School Blog

Our school has organized the first teacher training programme for non-native teachers of Spanish in 2021. The course has taken place during one week from 24.05.2021 to 28.05.2021 with 3 participants from Portugal and the Czech Republic.

The teachers enjoyed very much the programme and sent us the following video. Have a look at it on the Escuela Montalbán Youtube Channel:
https://youtu.be/pCCibRgfe48

Many thanks to Margarida Ribeiro, Lidia Francisco and Eva Frgalová!

Our teacher Paco organized a fantastic hiking tour in the Sierra de Huétor Santillán Natural Parque:

Located above a thousand metres above sea level, Huétor Santillán is part of a mountain range which bears its name and forms the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Huétor. This protected area is surrounded by diverse landscapes, including Mediterranean mountains, canyons, forests of oak and maple trees.

The town is of Arab origin and offers a broad range of outdoor activities, including hiking and cycling. This area is hugely popular among locals and visitors that come here to relax surrounded by nature.

Huétor Santillán has some beautiful places nearby including the Fuente de la Mora, the famous Venta del Molinillo and Prado Negro Village, as well as the sources of the Río Darro and the Río Fardes. Their waters come from the same mountain range, and meet the Río Genil and Río Guadiana Menor respectively.

The Andalusian Agency of Cultural Institutions in collaboration with the Alhambra organizes, from July 20 to August 21, 2021, the twentieth edition of the Lorca and Granada programme in the Generalife Gardens.

We already have enjoyed twenty editions since its inception, in 2002, with the staging of Blood Wedding directed by Antonio Gades. It has been two decades in which the Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage of the Junta de Andalucía has punctually fulfilled, every summer, with its commitment to offer Grenadians and visitors a first-rate artistic and technical appointment around the figure and work of Federico García Lorca.

In 2021, the Andalusian Flamenco Ballet returns to the Teatro del Generalife with THE HEX OF THE BUTTERFLY, a performance about women and dances in the times of Federico García Lorca. The show, directed by Úrsula Lopez, will have the special collaboration of Manuel Lombo at its premiere and every Thursday and Friday.

Enjoy this new edition of Lorca and Granada in the Generalife Gardens!

Contact for tickets: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/lorcaygranada/

Just a few metres away from the Alhambra, Granada keeps one of its most delightful gardens, the Carmen de los Martires. The garden is an oasis hidden away from the hustle of the city. Here you will find an unique environmentwith a spectacular view of the city.

It's a 19th century mansion surrounded by an oasis of plants, statues, grottos, waterfalls and even a lake, with a romantic tower and a bridge. It's the ideal place for a stroll, to relax or even to feed the ducks and swans living there.

Boabdil, the last Nasrid king, left the city by crossing this area and keeping it in his memory. Queen Isabel requested a chapel to be built there in memory of the martyrs who died. This is how it came to be known as Carmen de los Mártires.

To get to Carmen de los Mártires you can walk up from Campo de Príncipe, behind the cross towards the Alhambra Palace hotel, or from Plaza Nueva, via the Arco de las Granadas. You can also take the Alhambra bus from Gran Vía, or electric train from Plaza Nueva.

Qui ne rêveraient pas d'améliorer son espagnol dans une des villes les plus fascinantes d'Espagne?

J'ai eu la chance de pouvoir venir aider Escuela Montalbán durant le mois d'avril. En effet, Grenade étant ma ville «coup de cœur» depuis toujours.
J'ai été très heureuse d'apprendre que j'allais pouvoir réaliser cette mission de pratiquement 1 mois. Durant mon travail au sein de l'école, je devais traduire des documents espagnols et anglais en français comme par exemple des contrats, des manuels pour les étudiants ou des réponses de mail.

Ma famille vivant dans un village de Grenade. J'ai donc logé à Dúrcal pendant mon séjour. La belle ville de Grenade étant parfaitement située entre montagne et mer. J'ai ainsi pu profiter de mon temps libre pour faire de la randonnée en montagne, profiter de la nature et m'imprégner de l'ambiance animée du centre ville.

Participer à cette mission m'a donc permis de découvrir comment fonctionne une école de langue espagnole et également comment le monde professionnel espagnol doit faire face et trouver de nouvelles solutions durant la crise sanitaire du Covid-19.

Mon séjour fut d'autant plus agréable grâce aux merveilleux collègues avec qui je travaillais à l'administration. En plus de travailler dans la bonne humeur à leur côtés, ils ont su me partager de nombreuses de leurs connaissances.

Étudiante en master « Langues, Culture et Tourisme » en France, cette expérience culturelle internationale me sera donc utile pour mes prochains jobs et me permettra peut-être à l'avenir d'envisager un futur professionnel à Grenade ou bien dans une école de langues étrangères.

Vous souhaitez apprendre l'espagnol et découvrir la culture andalouse?

Un conseil, n'attendez plus, venez découvrir Escuela Montalbán et le charme de l'Alhambra, du Sacromonte ou encore de la Sierre Nevada.

Céline Puerta (France/24 ans)

The Día de la Cruz (day of the crosses) or cruces de mayo (festival of the May crosses) is celebrated in Granada on May 3rd and is one of the most popular festivals in Andalusia.

On this joyous day it is common to find all over Granada women and children wearing the typical Andalusian dresses.

Also beautiful Andalusian horses will parade in the streets. Every year the city council runs a competition to promote this tradition, in which there are four categories: patios (courtyards), streets and squares, shop windows and schools. Thousands of carnations will decorate the dozens of crosses that compete for the prize every year. The aroma of so many flowers perfumes Granada and invites people to enjoy such a special day.

This year and due to the pandemic situation, many crosses will be installed on the balconies to avoid crowds. The Albaicin and Realejo are good areas to see the crosses, as well as the historic city centre.

The Granada International Music and Dance Festival is held in different venues and stages, at iconic locations in and around the city. The festival originated in the symphony concerts staged in Charles V's Palace from 1883, and the Cante Jondo competition held in Plaza de los Aljibes in the Alhambra in 1922, attended by leading artistic and intellectual figures of the time, including Federico García Lorca, Manuel de Falla, Ramón Gómez de la Serna, and Santiago Rusiñol.

The programme includes several different musical genres, each on a different stage: concerts by large symphony orchestras in the Palace of Charles V; dance and ballet in the outdoor theatre in the Generalife gardens; recitals, in the Patio de los Arrayanes, in the Alhambra; morning concerts in Granada's churches and historic buildings, and flamenco and world music in the traditional neighbourhoods of Albaicín and Sacromonte, attracting over 30,000 people every year.

Then check the tours with Sierra y Sol! One or half day hiking trips around Granada in Andalusia, for those who want to get off the beaten path and like the real natural experience.

Whether you have a day in the south of Spain, do not miss this opportunity to follow your inner adventurer and explore the Natural Parks in Granada.

With our partner company Sierra y Sol you still can enjoy springtime in Andalusia, even with the COVID-19 restrictions.

Check the next tours on the Sierra y Sol Website!

Experience for the senses at Jardines de Zoraya!

The best artists in today's scene will make you discover el duende and passion of the incredible world of flamenco.

Goosebumps, tears of emotion and all kinds of feelings are the example of a true spectacle that you will not forget. You can't expect less than professionals with years of experience, art in the blood and a lot of passion.

At the Jardines de Zoraya restaurant you will find a personalized attention, so that you feel the comfort of your home. You will have a unique experience through tasty dishes made with the best Andalusian products.

Enjoy lunch on a beautiful terrace while watching Flamenco!

Reserve your ticket on: www.jardinesdezoraya.com

So, what is the alternative? Well, we organize the activities inside of our school building.

This week our students from Morocco have prepareed a fantastic breakfast/lunch (= brunch) with typicall dishes from their home country for teachers and students.

We all enjoyed very much tea, cakes and all the other delicious little things :)