TESOL Course in SPAIN, Barcelona
 Why
TESOL in Barcelona, Spain?
Sunny slopes, plump tomatoes, juicy oranges, Gothic churches, the
passionate Flamenco, beautiful weather, the legend of Don Quixote,
Picasso, Dali, football frenzy, a widely spoken language and a lot more
come together to make what we know as Spain. The
TESOL Certificate Program conducted by
TEFL International can just be an excuse to visit this nation
that is on perpetual celebration of senses.
Travel is easy, accommodation plentiful, the climate benign, the people
relaxed, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy to come by
and full of regional variety. Geographically, Spain's diversity is
immense. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to
explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between
the beaches. Culturally, the country is littered with superb old
buildings, from Roman aqueducts and Islamic palaces to Gothic
cathedrals. Almost every second village has a medieval castle. Spain has
been the home of some of the world's great artists - El Greco,
Velázquez, Goya, Dalí, Picasso - and has museums and galleries to match.
The country vibrates with music of every kind - from the drama of
flamenco to the melancholy lyricism of the Celtic music and gaitas
(bagpipes) of the northwest. Spain guarantees the
TEFL trainees, a virtual transport from
the real to the ethereal, treating them to all that’s mind-boggling and
soul-stirring.
What is the attraction?
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in both size and
population. It is a Mediterranean city, not only because of its
geographic location but also and above all because of its history,
tradition and cultural influences. Barcelona, more than just a single
city, is really a collection of multi-faceted and diverse cities. The
visitor unfamiliar with its history might be surprised that such a
modern and enterprising city preserves its historic Gothic center almost
intact, or by the curious contrast between the maze of narrow streets
and the grid-like layout of the Eixample, the urban planning
"Enlargement" project of the end of the 19th century. Barcelona's old
city is, without doubt, one of the nicest and most romantic of Europe.
Its small streets, shops, the air you breathe, everything invites you to
wander around, getting to know every place of this charming area. The
historical grandeur that Barcelona has blended with its contemporary
outlook can be matched with the reputation of
TEFL International and its TESOL
program in the world of ESL teaching.
TESOL has blended the tradition of
teaching with the extant and advanced ESL
techniques.
What is in it for you?
Taking a break from the TESOL
classroom and the demanding sessions of preparing lesson plans and
delivering demo teaching at the ESL schools,
the TEFL trainees can schedule their
pleasure trips in and around Barcelona.
Barcelona has the ability to please one and all. It is certainly among
Europe's cities of style. It is a natural magnet for the
fashion-conscious and there is no shortage of design outlets for even
the most tireless consumer. Everything from books to jewels, haute
couture (local and international), designer furniture and cava is on
offer. Several markets animate squares around the centre of town.
For people who are looking for a quiet place the Park de la Ciudadella
is a park situated in the Barri Gotic, and you can find many huge,
important museums of art and culture, and even a great lake where you
can rent boats. It’s equally important to relax and lay back at times
while you are engaged in a comprehensive course like the
TESOL.
Catalunya has a reputation for producing some of Spain's finest cuisine.
Catalunya is geographically diverse and enjoys a variety of fresh,
high-quality seafood (although, due to high demand, much seafood is now
crated in from other parts of Spain and Europe), meat, poultry, game,
fruit and vegetables. These can come in unusual and delicious
combinations. The essence of Catalan food lies in its sauces for meat
and fish. Thus, culinary delights to sauce up your
TESOL trip are not far-fetched wishes
while you are in Barcelona.
If you are a music buff then Barcelona offers a number of music
festivals. Situated at the foot of Mont Montjuic, site of the Olympic
Games, the Poble Espanyol is a walled enclosure area, a waterclour
painting which portrayas the different peoples and cultures of spain,
represented in the form of streets and squares, monuments and buildings.
An important tourist attraction by day, becomes a nightlife area.
If the sea attracts you then Barcelona has a number of beaches to soothe
your senses. The Nova Icaria beach is closest to the Olympic marina,
this rough stretch of golden sand is great for food goers. There are
beach bars, popular restaurants and countless bars. The Bogatell beach
is perfect for jogging, roller blading and cycling for the
TESOL trainees who are fitness freaks
as well. The raised promenade cuts down on traffic noise and makes it
possible to almost believe you're a million miles from the city.
Barceloneta is very wide and long. It is a traditional and popular
stretch with locals and consequently crowded, noisy and very jolly.
On the tourist map
There is an abundance of things to see and do in Barcelona. Five
separate streets strung end to end, La Rambla (also called Las Ramblas)
is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buskers, living
statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery
tickets to jewellery. Next door is La Rambla's most colourful market,
the Mercat de la Boqueria. The next section of La Rambla boasts the Gran
Teatre del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house.
The Barri Gotic contains a concentration of medieval Gothic buildings
only a few blocks northeast of La Rambla, and is the nucleus of old
Barcelona. It's a maze of interconnecting dark streets linking with
squares, and there are plenty of cafes and bars. The quarter is centred
around the Plaça de Sant Jaume, a spacious square, the site of a busy
market and one of the venues for the weekly dancing of the sardana. Two
of the city's most significant buildings are here, the Ajuntament and
the Palau de la Generalitat. The Museu Picasso is Barcelona's most
visited museum. La Sagrada Familia is truly awe-inspiring - even if you
don't have much time, don't miss it. The life's work of Barcelona's
favourite son, Antoni Gaudí, the magnificent spires of the unfinished
cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling
outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. Another Gaudí
masterpiece, La Pedrera was built between 1905 and 1910 as a combined
apartment and office block. Formerly called the Casa Milà, it's better
known now as La Pedrera. Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre
from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure
attractions, soothing parks. At 542m (1778ft), Tibidabo is the highest
hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. If the
air's clear, it's a great place for views over the city. The locals come
up here for some thrills at the amusement park.
Like the wide assortment of inventive ESL
teaching skills that you imbibe in your international
TESOL classroom, there is much to
absorb and in this city of fun and ferment.
Weekend excursions
An impresionant amusement park in Tarragona, a city near of Barcelona
that you can go in train in 1 hour. Port aventura has got the
rollercoaster more higher, faster and with more loopings in Europe. It
is divided in 5 thematic parts: China, México, Polynesia, Mediterránea
and the Far West. The TEFL trainees
can spend their leisure time away from the
TESOL classes at the Acuarium of Barcelona; the largest in
Europe. You can see the fauna & flora Mediterranean, and part of the
marine tropical water. You will have the experience of to be covered by
fishes, water flowers and animal invertebrates.
If you want to be close to nature then you can visit the Metropolitan
park of Collserola preserves which is a good example of the
Mediterranean forests of pine and oak trees. Spectacular fields of
rockrose, heather and broom can also be found on the sunny slopes. The
Montseny Natural Park is Forty kilometers from Barcelona. It is a
natural park and the only one in Catalonia declared a Biosphere Reserve
by the UNESCO.
To rejuvenate the soul weary from ESL
lesson plans you can visit Montserrat (60 kilometers from Barcelona). An
essential part of the Catalonian identify, it is the spiritual center
and guardian of the souls of the Catalonian. Of special interest is the
Benedictine Monastery with its 16th century basilica housing the 12th
century Romanesque image of La Moreneta, patroness of Catalonia.
Evening and nightlife
Barcelona has a very good nightlife, simply because there are lots of
foreigners, students, and tourists. You can find every kind of night
club you are looking for, from jazz to tourist techno trash. There are
some really nice coffee shops that offer alcoholic drinks as well, which
is really good if you want a place where you can sit quietly. Most cafès
are open until 1am, but you can always find a bar open late if you're
not ready to go home yet. Most cafes also offer food, from bakery goods
to full meals. The meals don't tend to be of restaurant quality, but
they are cheap and cheerful. So on weekends, whether the
TESOL trainees want to hit the dance
floor or are seeking recluse; Barcelona is ready with its array of
options.
Nights at SÓNAR are of a distinctive nature, an enormous cosmopolitan
celebration, similar to other great European events but with a
Mediterranean feeling, giving it a unique festive atmosphere. Sónar by
Night has 3 locations occupied by distinguished national and
international names from the world of electronic music. Each night DJs,
VDJs and concerts from the broadest spectrum of dance music appear
simultaneously in the 4 areas.
About our TEFL Location
The school that hosts the international TESOL
course, training the prospective ESL
teachers to acquire the prestigious
TEFL certificate is just 3 minutes walk from Plaça Espanya..
The nearest metro station is Rocafort on Line 1. The station is just a
block away from the TEFL school on the main Gran Via de les Corts
Catalanes. You are just 2 stops (or a 10 minute walk) from the
Universitat and the centre of Barcelona. The school is well equipped and
comfortable. There are coffee shops and eateries close by.
Connectivity
The public transport system is excellent with an efficient metro, bus
and train system. For the TEFL
trainees who would love to browse across the city, the subway is the
easiest and fastest way of moving around. The bus is certainly a slower
transportation but it allows you to enjoy the city views while moving
around.
Meter taxis are also widely available although obviously more
expensive. A single metro journey costs €1.10. A book of 10 tickets
costs €6. Monthly passes are also available.
Weather
Barcelona's location on the shores of the Mediterranean means that it
enjoys a warm, welcoming climate and pleasant temperatures all year
round. The temperature in winter hovers around 10C and around 25Cin
summers.
Rainfall is often heavy, with levels of around 1,000mm per year. This
helps to maintain the many green areas around the city. In any season of
the year, Barcelona basks in the sun.
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It is a very compact experience. Extensive learning but
fun. A great experience with TEFL International and very
helpful to find placement
