School Blog

The language school Escuela Montalbán (Granada, Spain) in the city center is a cosy and matey place. It is situated in a small building on two levels with three small class rooms each. You get to know all the staff very quickly as there are about 15 people working here and some of them are – good for them – on holiday as it is high summer time at the moment.

The first and third week I took part in courses with only three students plus, of course, the teacher. We had two classes per day starting with a grammar class followed by a conversation class. The school's administation goes to great length in organizing the courses concerning the students' levels. They really try to form courses consisting of people with a similar level of Spanish in order to make the classes effective and useful. I also took private lessons during one week which I can recommend because it is super-intensive and very effective when the teacher concentrates fully on you.

As far as I am concerned, I do not only study at this school but I also do an internship under supervision of Margret Fortman who is the school's marketing and public relations manager. I review or write texts for the school's website. I have to admit that these texts are in English or German (I am from Berlin) as my Spanish is by far not yet good enough for professional purposes.

When I arrived I was classified level A2 in Spanish, certainly an accurate classification in theory but in daily life I felt like level zero basically. That has significantly changed in only three weeks thanks tot he lessons I took and thanks to teachers that gave them. All teachers are professional, highly motivated, kind and funny at times, too.

As I enjoy biking a lot, I bought a bike second hand and explore the city and the countryside in my spare time. The landscape has flat terrain when you go along the river Genil that flows through the city into the plains and there are of course hills and the Sierra Nevada. A mountain range that goes up to about 3000 m (9000 ft). And for all of you who like biking too or are into a little challenge: To the second highest peak leads a path suitable for bikes with an average gradiant of only 5 percent. One thing is for sure: the learning gradiant is much higher at Escuela Montalbán.

Ronny Dojahn (36 years / Germany)

Tuesday, 24.07.2018 / 14.45-21.30 hrs
Trip to Almuñecar Beach
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: JUAN
Price: 25 €*
* minimum 5 students - maximum 8 students

Thursday, 26.07.2018 / 21.00-24.00 hrs
Flamenco at the Alhambra Gardens
"Flamenco Lorquiano" (Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía)
Meeting point: Plaza Nueva
Guide: PACO
Price: 17 €

Saturday, 28.07.2018 / 08.45-20.00 h
Day trip to the Alpujarra Mountains
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: JUAN
Price: 50 €*
* includes transport, guide, ham tasting, insurance

• Activities are organized for all Spanish levels
• Dates and activities may be subject to change.
• Students enroll and pay for all activities at the school.
• The school may cancel activities in case there is not a minimum of participants

Tuesday, 17.07.2018 / 14.45-21.30 hrs
Trip to Almuñecar Beach
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: JUAN / Price: 25 €*
* minimum 5 students - maximum 8 students

Thursday, 19.07.2018 / 21.00-24.00 hrs
Openair Cinema at the Sacromonte
"Estación de mujeres" (Leena Yadav/India 2015)
Meeting point: Plaza Nueva
Guide: MARISA / Price: 4 €

Friday, 20.07.2018 / 20.00-21.00 h
Flamenco at the Jardines de Zoraya
Meeting point: C/ Panaderos, nº 32
Guide: NO / Price: 20 €*
* optional dinner at the restaurant

Saturday, 21.07.2018 / 07.45-20.00 h
Day trip to Cordoba
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: JUAN / Price: 65 €*
* includes transport, guide, entrance fees, insurance

• Activities are organized for all Spanish levels.
• Dates and activities may be subject to change.
• Students enroll and pay for all activities at the school.
• The school may cancel activities in case there is not a minimum of participants.

Tuesday, 10.07.2018 / 20.00-21.30 h
Visit to the Arabic bath Aljibe de San Miguel (includes massage)
Meeting point: C/ San Miguel Alta, nº 41
Guide: NO
Price: 30 €

Wednesday, 11.07.2018 / 19.00-20.30 h
Cooking workshop: We prepare a Paella
Meeting point: Escuela de Cocina - C/ San Marcos, nº 1
Cook: Javier
Price: 15 €

Thursday, 12.07.2018 / 14.45-21.30 hrs
Trip to Almuñecar Beach
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: Juan / Price: 25 €*
* minimum 5 students - maximum 8 students

Saturday, 14.07.2018 / 08.45-20.00 h
Day trip to the Alpujarra Mountains
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: Juan / Price: 50 €*
* includes transport, guide, ham tasting, insurance

Consequently, the annual International Festival of Music and Dance, which has started on the 22.06.2108 and will finish on the 14.07.2018 provides a perfect experience for lovers of music and dance.

The events take place at the King Carlos V Palace, in the Generalife Gardens, in el Patio de los Arrayanes in the heart of the Alhambra and various other of Granada's historic churches and buildings.

The Festival can trace its beginnings back to 1883 when a series of symphonic concerts were held in the King Carlos V Palace during the Corpus Christi celebrations. Later, in 1922, the Cante Jondo contest for Flamenco singers took place in the Alhambra with such notable artists as Federico García Lorca and Manuel de Falla attending.

The event now encompasses many differing styles and genres in its concerts. The late nights of Flamenco music and music from all around the world can be unofficially listened around Albaicín and Sacromonte.

The whole of the city comes alive with the sound of not only typically Spanish guitars, and flamenco dancers but also with the music brought to the city by its many visitors.

For further information visit: www.granadafestival.org

Tuesday, 03.07.2018 / 15.50-19.30 h
Excursion to Nigüelas village with a visit of an olive oil mill
Visit in English!
http://oliveoiltour.com/
Meeting point: Plaza Mariana Pineda
Guide: YES
Price: 38 €*
* includes transport, olive oil tasting, minimum 2 persons

Thursday, 05.07.2018 / 14.45-21.30 hrs
Trip to Almuñecar Beach
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: JUAN
Price: 25 €*
* minimum 5 students - maximum 8 students

Friday, 06.07.2018 / 20.00-21.00 h
Flamenco at the Jardines de Zoraya
Meeting point: C/ Panaderos, nº 32
Guide: NO
Price: 20 €*
* optional dinner at the restaurant

Saturday, 07.07.2018 / 08.45-20.00 h
Day trip to the Tropical Coast
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: JUAN
Price: 55 €*
* includes transport, guide, entrance fees, insurance

• Activities are organized for all Spanish levels
• Dates and activities may be subject to change.
• Students enroll and pay for all activities at the school.
• The school may cancel activities in case there is not a minimum of participants

Monday, 25.06.2018 / 20.30 h
Tapa tour with our teacher Marisa
Meeting point: School
Price: Students pay their own consumptions

Wednesday, 27.06.2018 / 20.00-21.30 h
Visit to the Arabic bath Aljibe de San Miguel (includes massage)
Meeting point: C/ San Miguel Alta, nº 41
Guide: NO / Price: 30 €

Friday, 29.06.2018 / 22.00-23.00 h
Flamenco performance "Raíz y Duende" at Taller de Arte Vimaambi
Meeting point: Cuesta de San Gregorio, nº 30-38 (Albaicín)
Guide: NO / Price: 15 €

Saturday, 30.06.2018 / 07.45-20.00 h
Day trip to Córdoba
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: Juan / Price: 65 €*
* includes transport, guide, entrance fees, insurance

The demand regarding SIELE exams at our school has increased a lot during 2018. After completing a Spanish course students can take a test to obtain the official SIELE certificate. SIELE is the International Service for Spanish Language Assessment, aimed at students, which digitally certifies Spanish language proficiency levels.

The SIELE exams are basically promoted by the Spanish Instituto Cervantes and different universities in Spain and South America.

At Escuela Montalbán we offer the SIELE GLOBAL exam. This exam is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and certifies the degree of proficiency in reading and listening comprehension, written expression and interaction, and spoken expression and interaction.

The SIELE GLOBAL certificate costs 155 € and is valid for 2 years. The exams take place every Wednesday between 15.00 and 18.00 hrs.

For further information regarding the enolment and preparation lessons at our school, contact us!

Monday, 18.06.2018 / 20.30 h
Tapa tour with our teacher Marisa
Meeting point: School
Price: Students pay their own consumptions

Tuesday, 19.06.2018 / 20.00-21.30 h
Visit to the Arabic bath Aljibe de San Miguel (includes massage)
Meeting point: C/ San Miguel Alta, nº 41
Guide: NO / Price: 30 €

Wednesday, 20.06.2018 / 17.00-18.30 h
Cooking Workshop: We prepare a Paella
Meeting point: Cooking School Javier Vilchez C/ San Marcos, nº 1
Price: 15 €*
* Minimum 4 students

Friday, 22.06.2018 / 22.00-23.00 h
Flamenco performance "Raíz y Duende" at Taller de Arte Vimaambi
Meeting point: Cuesta de San Gregorio, nº 30-38 (Albaicín)
Guide: NO / Price: 15 €

Sunday, 24.06.2018 / 08.45-20.00 h
Day trip to the Alpujarra Mountains
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: Juan / Price: 50 €*
* includes transport, guide, ham tasting, insurance

• Activities are organized for all Spanish levels
• Dates and activities may be subject to change.
• Students enroll and pay for all activities at the school.
• The school may cancel activities in case there is not a minimum of participants

Monday, 11.06.2018 / 17.00-20.00 h
Visit to the old Arabic quarter Albaicín
Meeting point: School
Guide: Juan
Price: 25 €

Tuesday, 12.06.2018 / 18.00-19.30 h
Visit to the Arabic bath Aljibe de San Miguel (includes massage)
Meeting point: C/ San Miguel Alta, nº 41
Guide: NO
Price: 30 €

Friday, 15.06.2018 / 20.00-21.00 h
Flamenco at the Jardines de Zoraya
Meeting point: C/ Panaderos, nº 32
Guide: NO
Price: 20 €*
* optional dinner at the restaurant

Saturday, 16.06.2018 / 08.45-20.00 h
Day trip to the Tropical Coast
Meeting point: Congress Palace
Guide: Juan / Price: 55 €*
* includes transport, guide, entrance fees, insurance

Sunday, 17.06.2018 / 07.45-18.30 h
Hiking in Sierra Nevada: Los Lavaderos de la Reina
Difficulty: 8 hours hike (intermediate-high level)
Meeting point: https://goo.gl/maps/br441vFYBUU2
Guide: Teresa
Price: 35 €*
* includes transport, guide, insurance

• Activities are organized for all Spanish levels
• Dates and activities may be subject to change.
• Students enroll and pay for all activities at the school.
• The school may cancel activities in case there is not a minimum of participants