El Casal in Barcelona, Spain!

  Spain

• Barcelona: 
Barcelona

Duration of Program: 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: please inquire.

Description: El Casal offers seminars in Spanish language, Catalan language, art history and Spanish civilization, contemporary Spanish society and politics and other subjects. It also places students in volunteer positions and internships and provides links to activities that may be of particular interest to the participants, such as art, ceramics, guitar or dance classes.

El Casal provides guided excursions in the city of Barcelona and day trips to places of interest in the region of Catalunya. It offers cultural activities such as concerts and theater performances, and optional outdoor activities such as skiing, sailing and hiking. A feature of the program is a guided 10-day hike along the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

Highlights: Highlights include a wide range of cultural and leisure activities tailored to the interests of the participants. This is possible given the small, self-contained nature of El Casal. The Resident Director teaches in the program, arranges the homestays (working directly with the families) and supervises all day-to-day activities. Students have daily access to the Resident Director.

Qualifications: There are no special qualifications. It is assumed that most positions will require some Spanish, as a minimum requirement. The volunteer have reached the age of 17.

Cost in US$: between 7,600 and 8,700

The cost for students living in apartments is USD 8,700 (subject to euro-dollar fluctuations) and does not include meals, except those along the Camino de Santiago.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteers should have an interest in social service and at least intermediate level Spanish.

Age Range: 17-19

Participants Travel to Spain Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 10

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

El Casal Barcelona's Mission Statement: El Casal is an innovative program in Barcelona, Spain for high school graduates wishing to take some time out between high school and their freshman year in college. El Casal offers 14-week programs combining travel, internships, volunteer opportunities and study. El Casal is small (about 12 participants)and self-contained. It was founded by an American educator with over 25 years of experience in US secondary education and foreign study programs.

Year Founded: 2003