Course types: General Spanish | Spanish for medical personnel | Business Spanish | DELE diploma preparation | Didactic training for Spanish teachers
Maximum number of students: 50 | Courses begin every two weeks | Maximum 7 students per class | Courses last between 1 and 20 weeks Minimum age 20 years
español para adultos
LEARNING FOR PRACTICE GET MORE OUT OF THE LANGUAGE – THE COUNTRY – THE PEOPLE A motivating environment for goal-oriented adult students from 20 years upwards. Efficiency in learning through homogeneous study groups, teaching methods suitable for a broad range of learning styles, and a learning focus geared to practice with a maximum of opportunities for conversation. Complementary programme with high cultural input, interaction and contact to the host country. THE BEST REFERENCES You will find many addresses of former students on our web site whom you can contact to ask about their experiences at elemadrid.
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THE SPANISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR EFFECTIVE ADULT EDUCATION
Español
elemadrid Serrano 4, 28001 Madrid, Spain Tel + 34 914 324 540, Fax +34 914 324 541 www.elemadrid.com consulta@elemadrid.com
WELCOME It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to an unusual concept in adult education: elemadrid, a language school that provides the best conditions to enhance learning motivation. Quality, innovation and efficiency are an integral part of all our Spanish courses. The various types of courses we offer have been designed to respond to the needs of ambitious adults who want to learn Spanish for professional or private purposes. elemadrid offers the best learning environment to achieve this. Innovative methods are used on motivated students for the optimum in synergy. And while traditional schools concentrate on the classroom, elemadrid has broadened this horizon by bowing to the time-honoured dictum: you learn a language best by using it in real life. Our Spanish classes start off in the classroom but soon leave it to follow the Practice Immersion programme. Practice Immersion takes a practical approach to finding out about everyday life in Spain as well as many other aspects of life in Spain. It brings you into direct contact with Spanish culture while putting into practice everything you have already learned. We have also designed a special range of courses for clients from business, healthcare and other areas, who would like to polish their language skills. It is our experience that the link between success and fun is crucial to effective learning, so you can look forward to an exciting Spanish adventure. I wish you a lively, successful stay with interesting conversations and enduring progress.
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Pierre Elsässer Director of elemadrid
a elemadrid en España
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Pierre Elsässer
Contents Welcome Madrid elemadrid language school elemadrid programme “Practice immersion” Accommodation Leisure
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`twÜ|w Well situated in the centre of Madrid, the hub of our programme
¡una ciudad para vivir!
“elemadrid is an extremely well run school that surpassed my expectations. The quality of the teaching materials, the teachers as well as the staff is excellent. Not only did I take in a lot of grammar, but my use of colloquial language also improved massively.” Marjorie R., 1968, Vice President real estate company, USA, 3 weeks
LEARN SPANISH IN THE CAPITAL OF SPAIN
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MADRID THE METROPOLIS Madrid stretches across the Castilian meseta at 600 metres above the sea. This Mediterranean metropolis lies at the exact geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula, which puts it at a comfortable distance from all mainland destinations. As the capital city of a historic European nation, Madrid enjoys an impressive cultural heritage. Today it is the modern, urban centre of a dynamic society that has never lost the art of enjoying life: a city that pulses with an abundance of cultural and sporting opportunities, social life and tourist attractions. The largely untouched Sierra de Guadarrama, the range of mountains just north of the city, also offers a wealth of fascinating destinations. THE SPANISH LANGUAGE Madrid, seat of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, is the only metropolis in Europe in which only Spanish is officially spoken. It is a melting pot of all the country’s regions and at the same time maintains strong links to the entire Spanish-speaking world of which Madrid was once the political centre. A PLEASANT CLIMATE Madrid dry climate is very attractive to visitors. In spring and autumn, temperatures are around 24°C, while in summer they rise to between 30 and 35°C, and in winter they fall to 5 to 10°C under a radiant blue sky. AT THE HEART OF IT: THE SCHOOL elemadrid is right in the centre of Madrid and offers Spanish courses for adults. Maximum number of students: 50 Minimum age: 20 years All Spanish proficiency levels The highest standards of education, teaching and service.
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de español para adultos ENJOY LEISURE THE INTERACTIVE WAY elemadrid unites relaxation, fun, the spirit of discovery and social contact as well as many opportunities to try out your language skills. This lively method aims at developing lasting language skills. An enjoyable way of really getting into the swing of things is through the leisure activities offered by elemadrid in addition to the lessons and Practice Immersion:
General Spanish Spanish for medical personnel Business Spanish DELE diploma preparation Didactic training for Spanish teachers
Intercambio Talking to professional counterparts Cooking evenings Exploring hobbies Excursions
PUTTING THEORY INTO PRACTICE “Practice Immersion” is the optional programme developed by elemadrid to complement our traditional Spanish classes. It will give you lively insights into local everyday life, and teach you about Spanish history, geography and culture. At the same time you will also have the opportunity to put what you have learned into practice while in conversation with “Madrileños” and “Madrileñas”. Your inter-cultural knowledge is assured while also enjoying a wealth of unforgettable experiences.
OUR HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHING TEAM Experienced Spanish mother-tongue specialists are in charge of both teaching and practical work and invest a great deal of personal dedication in doing the job well. Our teaching team operates according to recognised quality standards, which guarantees excellent teaching with a high degree of personal attention. Our teachers enjoy their work and design their lessons by drawing on a strong degree of imagination and well developed social skills. OUR FIRST-CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE Library Video and DVD library Multimedia Cafeteria Internet, e-mail, fax
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various activities that were interesting, not only in terms of the subject matter, but were also very informative as the language was always the main focus. I’ve been here twice this year and am planning to come back next year.” Irene S., 1965, Chief Accountant, Austria, 2 weeks
TARGET AUDIENCE AND LEARNING GOALS Courses are aimed at working adults from all over the world who want to learn to speak Spanish well and efficiently. Whether you are starting from the beginning or simply polishing your skills, our hands-on practical approach ensures that theory is put into immediate practice at every level of learning. The following courses are available:
“elemadrid is the best language school that I have ever been to. The students were well integrated thanks to the
A SPECIAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR ADULTS
THE SCHOOL WITH THE FLEXIBLE OFFERING COURSE DETAILS Typical group size: maximum 7 people Mini-groups: maximum 4 people Length of lesson: 50 minutes Lesson times: 09.00 – 10.40 and 11.00 – 12.40 or 13.30 – 15.10 and 15.30 – 17-10 Course entry test: written and oral test before starting course Length of course: 1 to 20 weeks. We recommend a minimum course length of 2 weeks Each course can be complemented by additional private/individual lessons “Practice Immersion” programme (see page 10) included with all courses
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de español a elegir... COURSES ON OFFER
COURSE FORMATS Course type and description
Lessons
Practice Immersion
Total per week
Our recommendation
A
Standard intensive course: 20 group General Spanish lessons
10 practical lessons
30 lessons
Most popular all-round course
B
Super intensive course: General Spanish (Not for beginners)
10 practical lessons
40 lessons
Very work-intensive, only recommended for students with high endurance
C5 Combined intensive course: 20 group C10 General Spanish and lessons + individual teaching 5 or 10 private lessons
10 practical lessons
35 or 40 lessons
P10 Private course: P20 Individual programme P30
10 practical lessons
20 group lessons + 10 mini-group lessons
10, 20 or 30 private lessons
20, 30 or 40 lessons
Ideal for additional individual interests or as review aid to course material personally tailored learning speed and goals
General Spanish The focus of all group lessons is on general Spanish while also taking important Latin-American variations into consideration. Where necessary, we also recommend private lessons to reinforce and keep up to speed with the material covered. Spanish for medical personnel Special courses for those who work in hospitals, private practice or social services and wish to learn Spanish to be able to deal better with Hispanic patients. The training programme is adapted according to the learning goals. Business Spanish You are going to be working in a Spanish-speaking country. We can offer you a course that is tailored to your needs. Based on a needs-analysis, we will define your learning goals and propose a specially designed course. DELE diploma preparation training The Spanish DELE language diplomas are officially recognised certificates of competency in language. Our courses will help you to prepare yourself for the DELE test both efficiently and systematically. Didactic training for Spanish teachers elemadrid offers specialist training for teaching Spanish as a foreign language to adults. You will find more information at: www.elemadrid.com All special focus Spanish courses are offered as private lessons. You may choose whether to combine them with group lessons for general Spanish or book a completely private course. Talk to us, we will help you find the right solution.
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“elemadrid by far exceeded my expectations. The school was highly professional and I felt comfortable from the very first day. Thanks to the fact that I was in a small group, I was able to ask a lot of questions and felt encouraged to speak a lot more. My self-confidence when speaking has grown enormously. The approach the teachers took made even grammar seem easy. I have no hesitation in recommending this school.” Helen L., 1975, Administration, England, 4 weeks
VARIETY IN LESSON FORMATS Small and homogeneous groups provide a pleasant and stimulating learning atmosphere: personal attention, well thought-out explanations, a high degree of interactivity, a variety of learning games such as simulation of typical everyday situations like role plays, team work and exercises.
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infected students with their passionate interest in the topics discussed. I can wholeheartedly recommend elemadrid if you want to learn Spanish and get a feel for Spanish culture.” Herbert R., 1948, MD, Sweden, 3 weeks
“The courses were very well organised and the teaching tempo was optimally adapted to student needs. The Practice Immersion programme is excellent and Helena and Javier
para practicar el español
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FASCINATING LEARNING EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM “PRACTICE IMMERSION” PROGRAMME Our Practice Immersion programme complements our classroom programme to round-off the learning experience. This unique programme is included in the cost of the course and gives you the opportunity to find out more about Spain and its people. And the best part of it is that it allows you to improve your skills in the spoken language because it puts you in situations where you have both to speak and listen. These activities are run by teachers from the department created especially for this purpose and are suited to students from every level. Exact details of the programme for the week, time and place, are posted on the school notice board. Practice Immersion normally begins at around 4.30pm and lasts between 1 to 4 hours. THE WEEKLY PROGRAMME Monday
“Spain today” Talk about Spain: various topics
Tuesday
“Discover Madrid” Guided tour of Spain’s capital
Wednesday “Spanish people today” Interviews with selected individuals from various professions Thursday
Friday
“Spain today” A series of talks on various topics that are relevant to Spain today, such as gypsies in Spain, ETA and the Basque country, Spanish theatre in the 20th century, flamenco etc. “Discover Madrid” An outing into the city accompanied by teaching staff who will put you into direct contact with Spanish culture, business, history and art. On the menu are the Madrid police headquarters, a brewery, the Prado, the best tapas bars in the city etc. “Spanish people today” Interviews with specially invited guests like TV producers, bullfighters or taxi drivers. The interviews are carried out in Spanish and moderated by one of the teaching staff. They offer students the opportunity to ask questions and get a good feeling for how “Madrileños” live, work and think. The advantage is a double synergy effect: improved ability to speak and understand, and the ability to do so in real-life situations. “The Spanish media” Weekly presentations of films from TV and the cinema and the print media help to familiarise students with the world of Spanish media. You will also get to know Spain’s top directors and the most popular TV programmes.
“The Spanish media” “Have a good meal!” A changing programme of films from TV and cinema and print media with a talk afterwards Every Friday at 1pm, we reserve tables in a nearby restaurant for both teachers and students from elemadrid. In an informal but exclusively Spanish setting, we enjoy “Have a good meal!” food, a glass of wine and some good conversation. Lunch with teaching staff
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LIVING IN MADRID
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ACCOMMODATION Whether you stay in an apartment, hotel, with a family or share a flat, the majority of accommodation organised by elemadrid is only 2 kilometres from the school and can be reached on foot. Prices range from below 20 Euro to more than 200 Euro per day. SOME TIPS Experience has shown us that adult students prefer accommodation that gives them the greatest degree of independence. Your choice of accommodation is not the only chance you will have to meet Spanish people, our Practice Immersion programme and leisure activities offer you many opportunities to get to know Spanish people.
Details
Recommended for
Our recommendation
Apartment
Independence Own kitchen Guests allowed Short route to school Reception
Independent students who prefer to have a kitchen and be able to entertain guests.
ALEGRE Beautiful apartments in the centre of old town.
Hotel
Independent Short route to school Hotel services 24-hour reception
Independent students, who appreciate the services a hotel can offer.
HABITAT Beautiful, modern 4-star hotel with an excellent restaurant.
Family
Spanish environment Daily breakfast Evening meal (Mon-Fri)
Students who are willing and able to adapt to the standards and lifestyle of others. All age groups.
Get in touch with us before you come, we’ll find the right family for you.
Flat share
Spanish or international flatmates Use of kitchen Well priced
Students who enjoy a Spanish or international ambience and also enjoy their independence. For young people or the young at heart.
COLOR Our favourite flatshare. We also have other possibilities.
You will find the list of accommodations in the enclosure or look at our regularly updated list at: www.elemadrid.com
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every category – ours was marvellous. The other students come from various countries and were highly motivated, intelligent, and interesting to be with. The teachers are encouraging, cheerful, friendly, helpful and professional.” Suzanne D., 1948, MD Sweden, 3 weeks
Type
“elemadrid exceeded my expectations in every way imaginable. The administrative staff is helpful and well organised. Accommodation is available in
en Madrid
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EXPLORING HOBBIES Whether it’s art, dance or fitness, the community centre in Madrid is one of the most popular places to meet people. We have selected a range of courses from the broad offering and will gladly reserve a place for you: choose between wine tasting, dance courses (flamenco, sevillanas, tango), ceramics courses and many more.
INTERCAMBIO Many Spaniards are interested in practicing their foreign languages with mother tongue speakers. In exchange they offer Spanish conversation. Pick an interesting conversation partner from our extensive list.
SATURDAY EXCURSIONS Discover the many historic places of interest around Madrid. We offer you a specialist guided tour with informative reading material in a relaxed atmosphere. We offer a different destination every week:
TALKING TO PROFESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS We will put you into contact with professionals from your area of business in Madrid – a simple and interesting way of diving into the language and culture.
Segovia Toledo Salamanca Cuenca El Escorial Aranjuez Alcalá de Henares Chinchón
COOKING EVENING Prepare some typical Spanish dishes and drinks: tapas, tortilla, paella, gazpacho, cocido Madrileño, sangría… A professional chef will guide you while you work in small groups and afterwards enjoy a meal together.
Concept and Design: Lämmler&Mettler GmbH, Zurich Print: Novotex, Madrid Copyright ©: elemadrid 2004
LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN MADRID The more you organise your free time in Madrid with communication in mind, the higher the payback on your learning investment. To complement Madrid’s broad offering in terms of culture, tourism and night life in the city, we have a range of activities for your pleasure that will give you a maximum of speaking practice:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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elemadrid Retiro underground, line 2 Serrano underground, line 4 Puerta de Alcalá Recoletos, railway station Prado museum Cibeles, main post office El Corte Inglés department store Spanish national bank Stock exchange
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
National library Archaeological museum Casa de América Royal palace Parliament Opera house Reina Sophia museum Thyssen museum Swiss and Canadian embassy German embassy
21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.
Austrian embassy US embassy French embassy Las Ventas bullfighting ring Atocha railway station Plaza de España British embassy Italian embassy
Philip M., 1959, aircraft sales, France, 2 weeks
‘[táàt ÑÜÉÇàÉ Madrid!
“The most entertaining and productive language course I have ever taken.“
You will find a complete and continuously updated programme at www.elemadrid.com