Camino Barcelona Blog

Today I would like to introduce you to one of our teachers, Úrsula.

We have prepared a questionnaire for her, so that you can get to know better our teaching staff. Are you prepared to know ‘everything about Úrsula’? 

My name is… Úrsula Valle Martín

I was born in… Salamanca

I studied in… Salamanca and Barcelona

My life changed when… I got a grant to study in Barcelona

The best thing about Barcelona… is the mixture of different people, and the feeling you get that you are in a city but with areas that look like a village!

The worst thing of Barcelona is… the number of cars

My vision of Barcelona changed when… I got a bicycle (more…)

Hey guys! Here’s something for all the romatic ones out there! Love is in the air!

First of all, I wanted to introduce this subject because… I’m called ‘Jordi’ myself! So April 23rd is my name day. And here we have Alex to tell you a bit about this nice festivitie that everybody in Barcelona celebrates each year:

Hi! I’m Alex and the ”new one” working at the reception As it’s just my second week I can’t give so many hot tips where to go out, eat, etc. but as you may have already noticed, I’m presenting you the daily activities, and tomorrow we have a special one, because it is St. Jordi’s Day! (more…)

Hi everybody!

Have you already planned what you will be doing the next few weekends? Me I am preparing myself for the Festival Season: Barcelona this year is so full of music festivals you can’t imagine!

Let me tell you a bit of what is coming in the next couple of months so that you can start buying your tickets:

First we have Primavera Sound. This is a very good festival for people who like International alternative pop and rock music. (more…)

One thing you ought to know about Spain is its chronic passion about football. Nearly every big city in Spain has got its representative in the Spanish “Primera División” and Barcelona is obviously not an exception. FC Barcelona or “Barça” (short name used by locals) is actually considered one of the giants of world football and awakens a great deal of interest and admiration across the planet.

That’s why our students are already counting down the minutes till Wednesday in the evening, when one of their teachers will have the honour to take them to the legendary Camp Nou and enjoy a live match.

After missing out to win the third league title in a row last May, as well as all the competitions they were meant to fight for, ”Barça” are determined to get their honor back this season.  (more…)

Aquí estamos puntualmente para informaros de todas las fascinantes actividades que tenemos organizadas para esta semana. ¡Atentos que empiezan las fiestas de Gracia!

Here we are again with all the fascinating activities that we have organized for you this week. Bear in mind Gracia festivities start this week!

Lunes/Monday 19h15 Fiesta de Bienvenida / Welcome drink

Damos la bienvenida a todos los nuevos estudiantes. Esta es la oportunidad perfecta para conoceros entre vosotros y conocer a los antiguos alumnos de la escuela.

El jardín de la escuela es el lugar perfecto para relajarse y conocer a todo el mundo. La música española siempre anima el ambiente y siempre hay algo de beber y para “picar”.

A big welcome to all our new students. This is the perfect opportunity to meet all the students, new and old.

The school’s garden is the perfect place to relax and to meet everybody. The Spanish music will put some rythm to the evening and remember that there are always drinks and snacks!

Martes/Tuesday 14h00 Visita/Visit: Caixa Forum

Vamos a este nuevo espacio cultural de la ciudad que tanto éxito está teniendo. El edificio por sí solo ya merece una visita, pero además tenemos una exposición sobre William Hogarth (el famoso pintor inglés), otra sobre esculturas de templos indios y un resumen de lo mejor del FotoPres 2007, el concurso de periodismo fotográfico.

We are going to this new cultural meeting point in Barcelona that has proved so succesful. The museum’s building itself is worth a visit but you will also be able to see William Hogarth’s exposition (famous 17th Century English painter), sculptures from Indian temples and a selection from FotoPres, the journalistic photos contest.

Miércoles/Wednesday 16h30 Tour around the Gothic quarter

El miércoles la escuela está cerrada, ya que es un día festivo. De todas formas podéis participar en este recorrido por el histórico centro de Barcelona.

On Wednesday the school remains closed, as it is a Holiday. However you can participate on this tour around the historical city centre of Barcelona.

Jueves/Thursday 20h30 Fiestas de Gracia/’Gracia’ street festival

¡Empiezan las fiestas de Gracia! Este particular barrio de Barcelona se transforma durante estos días, calles adornadas, música en sus plazas, y la fiesta en la calle, ¡no te lo puedes perder!

The ‘Gracia’ street festival starts! This picturesque Barcelona quarter gets transformed for a few days: impressive street decorations, music in its squares and all the party outside in the streets. You can’t miss it!

Viernes/Friday 18h30 Vamos a tomar un helado en la Barceloneta/ Let’s go to have an ice-cream in Barceloneta

El viernes toca relajarse un poco. Vamos a tomar un helado en una heladería de la Barceloneta. ¡Esta es la oportunidad perfecta para practicar todo el español aprendido durante la semana!

Friday is time to relax a bit. We will go to have an ice cream in the Barceloneta area. This is the perfect opportunity to practice all the Spanish you’ve learning during the week!

Jordi

Hoy tenemos una propuesta muy original: Séverine, Chiara y Jon, 3 alumnos de la clase de Pablo, han escrito una carta a los estudiantes de otros planetas para contarles todo lo que hacen en la escuela.

Aquí tenéis una foto de la carta que hicieron y a continuación tenéis el texto:

“¡Hola Chicos!

Es un mensaje de la Tierra. La vida en la escuela Camino Barcelona es muy divertida. Nosotros estudiamos español en clase pero también hacemos otras cosas como ir a la playa, ir a la discoteca, conocer la ciudad o ir a los museos.

La escuela está en el centro de la ciudad y Barcelona es arquitectónica y vitalista. En nuestra clase hay estudiantes de países diferentes. Es un grupo enérgico y algunas veces como personas de otros planetas porque somos todos completamente diferentes. (more…)

Wow! What a summer we’re having here! We’re certainly keeping busy, with over 160 students from 22 nationalities in the school this week! We’ve been having amazing weather, and both staff and students have been enjoying spending time in the school’s garden. Our student activities program is proving extremely popular, and this week our students have enjoyed a shopping tour, photo tour, tapas evening and a football match! With the school being so central (just 5 minutes’ walk from Plaza Cataluña), and many students staying in our own ‘superior residence’/’superior apartments’, just a short walk from the school, it’s easy for students to join in the afternoon and evening activities every night!

(more…)

Lunes/Monday 15:00 

Copa de bienvenida/Welcome drink

¡Bienvenidos a todos los nuevos estudiantes! Ven a tomar algo en el jardín - ¡la oportunidad perfecta para conocer a todo el mundo!

A big welcome to all our new students! Drinks and snacks in the garden - the perfect opportunity to get to know everyone!

Martes/Tuesday 14:45

Taller: La fiesta de San Juan/Workshop: ‘San Juan’ Festival

El día 23 de Junio es el día de SAN JUAN en España y es FIESTA GRANDE en las playas y las calles… ¡Averigua como celebrarlo mejor!

23rd June is ‘Día de San Juan’ (or Saint John´s day) in Spain and there are lots of parties in the streets and beaches! Find out how to make the most out of the celebrations! (more…)

This last week we had the choice to see the best tennis players playing in Barcelona. As every year the ‘Conde de Godó’ tournament sees many top 10 players, as Nikolay Davydenko, David Nalbandian and, of course, Rafael Nadal, the winner!

Esta semana pasada tuvimos la oportunidad de ver a los mejores jugadores de tenis in Barcelona. Como cada año, el trofeo “Conde de Godó” trae a muchos jugadores del “top 10″, como Nikolay Davydenko, David Nalbandian o, por supuesto, Rafael Nadal, ¡el campeón!

Rafa Nadal is the number 2 on the ATP list but definitely the number 1 when it comes to clay courts, as it is his 12th consecutive clay court tournament and his 72 consecutive win on clay, a historical record!

Rafa Nadal es el número 2 de la ATP pero sin lugar a dudas el número 1 en tierra batida, ya que es su título número 12 que consigue de forma consecutiva y su victoria número 72, también de forma consecutiva en tierra batida, ¡un record histórico!

This ‘Conde de Godó’ tournament takes place at the ‘Real Club de Tenis Barcelona 1899′, the oldest Tennis club in Barcelona, with more than 100 years of history!

El trofeo Conde de Godó se celebra en el Real Club de tenis de Barcelona 1899, el club de tenis más antiguo de Barcelona, con más de 100 años de historia. (more…)

Next Monday is a special day in Catalonia… and for me! It is Saint George’s day. In Catalonia this is a day with plenty of celebrations.

The tradition says that men have to buy a red rose to his girlfriend or loved one and women buy a book to their couple. In practise, that means that you’ll find all the centric streets full of stands selling books and roses.

The tradition of giving a rose comes from the ‘Legend of Saint George’. This legend says that a dragon captured George’s lover. George, as the good knight that he was, went with his armour to free his mistress! He fighted the dragon and killed it. The legend says that from the dragon’s blood a rosebush of red roses grew.

Don’t miss the oportunity on Monday to surprise your secret lover with a rose!

The tradition of giving a book as a present is more uncertain but what is for sure is that 23rd April is also the international day of books. This date was chosen in honour to 2 of the biggest writters ever, William Shakespeare and the Spanish Miguel de Cervantes, as they both died a 23rd April. (more…)