So you are a globetrotter with several hundred miles tucked under your belt, and yet raring to go? And you want to ‘Drink life to the lees’ like the wandering Odysseus? You have seen the Middle East and have visited the most exotic locales in the Far East; you have traveled along the Silk Route and have experienced some of the most spectacular adventures conceivable? But have you ever paused to think once that there might be places closer to home, which you might have missed out on? Places that might sound unassuming, yet if you would once take the plunge you might just be surprised by what it has to offer! That’s right, there ARE places like that – and right at the heart of Europe! Like? Like Seville in Spain! And what’s more, now you can learn Spanish while participating in adventure sports in Spain! Now, isn’t it a cool deal?
Immersion Spanish course, Spain (Seville)
Seville lives and breathes history. The past is not relegated to some dusty history book but is alive. Seville was already a major trading center when occupied by Rome. During Spain's apex of power, at the time of the Armada, it held a monopoly on trade with the Americas. It's history lives, in the magnificent 14 th century Alcazars Moorish architecture; in the Giralda a former 12 th century minaret; in the Gothic style Catedral, the third largest church in Christendom; in the narrow medieval streets of the old Barrio Santa Cruz ; in the extensive gardens of the Palace of San Telmo.
This is just a brief sampling of the intense beauty and culture to be experienced in this Iberian time capsule. At any turn one almost expects to come face to face with a Moorish warrior on horseback or a trio of conquistadors heading for the New World.
Seville's coexistence with the past doesn't stop with architecture. How about witnessing a medieval pageant unchanged since the 16th century?
Glimpse into the heart and soul of Spain. The festival of Semana Santa depicts the Passion of Christ, first created for a medieval audience. Huge wooden statues of saints are carried in a procession. At the head are the Nazarenos , men wearing long black medieval gowns with hoods, behind them Penitents , carrying crosses on their shoulders, followed by the Costaleros carrying the saints. These men are members of the Cofradia, an ancient brotherhood dedicated to keeping this ritual alive.
The second most important festival the Feira de Abril takes place two weeks later. The ladies of Seville turn out in their finest and most colorful Flamenco dresses. Casetas, provisional houses, are decorated with colorful lamps. In the morning landowners arrive on horseback or in coaches. In the afternoon, the great party of Flamenco begins. Jerez (Sherry) is consumed with zest into the night. This is a weeklong party. During this time the most important bullfights are held. One can almost glimpse a bereted Hemmingway enthusiastically partaking with relish in these festivities. Seville is that rare place where the past and present meet.
So with all this fine Jerez what's to eat?
Seville's typical dishes are simple but extraordinarily tasty. Try Gazpacho the famous cold soup, a vegetable cream made of tomato, cucumber, paprika, garlic, olive-oil and vinegar served with bread; Pescaito Frito , fish lightly coated with flour and sautéed in olive oil; Huevos a la Flamenca , a fried egg in tomato sauce with Chorizo (spicy Spanish sausage); Cocido Andaluz , a “hot pot” made of chick peas and garden fresh vegetables.
An infinite number of bars in the city offer Tapas “mini dishes”. Each local establishment claims its own house specialty. Sample, Huevas , fish-eggs with mayonnaise or vinaigrette; Pinchos Morunos , spicy morsels of meat; Pav de Pescado marinated fish sautéed in olive oil; Caracoles , snails in a tasty sauce; Jamon , cured ham and of course green olives.
The great local wines, Jerez (sherry), Manzanilla and Montilla are a perfect compliment. Traditional sweets are of a Moorish influence and are prepared often with honey or wine. Some local favorites are Torrijas and Llemas se San Leandro.
After a leisurely lunch or dinner, a stroll is in order. Adjacent to the Catedral and Alcazar is the old Barrio Santa Cruz . Once the city's Jewish quarter, it consists of twisting medieval streets and is probably the most picturesque part of Seville. At night it's a hot spot for bars and restaurants.
Seville is the spiritual home of the Flamenco, several clubs present performances. Another area to explore is the Triana district across the river from Santa Cruz. It has many outside restaurants and bars. It’s unusual to find a public square that is not filled with diners or partygoers.
Staying in Seville is to experience the past and savor the present. This can be witnessed everywhere in its architecture and rich cultural history kept alive with such passion; the tasty cuisine accompanied by fine Sherries; the resonating sound of Flamenico music played into the night; the blending of Islam and Christianity.
At Oregon Institute of International Education in Seville we will do everything possible to make sure you have an enjoyable time in this fantastic place. We are a small and friendly team offering you the warmest welcome and a range of social activities and excursions to suit everyone. Tapas evenings, café crawls, sailing trips, skiing, windsurfing, wine tasting, beautiful beaches - we can arrange just about anything!
With all this to offer, Seville is a great place to have fun. History and character, buildings with no straight lines, artists and theatre, wild festivals and an even wilder nightlife, bronzed beaches and refreshing mountains -- Seville is a gateway - to Catalunya, to Spain, to the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees. Pack your swimsuit and your skis, your art history book and your clubbing shoes. If you're in the mood to surrender to the charms of a City, let it be in Seville. Experience all this while studying Spanish. Maybe after completing the course you may never want to leave Seville again?
Why OIIE?
Language can be learnt in the comfort of one’s home, on the Internet, from private tutors and with the help self-study guides! Then why should I enroll for a Spanish language course in Seville, you ask? Well, the answer is that besides getting a chance to experience what is perhaps the most vibrant country of the world, when you enroll with us you get to learn not just Spanish but much more than that --- the culture, the custom, the people and the country.
Remember, our course isn’t just a run of the mill language course offered by most of our competitions. Because, we offer total immersion that provides you with the rare opportunity to experience a country and its culture from within --- as a native inhabitant would do. Because, Language is a mode of communication, while at the same time it is the carrier of culture for the native speakers. Because, in short, there is a difference between learning a language and acquiring a language through immersion. Because, when you travel, you change much more than just the time-zone! Because, OIIE can help you to acquire the Spanish language with our new center in Seville.
Because, well, do you need more reasons?
Where in Spain?
In Seville, the fourth-largest metropolitan area of Spain! Seville (Spanish: Sevilla) is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain, irrigated by the river Guadalquivir. It is the capital of Andalusia and of the province of Sevilla. The inhabitants of the city are known as Sevillanos .
According to legend, Hercules founded Seville and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilization. The city sits well inland, but a mere 6 meters above sea level. Seville was long an important sea port, prior to the silting up of the Guadalquivir. From Seville Ferdinand Magellan obtained the ships for his circumnavigation. Much of the Spanish Empire's silver from the New World came to Europe in the Spanish treasure fleet that landed in Seville, and Seville holds the most important archive of the Spanish administration in the Americas (the Archivo General de Indias). The American riches made it a magnet for people around Spain, ranging from latifundia nobles and foreign merchants (who were brokered by Spanish cargadores) to an active crime scene, pictured in the picaresque genre.
Why Seville?
Alcazar - royal 14th century residence created by Mudejar (Moor) artisans.
Catedral- built in the 15th century, the third largest church in Christendom.
Royal Fortresses- a mixture of the Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance styles reflecting two great cultures: Christianity and Islam.
Tower of Gold - 13th century Almohad fortification on the banks of the Guadalquivir River.
Giralda - a former minaret dating to the 12th century. Regarded as the symbol of Seville and considered by many to be the world's most beautiful tower.
District of Santa Cruz- formerly the Jewish Quarter containing narrow medieval streets and squares.
Provincial Museum of Fine Arts - baroque building containing paintings by Murillo, Valdes Leal, Zurbaran, El Greco, Alonso Cano among others.
Day of Inmaculada- (evening of December 7 th to 8th) all the Tunas (student fraternities in medieval dress) perform their traditional songs at the statue of Virgin
Inmaculada.
Procession of the Three Magi- (evening of January 5 th) ride on horse drawn coaches giving small presents and sweets to children.
The Archivo de Indias - a Renaissance building that serves as an archive for all documents relating to the discovery of the Americas.
Spanish (español) or Castilian (castellano) is an Iberian Romance language. It is the most-widely spoken Romance Language, and the fourth most-widely spoken language in the world according to some sources. Currently, its total speakers now amount more than 400 million in number. Spanish is one of the top five most spoken languages worldwide, and is one of six official working languages within the United Nations. It is one of the most-used global languages (along with English, French and Portuguese). It is spoken on all continents (most extensively in North and South America, Europe, and certain parts of Africa and Asia). Its importance also resides in the international expansion and the recognition of the Spanish language in literature, film industry, television industry (especially telenovelas), and music industry within the globalized market
In Seville, the official languages are Catalan and Castilian. The two languages coexist in a bilingual situation similar to that found in many other parts of the world. The Catalan language is understood, written, read and spoken by the majority of Seville’s population.
Seville is a gateway open to harmonious coexistence and dialogue between the different languages. The importance of tourism and the city's historic role as a point of encounter between cultures means that other languages, such as English, French, Italian, Portuguese, German and various regional forms of Arabic, together with a number of Asian languages, are also regularly heard in the streets.
With Whom?
Your fellow students will come from a wide range of countries and
backgrounds.
Your teacher trainers are some of the most experienced and well trained in the industry.
Your support staff is extremely helpful, courteous and will assist you whenever required.
The locals are peaceful, friendly people who generally like interacting with foreigners.
How to proceed?
Fill out an application form and take the next step towards learning Spanish amidst the Charm and elegance of Seville
How Much - (Fees for Spanish Immersion Course)
Spanish Immersion program (With Accommodation): $250 per week
IMPORTANT:
As a precaution and for monetary safety please purchase travel / flight
insurance just incase your flight is cancelled or delayed.
So you are a globetrotter with several hundred miles tucked under your belt, and yet raring to go? And you want to ‘Drink life to the lees’ like the wandering Odysseus? You have seen the Middle East and have visited the most exotic locales in the Far East; you have traveled along the Silk Route and have experienced some of the most spectacular adventures conceivable? But have you ever paused to think once that there might be places closer to home, which you might have missed out on? Places that might sound unassuming, yet if you would once take the plunge you might just be surprised by what it has to offer! That’s right, there ARE places like that – and right at the heart of Europe! Like? Like Seville in Spain! And what’s more, now you can learn Spanish while participating in adventure sports in Spain! Now, isn’t it a cool deal?
Glimpse into the heart and soul of Spain. The festival of Semana Santa depicts the Passion of Christ, first created for a medieval audience. Huge wooden statues of saints are carried in a procession. At the head are the Nazarenos , men wearing long black medieval gowns with hoods, behind them Penitents , carrying crosses on their shoulders, followed by the Costaleros carrying the saints. These men are members of the Cofradia, an ancient brotherhood dedicated to keeping this ritual alive.
An infinite number of bars in the city offer Tapas “mini dishes”. Each local establishment claims its own house specialty. Sample, Huevas , fish-eggs with mayonnaise or vinaigrette; Pinchos Morunos , spicy morsels of meat; Pav de Pescado marinated fish sautéed in olive oil; Caracoles , snails in a tasty sauce; Jamon , cured ham and of course green olives.
Language can be learnt in the comfort of one’s home, on the Internet, from private tutors and with the help self-study guides! Then why should I enroll for a Spanish language course in Seville, you ask? Well, the answer is that besides getting a chance to experience what is perhaps the most vibrant country of the world, when you enroll with us you get to learn not just Spanish but much more than that --- the culture, the custom, the people and the country. 
In Seville, the fourth-largest metropolitan area of Spain! Seville (Spanish: Sevilla) is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain, irrigated by the river Guadalquivir. It is the capital of Andalusia and of the province of Sevilla. The inhabitants of the city are known as Sevillanos .