Get more details about this offer!

Learn Spanish for just 1536€ by booking a 12-week Intensive Course in Barcelona, Madrid, Salamanca, or Valencia!
You'll save 384€* from the regular intensive course price and enjoy your stay anytime in 2009!

Simple as that.

Also, why stay in one destination when you have 12 weeks to discover other cities as well?

Combine destinations without losing a beat in your don Quijote study program taking advantage of this offer's one-time option to change your dates or destinations. This change can be done before or after you arrive at no additional cost**!

Contact a course counselor!
Request a free brochure!

Conditions:
- dQ accommodation MUST be booked for course discount to be valid.
- Bookings and full payment must be received by 29 September 2009.
- Offer not cumulative with any other offer.
- Offer must be requested at time of booking.
- Offer subject to availability. Expires 29 September 2009.

* Discount available on Intensive Course price only (Regular 12-week price: 1920€)
** No fee charged on 1st change of destination or dates. Afterwards, fee is 125€.

Remember that the upcoming registration for the November 2009 DELE exams is starting!
DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) is Spanish for Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language. Visit www.dele.org to find out more about the DELE qualifications, registration requirements, payment information and other important information.

Registration for November 2009 examinations:
1st  September - 16th  October

Centers outside of Spain (listed alphabetically by country)
Centers in Spain

Exam dates...
November 13, 2009: All countries except those listed under November 22nd.
November 14, 2009: Albania, Arab Emirates, Argentina, Bolivia*, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil*, Bulgary, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Greece (but Patras), Haiti, Japan, Jordania, Kenia, Letonia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, Palestine, Peru*, Poland (but Poznan), Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland (but Coira), Taiwan, Uganda, United States, Uruguay*.
*Check availability.


***Special message from don Quijote...
We'll be offering our highly successful preparation DELE courses in our don Quijote schools in Spain and Guanajuato for all three exam  levels:

DELE preparation courses at don Quijote start 2-4 weeks prior to the exam and help you arrive at the exam confident, prepared, and ready to perform well. So don't put off your preparation for this important exam!

Sign up for DELE preparation course!

The following article was written by Sigal Ratner-Arias for www.MiamiHerald.com - Original publication: 6 July 2009.

Gwyneth Paltrow speaks almost perfect Spanish -- and she does it with an Iberian accent.

The Oscar-winning actress says she traveled to Spain as a teenager, fell in love with the country, and embraces the culture to the point that she visits at least once a year and makes sure her young children, Apple and Moses, also speak the language.

''When I was 15, I went to a small town outside Talavera de la Reina (Toledo) and I had the most wonderful experience. It really changed my life,'' Paltrow said in fluent Spanish during a recent interview. Paltrow said Spain "became a second home.''

''It is so different from the United States. It seemed to have a history, and the buildings are years and years and years old. Here in the United States an old building is about a couple centuries old, and over there it's from 500 B.C., it's incredible,'' she said.

ENJOYING LIFE MORE
"Also, the way people live over there. They seem to enjoy life a little bit more. They aren't running around as much as in New York. They enjoy time with the family. They don't always have their Blackberries on.''

Paltrow remains close to the family she lived with in Spain, calling them ''my Spanish mother'' and ''my brothers'' from Spain. Her success as an actress, she says, hasn't impressed them.

The 36-year-old actress, who is married to Coldplay's Chris Martin, says she talks to her children in Spanish.
''Moses speaks a little bit, but understands everything. Apple speaks a lot,'' she says.

Paltrow shot Spain ... on the Road Again with chef Mario Batali, cooking expert Mark Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols. They traveled throughout the country, sampling traditional foods and praising the virtues of Spain, its people and cuisine.

She's also writing a book on U.S. cuisine with Spanish influence that is due out next year.
'' ... I love food, I love to eat,'' she says. "I can't go on diets. I have to do a lot of exercise.''
She also enjoys Mexican, Italian and Japanese food.
"I'm always playing with different flavors. If I remember a phenomenal meal I had in a country, I think of its ingredients, and how I can make it in my own kitchen.''

Paltrow recently launched a Spanish-language version of her website, GOOP.com, where she writes on topics ranging from health advice and travel to fashion and cooking. Contributors include Madonna, Steven Spielberg and Deepak Chopra.

Has she considered acting in Spanish?
''I would love to. I haven't found the script yet, but the first [movie] would have to be a small role, not very important, because I imagine I would have to get used to acting in Spanish,'' she says.

WISHLIST
Paltrow says she'd like to work with Spanish directors Pedro Almodóvar and Alejandro Amenábar and Mexico's Alejandro González Iñárritu. And she says she would like to work again with Mexico's Alfonso Cuarón, who directed her in 1998's Great Expectations.

If you like paella and other rice-based recipes don't miss the Fiesta del Arroz (Rice Festival) in Sueca, an agricultural town south of Valencia.

Declared a tourist interest in 1966, the annual Rice Festival takes place the first half of September to celebrate the most internationally known dish of the Valencian community: the paella. Chefs from around the world gather on the Paseo de la Estación to compete in the “international paella contest” where a giant paella is cooked using the excellent rice that is grown in the very heart of this rice-growing region.

Mmm... this explains why rice is the main ingredient in many Valencian dishes!

This year’s event takes place on 11 September of 2009.

Barcelona is possibly the most famed Spanish city around the world because of its design, fashion, history, modernity, gastronomy, beach and arts...
So what better place to enhance your Spanish skills with an Intensive course, Super-Intensive course or Spanish Talk course than this cosmopolitan city?

Have a Spanish-learning experience on the shores of the fantastic Mediterranean Sea with 20% off of the course price! An experience you can enjoy anytime between now and 30 December of 2009!

Can’t get enough?
Then combine this offer with our other offer "20% discount on accommodation in Barcelona". Irresistible!

Book now by contacting a Course Counsellor!
Request a free brochure!

Conditions:
- Discount available on course price only.
- dQ accommodation MUST be booked for course discount to be valid.
- Not cumulative with other offers, except “20% discount on dQ Residence accommodation in Barcelona”
- Offer must be requested at time of booking.
- Offer subject to availability. Expires 30 July 2009.

Are you eager to learn Spanish in a city full of centuries-old history?

Then Madrid, the capital of Spain since the XVII century and the center of Spanish culture, is the perfect destination for you!

Explore Madrid and learn Spanish with a 15% discount on our Intensive course, Super-Intensive course or Spanish Talk course.

Come and discover why the preferred phrase by the madrileños is "De Madrid al Cielo" - From Madrid to Heaven...

There’s no excuse! Especially when you can book your course now and enjoy your stay anytime before 2009 is over!

Book now by contacting a Course Counsellor!
Request a free brochure!

Conditions:
- Discount available on course price only.
- dQ accommodation MUST be booked for course discount to be valid.
- Full payment must be received by 30 July 2009.
- Offer not cumulative with any other offer.
- Offer must be requested at time of booking.
- Offer subject to availability. Expires 30 July 2009.

El próximo 20 de junio se celebrará, en todos los centros del Instituto Cervantes, el Día del Español (el Día e), una jornada de puertas abiertas que pretende incrementar la visibilidad de la lengua española en el mundo y crear un punto de encuentro para todos los hablantes de español.

Esta iniciativa del Instituto Cervantes quiere servir para conmemorar el valor del español como lengua de comunicación internacional. Para este día, se han organizado una serie de actividades que tienen como epicentro la palabra, tomando como base la manera en la que se percibe el español, una lengua de relación, alegre, cálida y diversa. El Día del Español se concibe como una jornada festiva para disfrutar en familia. Para mas información sobre el Dia del Español, visitar http://www.eldiae.es/

En Madrid, la jornada contará con diferentes actividades culturales y festivas, conciertos y sesiones de DJ’s al aire libre, la creación de un poema gigante en la ciudad y una lluvia de palabras que a las 11 horas inundará la calle de Alcalá.

(To read in English, click here)
Los cien mil trabajadores que tiene en Estados Unidos la cadena de cafeterías Starbucks aprenderán español con la plataforma del Aula Virtual de Español (AVE) del Instituto Cervantes, según se establece en el convenio que han firmado ambas partes.

El personal de la empresa podrá seguir los estudios de español a través del AVE, que estará disponible en la intranet de la compañía norteamericana, cuya sede central se encuentra en Seattle (Estado de Washington).

En Seattle se ubica también la primera Aula Cervantes que el Instituto abrió en Estados Unidos, alojada en la Universidad de Washington. El Aula de Seattle gestionará este programa formativo, que arrancará con un curso piloto impartido por profesores del Departamento de Español de dicha universidad.

Al terminar el curso, los alumnos podrán certificar sus conocimientos con la obtención del Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE) que otorga el Instituto Cervantes en nombre del Ministerio de Educación de España. El curso durará un año, y Starbucks tendrá acceso a los informes trimestrales para evaluar el avance de los estudiantes.

The anniversary celebrations in Salamanca are not over yet!

Due to the festive mood following the 20th anniversary of our don Quijote school in Salamanca, our high-spirits have animated us to grant another offer - and this time, an "all-inclusive" one:

An Intensive Spanish Course (20 classes and 5 cultural classes a week) + Premium Accommodation complete with full board (3 daily meals) and your own private bath for only 399 euros per week!

It's a wonderful opportunity to live a ‘pure’ Spanish immersion in graceful Salamanca starting anytime you want between now and 31 December 2009. Just make sure to complete your booking before 29 June 2009!

Come celebrate with us, meet new people, experience the exciting Salmantinian life and learn Spanish... at a great price of course! Don't wait!

Request a free brochure!
Contact a Course Counsellor to request more information!

Conditions:
- Offer cannot be combined with other offers.
- Offer must be requested at time of booking.
- Applies to fully-paid bookings completed before 29 June 2009.
- Valid only for Intensive Spanish Course in Salamanca.
- Offer subject to availability. Expires 29 June 2009.

Valencia- born impressionist  painter Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1920) is the star of a memorable retrospective exhibit currently being held by the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Not only is this exhibition the first for the Spanish art gallery representing the painter, but it is also the most important exhibition in -as well as- out of Spain.

Until September 6, you may delight viewing over 100 of Sorolla’s paintings. Among them are 14 of his magnificent panels painted for the Spanish Society of America in New York in which the painter carefully depicts the many aspects of Spanish Mediterranean life under the illustrative title “Visions of Spain”.

Want to learn Spanish in our don Quijote Madrid school (right in the city center) while discovering great museums and a vibrant nightlife? Then request your free brochure!

"Walk on the beach" (portrait of Sorolla's wife and daughter)

The celebrations keep on happening at don Quijote...!

This time, it is don Quijote Salamanca school’s turn to celebrate its 20th anniversary!
Twenty years of hard work, much involvement and dedication have led to twenty years of success… and we want you to celebrate with us!

Get a 15% discount on any of our Spanish courses (to begin anytime between now and 31 December 2009) when you book before June 30th!

So get your traveling bags out, prepare your summer outfits and get ready for a fantastic time living “pure Spanish” in our Renaissance Ciudad Dorada (Golden City)!

¡No te lo pierdas!- Don’t miss out!

Request a free brochure!
Contact a Course Counsellor to request more information!

Conditions:
- Offer not cumulative with other offers.
- Offer must be requested at time of booking
- Subject to availability. Expires 30 June 2009