A Day in Sevilla and The Language School

Submitted by Rebecca Hahn

A Typical Day at The Language School

Class starts at 9:15. The first part of class is grammar, and it lasts for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The teachers make the class really fun because we interact a lot and speak a lot and do fun exercises. There are about 10 students in each class from all over, so it's fun to work in pairs or groups and get to know the other students. We have a break from 11-11:30, and there is a main "lounge" with computers and tables. Everyone gathers there to eat a snack or just chat with the other students. There is also a terrace with a little pool, or it could be a jacuzzi (it's been too cold to try it out), but there is wireless internet up there in the sun with the lounge chairs or down in the main lounge, so you can bring your computer and use it at school anytime you want during the afternoon until about 8 pm. It has been really nice weather lately so the terrace is very popular to sunbathe or just hang out. After the break we have a conversational class until 1 pm with a different teacher from the morning. We don't do exercises really, but we talk a lot and mainly about Spanish culture and our own as well. There are activities to help guide the discussions, and they are all really fun! The teachers are very helpful, and I learn new expressions and vocab every day. They are fun and always energetic too.

After school everyone usually goes home for lunch, but sometimes there is an afternoon class, so some people go to those (there are optional classes offered every week, such as phonetics, history, and other cultural classes).

EVERY single afternoon or evening during the week there is a different cultural activity. You can sign up during the break or after class to go on the tours. Sometimes they are free, sometimes a few euros, but always something you will want to visit. It can be a museum, the Cathedral, the Italica (ruins of an old city), and other monuments. It could also be watching a flamenco show, watching a Spanish movie, or meeting at a bar to meet Spanish people and also hang out with other students. There are also 1,2, or 3 day excursions offered on the weekends. So far they have had trips to Granada to see the Alhambra, Cordoba to see La Mezquita, the beach town of Cadiz, and this weekend they are going to Morocco. The prices for these are always reasonable, and the guides are very knowledgeable and great.

Sevilla:
The city is big and beautiful! The Guadalquivir River divides it into 2, and there is a great path along the river to watch rowers and kayakers, sunbathe, or run. Almost everything is within walking distance, but there is also a bus system and they are working on building a metro (it goes some places right now but isn't quite finished). It's mid February, and already it's in the mid to high 60's in the afternoons and almost always sunny.

The people are very nice and friendly here. There is a general "siesta" time from about 2 or 3 until 5 or so. Pretty much the whole city closes down and people go home to eat lunch or nap or just relax. No stores, banks, post offices, or even grocery stores are open at this time. It's nice to have a mandatory break! Then people go back to work until about 8 or 9.

The food is mostly ham and pork. All the restaurants offer tapas, so you can order small portions of different foods which is fun to try different things. There are legs of ham hanging in almost every bar/restaurant, and it's really good.

There is always something to do here or a new place to visit because the city is so big. It's fun to walk around because it's so beautiful everywhere.