LAL Group - Partners - Spanish

Babylon Idiomas Madrid - learn Spanish in Spain

the school
adult programmes
accommodation
leisure
about madrid
flights and airports
student visa information

the school

Babylon Idiomas Madrid is centrally located in the "Barrio de las Letras" [The Writers' Neighbourhood] because most of Spain's famous writers from its Golden Age (16th and 17th century) used to live here. You'll be learning Spanish in the heartland of the Spanish language walking in the footsteps of Miguel de Cervantes and Lope de Vega! You'll find Babylon Idiomas in this neighbourhood located on one of the liveliest squares in the city centre called Plaza Santa Ana. Here you find lots of boutique shops, bars, restaurants and theatres that make Madrid such a special place. All of Madrid's central attractions such as the Puerta del Sol and the Prado Museum are within easy walking distance from the school. The school’s 6 classrooms have air-conditioning and heating to make you feel comfortable regardless of the weather. A book and DVD library complement your academic course and there is a living room with student PCs, cold drinks and coffee at your disposal.

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Adult programmes

Intensive Course
Our intensive Spanish course is the building block of your Spanish language study. We distinguish 8 different levels so regardless if you are a beginner or already speak Spanish, there will always be a group that suits your Spanish language skills.

Facts:
Weeks: 1 - 52
Class Max: 8
Lessons per week: 20
Lesson time: 52,5 minutes
Levels: All Levels
Start Dates: Every Monday, Beginners every other Monday starting on Jan 7, 2008

Super Intensive Course
The Super-Intensive course adds 2 class hours per day to your Intensive Course. The extra 2 hours are mainly spent on applying the newly learnt grammar in daily conversation. It quickly boosts your confidence and enjoyment you find in speaking Spanish.

Facts:
Weeks: 1 - 52
Class Max: 8
Lessons per week: 20 Intensive Course + 10 extra
Lesson time: 52,5 minutes
Levels: Beginners to Proficiency
Start Dates: Every Monday

DELE Exam
Babylon Idiomas offers DELE preparation courses for the Intermedio and Superior DELE exam levels.
This three week course helps you revise and specifically test and improve your grammar knowledge. One of our teachers will also accompany you to the examination centre to make sure that you can focus on the test and do not need to worry about how to get there.

Facts:
Weeks: 3
Class Max: 8
Lessons per week: 30
Lesson time: 52,5 minutes
Levels: Intermedio: Intermediate, Superior: Advanced
Start Dates: 28/04, 28/07, 27/10

Español Expres
For students who have little time and need to learn Spanish fast for project or business reasons, we have developed Español Expres, a full Spanish immersion course based on private tuition. Español Expres is a complete Spanish immersion program that aims to provide beginners with a working understanding of the Spanish language in the shortest time possible. You can choose from 20 hours of private classes per week or 30 hours of private classes per week.

Facts:
Weeks: 1-4
Class Max: 1
Lessons per week: 20 or 30
Lesson time: 52,5 minutes
Levels: All Levels
Start Dates: Every Monday

Individual
Individual classes are a great way to progress really fast learning Spanish or review key specific issues. The classes can be tailor-made to your specific needs (exam preparation, living in Spain vocabulary, interview practice etc.) and are well worth the investment. A lot of our students add a number of individual Spanish classes to their weekly group schedule to work on specific issues or to simply practice more intensely what has been taught in class.

Facts:
Weeks: 1 – 52
Class Max: 1
Lessons per week: flexible
Lesson time: 52,5 minutes
Levels: All levels
Exam dates: Every Monday

Evening Classes
For those who work and live in Madrid and cannot follow an intensive daytime study program, Babylon Idiomas offers Spanish evening classes from 20:00 till 22:00 on Tuesday and Thursday [4 hours in total per week].

Facts:
Weeks: 3
Class Max: 8
Lessons per week: 4
Lesson time: 52,5 minutes
Levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced
Start Dates: 15/01, 15/04, 02/09

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Accomodation:

Host Family
Staying with a host family is a great way to learn the language and make new friends. all families are carefully selected by our school and they look forward to making you feel at home in our city and help you learn Spanish. You will have your own room in the family's house. You will have your own set of keys so you have complete freedom. Towels and linen are provided. All tax, electricity and water charges are included. You can receive telephone calls. Family homes are no more than 30 minutes away from the school by public transport.
Please note that 'family' may mean a single household as well and that no more than 2 other students could share the household with you and the family member(s). Please inform us about any dietary requirements.

Student flats

Staying in a student flat is the most budget friendly way to stay in Madrid. It is also a great opportunity to meet new friends!

•	You'll have your own standard bedroom in an apartment with up to 4 other occupants.
•	Choose from: Single room or Double room
•	You will have your own set of keys so you have complete freedom.
•	You have access to the kitchen.
•	There is no access to telephone.
•	All tax, electricity and water charges are included.
•	Linen is provided. You will need to provide your own towels.
•	Student flats are no more than 30 minutes away from the school by public transport.

Madrid is a densely populated city where rooms are often not as large as students sometimes expect and where the flat is sometimes occupied as well by the landlord.

A student flat + offers a higher level of comfort and accommodation pleasure. The flats are more spacious, and of higher standards than a regular student flat.

Apartments
The apartment option gives you the privacy and the space to make the most of your stay.

•	All apartments have minimum of one bedroom with double bed.
•	Two people can share an apartment.
•	Each apartment has a well equipped living room and kitchen, washing/drying machine, iron and iron board.
•	All tax, electricity and water charges are included.
•	Linen and towels are provided and replaced twice a week.
•	The apartment is cleaned twice a week.
•	Apartments are no more than 20 minutes away from the school by public transport.

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Leisure

Start on the Puerta del Sol in the centre of town and step with both feet on the “kilómetro cero” tile. As you may have guessed, it is from this tile that all distances throughout Spain are measured. Continue to the Plaza Mayor around the corner (and smile because our Spanish language school is just opposite the square) and marvel at its grand architecture and street artists. Next stop could be the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza or Reina Sofia museum to enjoy one of the finest selections of Spanish art in the world. Why not enjoy a lazy afternoon in the Retiro park with friends or head to one of the many excellent restaurants in Madrid to enjoy its famous food? At night the options multiply and whether you want to take it easy or dance the night away, there is something in Madrid for everyone. Don’t forget that football is king in Madrid and everyone (yes, everyone) has a strong opinion about what their football team (most likely to be Real Madrid) needs to do next. Try to attend a game in the stadium –or share the noise in a crowded bar- to soak up what it truly means to be a “socio” or fan.

CULTURA NOW!
Every week we organize a culture class. Our teachers prepare a different presentation on subjects such as architecture, Spanish movies, Spanish literature or Spanish history.

HAPPY MIÉRCOLES
Every Wednesday evening we organize a social activity where all the students participate. Some examples of activities we organise: beach party, salsa lesson, cava & tapas, paella night, “degustación internacional”, wine tasting.

EXPLORE THE TOWN
We regularly organize guided tours of the town or visits to one of Madrid's many museums.

CINE HISPANO
Get your popcorn ready, sit back and enjoy one of the many excellent movies that the Hispanic film world has to offer [with Spanish subtitles to make it just a little bit easier to follow].

WEEKEND OLÉ
Our Spanish language school also offers you weekend excursions (not included in tuition fee) to explore the wider Madrid area.

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About Madrid

There is something special about Madrid. When you ask our Spanish language students what they like about the capital of Spain you will probably hear that the real star attraction of Madrid is not its grand architecture or world class museums but its people. Madrid is the melting pot of the Latin world where people from all parts of Spain and South America have made themselves a new home. As the capital of Spain it is the governmental and commercial centre where you can find everything Latin under the sun: fascinating museums, first class restaurants, great nightlife (be prepared to change your body clock) all set in a very inviting and friendly ambiance. Madrid is a large city that sprawls over a great area but the centre -where our school is located- is surprisingly compact and easy to navigate. You can easily find your way around the centre by foot and the public transport system is excellent. Madrid is very warm in Summer and generally fresh in winter with temperatures on some days below freezing in January and February. The low humidity makes the climate however very bearable.

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Flights and Airports

The airport of Madrid is called "Barajas" and is located approximately 20km from the city centre. You can take the bus or train from the airport to the centre. A taxi will cost around EUR 20.00.

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Student visa information

If you hold a passport from one of the European Union countries then you do not need a visa.

If you are from the United States, Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland or Iceland you can stay up to 90 days without a visa.

If you want to stay longer or you are a citizen from another country, check with your local Spanish consulate or embassy. You can find a list at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign affairs.

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Super Intensive Course The Super-Intensive course adds 2 class hours per day to your Intensive Course. The extra 2 hours are mainly spent on applying the newly learnt grammar in daily conversation. It quickly boosts your confidence and enjoyment you find in speaking Spanish.

Evening Classes For those who work and live in Madrid and cannot follow an intensive daytime study program, Babylon Idiomas offers Spanish evening classes from 20:00 till 22:00 on Tuesday and Thursday [4 hours in total per week].

Super Intensive Course
The Super-Intensive course adds 2 class hours per day to your Intensive Course. The extra 2 hours are mainly spent on applying the newly learnt grammar in daily conversation. It quickly boosts your confidence and enjoyment you find in speaking Spanish.

Evening Classes
For those who work and live in Madrid and cannot follow an intensive daytime study program, Babylon Idiomas offers Spanish evening classes from 20:00 till 22:00 on Tuesday and Thursday [4 hours in total per week].