Pamplona

Program Outline

Our school in Pamplona offers three different General Spanish courses in addition to our special programs. We have six different levels according to the European Equivalence and our school is recognized by the Instituto Cervantes. Teachers are university graduates and have specific training in the teaching of Spanish as a second language. Lessons last 55 minutes and the maximum number of students per class is 8.

General Spanish courses: Standard course: 20 lessons per week of General Spanish. Standard plus course: 24 lessons per week of general Spanish complemented with lessons on Spanish Culture, Literature and History. Intensive course: 30 lessons per week of General Spanish complemented with lessons of Spanish Culture, Literature and History.

Other Specialized Spanish Courses: Spanish for 50+, DELE Preparation course, Programme for juniors, Specific language programmes for executives and business people, Internship programs, Spanish for specific purposes: Spanish for Engineers, Spanish for the Medical Profession, Spanish for Business: these three courses consist of 75 lessons; 5 lessons per day during 3 wks.

Location

Our school is located in one of the most emblematic historic buildings of Pamplona, surrounded by a park which overlooks the old walls of the city and only 5 minutes on foot from the centre of the city. We have six classrooms, a cafeteria, a restaurant, an auditorium, a library with computers with Internet access (the building has wi-fi).

Accommodation

When it comes to accommodations the students at our Pamplona campus can choose between different options. We believe that homestay in a Spanish family is one of the best ways to get to know the Spanish way of life, the culture and the traditions.

Students who choose to stay with a family will have half board and a private room. Students who prefer not to stay with a family can choose to stay in shared flat with other people who speak Spanish. The student will have his/her own private room and will share the use of the kitchen, living-room and toilet. It is self-catering.

The first day of accommodation is the Sunday before the course starts and the last day is the Saturday immediately after the course ends.

Cultural

Pamplona is a great place to discover & explore this diverse region. Students will be provided the information they need in order to get to know the best places and activities, from museums to parks, cinemas, theatre, tours, sports, night life and shopping areas.

On Monday afternoon there will be a guided tour through Pamplona. The aim of this is for students to get to know the main places that will be useful to them during their stay and to show them that Pamplona is easily accessible and comfortable.

Start Dates

General Spanish courses and can start every Monday.

Climate

Pamplona’s climate reflects a transition from a Mediterranean to an Atlantic climate. In general, it is pleasant, although the temperature can get as high as 95° Fahrenheit in July and August, and fall beneath 30° in January. The majority of the year is in between with the spring and fall being especially wonderful times to visit.

Pamplona

Pamplona is situated in the North of Spain. It is a safe city with complete harmony between respect for the city’s age-old traditions and a constant desire for change. It is as rich and plural as its inhabitants; this variety is its greatest treasure, whatever your interests here you will find something to satisfy you: art, culture, tradition, gastronomy, nature, technology.

The old part of the city, San Juan and Iturrama neighbourhoods are the highlights for night life. Modern bars and restaurants, live concerts, exotic foreign food, salsa bars, after hours and the disco Marengo, Vaivén, Reverendos make these areas the liveliest areas of the city at night.

The world famous San Fermín festival and the Running of the Bulls occurs between 6th and 14th July every year, the most international festival in Spain; a cultural event that combines history, tradition, bulls, noise, music and high spirits. The festival can thank Ernest Hemingway (The Sun Also Rises), the Nobel prize winner for making the fiesta what it is today.

Points of Interest

City Hall Square: this square is internationally famous for the thousands of people who cram into it for the chupinazo (a rocket fired to mark the beginning of San Fermin). Although it has always been in the same place, the City Hall of Pamplona has been reformed and demolished several times.

Plaza de Toros: with capacity for 19.529 spectators, it is the second largest bullring in Spain. Bullfights are only held during San Fermines; the rest of the year it is home to events such as rock concerts or a Christmas market. Outside, at the start of the promenade that bears his name (paseo de Hemingway), there is a monument to Ernest Hemingway, the man who made the San Fermin festival internationally famous through his novel Fiesta (The Sun also rises).

More: Palacio de Navarra, Cathedral, City Walls, Plaza del Castillo, Río Arga Promenad, The Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago

Hot Tip

Enjoy nature trails (strolling), climbing, canoeing, skiing in beautiful natural resorts such as, The natural Reserve of Irati, The Pyrenees or the desert Bardenas Reales. The environment gives you the chance to practice either winter or summer sports (golf, horse riding and beach).