Orientation and Travel

Local Representation

In Gijón, Juana Nieto Galvan, known affectionately as Juana madre, handles all our host families. Her daughter is a former Dartmouth professor, now teaching Spanish at SUNY- Albany and her son-in-law is currently a Dartmouth French professor and former Master Teacher for us. Both also have worked on our and many Dartmouth study abroad programs. The Sabadell family has contacts throughout Spain that stretch back over many, many years, and account for the terrific friends and families that we enjoy in Gijón.

Costa Brava and Barcelona - orientation and Exploration (5 days)

Our first few days take us to a coastal village along the Costa Brava -relaxation, beaches, Spanish language, food and culture, new friends...

Then!!! The lure and reputation of Barcelona is equal to that of Paris on the continent—Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, the paseo de Gracias, Las Ramblas. A boat trip from its busy port gives us another city view; and yet another view comes from the téléferico to Montjuich—the location of the Miro Museum. Add to that the café scene of the Plaza de St. Geoma, the local music, folk dancing (the Sardanas).

After the days in Barcelona, we head northwest to Zaragoza for a night and then on to visit the amazing Guggenheim museum in Bilboa. Next it's off to Gijón and...nervously... to meet our hosts.

Gijón - Homestay and Rassias Classes (approx. 18 days)

Gijón is a vibrant city of about 300,000 people. Our days are filled with classes and activities at the Club, the Semana Negra festival, shops, cafés, museums, or just walking along the three or four miles of beach front with your family. Some afternoons and evenings are devoted to excursions and outings in Gijón and the region with our group, while others are spent with our families.

Our classes are held at Gijón’s famous Club Covadonga —a world-class sports club. It is where every teenager hangs out. The two hours after classes and before lunch are spent playing basketball, tennis, swimming, volleyball, joining an aerobics class, lifting—whatever you want... and any instruction is, of course, in Spanish!.

We also take several short breaks from the hometay with excursions to regional points of interest. And, over one weekend, we head about 1 hour away to Arriondas, nestled in the Picos, for a night in an tradtional lodge, a day of canoing, and a differnt life.

Madrid - Final days...

The culmination of the program... can you speak Spanish to a café waiter and have him speak Spanish, not English, to you!??? Plus the Prado, the vibrancy of this booming city, a Flamenco dance performance, and goodbyes!

OPTIONAL PROGRAM (1 week)

SOCCER CAMP

We are especially excited about offering this option. Our friends in Gijón have great contacts with the soccer school and Bill Miles is a coach of youth soccer and held a national level soccer coaches license. His son played Division 1 soccer and presently helps coach the Dartmouth JV women's team.

REAL SPORTING DE GIJON is one of Europe's most famous soccer camps. Run by the professional Football club of Gijón, the summer camp is open to students from age 8 to 18 and runs in week long sessions. It includes many levels of instruction including goalie coaching.

The program starts with the entire Gijón group and our staff in Segovia and Madrid. It then moves to Gijón where we all start languages classes and live with host families.

After approximately 2 weeks of language classes, those electing the soccer camp option will spend their days playing soccer, - the facility, located about 15 k from town, is one of Europe’s best known, having trained some of Spain’s finest players as youths - Abelardo, Luis Enrique (currently playing with Barcelona FC) and David Villa (now with Valencia) all honed their skills at the school.

There you eat and play with Spanish kids and are instructed by professional coaches, including goalie coaching. Over 100 students participate in this summer camp each week, almost all Spanish - many of them younger, but more skilled than our students. It is a complete immersion in both soccer and Spanish.

Following your week at soccer camp, you rejoin the other Americans for their final travel days.

Price and Eligibility
The additional cost for this option is $600. Because registration for this program occurs in the winter, and is renounced in Europe, it is imperative that students notify us as early as possible if they want to elect this option.

Although all levels are taught at the camp (including keeper training), students electing this should be serious about their soccer. If you plan on enrolling in this program, you should either be your high school varsity or have serious aspirations to make the team next fall. As said, the camp welcomes all levels, but as you might surmise, the Spanish level, even for younger kids, is quite high. It's worth the challenge! Go for it!!

Because your Spanish level should be decent as all instruction (in fact, everything!) will be in Spanish, our days of intensive instruction will rapidly increase your fluency and place an emphasis on soccer/football lingo.

If you have interest, please call or email us and also look at the football club's web site:

http://www.realsporting.com/Campus/campus.html

Gijón, Spain

Program summary

Orientation and travel

2009 itinerary

About Gijón

Links and alumni

Segovia, Spain

Pontevedra, Spain