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.
Although many Spanish speakers out there will recognise this word as meaning "sauce", it is more widely recognised for its other use, which is to describe a music and dance genre. Salsa music has taken the world by storm and is recognised by its up-tempo beats and fast-footed dance steps. Although some argue that it is a type of music in its own right, others claim that it is a generic term for a number of Latin American dances, including the mambo and the cha-cha-chá. It is a "tag that encompasses a rainbow assortment of Latin rhythms and styles, taking on a different hue wherever you stand in the Spanish speaking world" (Sue Steward, world music author).
Due to the varied nature of salsa and what it encompasses, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint its origins as so many countries claim the honour of having created it. However, the basic structure of a salsa song is based on the Cuban "son", beginning with a simple melody and followed by a "coro" section in which the performers improvise. They key staples of salsa´s origins were "the use of a trombone as a counterpoint to the vocalist and a more aggressive sound than is typical in Cuban music; the trombone carries the melody while rhythm is generally provided by bongos, congas and timbales" (Ed Morales). This has been adapted and influenced by almost all Latin American countries, and even some places in North America, meaning that no two salsas will ever be the same.
Alongside the uncertainty of its origins, there is also a certain degree of mystery surrounding the use of the word "salsa", which actually means "sauce". Some people accredit the Cuban musician Ignacio Piñeiro with coming up with the term after his song in 1933 entitled "Échale salsita" (Throw a little sauce on it), which introduced the trumpet for the first time. Or perhaps it was the 1930s vocalist Beny Moré who would shout out "salsa" during his performances to "acknowledge a musical moment´s heat and to celebrate the "hotness" or "spiciness" of Latin American culture" (Morales). However it began, salsa has become a word metaphorically associated with taste, happiness, and force of life.
It seems that the popularity of Salsa rose in New York in the 60s and hit the spotlight in the following decade, developing in the Hispanic areas of the cultural and economic capital of North America, New York. Although it may seem strange that a Hispanic phenomenon would spring out of New York, we have to bear in mind the continuous musical relationship that existed at the time between North America and Caribbean music, especially and notoriously Cuban music. During the peak of the Big Bands during the 40s and 50s, artists had been keen to accept and incorporate the new rhythms born in Cuba into their music. Even the blockade could not put a stop to the Cuban influence on music in New York, and so the music that arrived in the Big City or even Miami contributed to what we now know as Salsa. The Havana was full of North American tourists in bars and hotels run by Mafia clans looking to avoid taxes. At the same time, fans of Latin music flocked to their Mecca, the Palladium Dancehall on 52nd street New York, which also attracted many famous Latin American dancers and singers. Salsa became a "representation of Latin identity in New York" (Morales).
In the early 70s Salsa rapidly expanded to Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Columbia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico among others! The trend was also influenced by Latin rap and expanded to Europe and Japan, where it was made popular by the famous Orquesta de la Luz, "Orchestra of the Sun". In the 80s a new form, the "salsa romantica" developed in New York, involving slow melodies and lyrics based on love, dreams and pleasures. This soon evolved into "salsa erotica" which involved a more melodic salsa with lyrics that contained abundant references to love and eroticism. However in the 90s this new thread began to decline in popularity, mainly due to the strong influence of other Caribbean rhythms such as the Dominican meringue and the bachata.
Nowadays salsa is a rhythm recognised by people all over the world, and has been adapted into many forms so that everyone has a chance to move their hips to the addictive Latin beat!
Estela has organized an interesting activity for her Spanish students: a photo competition titled "The 5 wonders of Salamanca" - in which her 5 students enthusiastically participated in by submitting 5 photographs of the city of Salamanca and an explanation as to why it is their favorite spot in the entire city.
Take a peek at each student's photo slideshow and you, as the reader, can vote for your favorite until October 30th!
Lastly, for the grammar aficionados, be glad to know that Estela has taken her students on an "accent tour" around Salamanca. It consisted of her students pointing out store signs, publicity displays, etc., that have not been accented at all with the Spanish tílde!
The coolest thing? Her own students were the ones to quickly point out the errors. Talk about a hands-on activity that keeps everyone interested and learning when and when not to use tíldes!
Check out the slideshow of the accent photographs here.
Image credit: fotolog.com/dimer_again If you are staying in Madrid or Salamanca, why not take the opportunity to head to the beautiful town of Toledo for a day..
Toledo is found almost directly in the centre of Spain and is the capital of the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha. The old city is located on a mountainside with 150 degree view, and surrounded on 3 sides by a bend in the river Tagus. The historic centre contains a beautiful and fascinating blend of Roman, Arabic and Baroque architecture. This is not surprising considering that the city was famed in the past for its religious tolerance, and was often known as "The City of Three Cultures" since it has been inhabited throughout the centuries by Christians, Jews and Arabs.
However, in more recent history it has been subject to conflict, particularly between the Republicans and the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War. This principally took place in the Alcázar of Toledo, a stone fortification that was held by the Nationalists during the Civil War, and became a symbol of Spanish Nationalism. However, it now houses the Castilla-La Mancha Regional Library and Army musem.
Other remains of its multi-cultural past can still be seen today, such as the Roman aquaduct, the Cathedral, the Synagogue of Santa María La Blanca and the old Market street. This amalgamation of influences even attracted the famous Renaissance artist "El Greco" who moved to the city at the end of the 16th century when Toledo was one of the biggest cities in Europe.
Toledo is also famed for its production of swords, which seem to be available for purchase in almost every shop, in a variety of sizes and even foam replicas for children! And keep a look out for the coats of armour which also seemed to be on sale!
Toledo is less than half an hour from Madrid on one of the high speed trains, or a longer coach ride away from Salamanca. When we arrived by coach we were taken on a panoramic tour of the city, with the opportunity to stop and take some beautiful photos looking down at the river, and up at the historic centre and Alcázar. We then took a series of escalators up to the historic city centre, which seemed very bizarre in such an old town!
Toledo was a very interesting city and well-worth a visit!
On Saturday Salamanca welcomed Rosario Flores, Spanish actress and singer, to its annual ferias. Rosario performed on the stage that has been erected in the Plaza Mayor specifically for the week long festivals that are taking place in the city. The singer´s fame and reputation for vibrant and exciting performances attracted a huge crowd that filled the plaza entirely. And she didn´t disappoint! Rosario´s enthusiasm and joie de vivre was highly contagious and soon the whole crowd was dancing and singing even if, like me, they didn´t know the words!
Rosario Flores was born in Madrid in 1963 to Lola Flores, one of the greatest Spanish singers and Flamenco dancers, and Antonio Gónzalez, most commonly known as "El Pescailla", who was said to have invented the Spanish rumba. Rosa was the youngest in the family, with her older siblings, Lolita and Antonio, who were also both involved in the music industry.
Rosario started out by acting various films and television series, but music and dance was inevitably in her blood, so in 1984 she released her first mini-album "Vuela una noche". This first attempt, however, had little success compared to her following albums.
In 1992 she tried again with an album called "De Ley", including songs written by her brother Antonio, such as "Mi gato" and "Sabor sabor". This album was extremely popular and marked the beginning of a hugely successful career.
However, in 1995 tragedy struck when her mother, the famous Lola Flores, died from cancer. Tragically the family was to suffer again just two weeks later when Rosario´s beloved brother and accomplice Antonio also passed away.
The family was paralysed by grief, and the Spanish nation shocked by the devastating news. Rosario was deeply affected, but knew that she had to carry on, and so toured the whole of Spain in the summer of 1995. It was with this tour that she really made herself a definitive Spanish artist. She wowed the crowds with her live performances, demonstrating all the force and energy of her race, and the gypsy and flamenco roots that she inherited from her mother.
In 1996 her daughter Lola was born after her relationship with her then partner Carlos Orellana. She also released the album "Mucho por vivir", for the first time producing records without the help of her beloved brother Antonio. The album is a clear tribute to him and sold more than 400,000 copies.
Rosario dedicated her next album to her father, who passed away in 1999, having never got over the almost simultaneous deaths of his wife and son. The album, "Muchas Flores" is a tribute to the Spanish rumba, particularly the first song "Al son del tambor". It won a Latin Grammy Award in 2002 for Best Female Pop Album.
In 2002 she played Lidia in Pedro Almodóvar´s film "Hable con ella", a female matador who gets gored and ends up in a coma. It was during filming that Rosario met her current husband Pedro Lazaga, with whom she had a son in 2006.
Rosario´s performance in Salamanca was electrifying. Her gypsy roots were particularly apparent and she dazzled the crowd with her powerful voice and sexy moves. She described her attitude towards life perfectly by saying to the crowd...
¡Música es la medicina para el alma! (Music is medicine for the soul)
The festivals in Salamanca got a kick start on Monday night, with an immense fireworks display by the river. Although the display was not due to start until 10, the roads down to the river filled up very quickly, with people running to try to get a good view! The first bangs set off a few bats over Salamanca´s awe-inspiring cathedral. However, this did not distract the crowd for long, which was soon mesmerised by the array of colours lighting up the sky. The display finished with an incredible finale which filled the sky with a plethora of gold sparkles, gaining a huge applause from the crowd. This was just the start of the wonderful events that the city of Salamanca will host during its annual fiestas in name of the patron saint of the city, La Virgen de la Vega (The Virgin of the Valley). Although the festivals are coming to an end, Salamanca remains a place to party all year round! Find out more about what Salamanca has to offer!
don Quijote.org would like to thank Jennifer Legger for sending us her testimony (written in Spanish!) describing her experience as a USA student studying Spanish in don Quijote Salamanca.
We translated it into English and kept her original Spanish version which you can read at the bottom. Enjoy!
-- IN ENGLISH -- Hello to everyone interested in learning the Spanish language and the Spanish culture! As I ponder how to write this testimony, I’m faced with the problem of having to describe an experience that wasn't just possible, it was incredible…!
The month that I spent in the don Quijote Salamanca School was the best month of my life! I’m not talking nonsense, it as it really was a meaningful experience for my 22 years of age. There were 2 main things about don Quijote that distinguished it from other language schools in Salamanca. The first, when I would research a school asking a lot of questions (the same ones you’re probably asking yourself), the staff at don Quijote were the quickest in responding, and did it in such a casual and friendly (unpushy) way that I knew from that moment forward I would be comfortable in the school and that if I had a problem during my stay, I would be in the best of hands.
And I wasn’t mistaken because in don Quijote I found that everyone from teachers, administrative staff, even the other students to be the most caring, friendly and fun people I’ve ever met! My teachers were not only sweet, but were great in teaching all aspects of Spanish: the language (of course!) as well as the culture, the history and even the feeling of what is like to be “Spanish” too! Classes were so much fun that the 7 daily hours of Spanish courses I chose always went by fast!
The second thing that distinguished don Quijote was its students. I met people from all over the world and who I still keep in touch with. Since I speak to my 2 best friends various times a month, it is unbelievable that 1 year has already passed. I remember spending nights without going to sleep because I was having so much fun dancing and meeting interesting people, each with a different history and culture. I remember very well – and I will never forget – waking up after only brief sleep to go to class, and the teachers would be in an undestanding mood despite the students not being in the best of shape. I remember drinking coffee in the Plaza Mayor with the sun shining while I chatted with friends and made plans for the night and decided at what time we would meet “debajo del reloj” (under the clock) – a tradition you’ll get to know once you’re in don Quijote…
I have so many memories to describe that, as I said in the beginning, It's impossible to describe the true feeling of the way it actually was. But I can say this: I am proud to say that every person that I met in don Quijote has become a friend, many students and teachers who I keep in touch on a frequent basis and who, despite the distances, will remain friends always. In short, don Quijote is not only a language school, it is an experience that will change your life, perhaps for forever.
-- IN SPANISH -- ¡Hola amigos juntos en el interés de la lengua y la cultura española!
El problema que está enfrente de mí es esta carta que estoy por
escribir, es que tengo que describirle una experiencia que realmente no
era posible, era tan increíble...
El mes que pasé en Salamanca en la escuela don Quijote, fue el mes el
mejor de mi vida, y no digo eso sin sentido e hizo mucho a mis 22 anos.
Había dos cosas principales que distinguieron Don Quijote de otra
escuela en Salamanca. Primero, cuando buscaba una escuela y tenía
muchas preguntas, como probablemente tienes tú también, la gente de Don
Quijote fueron los más rápidos en responder, y lo hicieron como un
amigo a otro. Desde este momento supe que yo estaría cómoda en esta
escuela y que si tenía algún problema durante mi estancia, estaría en
las mejores manos.
No me confundí porque en don Quijote encontré la gente: profesores;
todo el consejo administrativo, y estudiantes también, los más
cariñosos, amigables y divertidos que jamás he tenido la fortuna
conocer. Mis profesores no eran solamente cariñosos, también excelentes
en enseñar todo los aspectos de Español; la lengua por supuesto, pero
la cultura, la historia, y el sentimiento de lo que es Español,
también. Las clases eran tan divertidas que el día de siete horas, que
yo elegí, pasó tan rápido!
La segunda cosa que distinguía don Quijote, era los estudiantes, gente
de todo el mundo, y amigos con quien sigo en contacto, que conocí. Como
hablo con mis dos mejores amigas muchas veces cada mes, es increíble
creer que un año ya ha pasado. Recuerdo las noches en que no dormí a
causa de divertirme tanto, bailando y conociendo gente tan interesante
cada uno con una historia y cultura diferente. Recuerdo (¡y eso no lo
olvidaré nunca!) levantarme después de poquísimas horas de sueño, para
la clase, y cómo los profesores tenían sentido de humor cuando los
jóvenes de la clase no estaban en su mejor forma. Recuerdo estar
bebiendo un café en la plaza mayor y el sol que brillaba mientras
charlaba con amigos y hacer los planes para la noche y la hora para
reunirnos "debajo del reloj"- una tradición que conocerías muy pronto si
estuvieras en don Quijote…
Tengo tantos recuerdos que describir y como dije al empezar, no puedo
describir el sentimiento como es en realidad. Pero, puedo decir esto.
Estoy orgullosa decir que cada persona con la que entré en relación en
don Quijote se hizo amigo, y muchos, estudiantes y profesores también
con quienes hablo con frecuencia, a pesar de la distancia, y lo será
para siempre. En pocas palabras, don Quijote no es sólo una escuela de
lenguas, es una experiencia que cambiará su vida, y lo mejor, para
siempre.
Monday nights in Salamanca the don Quijote school hosts the weekly dance lesson.This time it was Flamenco. Having always been intrigued by this traditional "gitano" (gypsy) dance, I was keen to see if I would be able to pick up a few steps myself!
The class began at 7pm, as I arrived a little late (as usual!), I had to stand at the back. The room was hot already, and we hadn´t even started dancing yet! The teacher got everyone to warm up by practicing some of the traditional arm movements of flamenco, which involved a lot of waving your arms above your head and wrist-rotating. As least that´s what it looked like when we did it. The teacher herself made the movements look both powerful and graceful. As the temperature in the room began to increase, she led us through the basic footwork of flamenco, eventually showing us when to stamp our heels down. However, many of us simply looked like we were doing lunges, rather than learning a dance!
Then came the hard bit, trying to combine arms and legs...with music. After a few more practices, and several bruised toes later, most of the class had at least picked up the basics, or so we hoped. We were now told to pair up and start the dance facing each other, which proved quite difficult, but at least we could laugh together at each other´s mistakes! And nearly all the class managed to get the ending position right, even if nothing else!
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the lesson. Although we would never make it as professionals, everyone had a smile on their face when we finished . The lesson was an excellent opportunity not only to learn some flamenco, but also to meet other people from the school, as we bonded over our faulty footwork!
Tina Christopulos is an American writer in the process of writing her first book: a fictional story about a study abroad program taking place in Salamanca and the characters’ experiences in this wonderful city as foreigners – butshe is in need of some real-life accounts from real students!
If you would like to participate in the research, read on how… As an ex-study abroad student with firsthand experience, YOU can provide Tina with accurate “this-is-how-it-really-is-to study in Salamanca” and the study abroad experience for foreigners.
Because her entire work will be fictional, she will not write about an existing study-abroad program or mention any particular schools. However, she is particularly interested in Salamanca’s places of interest, such as plazas, monuments, and hangouts… places in the city or excursions where you, as a student who lived in Salamanca, went to!
Tina wants to give her characters and her story a realistic feel of the city – the places, experiences lived, the encounters and behaviors of the locals seen from the foreign student’s point of view, the students’ thoughts and sensations and most of all, the student’s perception, adjustment and discovery of a new culture. With this book, Tina hopes anyone who has studied abroad (or is planning to), especially American teenagers, could relate to her book and fondly reminisce in their memories… or look forward to making their own memories in their upcoming trip!
If her novel is published, she will give her thanks in the “Acknowledgements Section” everyone who aided her with research.
Below is a list of background questions that interested participants would need to answer. Email your list to tina_christopulos@yahoo.com and use “Salamanca Book Research Questions” as your email subject (otherwise, the email will get deleted).
QUESTIONNAIRE: 1. How is the student atmosphere/life in Salamanca different in the summer from the fall and winter? (My study experience was in fall, but my character will be studying in the summer). Where (which countries) do many of the summer foreign students in Salamanca come from?
2. Do many students rent cell phones? Where would they go for internet access?
3. Where would they buy school supplies? Would it be the type of store where you can browse and choose what you need, or do you have to go up to a person at the counter and specify what you want?
4. What aspects of life in Salamanca do your American students tend to find most surprising?
5. What are common linguistic or cultural misunderstandings?
6. What is/are the typical socio-economic background(s) for host families (types of jobs they have, types of places they live, etc)? Would a typical Salmantinian family have internet access in their home?
7. What kind of adjustment issues (serious and silly) do you typically see for students with host families?
8. What are some of the ways that students spend their free time?
9. What kind of orientation do the students receive?
10. I have not visited Salamanca since the year 2000, so my memories are outdated. How do you feel Salamanca ’s character has or has not changed since then?
11. What are common colloquial expressions, positive and negative (for being upset or happy), these days? How do people say something’s “cool” or “tacky?”
12. Are intercambios still popular? Where are typical places to post an intercambio request?
13. Any major, obvious differences you’ve noted in terms of style/dress/habits between American teens and Salmantinian teens?
14. Is there anything else you’d like to share about the study-abroad experience for Americans in Salamanca ?
Social networking sites are setting the pace when it comes to making it easier for companies to get closer to their fans on the web. We’ve caught on to the trend and are proud to announce don Quijote has launched its own Facebook page!
don Quijote Facebook is the perfect way for you to stay up-to-date with the latest information, photos and anything related to don Quijote schools.
Share with future students your own study abroad experience, pictures and stories, or simply write to let us know what you think! Come on over and share with the world (and with us!) how you've learned Spanish! Don’t forget it's also an easy way for you to keep in touch with your don Quijote classmates, too.
Twenty-three year old Felipe Petri of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), studied for 8 weeks in don Quijote Madrid. This is his story...
I had two
friends that went to don Quijote for a short term period. She studied in Madrid and Barcelona, he
studied in Barcelona.
Both really enjoyed the experience and recommended the school to me.
The school
is really a Babel
tower. There were people from Latin America, Europe, Asia, and North America all in my own class. The
teachers are mostly young and fun. That really helped relate to the new culture
we were facing since they were speaking Spanish but spoke “our language”.
Spanish
people are great to interact with! For Latin standards, maybe a little distant
at first but that’s a very shallow first impression. I still
have contact with all the friends I made in don Quijote. I visited Madrid again
after I left the school and was able to organize a little gathering between
those that were still in Spain and others that came back just for the sake of
getting back together again!
There’s
nothing compared to spending time in a country where the language spoken is the
one you’re trying to learn. It’s the fastest and most accurate way of learning. It is
really culturally fulfilling and an amazing experience to just experience the
differences between the regions of such a vast country that Spain is. I
visited Barcelona
and Santiago de Compostela and loved them both. I still want to go back and get
to know the rest of Spain.
I stayed at
a friend’s house, so I do not know what the school’s accommodations are like. But the school
offers good service and I’d recommend it. I had a great time and learned a lot
even though we partied a whole bunch!!! hehehehe
I want a
brochure to come back... please let’s rush it!
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.
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.
Twenty-four year old Kamila Hazdrová from the Czech Republic, a Spanish student subscribed 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.
¡Enhorabuena! Congratulations!
We would like to thank all our participants and remind you to keep your eyes out for future contests.
If you have not yet signed up for our Monthly Newsletter register now to find out all about our special offers, programs and contests.
don Quijote offers a Work & Study program which combines a Spanish course in any don Quijote destination followed by a job placement in Spain. You won’t get rich, but you will earn enough to cover basic expenses.
This is a great opportunity to get working experience abroad while learning or improving your Spanish, and most of all to have a really fun time and meet lots of new people. This program has had great reviews from many of happy students.
Check out a few videos of our student testimonials and hear about their experiences working in Spain.
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 more»
We've added more videos to the don Quijote You Tube collection, including this Spanish television (Antena 3) news coverage of the reality show filmed at don Quijote and set to air on Finnish television in October. Watch it is a great chance to hear Spanish while you read English subtitles, too, all you beginners:
If you're not quite sure what to expect from an immersion Spanish language course, you might enjoy a read through this page on don Quijote's UK site. Britons who have studied with dQ in Spain tell their own "learning Spanish" stories. more»
Caroline, 21 years old from Sweden, writes about her don Quijote course in Tenerife:
Hola! I’m going to tell you about my time with don Quijote. I first heard about don Quijote from a friend that had been studying at dQ in Barcelona and recommended the school. I decided to study in Tenerife. It was the best time of my life! I have met friends for life and people from all over the world. The school is great with a cosy environment with the best teachers I have ever had. In class... more»
Agnes, 19 years old and from France, spent 7 months studying Spanish with don Quijote in Spain. She recommends combining cities during a Spanish course to see more of Spain. Here's her story:
I studied for 7 months at don Quijote schools, I first went to Salamanca, Granada and Sevilla and then 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.
Remember 
If you are staying in 
The festivals in Salamanca got a kick start on Monday night, with an immense fireworks display by the river. Although the display was not due to start until 10, the roads down to the river filled up very quickly, with people running to try to get a good view! The first bangs set off a few bats over Salamanca´s awe-inspiring cathedral. However, this did not distract the crowd for long, which was soon mesmerised by the array of colours lighting up the sky. The display finished with an incredible finale which filled the sky with a plethora of gold sparkles, gaining a huge applause from the crowd. This was just the start of the wonderful events that the city of Salamanca will host during its annual 
As least that´s what it looked like when we did it. 
. The lesson was an excellent opportunity not only to learn some flamenco, but also to meet other people from the school, as we bonded over our faulty footwork!
Auf der Weltausstellung in Zaragoza dreht sich vom 14. Juni bis 14. September 2008 alles um das Thema „Wasser und nachhaltige Entwicklung“. 
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