Last week, we welcomed this year’s first group of teenagers at our Spanish School Instituto Mediterráneo Sol in Granada. Eight students of different nationalities (Irish, American, Turkish, Canadian, etc.) have come to IMSOL in order to learn Spanish during their stay of a minimum of two weeks.
Our first Spanish course for teenagers this year started on Monday last week. Our new students, aged between 13 and 17, arrived the day before at their Spanish host families, where they lived during their stay in Granada and where they were able to submerge themselves in the Spanish language and culture. The next day they started their Spanish classes: divided into different groups, according to their current level, our students had four Spanish lessons per day aimed to improve their grammatical, lexical and communicative skills. But of course they did not have to swot all day! We at IMSOL attach great importance to our programme of extracurricular activities for learning Spanish in a more dynamic and interactive context, together with the other students.
On their first day at IMSOL, our students had the chance to discover the city during a guided tour of the centre. And it was of course also a great opportunity to get to know the other students. The game workshop on Tuesday was a great way to practice their communication skills in a more animated and fun setting. On Wednesday, we went on the ‘graffiti route’: a short stroll through the Realejo, the neighbourhood where our school is located, in quest of the graffiti of well-known artist ‘Niño de las Pinturas’. On Friday, we went to discover the world of science in Spanish. We all had a lot of fun during our trip to the Science Park of Granada, and gazing at the stars and constellations in the planetarium is surely a memory we will not easily forget. Saturday was also great fun – we went on a daytrip to the Alpujarras, including visits to several villages, wine- and sausage-tasting, a visit to the museum in Pampaneira and a typical ham dryer in Trevélez… what a great day full of Spanish culture!
We started this week’s programme with a short walk through the most picturesque area of Granada, the Albaicín and the Sacromonte. Strolling through the narrow alleyways between the white-washed houses of the Arab neighbourhood and climbing the famous hill with its typical cave dwellings, our students were able to discover the special charm of the city. The week continued with us following the traces of the Arab heritage which transformed our city into such an unusual place. So, yesterday, we visited the famous Alhambra, the Spanish fortress perched on the hill above the city, with its decorated palaces, gorgeous gardens, and fantastic views. A place full of history and, it is impossible to deny, also of a unique magic. Our ‘Arab route’ will end today with a visit to the Carmen de los Mártires, a park full of beautiful gardens next to the Alhambra. We will end the week more quietly, with a movie afternoon at our school. And for those who will stay for an extra week, on Saturday there will be an excursion to Cordova with visits to its most beautiful attractions and famous mosque.
We really had a great time with our first group of teenagers and we hope to see them again at IMSOL! And we are of course also looking forward to meeting our new students next Monday!
