Spanish Teaching

Living Spanish in Barcelona celebration: 10% DISCOUNT OFFER!

Stacey — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:40:00 +0200

The grand opening of our brand new school in Barcelona and the fast approaching 2009 20th anniversary of the opening of the first don Quijote school in Spain are HUGE reasons to celebrate!

To get the party going, we’re offering away a 10% discount on our Intensive Spanish course in Barcelona!

Here's how easy it is to enjoy an unforgettable Spanish course in Barcelona at a discounted price:

*Just book our most popular course, Intensive Spanish, with don Quijote accommodation and an arrival date between September 1st and December 31st of 2008. Yep... that’s it!

So if you’ve been dreaming about a Spanish course in Spain, don’t miss this chance!
Where better to experience the thrill of learning this passionate language than in the pulsating, culturally explosive city of Barcelona? And in our state of the art, ideally located new school in the heart of Barcelona's L'Eixample district?

Start planning your stay in Barcelona today by contacting our course counsellors or requesting your copy of our free brochure!.

Act quickly to reserve your place and your first choice of accommodation! This special offer is subject to availabilty.

Conditions:
- Discount cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Discount must be requested at time of booking.
- Discount not applicable to changes from one school to another, with the exception of extending or lengthening your stay, prior to your arrival.
- Offer subject to availability. Expires December 31, 2008.

Learn Spanish and travel in Spain!

Paqui — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:06:00 +0200

Dreaming of a trip to Spain? Then this opportunity is for you: Learn Spanish in Spain and explore the country on the weekends with a free hotel voucher.

This is a special offer for Spanish courses at don Quijote schools in Spain: The first 50 students to book their course with don Quijote will receive a voucher for up to 3 nights free accommodation in over 350 hotels in Spain, Portugal and Andorra. The voucher is valid for one year when you spend the required minimum in the hotel, usually breakfast and dinner for 2 people.

This offer is valid for bookings of Spanish courses of 4 weeks or more at don Quijote schools in Spain: Salamanca, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, Tenerife.

UPDATE - There are only 48 vouchers left, so act fast to get yours now!

Get more details about this offer and a free course brochure

Travel tips and a bit of Spanish language

Paqui — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:29:00 +0200

Every month in don Quijote's newsletter we offer you travel tips for Spain and Latin America as well as bits of Spanish language to practice and learn.

Subscribing is free and you will receive your newsletter in English and Spanish every month with: News about Spain and Latin America, a Spanish proverb, some Spanish slang to learn, a recipe, learning resources and information about offers in Spanish courses.

Have a look at our latest newsletters and start practicing now!

Was ist die Expo Zaragoza?

Brian Meyer — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:02:00 +0200

Auf der Weltausstellung in Zaragoza dreht sich vom 14. Juni bis 14. September 2008 alles um das Thema „Wasser und nachhaltige Entwicklung“.
Deutschland präsentiert auf der EXPO eine attraktive Mischung aus Information und Unterhaltung und zeigt innovative Technologien, richtungsweisende Entwicklungen und kreative Ideen.
Der Deutsche Pavillon nimmt Sie mit auf eine Reise in die wunderbare Welt des Wassers. Erleben Sie ein modernes Wassermärchen und entdecken Sie faszinierende deutsche Wasserlandschaften.

Consejos de viaje y recursos gratis cada mes

Paqui — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:14:00 +0200

En el boletín de noticias de don Quijote te ofrecemos cada mes consejos y sugerencias para viajar por España y América Latina, además de recursos gratis para que puedas practicar y mantener tu español desde casa.
Suscríbete y te enviaremos gratuitamente cada mes nuestro boletín por email (en inglés y en español).

En el boletín mensual de marzo encontrarás:
Un refrán en español, información sobre la Feria de Abril en Sevilla, nuestra última oferta en cursos de español con descuentos. Un piropo en español, expresiones coloquiales para aprender, una receta de un plato típico, una noticia sobre nuestro último concurso en el que una lectora ha ganado un curso en España, y una recomendación de pagina web para visitar.
Suscribete ya para recibir el boletín de abril.

Winner of a two week Spanish course in Spain!!

Celine — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:10:00 +0100

Kamila Hazdrová from the CzechRepublic has won a free 2 week Spanish course with don Quijote.

In September 2007, we held a contest in our Monthly Newsletter offering a student the possibility to win a free Spanish course at don Quijote. We are very happy to announce our winner.

24 year old Kamila Hazdrová from the Czech Republic, a subscriber to our Monthly Newsletter, participated in the draw and won a free 2 week Intensive Spanish course with accommodation. The destination Kamila has chosen for her course is don Quijote Granada school where she will study for two weeks in May.

Congratulations once again!

We would like to thank all our participants and remind you to keep your eyes peeled for future contests.

If you have not yet signed up for our Monthly Newsletter sign up to find out all about our special offers, programs and contests.

Do you also want to study abroad with don Quijote? Order your free brochure to get more information about our courses

Study and work in Spain - special offer!

Paqui — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:40:00 +0100

If you want to study and work in Spain, here is a great opportunity for you.

don Quijote's Study and Work program in Marbella provides students from European Union countries a unique opportunity to learn Spanish in Spain while working to cover their expenses and improving their CV.

And even better news is that you can now book your Spanish course and work placement in Spain for an unbeatable price.

Book before March 31st and get a special discount on the price of don Quijote's Study and Work program that will allow you to save 25% on the price of the course.

Read more about this offer here

Want more information? Ask for details now!

Click here to ask for a free phone call from don Quijote's course counsellors now!

¡CARNAVAL! Carnival Cádiz and Carnival Tenerife

Erin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:25:00 +0100

It's Carnival time in Tenerife and Cádiz!

If you thought that festive Carnival celebrations were the exclusive property of Brazil or Venice, you'll be in for a wild surprise during a February visit to Spain. The most famous Spanish carnival celebrations take place in Tenerife in the Canary Islands and Cádiz in Andalusia.

Tenerife’s Carnival is similar to that of Río de Janeiro, perhaps simply due to geography, since Tenerife is a tropical island with an average temperature of 22º Celsius throughout the year. For "Tinerfeños", Carnaval is the event of the year. Locals work diligently on their costumes for months before the start of the festivities. Dance, music and color take to the streets during the the island's Carnival parades. The most important parades take place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the island. If you're eager to see local color and culture while you learn Spanish, Carnival is an ideal time for Spanish course at don Quijote Tenerife.

When: January 30 – February 9th, 2008

See some of our students' photos of past Tenerife Carnivals.

More detailed information: Carnaval Tenerife, the official website.

The Carnival of Cadiz is equally famous. Gaditanos have their own way of living Carnaval. Following more in the Carnival footsteps of Venice than Río, Cádiz revelers get together with a group of friends to dress up according to a theme and sing songs with lyrics written as a parody of current Spanish public events or news. The essential ingredients of the Carnival of Cádiz are fun, flamenco and "cachondeo" (joking). And yes, like the Carnival of Tenerife, with don Quijote, you can enjoy the Carnival of Cádiz from the comfort of a Spanish course and student accommodation.

When: main events from February 2 to February 10th, 2008

More detailed information: Carnaval de Cádiz, the official website.

El dia de los muertos

Celine — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:37:00 +0200

El dia de los muertos (day of the dead) is celebrated on November 1st, throughout Mexico with variations seen in other Latin American countries and other parts of the world.

It is a joyous holiday commemorating the lives of those who have passed away. It is part of a three-day celebration honouring the dead, who are believed to return to their homes on October 31st, Halloween.

El Camino de Santiago

Erin — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:00:00 +0200

As published by don Quijote in the Costa Blanca News:

El Camino de Santiago

The pilgrimage is the new black. It's unlike anything seen since the 13th Century.

People are once again taking to the road and following the medieval Camino de Santiago (the Way of Saint James) across the north of Spain. Guided by yellow arrows, men and women of all nationalities head west from the French border on a 750km journey over mountains, wheat fields, forests and vine yards, taking in Pamplona, Burgos and León. Medieval pilgrims seeked faith and penance whilst modern pilgrims often do it for the architecture, the physical effort, the incredible landscape or to take “time out” and seek a new direction. But whatever their reason, the camino is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience unique to Spain.

The Origins of the Camino

Back in 44AD, the pagan Queen Lupa of Padrón, Galicia, recieved two Palestinian refugees bearing the headless and decomposing corpse of a Christian martyr, requesting to bury him there. The body...

¡Mira quién baila! - A guide to Spanish dance

Erin — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:00:00 +0200

Here's a quick guide to Spanish dance, complete with phrases and vocabulary to practice at the end of the article, as it was published in the Costa Blanca News. (And as you see from the photo, our Seville partner school does indeed offer a Spanish & Flamenco course. Tempting?)

¡Mira Quién Baila! – A Guide to Spanish Dance

The recent success of reality TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing in Britain and ¡Mira Quién Baila! in Spain has sparked a dance revival. More people than ever are interested in learning to tango and salsa and what better place to do so than here in Spain where many of the dances originated! Dancing is an excellent form of exercise and a very social past-time too but with so many seemingly similar dances to choose from, where do you start? Here is a guide to some of the more famous Spanish dances…

Flamenco

It is generally agreed that flamenco originated in Andalusía however it is unknown who actually created the dance. It is thought that flamenco was influenced above all by..

The regions of Spain - with vocabulary and phrases to learn

Erin — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:00:00 +0200

Another of the "Living in Spain" pieces we've published in English language media, this article introduces you to the diversity of Spain's 17 regions, by offering a look at Andalucía, Cataluña, El País Vasco and Galicia. We've included phrases and vocabulary to learn at the end of the article. Enjoy!

Las Regiones de España – Spanish Regions

Flamboyant fiestas, noisy tapas bars, flamenco dancing, blue skies and a glistening green sea are just some of the images traditionally conjured up at the mention of Spain. There is no wonder that some 400,000 foreign nationals have taken up residence in the south and some 55 million tourists flock to the country each year. However, while these sunny notions of Spain are accurate there is a whole lot more to be discovered! There is not enough space here to justify Spain's enormous diversity but this is a brief guide to some of its most famous and distinctive regions.

On Fiestas, Festivos and Puentes....

Erin — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:00:00 +0200

This article was prepared for the English language press in Spain by a don Quijote intern from the UK earlier this year. Some of the fiesta dates mentioned in the article have passed now, for 2007....so we've included links to handy sites where you can always find an upcoming Spanish fiesta...

A Guide to Fiestas and Public Holidays in Spain

The Spaniards' love of noise, colour, dressing up, and generally having a ball is indulged at regular periods throughout the year, thanks to a fixed calendar of public holidays, ferias and fiestas which is strictly observed.

This concept may be a little strange to those of us used to Bank Holiday Mondays being days where the shops are open longer and DIY stores do big business or the sales starting on Boxing Day. However in Spain public holidays still mean exactly that, and, if you're not aware of them, they can catch you out. So write them in your diary and keep them free; nobody does fiesta better than the Spanish – and what better way to spend the day than joining in?!

Carnival, celebrated early in February, marked the kick off of Spain's fiesta calendar and, as Easter approaches, there's plenty more to come…

9 things to love about Salamanca

Erin — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:00:00 +0200

Here are 9 things to love about Salamanca, selected a couple of years ago by Christophe Rousseel, a Belgian student and writer who worked with don Quijote during his internship. Christophe spent at least 4 or 5 months here, enough to offer all sorts of advice about how to enjoy Salamanca - by day and by night:

9 things to love about Salamanca

1 Students

Nicknamed the Oxford of the Spanish world, the university of Salamanca boasts a student population of roughly 32000 Spanish students and some 6000 foreign students. There are even more students, since these figures don’t include the considerable number of Spanish learners attending private schools in Salamanca. The high concentration of Spanish and foreign students - there is one student for every 3 or 4 Salmantinos - bestows a unique atmosphere on the small city.

2 Nightlife

Insiders will tell you that Salamanca nightlife can rival any other city in Spain. Or as they say here: Salamanca por la noche, como ninguna. Perhaps it’s not as trendy as Barcelona or as acclaimed as Ibiza but Salamanca at night is custom-made for students. Prices are adapted to student budgets; 5 Euro for an open bar is no exception. The city is easy to get around: you can get anywhere on foot. It is also a lot safer than the bigger party capitals. And last but not least, nightlife is not at all limited to the weekends; you can go out seven days per week (although I advise against it).
Notwithstanding the fact that it’s a small city, Salamanca offers a plethora of bars and clubs: progressive, laid-back bars like Birdland on Plaza de España (named after the landmark jazz club in New York) or Clave del Ocho (near Gran Vía), cosy sidewalk cafés for a quiet talk (like Erasmus on Rua Antigua), crowded discotheques like

A guide to the wonderful world of tapas...and some handy phrases to use while de tapeo

Erin — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:00:00 +0200

This fun guide to the art of tapeo was published by don Quijote in the Costa Blanca News. Read through - you'll find handy Spanish phrases to use during your bar outing at the end of the article. The author is an intern here in Salamanca, with plenty of tapas experience:

No self-respecting Spanish bar would risk being caught without an intriguing array of tapas arranged across its counter. These saucer-sized bites, as much a part of Spanish culture as the siesta and the fiesta, come in infinite varieties and, more often than not, are completely unidentifiable to the untrained eye. However the art of ir de tapas is one that the Spanish have honed to perfection and, once mastered, is arguably the most enjoyable way to enjoy ‘fast food’ with friends!

A brief history of the tapa...

Special Offer Extended: free hotel vouchers while they last! Learn Spanish and explore Spain!

Erin — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:00:00 +0200

Hundreds of our students have received free hotel vouchers to explore Spain.

You can still get free nights in selected hotels when you book your Spanish course at don Quijote, but act quickly!

While supplies last - and you remember to mention this offer when you book your course- you'll receive, along with the rewarding experience of studying Spanish with the leading school in Spain, a hotel voucher for a stay of up to 3 nights in one of hundreds of selected hotels in Spain, Portugal and Andorra. Who's says language study shouldn't include travel in the language you're learning? The vouchers are valid for one year, so you can travel before, during or after your course - or come back to give your Spanish a little outing in Spain later in the year.

Virtual visit to Salamanca

Paqui — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:13:00 +0200

A virtual visit to Salamanca in images, have a look at this video, discover this amazing Spanish city full of history and culture, and see our first school of Spanish, don Quijote Salamanca school.

Get more information about Salamanca, ask for a free brochure! .

Learn Spanish way down South in Cádiz, or way up north in Pamplona

Erin — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 07:00:00 +0200

We've just added two new partner schools, carefully selected to meet our standards of quality in teaching and service.

This news add two truly emblematic (should I even say legendary?) Spanish cities to your don Quijote options: Pamplona, a cobblestoned city of tradition, and yes, the famous running of the bulls, and Cádiz, (above, in photo) a sun drenched enclave rich in history, traditional culture, and white architecture against blue Andalucian skies.

Read more about Cádiz and what you can do in your free time through the entire province of Cádiz- from walks on pristine beaches to hikes in the sierra - here.

Read what TourSpain has to say about lovely, historic Pamplona here.

Come work in Spain and experience Spanish culture first hand!!

Celine — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:58:00 +0200

Come work in Spain and experience Spanish culture first hand!!

It is not always easy to get a job in a foreign country, although it’s the best way to truly get to know a different culture. don Quijote can make your dreams come true with the new Study and Work in Spanish Hotels program open to participants from all nationalities.
Request more information here

How to finish Gaudí's Sagrada Familia

Erin — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 09:00:00 +0200

According to an article published in El Pais a week or two ago (to which I unfortunately cannot link since it is in the paid archives section of the website), work on Gaudí's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is going quickly, and will be completely finished during 2008.

I wonder if it will attract as many tourists as a completed church as it does as a stunning work-in-progress?

March 19th marked the 125th anniversary of the laying of the first stone for the church.

Rigol also talked about a contest, to be launched in June, of ideas about just how to put the final touches on the Sagrada Familia. Now that could be fun...

Semana Santa in Spain

Erin — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:30:00 +0200

If you're lucky enough to be wandering round Spain during April, here's a quick guide to Semana Santa activities in a few choice Spanish cities:.

If it's March, this must be Las Fallas in Valencia

Erin — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:48:00 +0100

¡LAS FALLAS!

Valencia's ayuntamiento has announced the dates and events for this year's Las Fallas celebrations!

You can read more about Las Fallas in this post, and you can download a PDF with photos, schedules and information about this year's celebration ...

Everything you want to know about Spain!!

Celine — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 11:13:00 +0100

I came across this interesting webpage yesterday and I thought I would share it with you guys. If you ever want to know any specific details about Spain, go to this site…I think you will be able to find just about everything here.

Die goldene Stadt

Celine — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:35:00 +0100

Meine Lieblingsstadt ist Salamanca in Spanien. Ich habe letztes Jahr in Salamanca Spanisch studiert, und ich habe es so geliebt. Ich habe eine absolut erstaunliche Zeit verbracht, und am wichtigsten, ich habe so viel gelernt. Ich fühlte mich wie in der Zeit zurück versetzt. Als wär´ ich im einem Märchen. Die Schönheit dieser Stadt ist unmöglich zu beschreiben, aber will ich mich so viel wie möglich bemühen.

Don't just imagine it - Cool tourism resources -videos, photos, audio, etc.

Erin — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 06:00:00 +0100

I was just searching for a travel topic for our next monthly newsletter when I discovered that the official Spain tourism site has an impressive multimedia file about Spain.